Specced My 718 With PDK - Built With A Manual
Discussion
My car is due to be delivered to the dealers next week. I've just found out that the car has been built with a manual gearbox despite me speccing PDK after changing my mind from a manual and informing them prior to lockdown. I've been told that some things can't be changed if that change is made close to lockdown. Building another one to the correct spec would put me to the back of the queue again. Anyone have any advice or even encountered this kind of error before?
That is pretty bad form from your OPC. Did you get confirmation from the OPC that they received and processed your changes - did you get a revised order form including PDK? If you have an order form showing the spec you wanted then it is a failure of the OPC to inform the Factory. Lock-down is the date that stops you changing; there is no earlier lock-down for certain options.
Blimey. This is a pretty huge blunder.
I've heard of things like Climate control or folding mirrors being left off by mistake but this is a pretty fundamental change.
Have the OPC basically given a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders to this?
Really don't have any advice on what you can do. I guess depends on whether manual is acceptable to your circumstance or not?
Didn't this actually happen to another poster on here about not being told about his lockdown date and he successfully managed to get the OPC to reorder a new car for him (in front of someone else in the queue)?
I've heard of things like Climate control or folding mirrors being left off by mistake but this is a pretty fundamental change.
Have the OPC basically given a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders to this?
Really don't have any advice on what you can do. I guess depends on whether manual is acceptable to your circumstance or not?
Didn't this actually happen to another poster on here about not being told about his lockdown date and he successfully managed to get the OPC to reorder a new car for him (in front of someone else in the queue)?
Gutted for you and understand you feeling mortified.
I think you need to print off the signed form showing PDK and then arrange a meeting with the Dealer Principal. It seems to be their mistake, so they need to take ownership of this and not just put you to the back of the queue. I think they are trying to fob you off hoping you will take the car so they don't have it left on their books to sell or put on as a demonstrator.
I know for a fact most OPC's can get an 'emergency' allocation of a car if such a thing happens. It might mean another customer is informed of a delay by a few weeks, but tbh that is not your concern and you shouldn't have to wait another 7 months for their mistake.
Don't mean to teach you to suck eggs, but try to be level-headed and reasonable with the OPC and don't let this ruin your enjoyment of a stunning car.
Oh and keep us all posted with how you get on.
I think you need to print off the signed form showing PDK and then arrange a meeting with the Dealer Principal. It seems to be their mistake, so they need to take ownership of this and not just put you to the back of the queue. I think they are trying to fob you off hoping you will take the car so they don't have it left on their books to sell or put on as a demonstrator.
I know for a fact most OPC's can get an 'emergency' allocation of a car if such a thing happens. It might mean another customer is informed of a delay by a few weeks, but tbh that is not your concern and you shouldn't have to wait another 7 months for their mistake.
Don't mean to teach you to suck eggs, but try to be level-headed and reasonable with the OPC and don't let this ruin your enjoyment of a stunning car.
Oh and keep us all posted with how you get on.
BubblesNW said:
Ask them to loan you a pdk equipped car until your correctly specified car is delivered next year. If it's their fault I think this is a reasonable compromise.
How would something like this work in practice though in terms of payment? Presumably he wouldn't fork out a thing at this point, but it seems unlikely a dealer would be prepared to lend him a car to use for the best part of a year for nothing ( as theoretically he could still cancel and get deposit back before his next "lockdown" date).Pinball - out of interest, within name &a shame rules, where's the general geographical location of your OPC?... so I can avoid them in future....
Appreciate you've probably got a lot on your plate because of this, but one other thing to consider is that if you do go down the re-ordering route, you'd now be subject to the June price rise so you're effectively going to be left out of pocket as a result of their mistake.
Just some additional ammo for your discussion with the OPC.
Just some additional ammo for your discussion with the OPC.
ikonic said:
BubblesNW said:
Ask them to loan you a pdk equipped car until your correctly specified car is delivered next year. If it's their fault I think this is a reasonable compromise.
How would something like this work in practice though in terms of payment? Presumably he wouldn't fork out a thing at this point, but it seems unlikely a dealer would be prepared to lend him a car to use for the best part of a year for nothing ( as theoretically he could still cancel and get deposit back before his next "lockdown" date).Firstly, gutted for you. What a sinking feeling in your stomach this must be.
Secondly, since you changed your mind from manual to PDK, means that at one time you were considering a manual Cayman. The idea of a manual, in other words, is not anathema to you.
So what would be your thoughts on accepting the car as specced with manual, but with a strongly negotiated discount due to the balls up ... ? And enjoy the Cayman with (what I can tell you is) an excellent manual gearbox.
Thirdly, I had a similarish issue with my 718 CS when ordered. I'll relate my experience here so you can take from it what you will. I ordered in the very early days of the 718, almost a year ago before I knew anything much about Porsches in general or 718 Caymans in particular. As such, I ordered a very basic spec to get myself an allocation, with the intention of discovering more about the spec options, ready to spec up before lockdown.
So far, so normal. I duly spent a lot of time on the configurator and on the forum here, as we all do, playing around with specs and options and deciding what final specification I wanted. The months went by and I began to chase the OPC for a final lockdown date so I could pass on my final spec. The response was always along the lines of " ... soon". Before I knew it, I had a call from OPC saying congratulations, your car is built and will be delivered shortly, we have a date.
Naturally, I went into meltdown. The car was a basic spec and missing about £7k of options I wanted to add before final lockdown. Called up the dealer principal who was away, so I left a message. One of the senior sales staff called me back almost immediately and I explained the situation. He understood and apologised for the misunderstandings and miscommunications from my sales rep. He told me that if I wanted to, I could order the car with spec I wanted, I'd be straight to the front of the build queue, with an expectation of 4-5 months to receive the new car. Add to this a £500 goodwill gesture, and also (purely by coincidence) a 3% more favourable finance rate which took effect on all deliveries from Jan 2017 onward, so I would benefit from this, where previously I would not.
In the end, for a 4-5 month delay to get the exact spec I wanted, I could live with what was offered.
So .... if you do go down the road of re-ordering the car with PDK, that is what I would expect. Straight to the front of the build queue at the very least, and I would not be satisfied without a discount or goodwill gesture for their cock up.
Secondly, since you changed your mind from manual to PDK, means that at one time you were considering a manual Cayman. The idea of a manual, in other words, is not anathema to you.
So what would be your thoughts on accepting the car as specced with manual, but with a strongly negotiated discount due to the balls up ... ? And enjoy the Cayman with (what I can tell you is) an excellent manual gearbox.
Thirdly, I had a similarish issue with my 718 CS when ordered. I'll relate my experience here so you can take from it what you will. I ordered in the very early days of the 718, almost a year ago before I knew anything much about Porsches in general or 718 Caymans in particular. As such, I ordered a very basic spec to get myself an allocation, with the intention of discovering more about the spec options, ready to spec up before lockdown.
So far, so normal. I duly spent a lot of time on the configurator and on the forum here, as we all do, playing around with specs and options and deciding what final specification I wanted. The months went by and I began to chase the OPC for a final lockdown date so I could pass on my final spec. The response was always along the lines of " ... soon". Before I knew it, I had a call from OPC saying congratulations, your car is built and will be delivered shortly, we have a date.
Naturally, I went into meltdown. The car was a basic spec and missing about £7k of options I wanted to add before final lockdown. Called up the dealer principal who was away, so I left a message. One of the senior sales staff called me back almost immediately and I explained the situation. He understood and apologised for the misunderstandings and miscommunications from my sales rep. He told me that if I wanted to, I could order the car with spec I wanted, I'd be straight to the front of the build queue, with an expectation of 4-5 months to receive the new car. Add to this a £500 goodwill gesture, and also (purely by coincidence) a 3% more favourable finance rate which took effect on all deliveries from Jan 2017 onward, so I would benefit from this, where previously I would not.
In the end, for a 4-5 month delay to get the exact spec I wanted, I could live with what was offered.
So .... if you do go down the road of re-ordering the car with PDK, that is what I would expect. Straight to the front of the build queue at the very least, and I would not be satisfied without a discount or goodwill gesture for their cock up.
Edited by Tim bo on Wednesday 10th May 14:42
Everyone makes mistakes....it's how they deal with them that is important.
Mate of mine ordered a new FFRR recently.....got a video from the salesman two days before due to pick it up. Wrong interior and wrong wheels on it. Dealer initially blamed the factory but subsequently admitted it was their mistkae...they tried offering a deal on the car but my friend was adamant he wanted the car he'd ordered.
Compromise was that they ordered a new car to his spec and he has the car with the wrong spec until that one is delivered.
OP as suggested you need to go into the OPC and meet the Head of Sales/DP. Try not to lose your temper and appeal see what they can do....if it's Porsche's mistake I am sure a loan car would be very easy to sort. If it's not I can't believe the OPC can't sort it...I am sure they can pull in a favour and get that timescale reduced massively...my guess is they're just trying to frighten you into taking the car as is. Don't even think about going legal....all you will get back is your deposit I would imagine ....which I am sure you can get anyway.
Mate of mine ordered a new FFRR recently.....got a video from the salesman two days before due to pick it up. Wrong interior and wrong wheels on it. Dealer initially blamed the factory but subsequently admitted it was their mistkae...they tried offering a deal on the car but my friend was adamant he wanted the car he'd ordered.
Compromise was that they ordered a new car to his spec and he has the car with the wrong spec until that one is delivered.
OP as suggested you need to go into the OPC and meet the Head of Sales/DP. Try not to lose your temper and appeal see what they can do....if it's Porsche's mistake I am sure a loan car would be very easy to sort. If it's not I can't believe the OPC can't sort it...I am sure they can pull in a favour and get that timescale reduced massively...my guess is they're just trying to frighten you into taking the car as is. Don't even think about going legal....all you will get back is your deposit I would imagine ....which I am sure you can get anyway.
There's actually nothing stopping Porsche from building your correct car tomorrow.
You just need to get the right people to accept your case is a priority.
If your OPC say it can't be done, tell them you will be emailing their CEO direct in Germany and point out the issue to him. Copy in Porsche GB. Stick to what you want. Anything less causes you suffering and them to pay damages for such.
You just need to get the right people to accept your case is a priority.
If your OPC say it can't be done, tell them you will be emailing their CEO direct in Germany and point out the issue to him. Copy in Porsche GB. Stick to what you want. Anything less causes you suffering and them to pay damages for such.
Thanks for the info Timbo. I imagine the dealer will attempt to sell me the manual at a discount in the first instance. I'll have to wait until they call me back on what is offered for that. I guess the main n issue here is whether the error lies with the dealer or the factory, that could change what happens moving forward.
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