Portiacraft ?

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Discussion

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Wednesday 22nd December 2010
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Wozy68 said:
Tino said:
I was actually there a couple of weeks ago having a look at a nice cheap black impact bumper SSC. They had described it as needing some work, but to be honest, it seemed a very straight car. At 15k though, there was a waiting list for it, however they were still happy for me to wonder around the car.
Glad you like it, I was worried for a second you were about to pick up on something you didn't like and so I'm glad of your comments. I should be picking it up in about 2 weeks time. :-)

On a personal note in relation to Harry/Portiacraft. I haven't got the car yet, I'll keep you informed, but I have to say he came across as a sound man. The amount of idiots and dreamers who must waste their time (and other indies) must be immense. However I believe that an honest browser would have no probs looking around their cars.
I was straight with Harry that I had a car to sell first, he was cool with that, so I left my deposit. No messing, no Bull.
What an idiot I was. From a business side of life I have always had to judge people on first impressions, ie first contact. Thats how I have managed to survive in business for so long (25+ years). It's normally kept me away from harm, however I so much made a cockup with Portiacraft.

I actually really liked Harry, thought he was (and probs is) a fella you could have a real good laugh with and a beer, maybe a little too car sales, maybe a bit of a character, but genuine as far as car dealers go, Martin aswell I guess.

But they or at least Harry sold me a real dud, It went back and they gave me the money back. (If they hadn't I would have gladly had my day in court, the original sales description was shocking) They still made money out of me however with car tax, days off work etc etc to get it.

Anyway maybe I was even more the fool. They held the car back for about 6 weeks and then re-advertised it for 5k more, then dropped it by 2k and then sold it. ... So I'm guessing they sold it for more than they sold it to me for.

However, and this is the most important thing; the description the second time around was nothing like the bullst they stated in the advert that sold it to me in the first place. (Even though I thought it still well off the mark)
I really feel sorry for the poor mug who bought it afterwards. It was a disgrace of a car, and in my humble opinion it will never be worth the money it would need to make it saleable in the future.

You will always hear bad news about any dealer, there will always be someone who is unhappy with the service they received. However, this company seems to get more bad press than most, and looking back on various threads and forums...... As the old saying states. 'There aint no smoke without fire'.

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 22 December 23:20

911god

2,961 posts

184 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
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MarlonM said:
I was originally looking for a 996 TT, saw one on their website and phoned up. I was pretty much told first thing that I couldnt have a test drive unless I was going to buy it. I was astounded, I had never driven one of these before, and was hoping that a drive would persuade me to change up from my E46 M3.

At that point I gave up on them without even going in.

I then switched to a 997 S a few weeks later, and they had two that fitted the bill. I thought I would give them a second chance and glad I did. I phoned up to book an appointment, and met Harry a couple of hours later.

I was shown round both cars and offered a test drive, completely different standard of service from before!! I bought one the day after....

General impressions have already been noted - it is far from glamourous, but the cars are the same as you would get in OPCs when you get them on the road! You get no coffee, no biscuits, but well priced cars, which is all I really want. Getting a penny off will be hard though, Harry prices his cars well, and eventually all seem to sell.

I had my 997 inspected by Peter Morgan, who assessed it as a very good example, so I bought it.

When I took delivery, I spoke to Harry about the 996 Turbo situation, he explained that particular car attracts so many test pilot tyre kickers wanting test drives, that he is really wary. That is fair enough. As I drove out he said I could come back anytime for a drive in a Turbo, which was good.

Since I bought my car, it has been great, bar one of the coil packs going, but that was replaced in an hour, for free.

In short, if you aren't bothered about an OPC experience, dont want to suffer large depreciation, and want a value for money 996, 997 or Boxster, then I would recommend Portiacraft.
Sorry to pick up on an old thread but what does Peter Morgan charge to do an inspection purely out of interest ?

