So I bought a GT3 and....
So I bought a GT3 and....
Author
Discussion

Chemical Ali

Original Poster:

951 posts

240 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
After many years of some great cars, mostly Porsches, I took the plunge and got a 991.2 GT3 in Miami. Traded in my 991.2 GTS, which was a really nice drive, for the big one.

Anyhow, this little story starts about a month ago when I finished a project I was in and was in a position to upgrade. I've been thinking a while that the age of ICE cars may be coming to an end and starting to feel its now or never for these things. Plus, im not getting any younger. But who is?

A few years ago I had a 993 in riviera and I really missed that car when i sold it and also that colour so, when this one came up, I went for it. Strangely with my wife's blessing. Usually she has no interest. I called up the OPC up north and asked a few questions about the history and condition and was assured all was well. As Im some 160 miles away and the market for these doesnt hang around for a good spec one at a good price I put down a deposit on the back of a chat and a video sent to me. The OPC network is renowned as trustworthy, generally, so I and counted down the days. Shortly after we arranged a delivery. This was the best way not to put miles on the GT3 or my trade in. this was arranged for saturday 8th May.

On the thursday I received the call the OPC were waiting for parts due to cosmetic issues and some minor recall and the saturday delivery may be delayed. Friday confirmed this. Annoying, but we rearranged for tuesday morning. Tuesday morning received a call that the car was damaged being put on the trailer, wheel scuff, but would be repaired and still coming tuesday afternoon. About midday car on its way. About 2 pm, driver calls he is delayed had a puncture en route. Eventually arrives. Christmas is finally here.

Side by side the GT3 is a different league than the GTS and my first drive with my lad in the cs spec blue beast confirms this. Barely able to open the engine up to full chat due to weather and traffic I try my best to find some patches of road to see what shes got, but the conditions make it difficult and I remind myself there is always tomorrow.

But the point of this story is what happens after my first few days and what is now an interesting ongoing story. Day 4 of ownership, I leave my local gym and shortly into my journey home the car starts bonging at me axel lift fault seek service. The lift is stuck down. I hadnt used it in th gym car park, so not sure what is going on. Even not in use though, it keeps bonging over about 35mph constantly. Lift system fault seek service.

I ring up the OPC up north today and they have been sorting out what to do, they say. The car is booked into my local OPC under warranty repair for wednesday - could have done that myself. And a porsche tech was sent round this evening to diagnose the problem, which turned out to be an aa roadside assist who took one look at the car and said "cant do anything with that as I dont have the software and I dont know why they keep sending us on these". Evidently he get sent on Porsche issues regularly but has not specialist equipment. Bit of an Alt Ctrl Del only guy. I suggested this is a look like you are doing something by the OPC. He agreed as they should know there is nothing he can do.

I call Porsche uk and advise them of the ongoing and to check procedure. I ask them if they have any history on the car and ask if the recall the sales guy mentioned was due to the lift system. They check my vin number. No active or recent recalls. In fact none in the last six months. Probably an honest mistake by the sales guy, but with everything it adds to the worry.

Now I leave the story here for now. At this moment ive had the car 6 days, it essentially has been good for 80 miles and 4 days but now can only safely go to my local OPC as its only journey on wednesday in case its not the lift but a computer issue. I will update this story and try to be dispassionate to give my experience of this purchase and i hope it gets sorted soon. But at the moment ive been sold a £130k car which I have that sinking feeling may be a lemon and an OPC that Im yet to feel are really that concerned with my plight as all they have done is booked me in for warranty work and called the aa out. But its too early to say and I hope its just a bit of bad luck...

Edited by Chemical Ali on Tuesday 18th May 01:15

EvoSid

1,116 posts

86 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
These things happen bud
I had a brake fluid leak on my GT4. booked into OPC after about 2 weeks as they were busy . Sorted and now loving. One issue that could be a sensor does not make it a lemon
Once fixed take it for a thrash and you will forget all your worries they are sublime

Melvynr

1,404 posts

74 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Something may of happened with the lift putting it on the low loader for transport, you never know.I got a letter about a month ago for an update to nav system for satellite view and to book it into dealership, your salesman might be referring to this as well.
At the end of the day its under full warranty and will be sorted , dont let it put you off.

kilarney

490 posts

246 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Keep the faith. OPC,s are a bit out of sorts at the moment, no defence just how it is. Once its fixed which it will be then your away to go. Only car I would swap my 991.2GTS for , well maybe a 992 turbo S

CloudStuff

4,120 posts

127 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Chemical Ali said:
After many years of some great cars, mostly Porsches, I took the plunge and got a 991.2 GT3 in Miami. Traded in my 991.2 GTS, which was a really nice drive, for the big one.

Anyhow, this little story starts about a month ago when I finished a project I was in and was in a position to upgrade. I've been thinking a while that the age of ICE cars may be coming to an end and starting to feel its now or never for these things. Plus, im not getting any younger. But who is?

