IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ENGINE FAILURES ON 1998-2004 PORSCHE BOXSTERS,911'S, AND 911 CARRERAS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CYLINDER BLOCKS WERE POROUS ON THE EARLIER YEARS AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILS FROM 1999 UP. IN EITHER CASE< THE ENTIRE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $16,000. I SURVEYED RWO PORSCHE DEALERS IN METRO DETROIT. ONE DEALER HAS REPLACED FOUR ENGINES THIS SUMMER WHILE THE OTHER IS CURRENTLY REPLACING ONE. IF YOU CHECK VARIOUS PORSCHE FORUMS, CHATROOMS ETC YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. PORSCHE WILL REPLACE ENGINES ON VEHICLES IN WARRANTY BUT WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE ONCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I OWN A 2000 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF THE ENGINE FAILING AND BEING STUCK WITH A $16,000 REPAIR. *TR