How reliable (or unreliable) are these cars.... really ?!?

[mikeyyn]

Apart from being in the dealer for 3 months a couple of years ago while they tried - and failed several times- to diagnose a failure of the comms module my 2021 4S it has been reliable.
Not broken down.
Oh! forgot! And the heater failure, of course, oh yes, and the brake pipe saga. And the 12v battery issue.
So, yes, reliable. Sometimes.
However this problem with the self immolating batteries and the subsequent restrictions on charging and totally inadequate response from Porsche has been the last straw.
If I had known about all this I wouldn’t have bought it.
It has been the car that has needed the most attention of all my cars, even including a L322 Range Rover.
I’m keeping my Mk7.5 Golf GTi.

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[Fish Fingers]

Lol. When I was a kid we did long distance trips across Europe, 2 adults and 3 kids in a Fiat 126, sometimes while hauling a trailer which was bigger than the car. That setup had a max speed of 120km/h without the trailer going downhill with a tailwind (not an exaggeration). Absolute most people in it for a short drive (45min maybe) - 4 adults, 4 kids, 1 dog, plus a cooler and some beach equipment on a roof rack. We had to get out of the car and walk up every major hill, as the car just wouldn't go (the engine probably had enough power, but the engine mounts were not having it). Thinking back on this, I still cannot believe we actually fit in that thing. Here is the size of that car (stock photo from internet):

It was also the car I learned on how to drive (yes, it was a stick-shift).

Oh what memories you must have ..... sitting in the middle seat for those long journey's with a 'sister' tightly squashed in on either side.
?

 

[Novaman]

You may be better looking at independent reliability surveys.

Not foolproof, but probably more reliable than browsing forums.

The most recent one available for UK.

https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars/n26158

Wow- 58% of Taycan owners had issues and it finished in the bottom 3. Looks like my wife’s argument that the Taycan is not yet reliable enough to purchase is spot on. Going to have to wait until Porsche irons Things out. Thanks for this.

 

[Caraholic]

Other than my battery failure and charging problems during peak summer my car has been bulletproof. The problem lies in the dealers ability to diagnose and fix the problem. Then comes the huge time frame it takes to do so with unknown results. Still absolutely love this car. Don’t sell the 911 though add the Taycan.

 

[f1eng]

when I was a kid we had to get out of the Fiat and walk up hills' post might be one of those 'I had to walk uphill in the snow for 20 miles to get to school' stories

I remember as a child in the 1950s my Dad used to reverse up hills sometimes because reverse gear was lower than 1st. I don't remember having to walk though.

Of the other story my grandmother who was born in 1898 lived on a farm in Lincolnshire 6 miles from the village her school was in so she and her siblings walked 12 miles a day regardless of weather.

She died in 1999, I often ponder how much change she experienced in her lifetime, plus 2 wars where a huge proportion of her generation were slaughtered and then the second where so many of the survivors lost their children.

 

[f1eng]

As another poster was saying it is a wide car, but I've found it actually feels smaller when you're driving it and almost shrinks around you. I live in the UK and there are some narrow roads,

That was me and I thought the car felt smaller than it was to drive on the demo but here in Oxfordshire the actual size is a pain so I don't use it much as a daily any more, I tried but having another more suitable car banished it.

 

[Chalks99]

I've been looking at the Taycan for several years now as a potential replacement for my 911 S but am concerned about the reliability. I see way too many reports of various issues and constant visits to the dealership for servicing. I realize that happy customers generally are less likely to be vocal about their experience, so can someone give me an honest answer about these cars? Thanks!

Interestingly enough, I went to look at the new Carrera T today. I’m going the other way, and thinking that 6 years in electric is enough now (Tesla before Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo). My Taycan has been in twice for recalls with another one due early next year. Lost 50% of purchase price in depreciation with only 13,000 miles driven (like many others) It’s a lovely car but seems like being an earlier adopter of the Taycan wasn’t a great idea. Everyone’s different, I appreciate that, but the lure of a petrol 911 may well be my Achilles Heel.

 

[Murph7355]

Mine's been OK thus far in terms of "unplanned" reliability. Only a cracked (non-leaking!) roof.

"Planned" stuff I have on real issue with. Have always been able to get a loaner and the dealer's been great. It's been in twice for recall related stuff.