73 Duchess

346 posts

217 months

Tuesday 14th August 2012
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Bought off Portiacraft and did the exact above with Peter Morgan. Gave it a clean bill of health and had 5 years carefree driving in a 996. I found Harry to be a no bullst character. Had a problem with the car last year and I called Portiacraft for service records which they furnished me with. I'm only speaking from my experience. If I was buying another Porker(which I did), I'd be getting Peter to do another inspection regardless off trader/seller etc. You're buying 'some' piece of mind at the end of the day. If you're spending £££ on a P-car, an inspection is pittance in the long run(apart from some things that you can't legislate for). Just my tuppence worth.

ETA: The thread was so old I'd forgotten I'd already contributed, I'm not Harry or Martin btwangel.

Edited by 73 Duchess on Tuesday 14th August 22:07

911god

2,961 posts

184 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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Cool tks

alexisn

248 posts

134 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
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Just bought a 997S and found Harry a great guy. Drove the car home to Cheshire and it developed a gear linkage problem. Rang Harry, take it to your local specialist, get them to ring me for payment he said. I did and Harry paid for it over the phone, tight bush, one hour labour. This also meant that I and the indi specialist were able to inspect the car and establish that it had been properly serviced including the pollen filter! Impressed and will definately deal with them again.

bridey0

2,961 posts

184 months

Sunday 13th January 2013
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Others may grumble but i got a good deal and good follow up service from them. Cant complain

mike111

34 posts

190 months

Monday 14th January 2013
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I am not naming any specific dealer but once bought a 996 which had a major front end repair but no mention in the description and the so clled service history has several stamps by OPC who had no record of looking at the car ever!! And there was no manual.....
Yes yes yes it's my fault for being a stupid customer!

bridey0

2,961 posts

184 months

Monday 14th January 2013
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mike111 said:
I am not naming any specific dealer but once bought a 996 which had a major front end repair but no mention in the description and the so clled service history has several stamps by OPC who had no record of looking at the car ever!! And there was no manual.....
Yes yes yes it's my fault for being a stupid customer!
Then surely you had a right to throw the car back at them??
As for portiacraft there was once someone that moaned about a super sport they bought from them but was given their cash back even after driving it about for 3 weeks .

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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bridey0 said:
Then surely you had a right to throw the car back at them??
As for portiacraft there was once someone that moaned about a super sport they bought from them but was given their cash back even after driving it about for 3 weeks .
That was me, and 3 weeks .... your having a laugh. If you knew the reasons behind why, then you would know it was not because of a 'moan'.




Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 15th January 08:39

johnbrace

207 posts

219 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Wozy68 said:
That was me, and 3 weeks .... your having a laugh. If you knew the reasons behind why, then you would know it was not because of a 'moan'.




Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 15th January 08:39
Wasn't that the car that someone else bought after you took it back for more money than you paid for it after they addressed the paint work problems that they made clear existed in their advert drove 40,000 miles in a year with out a problem and got his money back from another indy who then sold it on for even more money to someone who posted on here and is loving the car. Sounds to me Mr Wozy you made a rickett in giving it back as I remember it was a Supersport coupe for 15k that you felt was overvalued.
I would have thought any Supersport no matter what the condition was worth 15k.

I know these guys after buying 4 cars from them and they are very straightforward and upfront about what needs doing lots of my mates have their cars serviced by them and I have seen some of the gripes on here about them that are unjustified especially Mr Wozys who slates them any chance he gets. He bought a very cheap car that was advertised as needing work and when he realised that the work needed was more than he could handle they gave him his money back. Makes them real villians doesn't it.


jfp

514 posts

222 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Bought a GT2 off them, they were very fair, no bull, very honest appraisal of the car which I got at the right price and is now mint. I would recomend Harry he's a lieable bloke and you dont pay over the odds

Interestingly if you speak with any of the finance houses such as Rob J @ Classic and Sports they will give you an honest view of Portiacraft as they deal with them more often than not. No dealer will ever be free of problems (they sell second hand sportscars FFS often driven by idiots and they cant vouch for how those cars have been driven over their 50,000 mile life) but that said I'd say Harry is an honest guy who earns a living off recomendations...

