[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by seanblee

Ant, I just finished reading your thread on 911uk - scary stuff! Very good news that Porsche paid out. I was most amused by the guy who thinks touching the limiter on the way up means you're a boy racer with no mechanical sympathy who's clearly trying to kill the engine...

The guy was just being an idiot. I had a few PM's saying that he had done similar things in other posts. As you probably read everyone else seemed to agree that his logic was plain stupid.

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Thanks for a great review!! Seems it feels similar as my E46 M3 compared to my previous 335d, it's a sports car and feels like it in every way.

I have not read your link but I presume the car wa previously over rev'd and spun a shell ruining the engine?

Surely you would have heard the knocking before you bought it?

No the damage had nothing to do with an over rev at all. The damage was all due to a very common and well know scoring issue on the cylinders. They were trying to use over rev data to decline a warranty claim, purely because there was an over rev registered.

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by seanblee

Yep, indeed - no need for me to go anywhere near the limiter on my car. The guy on the Porsche forum was having a go because Ant said he hit the limiter a couple of times - IMHO it's fine to run up to the limiter every so often, so long as you're not doing it on every single shift.

Yeah on the dyno the power on my 335i fell off about 5500rpm. Peak on the Porsche is 6600rpm

Originally Posted by Estoril Sport

Thanks for the write up Ant comparing the 335i to the Porsche. I am pleased you got it sorted. I have been wanting to know what fellow members think between the two.

From my limited experience comparing a 911 and an Alpina B3 BT has been on the track and I confess that I was a little underwhelmed with the 911 Carrera road holding, I expected more, especially to what the press say about them. I found that the Alpina was faster through the corners and acceleration (it could be the two 911 drivers which were on the track same time as me were totally crap drivers ).

It may be that the Alpina has the upper edge as comparing the 335i to the Carrera Porsche.

Don't get me wrong the Porsche 911 is a fantastic car, however I need a coupe with 4 adult seats so this limits my options.

As you can imagine i haven't had a chance to get to any track yet. So no comparison in feel or lap times. But i have spent some time watching and being over taken by Porsches on the track. In particular Nurburgring where the 1st time i was there, i was amazed watching C2s and GT3's going round and running blistering lap times. I can remember thinking they were still accelerating into 'my' braking zone slowing down quicker and the accelerating earlier. For me that really sealed the deal on me wanting to own one at some point.
I would say it does require an extremely competent & confident pilot to go properly quickly in a Porsche vs a 3. I know it would take me some time to put in faster lap times than i did in the 335i.

It does have 4 adult seats, as long as 2 of the adults are under 5'4"

Like dxb335d says sometimes its about the feel. The Porsche feels like a sports car in every way. Have to admit if we had children it would have been the M3 without a doubt.

[davyk31]

So for those of us who are 911 admirers but not experts, what age and model of 911 should we aspire to?

[Guvernator]

I often think about making the jump to a 911 but it's stories like this that put me off massively. There is a well known weakness on the 997's which can cause catastrophic engine failure. I would NOT buy one without a cast iron warranty. Even then it's poor show that they've tried to wiggle out of it, an experience like that would put me off and probably would have had me putting the car up for sale, despite the fact that it got sorted in the end. A car just isn't worth that much worry\hassle. It's a shame as I think they are brilliant cars otherwise.

Is there a year\model when this problem was finally sorted?

[Hotcoupe]

Great write up a stunning car.

In saying that and reading the thread on 911uk.com,a Porsche is now the last car I'd ever go near,sounds like the engines are manufactured from Wedgewood.
What a fecking nightmare of a story,thankfully resolved,were it me though,the car would now be up for sale!
It sounds like the car is a ticking bomb just waiting to implode.

Good luck with it Ant

[davyk31]

No reason to sell the car while he has warranty but once it expires and they want mega bucks to renew it could be goodbye time.

[DarkAnt335i]

Yes owning one is a scary prospect knowing what i know now. I will probably keep it until just before the warranty is up, about 20 months, then sell.

IIRC cars from 09 onwards have the DFI lump and dont suffer with the scoring or main seal failures. Also GT's and Turbos of any year are ok as they use an older block design which doesn't have the same common issues. It seems its mainly M96/M97 engines that have the problems.

The Porsche warranties are surprisingly reasonable. They quoted approx £1200(maybe less) for 1 years warranty + Breakdown cover. I was quoted more for the M3 warranty.

All i can say is much like one of the other posters said. Buy with a Porsche warranty. Also learning from my mistake, make sure you get the rev-report done while your standing the just before you drive away.

[A_P]

Ant I remember reading your ring write up ages ago, The one where you got lucky with the lug nuts barely holding on?

That was a great write up and as is this. Life does have its ups and downs, and its too difficult to pick a second hand car which may or may not have underlying faults. Almost pot luck really. I too recently picked up an E46 M3 whilst not the same as a Porsche it is just like Carl and you both say "Special" even going slowly. It is all about the feel.

I'm glad you stood your ground and Porsche came good. Enjoy the car its lovely. it really is a stunner.

Maybe when warranty time is due to end then sell up and get the turbo? or move onto another boyhood dream.