Width is a bone of contention with all modern cars. 10cm width growth on average in 20yrs. And much of it seems pointless to me. I'm the opposite of small, and reckon the cabin could be at least 5cm narrower with no real compromise.

 

[Jhenson29]

That was me and I thought the car felt smaller than it was to drive on the demo but here in Oxfordshire the actual size is a pain so I don't use it much as a daily any more, I tried but having another more suitable car banished it.

That’s one problem we don’t have in the US Midwest (we have other problems….like meth).

Pic below of a road in my subdivision.

Easily park a car on each side and still drive two cars through. Like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer paints over the lines.

The parking spots at my kids school are huge too. I’d swear they’re almost squares!

We had to get out of the car and walk up every major hill, as the car just wouldn't go

Another problem we don’t have in the Midwest! We have no hills! If I get on a step ladder, I can see Kansas!

 

[Scandinavian]

That’s one problem we don’t have in the US Midwest (we have other problems….like meth).

Pic below of a road in my subdivision.

Easily park a car on each side and still drive two cars through. Like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer paints over the lines.

The parking spots at my kids school are huge too. I’d swear they’re almost squares!



Another problem we don’t have in the Midwest! We have no hills! If I get on step ladder, I can see Kansas!

I envy you to have these wide roads and ample parking space.

Here are two garages I park in yesterday and it was super tight. Not with the Taycan though since that would not have been able to get into any of these spaces. The problem also lies in entrance and exits to these garages. They are normally very tight and mostly not straight either. So the wheel base is the next issue.

 

[f1eng]

That’s one problem we don’t have in the US Midwest (we have other problems….like meth).

Pic below of a road in my subdivision.

Easily park a car on each side and still drive two cars through. Like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer paints over the lines.

The parking spots at my kids school are huge too. I’d swear they’re almost squares!



Another problem we don’t have in the Midwest! We have no hills! If I get on step ladder, I can see Kansas!

My first trip to the USA was to Milwaukee as an exchange student in 1970 and so am aware of how very different the layout and roads are to Europe, and why drag racing is "a thing" there, which was a mystery to me before.

A Taycan is not a big car for most US roads at all.

 

[Dee]

Yes, and I am aware that cars are getting bigger but roads and parking spaces are not.
I thought I could put up with it, and I have, but it is really crap.

There is no parking space in the town I live in comfortably wide enough to get in or out. The road into town is narrow enough to run my rims against the kerb if a bus is coming the other way.

That's not really the car's fault.
The question was "Is it reliable?".

 

[KLHubb]

In September 2020 I took delivery of a 2020 Taycan 4S, one of the first out of the factory.
Out of concern for reliability I initially leased it for 3 years, then bought it.
Out of a surplus of caution, I added an 84 month Porsche warranty
I have had no problems, save ones of my own making.
Driving behind a gravel truck, an errant stone damaged one of the front radiators.
While on low chassis setting I scraped off one of the jack points on a curb.
Otherwise I have had ZERO problems.
It lives outdoors year round in snowy/rainy upstate NY, without any complaints.
My range varies 300-270 miles depending on the season....cold weather reduces range.
I divide my time between the Taycan 4S, an '09 997.2 S, and a '12 Cayenne...the Cayenne has been the problem child.
I am likely to trade my wonderful '09 911S(100k miles on it, all driven by me) for a Cayman E, once it's available.
I will hold onto the Taycan 4S as long as possible...Mamba Green with rear wheel steering, tungsten coated brakes, performance suspension, Burmester audio, i can live with this car for a long time.

 

[Jhenson29]

Here are two garages I park in yesterday and it was super tight.

Yikes. Yeah, if I ran across that situation here, I would give up and park somewhere else. ?

 

[Dee]

I have a 2020 Turbo S 42000km and it has been very reliable.
Never ever stranded or didn't start etc.
Common issues with Taycans:
-22 kW On Board Charger (early Taycans <2021 don't have it so it can't break down).
-Heater and/or servomotor, there's a recall for that.

In the first year I had my wing realigned, an OTA-module replaced and a sensor of the electric charge door, all under warranty.
No issues after that (but my heater will be replaced nevertheless cuz the cooling doesn't work well > warranty)
Other than that is has been an absolute joy to drive.
Best car I've ever owned.

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