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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johnbrace said:
Wasn't that the car that someone else bought after you took it back for more money than you paid for it after they addressed the paint work problems that they made clear existed in their advert drove 40,000 miles in a year with out a problem and got his money back from another indy who then sold it on for even more money to someone who posted on here and is loving the car. Sounds to me Mr Wozy you made a rickett in giving it back as I remember it was a Supersport coupe for 15k that you felt was overvalued.
I would have thought any Supersport no matter what the condition was worth 15k.

I know these guys after buying 4 cars from them and they are very straightforward and upfront about what needs doing lots of my mates have their cars serviced by them and I have seen some of the gripes on here about them that are unjustified especially Mr Wozys who slates them any chance he gets. He bought a very cheap car that was advertised as needing work and when he realised that the work needed was more than he could handle they gave him his money back. Makes them real villians doesn't it.
John, I expected you to comment. Interesting. Where do you get your information from? And why would it be imparted to you?

Remember this. Just how many car companies do you know that would return your money in full ...... even after I have signed and dated the logbook, added nearly 500 miles on it, if nothing was wrong with that car in the first place?

If you believe that was purely down to 'Customer Service' You are misguided.



EDITED TO SAY. Latest owner who bought it up North somewhere, loves the car, and believes all things needed to be done to it have been done. Fair play, and hope he's enjoying it.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 15th January 13:01

alexisn

248 posts

134 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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You seem to be comprehensively outnumbered Wozy.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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alexisn said:
You seem to be comprehensively outnumbered Wozy.
Yup. Oh well. John Brace was responding to a reply I posted over two years ago.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 15th January 13:28

johnbrace

207 posts

219 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Wozy68 said:
John, I expected you to comment. Interesting. Where do you get your information from? And why would it be imparted to you?

Remember this. Just how many car companies do you know that would return your money in full ...... even after I have signed and dated the logbook, added nearly 500 miles on it, if nothing was wrong with that car in the first place?

If you believe that was purely down to 'Customer Service' You are misguided.



EDITED TO SAY. Latest owner who bought it up North somewhere, loves the car, and believes all things needed to be done to it have been done. Fair play, and hope he's enjoying it.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 15th January 13:01
Because the guy that bought the car lately for over 20k from an Indie up North Posted on here at how happy he was with the car and he bought it with 140 odd thousand miles on it and you bought it with 115 thousand miles on it.
I pop in to Portiacraft regularly for a coffee on a Saturday and chat to the chaps there as that is the only time I have off and they usually do a few bits for me whilst I am there.

blade7

11,311 posts

215 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Wozy68 said:
alexisn said:
You seem to be comprehensively outnumbered Wozy.
Yup. Oh well. John Brace was responding to a reply I posted over two years ago.
Did you buy your 968 CS from HWM ?. wink

bridey0

2,961 posts

184 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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blade7 said:
Did you buy your 968 CS from HWM ?. wink
Any excuse to Gash HWM!

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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johnbrace said:
Because the guy that bought the car lately for over 20k from an Indie up North Posted on here at how happy he was with the car and he bought it with 140 odd thousand miles on it and you bought it with 115 thousand miles on it.
I pop in to Portiacraft regularly for a coffee on a Saturday and chat to the chaps there as that is the only time I have off and they usually do a few bits for me whilst I am there.
Really John, whatever. I've been lucky enough to own five different Porsches in my life, all bought from different dealers, why you think I would focus on one dealer, must tell you something. If you can find one complaint about another that I have purchased from then fair enough, I'm just trolling. But you can't.

I had my fingers burn't, you hear one side, I was actually there. It seems most people are happy with these guys and fair enough. Lets leave it at that.

456mgt

2,504 posts

265 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Get my 930 serviced at Portiacraft, and each time I get it back it drives better than when it went in. As others have said, no frills, but no BS either. I've always found them to be a friendly and knowledgeable. Would happily buy a car from them.

My car originally came from 911 Virgin, and I'd happily buy from them again too.

TOV!E

2,016 posts

233 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
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Hespereus said:
The search facility will reveal all you wish to know from this site ! wink

Edited by Hespereus on Saturday 13th February 06:56
Get a life.