A few years ago I had a 993 in riviera and I really missed that car when i sold it and also that colour so, when this one came up, I went for it. Strangely with my wife's blessing. Usually she has no interest. I called up the OPC up north and asked a few questions about the history and condition and was assured all was well. As Im some 160 miles away and the market for these doesnt hang around for a good spec one at a good price I put down a deposit on the back of a chat and a video sent to me. The OPC network is renowned as trustworthy, generally, so I and counted down the days. Shortly after we arranged a delivery. This was the best way not to put miles on the GT3 or my trade in. this was arranged for saturday 8th May.

On the thursday I received the call the OPC were waiting for parts due to cosmetic issues and some minor recall and the saturday delivery may be delayed. Friday confirmed this. Annoying, but we rearranged for tuesday morning. Tuesday morning received a call that the car was damaged being put on the trailer, wheel scuff, but would be repaired and still coming tuesday afternoon. About midday car on its way. About 2 pm, driver calls he is delayed had a puncture en route. Eventually arrives. Christmas is finally here.

Side by side the GT3 is a different league than the GTS and my first drive with my lad in the cs spec blue beast confirms this. Barely able to open the engine up to full chat due to weather and traffic I try my best to find some patches of road to see what shes got, but the conditions make it difficult and I remind myself there is always tomorrow.

But the point of this story is what happens after my first few days and what is now an interesting ongoing story. Day 4 of ownership, I leave my local gym and shortly into my journey home the car starts bonging at me axel lift fault seek service. The lift is stuck down. I hadnt used it in th gym car park, so not sure what is going on. Even not in use though, it keeps bonging over about 35mph constantly. Lift system fault seek service.

I ring up the OPC up north today and they have been sorting out what to do, they say. The car is booked into my local OPC under warranty repair for wednesday - could have done that myself. And a porsche tech was sent round this evening to diagnose the problem, which turned out to be an aa roadside assist who took one look at the car and said "cant do anything with that as I dont have the software and I dont know why they keep sending us on these". Evidently he get sent on Porsche issues regularly but has not specialist equipment. Bit of an Alt Ctrl Del only guy. I suggested this is a look like you are doing something by the OPC. He agreed as they should know there is nothing he can do.

I call Porsche uk and advise them of the ongoing and to check procedure. I ask them if they have any history on the car and ask if the recall the sales guy mentioned was due to the lift system. They check my vin number. No active or recent recalls. In fact none in the last six months. Probably an honest mistake by the sales guy, but with everything it adds to the worry.

Now I leave the story here for now. At this moment ive had the car 6 days, it essentially has been good for 80 miles and 4 days but now can only safely go to my local OPC as its only journey on wednesday in case its not the lift but a computer issue. I will update this story and try to be dispassionate to give my experience of this purchase and i hope it gets sorted soon. But at the moment ive been sold a £130k car which I have that sinking feeling may be a lemon and an OPC that Im yet to feel are really that concerned with my plight as all they have done is booked me in for warranty work and called the aa out. But its too early to say and I hope its just a bit of bad luck...

Edited by Chemical Ali on Tuesday 18th May 01:15
The understandable disappointment is clouding your thoughts.

It's a glitch, a component failure, rather than something which will affect your ownership long term.

For all the reduction in OPC standards, this isn't Audi we're talking about. You have a rock solid warranty, and a brand which actually cares about engineering and resolving faults.

Like you, I made the move from GTS to GT3. My GTS had a fuel pump issue which felt like game over, but was sorted with 2 days in the workshop.

After a few days of driving it, you'll have forgotten all about the fault.

Cheib

25,057 posts

198 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Fingers crossed your local OPC sorts it for....the one I use has been excellent on a variety of issues on different cars. Gt3 and GTS is chalk and cheese....for two cars in theory so close to each other in list price there us a vast difference !!

MeisterH

859 posts

124 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Agree with all of the above, all Porsche have small issues, I feel your pain as i bought a used approved Macan Turbo and 4 days in the Dreaded Transfer box started playing up! Porsche Dropped a loan car off and 7 days later Macan Back, Brand New transfer box and they also Diagnosed whilst up on the ramp a worn wheel bearing which they changed!

Car drives great now and the faith restored, give your OPC time to sort the issue, trust me the Review link we all get about the buying purchase is worth more to OPC Centres so they will bend over backwards to sort this issue i am sure.

I wish you all the best, sure it'll be fine!

cayman-black

13,251 posts

239 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
The story has certainly started bad that's for sure. Wish you all the best!

Nurburgsingh

5,456 posts

261 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Chemical Ali said:
...But at the moment ive been sold a £130k car which I have that sinking feeling may be a lemon and an OPC that Im yet to feel are really that concerned with my plight as all they have done is booked me in for warranty work and called the aa out. But its too early to say and I hope its just a bit of bad luck...

