First service - how much?

[Budweiser]

I thing he means £320 per year over two....

[mollytherocker]

10% discount is pretty normal isnt it? Anyone can get that if you just ask!

[pete.g]

I have always asked for and received a discount - just a polite enquiry when I book the service.

[ilduce]

abby030976 said:

ilduce said:

He has a warranty so an independent is not really an option.

You can use any garage and still qualify for the warranty, as long as they use OPC parts. OPC might get funny about renewing the warranty, but I expect the commission from the new warranty would overcome this.

Legally they can't make you use OPC, it's non-competiitve, restraint of customer choice, etc etc. See the AA website who confirm this position.

In theory maybe, in reality, you'd have more chance of having a baby out of your bum.

[abby030976]

ilduce said:

In theory maybe, in reality, you'd have more chance of having a baby out of your bum.

The warranty is an insurance policy regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You would have recourse to the financial services ombudsman in the event they refused a claim. The ombudsman is generally favourable to the consumer. If the fault had nothing to do with service schedules this issue wouldn't even be considered. If the fault could have been service related, as long as you could show it had been serviced as per Porsche service intervals using OPC parts then you would be fine. The ombudsman would not allow Porsche to wriggle out of an insurance policy. The outcome would be fair to the consumer. I speak from experience of the ombudsman from my work as a Solicitor.

You might have to pay for the work initially if they refused the claim. The cost would be ordered back to you by the ombudsman, as long as the car had been looked after properly as per the service intervals etc.

The AA wouldn't offer advice that other garages could be used if it wasn't correct.

Edited by abby030976 on Saturday 30th August 00:44

[griffter]

I think the difficulty with a number of the points you raise is that the onus is on the consumer to do the doing. Furthermore, how would an owner prove that torque settings were correct, oil fully drained etc? Stamps and receipts are not evidence of workmanship. It strikes me as strongly in the interests of the consumer to avoid the aggro by going with the opc.

I say that as someone who generally avoids extended warranties, but I am interested in the points you raise. I don't doubt they are true for insurance backed warranties not affiliated with a garage or manufacturer, but is that the difference with the porsche warranty?

[tjlees]

abby030976 said:

The warranty is an insurance policy regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You would have recourse to the financial services ombudsman in the event they refused a claim. The ombudsman is generally favourable to the consumer. If the fault had nothing to do with service schedules this issue wouldn't even be considered. If the fault could have been service related, as long as you could show it had been serviced as per Porsche service intervals using OPC parts then you would be fine. The ombudsman would not allow Porsche to wriggle out of an insurance policy. The outcome would be fair to the consumer. I speak from experience of the ombudsman from my work as a Solicitor.

You might have to pay for the work initially if they refused the claim. The cost would be ordered back to you by the ombudsman, as long as the car had been looked after properly as per the service intervals etc.

The AA wouldn't offer advice that other garages could be used if it wasn't correct.

This is my understanding.

Some fleet operators use indys to service cars under warranty (cheaper) and providing they service to manufacturers standard and same specification the warranty still holds. This is similar for extended insurance back warrantys.

However if the engine goes pop the aggro and onus is on you to prove the service was indeed carried out correctly.

Personally I'm going with the first service with opc (£980 for me - the ac pack and brake fuild must have gold flecks in it) then specialist Indy with no extended warranty and a sensible running commentary on what needs doing.

[abby030976]

griffter said:

I think the difficulty with a number of the points you raise is that the onus is on the consumer to do the doing. Furthermore, how would an owner prove that torque settings were correct, oil fully drained etc? Stamps and receipts are not evidence of workmanship. It strikes me as strongly in the interests of the consumer to avoid the aggro by going with the opc.

I say that as someone who generally avoids extended warranties, but I am interested in the points you raise. I don't doubt they are true for insurance backed warranties not affiliated with a garage or manufacturer, but is that the difference with the porsche warranty?

It's a regultated insurance policy. Financial services ombudsman applies.

[ilduce]

Real world:

Hello OPC. I've had it serviced, as required, by an indy and now I'd like a Porsche warranty.

Certainly sir, we'll just do the 111 point check, while you wait, for 2 hours, because you can't have a loan car, sorry.

