Portiacraft North London
Discussion
Hi new to this site I have read some of the mail re Portiacraft. I also asked for an inspection by a local garage when I bought my 993 6 months ago but they said that there was bad blood between all the local garages so I opted for Peter Morgan.
It was the most thorough inspection I have seen lots of pics comments.
He found lots of items that needed looking at and Portiacraft agreed to fix everything which they did with no haggling.Peter was very complimentary about this company and said he has inspected dozens of cars there and never rejected one. made me feel more confident.
Six months later and the car is still wonderful apart from destroying a rear wheel on a kerb.Portiacraft sent me one by courier for £200 probaly too dear but it was convinient.
Also I checked with my local opd and found that my car had not had a recall seen to so I booked it in and got a shed load of work done for free to the wiring brilliant.
My problem now is do I go for a 996 Portiacraft have offered me back 2 grand less than I paid for the car as I have seen a car local to me that looks interesting. Might give Peter Morgan a ring. However if Portiacraft had the right car I would definately buy from them.
Harry is not the friendliest guy but very knowledgeable however Martin who has been with him for 20 years is brilliant and very friendly.
It was the most thorough inspection I have seen lots of pics comments.
He found lots of items that needed looking at and Portiacraft agreed to fix everything which they did with no haggling.Peter was very complimentary about this company and said he has inspected dozens of cars there and never rejected one. made me feel more confident.
Six months later and the car is still wonderful apart from destroying a rear wheel on a kerb.Portiacraft sent me one by courier for £200 probaly too dear but it was convinient.
Also I checked with my local opd and found that my car had not had a recall seen to so I booked it in and got a shed load of work done for free to the wiring brilliant.
My problem now is do I go for a 996 Portiacraft have offered me back 2 grand less than I paid for the car as I have seen a car local to me that looks interesting. Might give Peter Morgan a ring. However if Portiacraft had the right car I would definately buy from them.
Harry is not the friendliest guy but very knowledgeable however Martin who has been with him for 20 years is brilliant and very friendly.
I have read all the comments and in all fairness only one guy actually bought a car from Portiacraft 5 years ago we do not know the whole story. All the negative posts seem to be about their attitude. They definately had the best selection when I was looking and yes my car did need a proper valet when I got it home but it was a terrific car and £2000 cheaper than anywhere else.
I have recently driven a 996 and feel for me anyway the drive is superior in terms of handling smoothness and perfomance, however it definately has lost something in the niose and feel. Also seems a lot flimsier. I am not totally convinced so will probably hang on to my 993 for a bit longer.
I have recently driven a 996 and feel for me anyway the drive is superior in terms of handling smoothness and perfomance, however it definately has lost something in the niose and feel. Also seems a lot flimsier. I am not totally convinced so will probably hang on to my 993 for a bit longer.
This should tell all, he is also the editor or one of them of Porsche and 911 World. He recently did a report on my car email me and Ill give you a feel for the sort of things he does.
Website below
www.petermorgan.org.uk/
Website below
www.petermorgan.org.uk/
I used Peter Morgan a few weeks ago after a recomendation on PH.
He was very good value and gave me loads of gfood advice over the phone before and after the inspection.
I was so confident in his appraisal of the car that I then bought it over the phone without even seeing it and have no regrets.
The written report is about 9 pages long and includes an hpi check.
He was very good value and gave me loads of gfood advice over the phone before and after the inspection.
I was so confident in his appraisal of the car that I then bought it over the phone without even seeing it and have no regrets.
The written report is about 9 pages long and includes an hpi check.
I bought my first 3.2 Carrera from Portiacraft a few years ago.
They're not the most helpfull bunch, but usually have a good stock of older 911's (3.2, 964, 993).
As mentioned they don't let you use certain independents to inspect your car, but they let me use Jaz in Wembley (I'd now use JZ Machtech in Kings Langley or Autofarm).
The car was great although I did have to spend money on the usual 3.2 items such as oil cooler pipes etc which do deteriorate over time.
Most older Porsches will have had some work done and may not be perfect that doesn't mean they're a bad car and can't be brought back to perfect (just understand the cost of doing so).
Go in with you eyes open, get it inspected and if you see anything you don't like the look of on a car walk away.
They're not the most helpfull bunch, but usually have a good stock of older 911's (3.2, 964, 993).
As mentioned they don't let you use certain independents to inspect your car, but they let me use Jaz in Wembley (I'd now use JZ Machtech in Kings Langley or Autofarm).