Edited by Chemical Ali on Tuesday 18th May 01:15
Am I missing something?
Obviously you’re upset that the car has developed a fault, but what were you expecting/wanting the OPC to do?



ChrisW.

8,046 posts

278 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
This is most probably bad luck and it will be sorted under warranty.

But if this was your only experience with a car to would give anybody an uncomfortable feeling ...

The Porsche extended warranties are not expensive and one assumes that they make a profit on them, hence the cars must be reasonably reliable.

Mine have all been ...

CloudStuff

4,120 posts

127 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Compared to shiny-shoed Audi, yup!

Chemical Ali

Original Poster:

951 posts

240 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
So an update. The sales OPC has offered to take the car back to their workshop and give me a c2s while its fixed. I think my local OPC may have been being difficult. Although this is a little convoluted, I am glad the original OPC will carry out the works as they will more likely do a more thorough check when the car is fixed.

I am grateful to them and I think this demonstrates why, even when things are going wrong, the Porsche brand is worth the extra money over and above just the car itself.

I will update in a few days about the tech issue.

Cheib

25,057 posts

198 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
quotequote all
Great to here ! Hope it’s sorted to your satisfaction quickly.

churchie2856

489 posts

213 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
quotequote all
Chemical Ali said:
So an update. The sales OPC has offered to take the car back to their workshop and give me a c2s while its fixed. I think my local OPC may have been being difficult. Although this is a little convoluted, I am glad the original OPC will carry out the works as they will more likely do a more thorough check when the car is fixed.
In my opinion, as you were only fours days into ownership, the only OPC to be liaising with about this issue was the supplying OPC. In the past I'd have taken it upon myself to contact the local OPC etc to expedite a resolution etc, but I now realise they have no skin in the game; unlike the supplying OPC with which you have a contract, legal rights and a customer feedback mechanism. I refuse to give feedback (especially the 10/10 sales crave) until four weeks have past, allowing time for things dealers miss to come to fore (and then an opportunity for the dealer to show just how much they really care).

Chemical Ali

Original Poster:

951 posts

240 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
quotequote all
churchie2856 said:
In my opinion, as you were only fours days into ownership, the only OPC to be liaising with about this issue was the supplying OPC. In the past I'd have taken it upon myself to contact the local OPC etc to expedite a resolution etc, but I now realise they have no skin in the game; unlike the supplying OPC with which you have a contract, legal rights and a customer feedback mechanism. I refuse to give feedback (especially the 10/10 sales crave) until four weeks have past, allowing time for things dealers miss to come to fore (and then an opportunity for the dealer to show just how much they really care).
100%

churchie2856

489 posts

213 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
quotequote all
Chemical Ali said:
churchie2856 said:
In my opinion, as you were only fours days into ownership, the only OPC to be liaising with about this issue was the supplying OPC. In the past I'd have taken it upon myself to contact the local OPC etc to expedite a resolution etc, but I now realise they have no skin in the game; unlike the supplying OPC with which you have a contract, legal rights and a customer feedback mechanism. I refuse to give feedback (especially the 10/10 sales crave) until four weeks have past, allowing time for things dealers miss to come to fore (and then an opportunity for the dealer to show just how much they really care).
100%
Miami blue GT3 991.2, great choice BTW. Sure you'll love it once sorted.

d4uk

19 posts

67 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
quotequote all
I saw a Miami blue GT3 on the Porsche website earlier and thought the story was going to end up with you handing it back especially as the dealer who had it was ‘up north’

Anyway stick with it I’m sure some of it is a bit of bad luck and a bit of buyers remorse

Gary C

14,700 posts

202 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
quotequote all
It will be great smile

These things happen

I once bought a brand new Opel Manta, on the trip home the brake pedal went to the floor. Bit of pumping got the car stopped, and dealer sorted it.

Ok, I did crash it and write it off a couple of years later but that was nothing to do with the brake pedal wink

Chemical Ali

Original Poster:

951 posts

240 months

Friday 21st May 2021
quotequote all
The "north" OPC has been good about it. Collected the car and dropped a new 992 c4 for me for the duration. So I can be annoyed the car has an issue, but I think their response has been fair.

As a note, the poor guy trying to get the gt3 on the trailer had .5cm clearance at one point and was sweating. A testimony as to why the axel lift is needed on this car for normal use.

Update as and when

Chemical Ali

Original Poster:

951 posts

240 months

Friday 21st May 2021
quotequote all
d4uk said:
I saw a Miami blue GT3 on the Porsche website earlier and thought the story was going to end up with you handing it back especially as the dealer who had it was ‘up north’

Anyway stick with it I’m sure some of it is a bit of bad luck and a bit of buyers remorse
TBH, looking at it go on the trailer yesterday I didnt want it to go. So no remorse - frustration, yes.

Driving the 992 after the gt3 was like a big boys golf gti. Nicely put together the 992, but not the same "experience".