Courtesy car OPC Silverstone

[Squonk]

Having a warranty check and extension and have requested a courtesy car for the first time, do you always get a Porsche of some description?

[spyderman8]

The only time I didn't was when the car was trailered to them when the fuel pump failed - and I got an Astra with no petrol in it! You need to give plenty of notice and take at least one recent utility bill with you for proof of address.

[Squonk]

Booked three weeks ago for end of June so should be OK

[Callughan]

You need to have requested a car, I used to get some great Porsche to take home.

[S1MMA]

see here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Squonk]

Cayman Gen 2 in for warranty check etc. Carrera 911 (991) with 25 miles on the clock as a courtesy car.....superb, presently not looking to exchange though! No fuss some basics about the car then on my way, thanks to Mark at OPC Silverstone

7 manual gears takes a bit of getting used to, clutch bite is rather deep on the pedal, sport noise is awesome, haven't gone above 4000 revs and it has hopefully had a pleasant run down to Suffolk at a steady 75mph. Really like PASM too, but am perversely missing my Cayman, maybe my next Porsche will be a Cayman S Gen3

Buying a Cayman was a leap of faith driving a + £80k car is something else. All in all a fantastic experience. Would like to try a Panamera at some stage

[S1MMA]

good work, that beats my 997 Gen2 C4S cab courtesy car for a week!

[Squonk]

Day 2 really took to this car, found out what it was like above 4500 revs in third....incredible. Enjoyed the handling on the A1120. Picked up my little Cayman and as soon as I drove it I could really feel the difference more so today. However I will be happy to run my Cayman for another 18 months and take stock then as to what to do.

Excellent service from Silverstone OPC and Mark especially

[Koln-RS]

Not sure it's a good thing to get a Porsche as a courtesy car - slightly devalues the brand IMO.

Fine if you want to try a demonstrator, and they loan one, but a 991 courtesy car suggests they aren't selling too well.

I'd be happy with a VW Golf TDi.

[anonymous-user]

Koln-RS said:

Not sure it's a good thing to get a Porsche as a courtesy car - slightly devalues the brand IMO.

Think about it from a sales perspective, the OP likes Porsche enough to have bought a Cayman. Let's give him a taste of the more expensive model where we make higher margin so when it comes time to sell, the chances of him being interested in the 911 are much greater.

My dealer told me when I bought my car that he'll let me know when the 991 GT3 is in. Don't get your hopes up mate was my reply. I think that may also have been my wife's response when I tested the water on a GT3.

I wouldn't touch a demo car with a barge pole though and don't understand the 'thrash it because it's not mine' mentality.

[Squonk]

Well I certainly didn't red line to 8000 and a couple of blasts from 2000 to 6500 was the most it got when fully warmed up with 280 miles done. Yes the OPC are giving me a taste of something I may want to buy in the future and an invitation to try others as and when. Fantastic marketing on a prestige brand and yes they will keep me in the picture and in 18 months time they no doubt be very active. As a business i wouldnt expect anything less. This week 4 911(991) were available next week four Caymans may be on offer. I saw this as a privilege and looked after the car accordingly, have never driven a 911 before or even been in one. Didnt wish to be known as the person who destroyed a new 911 in 300 miles or worse still smashed it up! This cost me £25 plus a fuel refill and based on the experience will do same when the next service comes around. Great fun, much appreciated

Now a hire car is different!

[orbtar]

I'd be happy with a VW Golf TDi.

You wouldn't be happy with a Golf courtesy car if you had spent £95,000 on a new Cayenne Turbo and then had to wait months for a simple repair to be sorted out! Courtesy cars should be as good as, or better than the car in the garage, this isn't always practical but should be at least the same brand.

[DiscoColin]

Koln-RS said:

Not sure it's a good thing to get a Porsche as a courtesy car - slightly devalues the brand IMO.

Fine if you want to try a demonstrator, and they loan one, but a 991 courtesy car suggests they aren't selling too well.

I'd be happy with a VW Golf TDi.

That is a fairly absurd statement. Firstly, a significant portion of people who spend £50k-£100k+ on a car most certainly wouldn't be happy with a diesel Golf. Personally I wouldn't settle for anything with a diesel engine... Secondly, by putting someone in the latest model you get them thinking about acquisition, and more to the point - you make an existing customer able to tell all of their car buying friends what it is like. It is not about the sale today, but rather seeding prospective future business. Consider that for many people they may buy a Porsche and like it to the point that they never even consider moving on to something else - it is like a subtly enforced test drive to stimulate desire. Also - for customers with Pannys and Cayennes they need to be able to offer a loaner with at least the carrying capabilities of those cars (so a Golf would be out of the equation).

A 991 courtesy car does not suggest at all that they aren't selling to my mind though. It suggests that the dealer does not believe that their customers should have to tolerate a lesser car while the one that they spent a busload of cash on is being maintained. This is how all main dealers should operate - keep your customers in your brand. You don't create customer loyalty by making them drive something which they may hate.

[Zyp]

My Spyder had to go to my OPC to fix a sticking window.
The normal courtesy cars are Cayman's, but I asked in advance if I could have a new Boxster.

Not a problem, but they sold the demo the day before my appointment.

I'd have been happy to just take a Cayman to make it easier for them, but to their credit they rushed through the PDi/prep on their new Boxster demo just so I could take it for the day.