Porsche breakdown cover and onward travel in Europe
Discussion
My 991.2 has decided Irma had enough and has packed up in Germany, 400km from tonight’s destination in Dresden.
Porsche assist have been called and somebody will be here within 90mins. Can’t see it being fixed so will be taken to dealer to look at tomorrow.
I have another week left of my trip across multiple countries but the guy at Porsche assist suggested any replacement car could only be used in the country it is issued?!
I really want to complete my trip, ideally in a nice car, but from what he says it seems that’s not likely but nor would be getting home if I can’t leave Germany in car.
Anyone experience similar?
What if it takes weeks for them to fix the car? How do I get it back?
Why does this have to happen on a Sunday
Porsche assist have been called and somebody will be here within 90mins. Can’t see it being fixed so will be taken to dealer to look at tomorrow.
I have another week left of my trip across multiple countries but the guy at Porsche assist suggested any replacement car could only be used in the country it is issued?!
I really want to complete my trip, ideally in a nice car, but from what he says it seems that’s not likely but nor would be getting home if I can’t leave Germany in car.
Anyone experience similar?
What if it takes weeks for them to fix the car? How do I get it back?
Why does this have to happen on a Sunday
One of the guys on my last club trip to the factory had a similar problem. Car broke down in Belgium on the way to the factory. He had a loan car (Opel, so don’t get too excited), which he used to continue the trip to Germany, Italy and (I think) Switzerland and France. I think the car ended up being shipped back to the uk to be fixed.
As an aside, despite it being a trip to the factory, Porsche themselves were not very helpful, despite it being the relatively well known 991.2 turbo problem.
As an aside, despite it being a trip to the factory, Porsche themselves were not very helpful, despite it being the relatively well known 991.2 turbo problem.
eric1000 said:
One of the guys on my last club trip to the factory had a similar problem. Car broke down in Belgium on the way to the factory. He had a loan car (Opel, so don’t get too excited), which he used to continue the trip to Germany, Italy and (I think) Switzerland and France. I think the car ended up being shipped back to the uk to be fixed.
As an aside, despite it being a trip to the factory, Porsche themselves were not very helpful, despite it being the relatively well known 991.2 turbo problem.
Did he end up driving the hire car back to the UK or did he have to drop it at an airport and fly back?As an aside, despite it being a trip to the factory, Porsche themselves were not very helpful, despite it being the relatively well known 991.2 turbo problem.
I feel for you. My 991.2 turbos let go on a trip to Germany on the autobahn. Waited two hours on a Saturday morning for a low loader to arrive, and myself and the car were then taken to the recovery depot. There was no plan in place for me beyond that so I had to phone Porsche Assist again. They said they’d arrange a hire car but it would be difficult as it was a weekend! I waited a couple of hours with various calls too and fro but still no hire car (they also said that I couldn’t take it out of Germany). I asked about a taxi to my hotel (I was with friends with cars so I could eventually passenger with them) but they said it was too far away (about 45 mins). In the end the depot called a local taxi and I paid for it myself. Interestingly, my wife’s car is with RAC and they allow up to c.£130 for a taxi trip - when I later made this point to Porsche Assist they did reimburse me the taxi cost.
The car was taken to Porsche Cologne on the Monday and repatriation to the UK arranged from there. It took approximately one month to get to the UK and then three weeks for the repair.
Good luck.
The car was taken to Porsche Cologne on the Monday and repatriation to the UK arranged from there. It took approximately one month to get to the UK and then three weeks for the repair.
Good luck.
When we broke down in Southern Italy. we were given a French registered hire car for use on the continent but then to drop it at the channel ferry terminal, go across as foot passengers then pick up another hire car once you arrive back in the UK. Been there done that ( albeit not with Porsche )
in my experience most hire car companies do not let you drop off a UK car on the continent and vice versa because of the steering wheel. I asked a few (I think it was pre-Brexit) and the cost was exorbitant due to them then having to ship the car back.
I am pretty sure you can take hire cars across EU borders without issue, but not into all countries due to insurance cover. As an example on my fully comp insurance Italy is (or at least was at some point in the past) not covered (and neither are most CEE countries), need to get written approval first. Have not had issues with taking a German rental car to Austria though and I think quite a few people do that when they go skiing etc.
On the continent you tend to not get a like for like replacement car. When my Ferrari broke down and (under warranty) and parts could not be sourced for multiple months, I asked if I could get a car and they basically said no - I think they offered me a small car for the first couple of days, but after that my own problem.
I am pretty sure you can take hire cars across EU borders without issue, but not into all countries due to insurance cover. As an example on my fully comp insurance Italy is (or at least was at some point in the past) not covered (and neither are most CEE countries), need to get written approval first. Have not had issues with taking a German rental car to Austria though and I think quite a few people do that when they go skiing etc.
On the continent you tend to not get a like for like replacement car. When my Ferrari broke down and (under warranty) and parts could not be sourced for multiple months, I asked if I could get a car and they basically said no - I think they offered me a small car for the first couple of days, but after that my own problem.
DeuceDeuce said:
Did he end up driving the hire car back to the UK or did he have to drop it at an airport and fly back?