All the best.

[jimmylad]

Interesting thread & very timely.

I'm thinking of garaging the 335d from April ish & having a "toy" for 6 months with the 911 being one of my choices so this has made me think twice although I would of had a Gen 2.

The other contenders are the M3 and a GTR although I know I will get flamed for saying so an M3 isn't a big enough jump performance wise from a remaped 335d for me personally & at the end of the day it's still a Beemer & doesn't have the kudos that a Porsche or GTR would have. Looking at a stage 2 litchfield GTR at the moment.

You can pick also up a very nice Aston up for £35/40k as well.

Just fancy a head turner for 6 months that I can sell on & not loose too much then move back to the 335d.

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by A_P

Ant I remember reading your ring write up ages ago, The one where you got lucky with the lug nuts barely holding on?

That was a great write up and as is this. Life does have its ups and downs, and its too difficult to pick a second hand car which may or may not have underlying faults. Almost pot luck really. I too recently picked up an E46 M3 whilst not the same as a Porsche it is just like Carl and you both say "Special" even going slowly. It is all about the feel.

I'm glad you stood your ground and Porsche came good. Enjoy the car its lovely. it really is a stunner.

Maybe when warranty time is due to end then sell up and get the turbo? or move onto another boyhood dream.

All the best.

That was a very scary moment in time had nearly forgotten about that!
Thanks!

Turbo is high on the list of cars as the wife loves them. I really considered the GTR this time round but.... The wife doesnt like them at all. They are MASSIVE and the service schedule is insane. I do 12-15k pa so wouldnt suit me really.

I don't think i can afford any of my other boyhood dream cars just yet.
F40
993 GT2 http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/c...993-gt2/778809
DTM SPEC 155 GTA
DTM E30 M3
DIABLO

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by jimmylad

Interesting thread & very timely.

I'm thinking of garaging the 335d from April ish & having a "toy" for 6 months with the 911 being one of my choices so this has made me think twice although I would of had a Gen 2.

The other contenders are the M3 and a GTR although I know I will get flamed for saying so an M3 isn't a big enough jump performance wise from a remaped 335d for me personally & at the end of the day it's still a Beemer & doesn't have the kudos that a Porsche or GTR would have. Looking at a stage 2 litchfield GTR at the moment.

You can pick also up a very nice Aston up for £35/40k as well.

Just fancy a head turner for 6 months that I can sell on & not loose too much then move back to the 335d.

One of our company directors has recently sold his '56 Aston for £32k. Not my cup of tea really.

The M3 is defiantly a big jump from either the 335i or the 335d no matter how well you tune them, maybe not in terms of straight line pace. But track potential, driving feel, noise, steering etc the M3 is an amazing car. The only downside i can see to an M3 is its quiet heavy and juicy. If you bought the right spec, privately i doubt you would loose much at all in 6 months. THE V8 above 5-6k is something else.

IMO If you can afford it a gen 2 997S is the way to go. IIRC they are 380bhp and have slightly revised suspension and no engine issues.

The only thing i would say it unless you have an extended drive in the Porsche you will probably prefer the M3. The M3 is like a traditional muscle car but with handling thrown into the mix. It looks aggressive, as standard. It will smoke tires on command and is tail happy in the wet + that soundtrack is amazing. The 997 in standard guise doesn't really scream and shout in the same way the M does but when you spend some time with it you realise its just that bit more special and challenging to drive, at least to me.

But having said that if i was in your shoes, 6month toy... i would get the GTR use and abuse for 6 months and sell it before the next costly service.

[scottc]

Agree that the gen 2 is the way to go if you can.

They are coming down but you must get a pdk with sports chrono as it changes the car. You get .5 sec of the 0-60 alone...

Don't get me wrong gen 1's are still great cars but the engine problems put me off..

The 991 is the one to avoid. I had one for a week and while its a great car it's the steering that let's it down..

I will be replacing mine with something like a golf in a few months. While I will miss it massively the monthly payment back in my account and the new x6 will make up for it

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by davyk31

No reason to sell the car while he has warranty but once it expires and they want mega bucks to renew it could be goodbye time.

Did the car Ant buy not come with a warranty from the OPC?

Yes it did,but within 48hrs and 260 odd miles of leaving with what seemed to be an approved used car from Porsche,Ant was already having a battle over a warranty claim...........what a fecking disgrace!

Would you trust Porsche UK again?

I'm fecked if I would,and everyone on here calls BMW dealers - stealers

Porsche have just torn BMW a new arsehole with their warranty and customer service,unbelievable

[gunsekun]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

No offense... but how tall are u?

[dxb335d]

That's Peters son mate. He is also in the passenger seat

[peterg1965]

[creepy coupe]

Ant.Did you buy your 911 from Tonbridge?

[wayne71]

Very very nice mate.

[DarkAnt335i]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Ant.Did you buy your 911 from Tonbridge?

No but it did spend a few days there after it broke down. They did the 'initial investigation' which resulted in a mis-diagnosed slipped timing chain and a hefty bill which i did not pay.

Did you see it there?