“Porsche 996 interiors aren’t well made and don’t wear well.” That’s what many so-called experts will tell you, claiming that older Porsche 911s had tougher cockpits that last much better.
I’m not so sure. I’ve been in many a Carrera 3.2 and SC with depressingly scruffy interiors. Dash tops distort, door pockets sag and break, seats get scuffed and worn, wires hang down from under the dash, and as for those loose-fitting carpets…
Yes, 996 interiors can look tired – but so can the later 997’s (indeed, the 997 doesn’t seem to fare any better than the 996). But that’s simply down to wear and tear, lack of care and, well, just age.
Any Porsche cockpit will become scruffy over time, as the cars get older, the mileages rise and owners persist in – shock, horror – actually getting in and out of their cars. It’s nothing to do with a lack of quality – Porsches are all well made. I’ve added photos of two Porsche cockpits – one immaculate, the other somewhat less than…
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Ignoring the fact that the 996 is half the age of the (guessing) 3.2, this question arises more from feel -perceived quality perhaps, rather than actual quality. Of course a poorly looked after car will fare worse over time than a well looked after one, regardless of initial build quality. But, close the door on any of the modern cars and they sound tinny, not solid like the older ones. use the door handle from the inside and esp on the 996 it feels like it could snap off. These are from-new “issues”. The seats, structure, dash materials etc are all fine but the door shut in terms of feel is in my view what gives the feeling of cheapness, or poor build quality.
Ignoring the fact that the 996 is half the age of the (guessing) 3.2, this question arises more from feel -perceived quality perhaps, rather than actual quality. Of course a poorly looked after car will fare worse over time than a well looked after one, regardless of initial build quality. But, close the door on any of the modern cars and they sound tinny, not solid like the older ones. use the door handle from the inside and esp on the 996 it feels like it could snap off. These are from-new “issues”. The seats, structure, dash materials etc are all fine but the door shut in terms of feel is in my view what gives the feeling of cheapness, or poor build quality.
Thanks for the reply.
With regard to interior door handles, though, I’ve always thought these a the weak point of air-cooled 911s – always felt plasticy and not positive. They also had a habit of breaking!
Thanks for the reply.
With regard to interior door handles, though, I’ve always thought these a the weak point of air-cooled 911s – always felt plasticy and not positive. They also had a habit of breaking!
I am the service manager at an independent Porsche specialist in Athens. Comparing 996 & 997, while the perceived quality in a 997’is better, in real life use, the actual quality is very disappointing. The majority of 997’s have faded switches, badly creased leather seats and the worst of all, most interior plastics are black that have then been painted over with a colour coat. I have lost track of the number of interior items that we have replaced at a huge cost due to the colour coat peeling off. All of these problems are non existent even in well used 996’s. I have seen 997’s with 20k kilometres looking very scruffy inside. A point made above, I think 997 interior door handles are much more flimsy than 996 ones. Don’t get me started on the 997 grey ignition keys. I had many literally fall apart, whilst turning the ignition on!!
Thanks for your comments. Interesting to hear of your very real problems with 997 interiors.
I am the service manager at an independent Porsche specialist in Athens. Comparing 996 & 997, while the perceived quality in a 997’is better, in real life use, the actual quality is very disappointing. The majority of 997’s have faded switches, badly creased leather seats and the worst of all, most interior plastics are black that have then been painted over with a colour coat. I have lost track of the number of interior items that we have replaced at a huge cost due to the colour coat peeling off. All of these problems are non existent even in well used 996’s. I have seen 997’s with 20k kilometres looking very scruffy inside. A point made above, I think 997 interior door handles are much more flimsy than 996 ones. Don’t get me started on the 997 grey ignition keys. I had many literally fall apart, whilst turning the ignition on!!
Thanks for your comments. Interesting to hear of your very real problems with 997 interiors.
It is difficult to tell a customer that he needs a 1000 euro climate control unit, because the previously black switches are now white because the colour coat has peeled off & that the new unit will have the same problem in a year. The 997 series 2 has been improved in areas like this, so it appears that Porsche realised the error of their ways.. Whichever way one looks at this issue, some of the interior parts are not to the standard one would expect of car that cost, here anyway, 220,000 euro brand new (loaded Turbo’s)
It is difficult to tell a customer that he needs a 1000 euro climate control unit, because the previously black switches are now white because the colour coat has peeled off & that the new unit will have the same problem in a year. The 997 series 2 has been improved in areas like this, so it appears that Porsche realised the error of their ways.. Whichever way one looks at this issue, some of the interior parts are not to the standard one would expect of car that cost, here anyway, 220,000 euro brand new (loaded Turbo’s)