Porsche Boxster 3.2s - Troublseome Engine problems

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Wed 1 Jun 2011 09:50
Porsche Boxster 3.2s - Troublseome Engine problems - Whiskey29
I have a 52 plate Boxster 3.2s with 45k on the clock, i have owned it for 3 years, but do less tha 6k a year and by no means 'thrash' it! I started it and noticed that the radiator was blowing cold air, even when on hot. Stopping the car and checking the resevoir I noticed it was very low on water and under a lot of pressure. Took the car to my local garage and they said they'd look at it. about 3 weeks later I got a phone call saying the head gasket had gone, which I was expecting, but was surprised given the mileage of the engine.

We discussed costs and the way ahead and was told that they could replace the gaskets and do some engine work which would fix the problem for £2000. I agreed but stated that this was the upper limit of my budget and not to conduct any work above this. Eventually they phoned back saying that they were rebuilding the car and it should be ready at the end of the week. By this point it has been in the garage for nearly 3 months, the mechanic who was a specialist on these engines was away/sick a lot, and as they were supposedly doing the work cheaply, I didnt hassle, but did chase up each week, and tell them it was starting to get slightly ridiculous!

So went in to collect my car, only to find the engine on pieces on the workshop floor. Speaking to the garage they told me that the head gasket replacement hadnt fixed the problem and that they suspect it is something deeper in the engine. They gave a number of options such as continuing to investigate or replacing the engine for a reconditioned one (their preferred option). They quoted me £3500 for another engine with a 2 year warranty on it, they couldnt quote me for the investigative work as they didnt know how long it would take.... Given their speedy work so far, I would like to have the car back before its an antique!

So should I go for the reconditioned engine? Does that seem a reasonable price? They are expecting me to pay the original bill on top, is this reasonable considering they didnt fix what they told me was the problem?

Any advice would be gratefully received as im unfortunatly not made of money and starting to panic!!
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Wed 1 Jun 2011 13:29
Porsche Boxster 3.2s - Troublseome Engine problems - Collos25
It appears to me that you have been well and truly shaffted I think I would be looking to get legal advice I would not like to trust them any more .
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Wed 1 Jun 2011 13:30
Porsche Boxster 3.2s - Troublseome Engine problems - PatrickO

Do you have the original quote in writing? If not, there's probably not a lot you can do, try calling trading standards & a proper Porsche garage for a reconditioned engine quote to compare.

I know this is of no use to you but you should have gone to a branded porsche dealer in the first place. Anything complicated/expensive should not be put in the hands of people that take 3 months to diagnose the wrong fault. They may be lying to you and there's been nothing serious wrong with the car all along.

Sorry to be blunt but if you can't afford to maintain an ageing luxo sports car at a branded dealership, you shouldn't really be driving a Porsche...

Edited by PatrickO on 01/06/2011 at 13:32

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