The car was great although I did have to spend money on the usual 3.2 items such as oil cooler pipes etc which do deteriorate over time.
Most older Porsches will have had some work done and may not be perfect that doesn't mean they're a bad car and can't be brought back to perfect (just understand the cost of doing so).
Go in with you eyes open, get it inspected and if you see anything you don't like the look of on a car walk away.
johnbrace said:
Hi new to this site I have read some of the mail re Portiacraft. I also asked for an inspection by a local garage when I bought my 993 6 months ago but they said that there was bad blood between all the local garages so I opted for Peter Morgan.
It was the most thorough inspection I have seen lots of pics comments.
He found lots of items that needed looking at and Portiacraft agreed to fix everything which they did with no haggling.Peter was very complimentary about this company and said he has inspected dozens of cars there and never rejected one. made me feel more confident.
Six months later and the car is still wonderful apart from destroying a rear wheel on a kerb.Portiacraft sent me one by courier for £200 probaly too dear but it was convinient.
Also I checked with my local opd and found that my car had not had a recall seen to so I booked it in and got a shed load of work done for free to the wiring brilliant.
My problem now is do I go for a 996 Portiacraft have offered me back 2 grand less than I paid for the car as I have seen a car local to me that looks interesting. Might give Peter Morgan a ring. However if Portiacraft had the right car I would definately buy from them.
Harry is not the friendliest guy but very knowledgeable however Martin who has been with him for 20 years is brilliant and very friendly.
I wonder what they would have done to the car without Peter's inspection?
Peter's got a good reputation; I suspect that once he's inspected the car the dealer's between a rock and a hard place. If they don't fix the flaws you'll walk and they'll get a slightly tarnished reputation. If they do fix the flaws they have to eat the cost. All good stuff for the buyer though.
I'd get an inspection done regardless of who you're buying from. It appears to have been worth it first go around with Portiacraft and might well be second time as well.
i thought that i would also add my comments to portiacraft to make people realise who portiacraft really are.
i checked the car, and they said they will service it, put an MOT, and get the air conditioning working again (as it only blew hot air out) before i collect the car. i asked them to complete all these 3 issues before i put deposit down but they just gave me the cold shoulder and told me to go away literally. said "if u dont want it dont buy it".
i wanted them to at least service it and repair the air con as i knew that second hand car will have a few issues and need attending and the fact the air con problem may be more severe. but they refused to and was confident that the air con only needs a top up. so i thought ok if they are confident and promised that they would complete all 3 issues within the sale price eventually i coughed up deposit as i seriously wanted and saved up long time. and wanted to get things going.
i put deposit down; and next day i received a call as i suspected. hello sir, air con motor something was gone and rather then just a £60 top up would require whole new unit at 600. WTF!! i knew this would happen... we got into arguement that this is why i put deposit down within the agreed sale price for a working car. he complained oh its not what i expected bla bla. but this was not my problem. if their mechanic gave the air con a simple check they could have at least found out the issue with the air con.
eventually they said they will absorb this cost, great! and no additional charge to me.
when i collected the car, i tried to adjust seat bracket to my height but it was broken the porsche stupid back rest wasnt able to adjust as some sub frame was broken so i couldnt push seat forward and i couldnt reach the pedals. i told portiacraft and they would get me a new seat from scrappy or something...
after 10min driving. white smoke came from bonnet. having just paid off the remaining 60,0000.00 in bloody cash. i called them immediately they said its ok, and i was like how is it ok when smoke is coming out!!! he said oh my technician accidently spilt engine oil down side of manifold whilst he was servicing it.... i was like WTF is that the quality of your service....why didnt u tell me what i collected my car.... as my suspicions arouse... then when i got home i checked the service book, idiot never stamped it so i had to return to get it stamped ... stupid bugger. ...
so i then got suspicious about the mot certificate, and did my basic mot checks ... found out number plate lights not working so how did it pass mot!?!?!?!?!
took car back to them next day and refused to drive it further as the smoke could be serious. left the car with them for day and their technician did a 60 mile drive to burn off the remaining engine oil off the manifold.
collected car, but this time was plastic smell... so i asked them again, whats the plastic smell... they said oh as my technican took car for a drive and a tesco bag got trap under manifold as engine oil sticky thus it started to burn tesco bag as well!!! oh my god, more greif!!