FOUR HOURS LATER

I seems there are many things to put right before we can issue your warranty.
Shi77y little things, but expensive as well, that we probably would have overlooked or sorted free when you got your warranty. Oh, and in the end it will cost you more than you saved by having it serviced elsewhere.

Thankyouverymuchsir!

[Ozzie Osmond]

I think that's about the score. Trying to save £200 on the first service of a £50,000 car with a 3-year warranty just isn't worth the risk.

[Miopyk]

There always seems to be a fair bit of negativity around service charges and warranty issues from OPCs but after 5 years with my Boxster I have to say my experience has generally been positive.

I have to say I bought the car with my eyes wide open and after lots of BMWs and Mercs I knew that maintenance etc. was likely to be comparatively a little more expensive. Ultimately I didn't buy it with the objective of saving money.

I've renewed my warranty twice and so far I've more than had my money back, no quibbles no issues and on the last occasion I was offered a Cayman S as a loaner because they needed the car a day longer than anticipated. Frankly the service so far has been great. Because of that I have the car serviced at the OPC and never felt that I've been charged more that the published prices and have only ever had the front pads (not discs) replaced.

I've now added a Macan to the family car pool and I suspect that will go the same way.

I get that people want/need to save money and there are some very good indies out there (used one very good one when I had 924s/944s a couple of decades ago) but if you feel you're getting a good service and your expectations are being met then as the saying goes you pays your money you makes your choice.

[ilduce]

Miopyk said:

and have only ever had the front pads (not discs) replaced

You must use the only honest OPC in the UK.

[ORD]

ilduce said:

Miopyk said:

and have only ever had the front pads (not discs) replaced

You must use the only honest OPC in the UK.

"They all need replacing every 10,000 miles or so. Heavy use, you see, really wears them out. Then again, light use will also wear them out quite quickly. Moderate use is a killer, though, and will definitely wear them out quickly."

[ilduce]

ORD said:

ilduce said:

Miopyk said:

and have only ever had the front pads (not discs) replaced

You must use the only honest OPC in the UK.

"They all need replacing every 10,000 miles or so. Heavy use, you see, really wears them out. Then again, light use will also wear them out quite quickly. Moderate use is a killer, though, and will definitely wear them out quickly."

"yes sir, I know the car has only done 22000 miles and the pads have never been changed but you'll need new discs too"

[Magic919]

Washing the car is the biggest killer.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Well, it all went fine at OPC. And a polite enquiry even achieved a modest discount (£25) on the brake fluid change.

With a bit of luck the car won't be back at the dealership for another two years.

My loan car was Boxster S with PDK, chrono package etc. The "Sport Plus" button seemed pretty wild, red-lining the car in every gear and banging in the gear changes. Can't imagine the car would last very long with that one pressed! Nor your driving licence...

[ravon]

Because I use my 981 quite hard, thought I would have a first oil change at 10,000 miles, the cost, a princely £327 from my OPC. Roll on the car running out of warrantee, by then someone will have cracked Porsche's software, and no doubt bigger throttle bodies and manifolds will be available through the after market.

[ilduce]

ravon said:

first oil change at 10,000 miles, the cost, a princely £327 from my OPC.

Hello and greeetings my friend! I am Ngoto Nbammbewe fro nigeeeria! I have 90 million dollars of america, in a banking account of, my cousin the late General Ungoto. Should you be so disposed I should be most happy to share this considerable sum with you. Please forward £1000 to my account for administrative distribution costs and I shall send you your share most immediate.
May god shine on yourself and your fine family.
Ngoto.


What? Come on, it could work, he was gullible enough to pay Porsche!

[ORD]

I had a funny call with an OPC about oil changes. He said "It is £350 pounds for that". I said "How much does the oil cost?". He told me. I said "How long does it take?". He tried to avoid the question but then said it was about 15 mins. I fell off my chair at the effective hourly rate for the 18 year-old kid who is only allowed to do oil changes.

[sleep envy]

ORD said:

I had a funny call with an OPC about oil changes. He said "It is £350 pounds for that". I said "How much does the oil cost?". He told me. I said "How long does it take?". He tried to avoid the question but then said it was about 15 mins. I fell off my chair at the effective hourly rate for the 18 year-old kid who is only allowed to do oil changes.

The rest of the cost is the labour charge for dry fisting the customer.