Dispeling M96 engine rumors

[JTP]

Just like Jake said, you can't make a blanket statement about everything. Honda and Toyota is known for reliability and so is VW to a lesser degree.

Long ago I had a Toyota Supra that gave me a lot of headaches requiring many long nights repairing. During the same time period I drove my boss's Toyota pickup truck that I drove hard and actually tried to destroy but it proved to be stronger than my attempts to kill it. I also own two Mk4 VWs, a 2000 Jetta and a 2004 GTI, both of which I bought new. Similar cars based on the same platform. I've had nothing but problems with the Jetta (powertrain, electrical, brakes, everything had issues) and the rod just went at 140k blowing the engine. My GTI has been trouble free (knock on wood) requiring only routine maintenance. I've also had a 928S and three 914s that were relatively trouble free and a pleasure to own. I haven't had the Box long enough to make any statement about reliability.

VW has a decent reliability rating but if I only owned the Jetta I'd curse VW for building a lemon like the Jetta but the GTI has given me a great ownership experience. Similarly, some Boxster owners have a relatively trouble free ownership experience while some unfortunate few have multiple engine failures and gremlin possessed cars. In general Porsche has a good reliability reputation (consumer repoerts gives the Boxster a much better than average rating) despite some design flaws. The same can be said for Honda, Toyota and VW.