so i drove the car for half an hour, then all these engine diagnostics lights/symbols and hand brake exclamation mark came on when i was driving. i looked for the user guide as i know i asked for the manual and they confirmed it has one, no user guide in glove box, phone portiacraft yet again.. they said oh they have mis placed it so they said they would send to me in post if they find out. never received it. eventually i came to conclusion car was too dangerous to drive and had to part exchange for a new car, and lost 11,000 in the process within 2 weeks.
so i bought a car probaly with a dodgy service, dodgy MOT, with 1 key only, with night club smoke machine under the engine ......had to report them to trading standards... would never buy from them again even if i won the lotto. if i did, i would buy portiacraft company out and crush all their cars as i dont think their probaly road legal.
i checked the car, and they said they will service it, put an MOT, and get the air conditioning working again (as it only blew hot air out) before i collect the car. i asked them to complete all these 3 issues before i put deposit down but they just gave me the cold shoulder and told me to go away literally. said "if u dont want it dont buy it".
i wanted them to at least service it and repair the air con as i knew that second hand car will have a few issues and need attending and the fact the air con problem may be more severe. but they refused to and was confident that the air con only needs a top up. so i thought ok if they are confident and promised that they would complete all 3 issues within the sale price eventually i coughed up deposit as i seriously wanted and saved up long time. and wanted to get things going.
i put deposit down; and next day i received a call as i suspected. hello sir, air con motor something was gone and rather then just a £60 top up would require whole new unit at 600. WTF!! i knew this would happen... we got into arguement that this is why i put deposit down within the agreed sale price for a working car. he complained oh its not what i expected bla bla. but this was not my problem. if their mechanic gave the air con a simple check they could have at least found out the issue with the air con.
eventually they said they will absorb this cost, great! and no additional charge to me.
when i collected the car, i tried to adjust seat bracket to my height but it was broken the porsche stupid back rest wasnt able to adjust as some sub frame was broken so i couldnt push seat forward and i couldnt reach the pedals. i told portiacraft and they would get me a new seat from scrappy or something...
after 10min driving. white smoke came from bonnet. having just paid off the remaining 60,0000.00 in bloody cash. i called them immediately they said its ok, and i was like how is it ok when smoke is coming out!!! he said oh my technician accidently spilt engine oil down side of manifold whilst he was servicing it.... i was like WTF is that the quality of your service....why didnt u tell me what i collected my car.... as my suspicions arouse... then when i got home i checked the service book, idiot never stamped it so i had to return to get it stamped ... stupid bugger. ...
so i then got suspicious about the mot certificate, and did my basic mot checks ... found out number plate lights not working so how did it pass mot!?!?!?!?!
took car back to them next day and refused to drive it further as the smoke could be serious. left the car with them for day and their technician did a 60 mile drive to burn off the remaining engine oil off the manifold.
collected car, but this time was plastic smell... so i asked them again, whats the plastic smell... they said oh as my technican took car for a drive and a tesco bag got trap under manifold as engine oil sticky thus it started to burn tesco bag as well!!! oh my god, more greif!!
so i drove the car for half an hour, then all these engine diagnostics lights/symbols and hand brake exclamation mark came on when i was driving. i looked for the user guide as i know i asked for the manual and they confirmed it has one, no user guide in glove box, phone portiacraft yet again.. they said oh they have mis placed it so they said they would send to me in post if they find out. never received it. eventually i came to conclusion car was too dangerous to drive and had to part exchange for a new car, and lost 11,000 in the process within 2 weeks.
so i bought a car probaly with a dodgy service, dodgy MOT, with 1 key only, with night club smoke machine under the engine ......had to report them to trading standards... would never buy from them again even if i won the lotto. if i did, i would buy portiacraft company out and crush all their cars as i dont think their probaly road legal.
Troll alert!!! paid £60,000.00 in cash!!!!
I have dealt with Portiacraft and whilst neither Harry or his sidekick would win personality awards, they did honour their 6000 mile no quibble, no timelimit warranty on my 996 and the price was exceptional for the car. I know for a fact they made a profit of £3k on the car and I receieved at least £800 of warranty work on the car. No complaints at all
I have dealt with Portiacraft and whilst neither Harry or his sidekick would win personality awards, they did honour their 6000 mile no quibble, no timelimit warranty on my 996 and the price was exceptional for the car. I know for a fact they made a profit of £3k on the car and I receieved at least £800 of warranty work on the car. No complaints at all
DirkDiggler said:
cv65user said:
eventually i came to conclusion car was too dangerous to drive and had to part exchange for a new car, and lost 11,000 in the process within 2 weeks.
why didn't you return the car to Portiacraft as "not fit for purpose"?Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff