What value does an OPC add to the experience
Discussion
I have just got a C2S 997 from an OPC. First Porsche and quite risk averse. Probably paid over the odds, but do you know what, it has been a great experience. What do people think about aftercare? Walk back in with a problem and let them solve it or try and find the chancer that dumped a decrepid old monster on you and try and squeeze a bit of a refund out of them (or their Alsatian)?
They are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
They are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
Assuming you're talking about buying used, I guess the biggest issue is the warranty. It might be (or sound) expensive, but truthfully its about as comprehensive as you're going to find. On the other hand, it ties you completely into the OPC chain for servicing.
When I bought my Boxster from OPC Silverstone, I had intended to keep it under Porsche Warranty but once it was refused, I reverted to using a local Porsche specialist for servicing. The OPC always lent me a shiny new vehicle, but then their prices are at least 50% higher than any of the indies I've used or considered.
I've also found that OPCs generally spend more time, effort and money preparing their used cars.
When I bought my Boxster from OPC Silverstone, I had intended to keep it under Porsche Warranty but once it was refused, I reverted to using a local Porsche specialist for servicing. The OPC always lent me a shiny new vehicle, but then their prices are at least 50% higher than any of the indies I've used or considered.
I've also found that OPCs generally spend more time, effort and money preparing their used cars.
There are consistently good and bad OPCs out there.
I have had bad experiences with a London OPC and although I live in London choose to take my car to Mid Sussex for every single thing, and will only ever take it to them after trying several other OPCs who don't know the meaning of the word customer service. It is king, and fortunately there are a few golden nugget OPCs out there that get it...
I have had bad experiences with a London OPC and although I live in London choose to take my car to Mid Sussex for every single thing, and will only ever take it to them after trying several other OPCs who don't know the meaning of the word customer service. It is king, and fortunately there are a few golden nugget OPCs out there that get it...
I looked for ages (probably about 30 years in truth) , I went to Sussex, Bath, Wiltshire, Surrey, Berkshire, London (in fact most of the indies). They all talked it up and I am sure they are less cost than the OPC's. They gave me a huge amount of information - most of it conflicitng. Some slagged off the main dealers, some slagged off other indies, all of them thought they were best.
If you walk around the workshop and there is a load of scrap engines and bits lying arund, it does not send a good message.
I spent c30K which is quite a lot of cash by my standards but it is realtively safe and protected with the warranty - although clearly the depreciation will include the dealer marging.
I think it takes about a year to grow into a car, to become familiar with it. After that you can take some decisions yourself. With something new I just needed to know it was a robust choice.
I am sounding like a Porsche employee (which I am not)
What could go wrong?
If you walk around the workshop and there is a load of scrap engines and bits lying arund, it does not send a good message.
I spent c30K which is quite a lot of cash by my standards but it is realtively safe and protected with the warranty - although clearly the depreciation will include the dealer marging.
I think it takes about a year to grow into a car, to become familiar with it. After that you can take some decisions yourself. With something new I just needed to know it was a robust choice.
I am sounding like a Porsche employee (which I am not)
What could go wrong?
I think for the first time buyer the OPC is a great option. They usually have the best cars, prepared to the highest standards and the warranty must be worth £2k? If the car is serviced pre-sale, as they often are, then you should have 2 years minimal cost motoring. Except or the petrol. And the tyres. And the insurance...
JohnBolton said:
I have just got a C2S 997 from an OPC. First Porsche and quite risk averse. Probably paid over the odds, but do you know what, it has been a great experience. What do people think about aftercare? Walk back in with a problem and let them solve it or try and find the chancer that dumped a decrepid old monster on you and try and squeeze a bit of a refund out of them (or their Alsatian)?
They are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
Hi JohnThey are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
Did you buy a 2007 C2S in silver with 18,000 miles ish from the dealer in Guildford last week?
Cheers
Rich
spyderman8 said:
On the other hand, it ties you completely into the OPC chain for servicing.
Didn't think they could do that ever since the 2004:The EC has Directed that a manufacturer warranty cannot be affected by a car being serviced outside the franchised dealer chain. (EU regulation (Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation MVBER(EC) 1400/2002) and MVBER(EU) 461/2010, which remains in force until 2013.)
So as long as it's done to the manufacturer's schedules, using OEM or equivalent parts, it MUST still be honoured!
JohnBolton said:
I have just got a C2S 997 from an OPC. First Porsche and quite risk averse. Probably paid over the odds, but do you know what, it has been a great experience. What do people think about aftercare? Walk back in with a problem and let them solve it or try and find the chancer that dumped a decrepid old monster on you and try and squeeze a bit of a refund out of them (or their Alsatian)?
They are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
I got mine from Leicester OPC, I like Leicester Porsche, and you can always pop in for a coffee and look around, also the launch events are great, you get Porsche news and goodwood tickets, and ofcourse the 2 year warranty. You also get more chance of driving new stuff if you buy from them all the time.They are expensive, but then the cars are expensive.
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
Bring it on.
JohnBolton said:
If you walk around the workshop and there is a load of scrap engines and bits lying arund, it does not send a good message.
The message it sends is about the marque, not the dealer. I've often found it hard to get to the local OPC Parts Dept trade counter door due to falling over all the old engines outside on pallets waiting to go back on exchange. I suppose if they were in the workshop at least they'd be protected from the elements. 
JohnBolton said:
I await a deluge of stories about how rubbish they are. So far my experience is different.
I await a deluge of stories from you when you have some actual experience other than the endorphin-driven collection of a new car.As with others here, I've had very good experiences and very bad experiences (one shockingly so). You will most likely have the same.
I bought mine from an OPC just under a year ago.
The whole buying experience was very pleasant and they were happy to sort out a few niggles with the car ( probably not covered by warranty ) a couple of months later. They also threw in a half day Silverstone experience which was fun.
I just took the car back for a service and again the experience was good. It did cost me more than an indie but I noticed on the invoice they had cleared the radiators and drain plugs out as part of the service. They also replaced two coil packs which were cracked under warranty and did the MOT for free.
I was also given a brand new Boxster for the day.
Nothing to fault in my experience.
The whole buying experience was very pleasant and they were happy to sort out a few niggles with the car ( probably not covered by warranty ) a couple of months later. They also threw in a half day Silverstone experience which was fun.
I just took the car back for a service and again the experience was good. It did cost me more than an indie but I noticed on the invoice they had cleared the radiators and drain plugs out as part of the service. They also replaced two coil packs which were cracked under warranty and did the MOT for free.
I was also given a brand new Boxster for the day.
Nothing to fault in my experience.
Bought two new from OPC. Cayman S and Boxster Spyder.
Stuck using only OPC jersey. Utter s
te service. Main bloke has little to no knowledge of the product. Always unhelpful and just talks rubbish.
Added nothing to buying experience. Never really had to take cars in with problems, so don't know how well they would sort it.
Time restraints wanting delivery asap meant spyder was ordered with them, otherwise would have dealt with UK dealer and factory collect.
Had complete spec sorted, certainly didn't need help of the salesman, money ready waiting to go and still it was difficult to actually get any interest and had to repeatedly phone and badger to complete and process the order!! Totally bizarre service.
Stuck using only OPC jersey. Utter s
te service. Main bloke has little to no knowledge of the product. Always unhelpful and just talks rubbish.Added nothing to buying experience. Never really had to take cars in with problems, so don't know how well they would sort it.
Time restraints wanting delivery asap meant spyder was ordered with them, otherwise would have dealt with UK dealer and factory collect.
Had complete spec sorted, certainly didn't need help of the salesman, money ready waiting to go and still it was difficult to actually get any interest and had to repeatedly phone and badger to complete and process the order!! Totally bizarre service.
DS240 said:
Bought two new from OPC. Cayman S and Boxster Spyder.
Stuck using only OPC jersey. Utter ste service. Main bloke has little to no knowledge of the product. Always unhelpful and just talks rubbish.
Added nothing to buying experience. Never really had to take cars in with problems, so don't know how well they would sort it.
Time restraints wanting delivery asap meant spyder was ordered with them, otherwise would have dealt with UK dealer and factory collect.
Had complete spec sorted, certainly didn't need help of the salesman, money ready waiting to go and still it was difficult to actually get any interest and had to repeatedly phone and badger to complete and process the order!! Totally bizarre service.
this is what happens when there is competitionStuck using only OPC jersey. Utter s
te service. Main bloke has little to no knowledge of the product. Always unhelpful and just talks rubbish.Added nothing to buying experience. Never really had to take cars in with problems, so don't know how well they would sort it.
Time restraints wanting delivery asap meant spyder was ordered with them, otherwise would have dealt with UK dealer and factory collect.
Had complete spec sorted, certainly didn't need help of the salesman, money ready waiting to go and still it was difficult to actually get any interest and had to repeatedly phone and badger to complete and process the order!! Totally bizarre service.
OK, first test for OPC Guildford and I have to say very impressed. This is going to sound very corny (and no they are not paying me) but they have done everything they can to sort out the few inevitable problems, courtesy BMW delivered to the door, service and sales worked together to sort it out. Car cleaned and delivered at agreed time. It is difficult to see how it could be better. This is the sort of service level that should be the norm across the board and I should not sound so surprised, but previous purchasing experiences from franchised dealers has been pretty poor with a few exceptions. OK...so far... but it is looking promising.
I like the endorphin rush comment. I have no doubt that there will be moments when I wished I had never seen it, but so far so good. Maybe more to tell with a few hard motoring months coming up.
Credit where its due. And no its not the silver one.
I like the endorphin rush comment. I have no doubt that there will be moments when I wished I had never seen it, but so far so good. Maybe more to tell with a few hard motoring months coming up.
Credit where its due. And no its not the silver one.
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