I think he had to leave the car on the continent and pick up another in the uk. As said elsewhere bringing a LHD hire car across (particularly to outside the EU) would be unlikely.Sorry to hear of your problems, but hopefully you will get sorted. 🤞
MrHappy said:
I feel for you. My 991.2 turbos let go on a trip to Germany on the autobahn. Waited two hours on a Saturday morning for a low loader to arrive, and myself and the car were then taken to the recovery depot. There was no plan in place for me beyond that so I had to phone Porsche Assist again. They said they’d arrange a hire car but it would be difficult as it was a weekend! I waited a couple of hours with various calls too and fro but still no hire car (they also said that I couldn’t take it out of Germany). I asked about a taxi to my hotel (I was with friends with cars so I could eventually passenger with them) but they said it was too far away (about 45 mins). In the end the depot called a local taxi and I paid for it myself. Interestingly, my wife’s car is with RAC and they allow up to c.£130 for a taxi trip - when I later made this point to Porsche Assist they did reimburse me the taxi cost.
The car was taken to Porsche Cologne on the Monday and repatriation to the UK arranged from there. It took approximately one month to get to the UK and then three weeks for the repair.
Good luck.
I had to wait 4 hours for the recovery low loader. Wasn’t expecting to have to steer my own vehicle on to the low loader. Nice enough guy, didn’t speak any English and I guess was just tasked with getting the car somewhere safe o/n so it can get taken to Porsche tomorrow. But he basically just left me stranded outside a closed depot. Porsche assistance were beyond useless. The car was taken to Porsche Cologne on the Monday and repatriation to the UK arranged from there. It took approximately one month to get to the UK and then three weeks for the repair.
Good luck.
They totally failed to arrange me a hire car and taxi to said hire car over a period of 6 hours or more. I’m fuming over their incompetence and attitude. Nobody gave a damn about the fact I was in the middle of nowhere with my bags, no food/water/shelter/toilet. All I got from them was ‘the club’ are looking into it….
I told Porsche Assist at 11am that they should arrange for a hire car from Frankfurt airport as that was the closest place that would be open and get a taxi sorted.
About 6 hours later my wife got it arranged in about 10 mins including a local taxi.
An hour or so later I picked up a Kia Sportage (terrible) and set off to Dresden.
Other than being pulled over by the German police for a ‘open borders’ check of the car & my luggage it was an uneventful but boring drive.
F**k Porsche & f**k Porsche Assist.
Scant consolation now, but make sure you keep all receipts and approx time/date of interactions with them. Email them on your return to the UK and they’ll send you a claim form. I filled in basic details on the form and attached an A4 sheet of the timeline and costs - I was pleasantly surprised (from low expectations) how much they reimbursed me.
Porsche Cologne offered to repair the car for me but I wanted it to be repaired by my local OPC in the UK. Repatriation to my OPC took a month and, due to back order on parts, the repair was about three weeks. Both turbos were replaced.
Porsche Cologne offered to repair the car for me but I wanted it to be repaired by my local OPC in the UK. Repatriation to my OPC took a month and, due to back order on parts, the repair was about three weeks. Both turbos were replaced.
MrHappy said:
Scant consolation now, but make sure you keep all receipts and approx time/date of interactions with them. Email them on your return to the UK and they’ll send you a claim form. I filled in basic details on the form and attached an A4 sheet of the timeline and costs - I was pleasantly surprised (from low expectations) how much they reimbursed me.
Porsche Cologne offered to repair the car for me but I wanted it to be repaired by my local OPC in the UK. Repatriation to my OPC took a month and, due to back order on parts, the repair was about three weeks. Both turbos were replaced.
Just had it confirmed it’s the turbos on my car. On back order. Nobody’s been in touch to ask me if I want it fixed in Germany or the UK though. Had to chase the OPC in Germany today. Probably best to get it fixed in the UK in terms of comms and future issues you think? Porsche Cologne offered to repair the car for me but I wanted it to be repaired by my local OPC in the UK. Repatriation to my OPC took a month and, due to back order on parts, the repair was about three weeks. Both turbos were replaced.
I had the oil feed pipes replaced just after my European road trip last May. The guy in the service centre (who was days away from leaving Porsche) told me that 90% of cars that just have the pipes replaced are back in to get the turbos done within a few hundred miles. Porsche know this but keep letting people down with their approach.
Both the times I had smoke was after doing a fairly constant 200kmph on the autoroute for 20 mins or so.
DeuceDeuce said:
Just had it confirmed it’s the turbos on my car. On back order. Nobody’s been in touch to ask me if I want it fixed in Germany or the UK though. Had to chase the OPC in Germany today. Probably best to get it fixed in the UK in terms of comms and future issues you think?
I had the oil feed pipes replaced just after my European road trip last May. The guy in the service centre (who was days away from leaving Porsche) told me that 90% of cars that just have the pipes replaced are back in to get the turbos done within a few hundred miles. Porsche know this but keep letting people down with their approach.
Both the times I had smoke was after doing a fairly constant 200kmph on the autoroute for 20 mins or so.
