[RDPH924]

I might be naïve to ask this – but could you not just drive to the Porsche dealership, drop it off and say “Fix it”? (Money being no factor)

Meaning, are the 968s still supported by Porsche?

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[94SilverCab]

In theory the answer is yes, in practice, not so much. Porsche dealerships tend to spend more time on training their staff to service newer models. While some dealerships may even employ a "Front Engine Specialist" it is unlikely that they would have the volume to be able to address the problems that arise, or be used to dealing with the "standard maintenance' issues.



The best bet would be to move to PA and have RS Barn take care of everything (or just ship your car).



A far second would be to find a very reliable and reccomended shop in your area.



Welcome,



Jay

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[rxter]

If money is no object then bring it over here and I'll fix it <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



What really drives the complexity of fixing this, or any car, is 1) the availbility of parts and 2) finding mechanics that know what to maintain to prevent problems and how to fix them when they break.



1) Finding parts - our cars are between 16- and 19- years old, and many parts are no longer available. Fortunately for us many of the parts that work on the 944 work for us too. There were many more 944s built than our beloved 968 so it seems that there has been a larger market available and so Porsche provided those parts for a longer period of time (sheer speculation on my part but I like my logic).

1a) our cars were a low number production run, so not a lot of reason to keep making parts (see above)



2) Finding mechs - dealers like warranty work. New cars are easy to fix and if the warranty fix fails then there is another warranty fix right behind it (ask me how I know). Good for dealers who keep the lights on with their service bays. Our cars are well out of warranty and the owners are not all billionaires (like say, Ferrari owners), so if the work goes wrong then we are likely to hold the dealer responsible and ask for the work to be done right. Plus, as noted above this is a low volume unit, so it's tough to find a mechanic who understand the variocam and the a-arm bushing and the other stuff that is specific to this vehicle. A dealer wants mechanics that can fix 986s, 987s, and Cayennes, fast, not some old 944 racer dude who loves to talk about turbocharging a water-cooled 4-banger.



If I'm a dealer and you show up with this old piece for which I know 1) parts are hard to find, 2) I don't have any specialist mechanics to work on it and 3) you are likely to be a bit of a cheapskate (not you personally, but you 968 guys collectively), then I steer you to a local Porsche specialist non-dealer shop. The good news is that there are enough of these guys around who really know our cars and like to keep them running, and they won't charge you an arm and a leg. I am sure that you can find such a guy in El Paso. Try these chaps (found them on Google). http://www.candbeuropean.com/index.html



And, of course, its always worth a call to the local dealer. Might be in a smaller town like yours there are guys who have been with Porsche a while and will know these cars. Good luck and let us know what you find.

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[968Oz]

My advice - Never go to a dealer. You will be screwed. Find a passionate independent Porsche expert with whom you can build a relationship, who will talk to you about your car and will take you into the workshop and show you what's happening and introduce you to similarly minded Porsche nuts. Half the fun of owning these cars is the people you meet and learning about the machines.

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[Rap]

Thank god I live in pa. Lol

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[RDPH924]

Thanks for the response. I wonder if that situation is pretty much the same for a 1995 911?

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[chudson]

As a shop owner I fight this all the time. We actually won't generate a repair order on a vehicle over 15 years of age. The younger technicians know very little about the older technology. A 968 owner needs a front engine/water cooled Porsche specialist, and that may or may not be a trained Porsche technician of today.

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[968Oz]

[quote name='RDPH924' timestamp='1294198159' post='103397']

Thanks for the response. I wonder if that situation is pretty much the same for a 1995 911?

[/quote]



There are a lot more people who know 911s well because there are so many more around. Parts both genuine and after market are also plentiful. As chudson says, you not only want a Porsche specialist but also one who knows these rarer cars that have not been made for 15 years

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[968Syncro]

Over 4 years ago, about 3 days after I got the 968, at home it just plain wouldn't start. Times were real busy with work, etc., had to have it fixed fast. Towed it to the dealer, they said it was the fuel pump, and none are available, they had to get one from LA, or Germany, or something like that. I asked about aftermarket fuel pumps, and they finally said OK. $845 later it was running. Yikes! (I should have gone to my trusty local private Porsche repair facilities).



Roland

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[sheehanj]

I use the local P-car guru for important things (Musante Motorsports, South Windsor, CT): head rebuild, shocks, alignment, etc. But the local dealer (Hoffman Porsche, East Hartford, CT) has been great for those things that need PCNA trained guys: A/C recharge, debugging window switches, replacing crash sensors, etc,. My experience with them has been that they know the 968s and have always had the right solutions. Your mileage (read local dealer) may vary, but mine has been good.

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[Gotter]

Being in the military, I've had this issue several times. I've been fortunate to have knowledgeable mechanics around when I needed them. They were up in Seattle where I bought the car, near Auburn, AL when I was at Benning (45 minute drive) and in Charleston, SC for while I am here at Bragg.... that one is a 4-hour trip, but after one failed repair at the Porsche dealership in town, I won't take it to anyone else while I'm in this area. I think I might have found a good tech in Virginia Beach for when I move there at the end of the year.



The two things these guys have in common (up to this point): They all raced either the 944 or the 968, and they have their own shop - not a dealership operation.

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[Chris Vais]

The shop that I use is an independent with a long history or working and racing 4 cyl. water cooled Porsches. When the was a Porsche dealer in Oakland, they referred their 924, 928, 944, 968 work to Bauer Porsche Repair and that is how I found them.

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[lbpesq]

And Chris referred me to Bauer. Love 'em!



Bill

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[durtkillon]

There are a couple indie porsche specialists in Albuquerque. PMCI is the one I use.

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[968ster]

I'd say, "Not even!". As much as I appreciate the dealer network they really have liitle to offer us as there simply aren't any parts for our cars. Try to get a windshield.

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[968ster]

I, too, know Bauer in Oakland. An excellent shop with a positive rep on 968.

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[flash]

windshields are easy. i don't know why anybody has a hard time. call sunset. i check in on this fairly regularly, and have posted all of the part numbers for the various types of windshields available for both the cab and hardtop, as well as current prices. last check was about 2 months ago.

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[aristharcus]

When needed my 968 goes to the official Porsche dealer (Asturias region, North of Spain). For repair parts, they usually ask for them to the Spanish central in Madrid. In other cases, a call to Germany is needed. In this case, it usually takes about three days for the parts to arrive.



For now, I've had only one experience where it was a bit difficult to find a replacement: The internal display of the external temperature was illegible. Porshe has not this device, but they suggested me to contact Freisinger GmbH, not far from Stuttgart. I asked them for the piece and they replied me: "Do you want it new, or used, sir?" Freisinger is extremely expensive, but if Porsche fails, they probably can supply.



About people repairing the car, people at the official Porsche dealer here is really professional. And not only that, they love my car. You see it while they are touching it and looking at it. They now very well the quantity of 968s produced and treat it like a gem.

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[williamoss]

When i bought my 968 from Pete at RS barn i tried to take it to Sunset POrsche herein Portland OR. While their parts department is top knotch, the service department does not work on 968's at all. Their excuse is the techs were not born when the car was stoped being made. I now take my 968 to a shop in Beaverton OR called Motorsports.



Read my areticle about the sales that Sunset runs twice a year selling parts at 15% above cost. I posted it under how to save money section here at the forum yesterday.

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[Rap]

My local Porsche dealer does not touch 968's. Don't know whether it's the age of their mechanics or something else. The mechanic who works on my car now is age 25. S this is a lame excuse! Just how old are their techs?

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