When considering luxury sports car brands renowned for their bulletproof reliability, Porsche is the obvious choice. The Stuttgart-based automaker has earned a reputation for crafting some of the most durable performance cars in the industry, and some owners take this reliability to extraordinary levels.
Tom Thalmann, a biotech industry consultant, has tested this reputation with his 2003 996 Porsche 911 Turbo, amassing an impressive 700,000 miles over the past 21 years. Tom doesn’t just accumulate highway miles; he drives his Porsche as hard as he did on the day he bought it.
Tom’s story with his 911 Turbo began in 2003. At the time, he owned an Acura Integra Type-R but needed a car for a demanding 200+ mile daily commute. Visiting his local Porsche dealership, Tom inquired about a silver 911 Turbo on the showroom floor. The mechanic’s response was simple: “This car is bulletproof. Just change the oil. That’s all you have to do.” Now, twenty-one years and over 700,000 miles later, it appears the mechanic was right.
- Regular Oil Changes: Every 5,000 miles without exception.
- Engine Refresh: Teardown, inspection, and refresh after 383,000 miles.
- Diverse Driving Conditions: A mix of city traffic, highway driving, and track days to keep the mechanical parts active.
Despite the rigorous use, the 911 Turbo is only on its second clutch. At 383,000 miles, the engine was pulled out and refreshed. There were no major issues, just minor oil leaks, and reduced turbo boost. The teardown revealed minor shadowing on two rod bearings, with everything else in near-perfect condition. This is despite multiple track days at Lime Rock Park and Watkins Glen, and year-round driving on the East Coast through harsh weather conditions.
Tom has always adhered strictly to the maintenance schedule, ensuring an oil change every 5,000 miles. As he approaches the 1-million-mile mark, Tom plans to ship the car to Stuttgart for a complete factory refresh. He then intends to allow Porsche to display the car at their discretion before returning it to the US to continue driving.
Tom’s dedication to his 911 Turbo demonstrates not just the reliability of Porsche, but the passion of an owner who truly values and maintains his vehicle. As he edges closer to that million-mile milestone, his journey stands as a testament to what these remarkable machines are capable of achieving.
Surface Transforms plc (LON:SCE) is a manufacturer of next-generation carbon-ceramic brake discs for automotive and aircraft applications and has been certified to IS9001-2000 since 2008 and was certified to TS16949 automotive quality accreditation and AS9100C aerospace quality accreditation in 2015.