Porsche are not great in terms of service (Ferrari dealer was much much more helpful when I was still a customer there) - called my OPC a few weeks ago because I can't get my battery charged. They promised somebody would call me back - never happened. Sent an email yesterday evening explaining the issue and asking for help, so far no reply... I did not buy the car from them, but they are servicing it. I had the oil feed pipes replaced just after my European road trip last May. The guy in the service centre (who was days away from leaving Porsche) told me that 90% of cars that just have the pipes replaced are back in to get the turbos done within a few hundred miles. Porsche know this but keep letting people down with their approach.
Both the times I had smoke was after doing a fairly constant 200kmph on the autoroute for 20 mins or so.
I called my local OPC yesterday to see if they had much experience with overseas breakdowns and what’s likely to happen.
The guy I spoke to could see on his system the information the people at the German OPC had put in and all the part orders etc That surprised me.
He promised to call me back with some more information which he did today and it seems the parts will be with the German OPC next weeks and the repair will be done in the following days. Sounds promising but not getting too hopeful. Very happy with the service from the service guy from my OPC though.
Not sure how I’m getting my car back to the UK yet.
Managed to get an indicated 196kmph in the1.6l Hybrid Kia Sportage on the autobahn today. Really not looking forward to driving back in the UK. It really is too busy and the roads are dreadful.
The guy I spoke to could see on his system the information the people at the German OPC had put in and all the part orders etc That surprised me.
He promised to call me back with some more information which he did today and it seems the parts will be with the German OPC next weeks and the repair will be done in the following days. Sounds promising but not getting too hopeful. Very happy with the service from the service guy from my OPC though.
Not sure how I’m getting my car back to the UK yet.
Managed to get an indicated 196kmph in the1.6l Hybrid Kia Sportage on the autobahn today. Really not looking forward to driving back in the UK. It really is too busy and the roads are dreadful.
If I was relying on Porsche Assist to update me I would still have no idea what is wrong with my car and when I might expect it back or what my options are.
As I’m in touch with the German OPC where my car is I have had a couple of updates and as well as the turbo being being replaced, the catalytic converter has also been damaged and needs to be replaced. No timescales as the cc is on back order.
I really can’t stress enough how poor Porsche Assist / AA have been.
As I’m in touch with the German OPC where my car is I have had a couple of updates and as well as the turbo being being replaced, the catalytic converter has also been damaged and needs to be replaced. No timescales as the cc is on back order.
I really can’t stress enough how poor Porsche Assist / AA have been.
DeuceDeuce said:
If I was relying on Porsche Assist to update me I would still have no idea what is wrong with my car and when I might expect it back or what my options are.
As I’m in touch with the German OPC where my car is I have had a couple of updates and as well as the turbo being being replaced, the catalytic converter has also been damaged and needs to be replaced. No timescales as the cc is on back order.
I really can’t stress enough how poor Porsche Assist / AA have been.
Good service seems to be a thing of the past unfortunately. We got LR Assist with our latest LR purchase and they are pretty useless, essentially fob you off to the local dealer who cant even look at the car for 2-3 months let alone fix it! As I’m in touch with the German OPC where my car is I have had a couple of updates and as well as the turbo being being replaced, the catalytic converter has also been damaged and needs to be replaced. No timescales as the cc is on back order.
I really can’t stress enough how poor Porsche Assist / AA have been.
Very sorry to hear about your experience OP. It reminds me of when my Range Rover broke down on the way to the French Alps. I ended up with a hire car which I couldn't take back to the UK and must have spent hours on the phone with the travel insurance company.
It does sound like the OPC in Germany is on top of the repair and they are sharing info with your local OPC. Land Rover in France didn't have a clue and after my car sat with them for a couple of months, I finally got it back to my local dealer (by which time the "gearbox fault" had cleared, but that's another story).
It does sound like the OPC in Germany is on top of the repair and they are sharing info with your local OPC. Land Rover in France didn't have a clue and after my car sat with them for a couple of months, I finally got it back to my local dealer (by which time the "gearbox fault" had cleared, but that's another story).
EdJ said:
Very sorry to hear about your experience OP. It reminds me of when my Range Rover broke down on the way to the French Alps. I ended up with a hire car which I couldn't take back to the UK and must have spent hours on the phone with the travel insurance company.
It does sound like the OPC in Germany is on top of the repair and they are sharing info with your local OPC. Land Rover in France didn't have a clue and after my car sat with them for a couple of months, I finally got it back to my local dealer (by which time the "gearbox fault" had cleared, but that's another story).
German OPC WhatsApp’d me today to say the car was repaired and ready for collection. I left it a while to see if I would hear from Porsche Assist (AA) but heard nothing for over an hour and I wanted to get my car back so got in touch with Porsche Assist (AA) to see what the options were and it was such a struggle. I had the T&Cs in front of me whilst talking to Porsche Assist (AA) and they clearly had no idea what I was entitled to in terms of either getting the car back to the UK or me collecting it. It does sound like the OPC in Germany is on top of the repair and they are sharing info with your local OPC. Land Rover in France didn't have a clue and after my car sat with them for a couple of months, I finally got it back to my local dealer (by which time the "gearbox fault" had cleared, but that's another story).
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