GOOD Porsche Mechanic/Shop in Raleigh Area?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:18 am

Any recommendations of a good but decent price Porsche 911 mechanic/shop in the Raleigh area?

The VP in charge of my office owns a really clean 1996 911 Carrera Targa with about 100K miles that is his daily driver.

He found out yesterday that the engine has developed numerous minor oil leaks of the kind that require almost complete dis-assembly.

Since this is not an urgent project his goal is to find someone good who will "call him" when work is slack so the cost will be somewhat of a "bargain" but the work will be done right.

Thanks!

Dick

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:26 am

i don't have first hand experience with these guys but i have seen a few track cars there for service.

http://www.europeanperformance.net/

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:03 pm

He can check there also.

http://www.millersportauto.com/

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:11 pm

did you just say "bargain" and "Porsche" in the same reference to working on a 911?

:shock:

Obviously I wish him the best and hope his car is fixed well. But, I bet he's into it for at or more than 50% of the car's current value after all is said and done.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:55 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

did you just say "bargain" and "Porsche" in the same reference to working on a 911?

:shock:

Obviously I wish him the best and hope his car is fixed well. But, I bet he's into it for at or more than 50% of the car's current value after all is said and done.

Hate to say it, but I agree with this.

Unfortunately, any shop/mechanic that's trustworthy enough to do good quality work on a car like that probably doesn't need to slash their labor rates to fire-sale prices to get enough work. Now, he might be able to find a jack-leg shadetree mechanic to do the work "cheap", but who knows how that would turn out.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:19 pm

Good points on the good and cheap/bargain being mutually exclusive, especially for Porsches.

I think he is looking for good work at a price that isn't overly inflated.

This guy is no dummy by any means and is a car enthusiast. It may help that he is originally from Canada.

He knows what the cost versus market value situation is but he apparently really likes his car (kind of like us) :lol:

He drove a neighbor's really nice "driver" Porsche C Coupe to work for a few days because the neighbor (a collector) was ready to sell it. I don't know whether he bought it or not but he was very tempted.

Thanks,

Dick

SimonWright · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 7:28 pm

Not local but RennGruppe in Lexington?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:13 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

Good points on the good and cheap/bargain being mutually exclusive, especially for Porsches.

I think he is looking for good work at a price that isn't overly inflated.

Piling on here...

It's not that he can't find someone who is reasonable and will do good work. He is not going to find someone who will do good work and will do it cheaply. The bottom line is that these engines tend to be expensive in both parts and labor. There is little that can be done to save money other than not getting ripped off in the first place (paying too much) or doing it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. Based upon the year this looks to be a 993. If the car was a bit older and he was mechanically inclined, I would direct him toward this book...

http://www.101projects.com/911-Rebuild/index.htm

That book covers up through 1989, but does not cover the more complex 964 and 993 engines. At 100K, I would expect the common 993 valve guide wear issues to be present and that he should consider a full rebuild. Probably $10K +/-? If it was my car, I would do it myself and save a lot on the labor costs.

Lastly, as the last of the air cooled 911's the 993 should continue to be a desirable car (however I and many others are not fans of the targas and that can impact resale price), he should get it fixed. Especially if he likes the car.

Richard

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:43 pm

Ray Munsch 919 740 7040. Ray works exclusively on front engine water cooled P cars. But can steer you to someone that works on 911's. If you call him tell him Jeff Creech from carolina auto masters recommended him as a Porsche reference. Ray just replaced the timing chain in Jeffs 928.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:04 am

Brad Moyer at digital chassis does good work. He's in Durham, and I imagine his prices are decent. I've never owned a Porsche, so I can't say what his rates are like.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 8:42 pm

Don't let him take it to Renngruppe, for God's sakes.

There's an independent guy sort of near Sturdivant's Tire (outside Chapel Hill) that is highly recommended, but I can't remember his name. Anyone who knows how to get in touch with Jim Feinberg could find out from him...he knows or at least knew the dude at one point. His first name is something foreign like "Touvek" or something. Ugh.

He's the type of guy your guy wants, I think.

--Donnie

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Don't let him take it to Renngruppe, for God's sakes.

There's an independent guy sort of near Sturdivant's Tire (outside Chapel Hill) that is highly recommended, but I can't remember his name. Anyone who knows how to get in touch with Jim Feinberg could find out from him...he knows or at least knew the dude at one point. His first name is something foreign like "Touvek" or something. Ugh.

He's the type of guy your guy wants, I think.

--Donnie

tioga at automotive solutions. i know he does bmw, not sure how much p-car work he does.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:56 am

Dick,

Pelican Parts tech forums is a popular Porsche forum. This thread is a few years old, but asks pretty much the same question (who local is good)...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche- ... gh-nc.html

The thread covers most of what have already been mentioned. Brad Moyer at Digital Chassis, Chuck Miller at Millersport, European Peformance (EP gets a lot of positive comments) and Tioga Honigmann at Automotive Solutions.

Richard

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:38 am

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

I provided him with the original suggestions and will keep the more recent ones in mind if he asks for more before I retire on April 2. :sing:

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:57 pm

DickRasmussen wrote:

...... before I retire on April 2. :sing:

ooohh...so close you can almost taste the freedom! Jealous!!! :mrgreen:

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