Are GT waiting lists a total carve up?

[DouglasAllen]

Having had a very bad experience with the waiting list system for a GT3, I'm beginning to think the waiting list for GT cars is a total carve up. Off the back of some very unprofessional dealings with Porsche Cambridge I have lost all faith in the system. the salesman took my 10k deposit for a future GT3 in summer 2015 on the understanding I would join the waiting list in 7th place. He even convinced me to move my deposit from another dealer in the south of England as I would be higher up the queue than where I was elsewhere. In subsequent phone calls with the fool, my position on the list had somehow slipped to 9th and then on another call 10th, he couldn't even keep his story straight as he had forgotten what he had said previously . I have no doubt this individual lied to me in order to obtain the deposit, and frankly I will never deal with Porsche Cambridge in the future. I have since reclaimed my deposit as I'm not going to deal with people who want to do business in this unprofessional manner, pure spivvery.

Are these GT3 waiting lists actually fair in any way, or is this a total carve up?! Obviously I don't mind waiting for a car, but I am not prepared to be lied to, especially when Im handing over 10k and not getting a penny of interest (not that the bank pays much!).

Interested in hearing other people's views on the waiting list system, and perhaps point me in the direction of a more trustworthy dealer.

thanks

[mdianuk]

I'm absolutely sure these dealers will prioritise their key customers first, even bumping them up the list and favouring those that chop in their cayennes every 6 months; ultimately they are a business and will sell to whom they feel offers them the biggest return, be that repeat purchases, servicing, flipping etc. It isn't all bad though, I managed to order a GT4 after being late to the party and told no by 33 OPC's; one said yes and having never purchased or dealt with them before, eventually transpired that they saw how enthusiastic I was about the brand and how as a fairly local dealer they would likely have me servicing the car with them etc. They did stipulate that I must register the car in my name and must collect it in person; which I'm impressed at least suggests they are trying to ensure keepers, not flippers.

[AndyCGTS]

I was told by my local OPC that after the dealer was sued, they are no longer accepting deposits before the car is released. So I've now been informed it's down the management to choose and I was told I had no chance of obtaining a GT car.

[m33ufo]

DouglasAllen said:

.....the salesman took my 10k deposit for a future GT3 in summer 2015....

I'm surprised that an OPC took your deposit for a car that doesn't actually exist yet? I know mine won't until the model has been announced.

Also, I'm not entirely sure that the LOI system has any real value. A dealer is always going to supply customers they have history with and who have purchased cars from them previously.

[Upnorthgt3]

Of course it's a carve up - like a lot of things in business, it's about relationships - those with better relationships get 1st dibs!!

I was 'on the list' for a GT4 with a local OPC and on the day when they were released for sale, a friend with a strong history of new car purchases rung up that day and got 2nd on the list, significantly 'ahead' of me despite me having a LOI in for months

Job done, don't be suprised - it's how the world works, although it's admittedly majorly unfair........

[mdianuk]

m33ufo said:

A dealer is always going to supply customers they have history with and who have purchased cars from them previously.

Not in my case

[Cheib]

Upnorthgt3 said:

Of course it's a carve up - like a lot of things in business, it's about relationships - those with better relationships get 1st dibs!!

I was 'on the list' for a GT4 with a local OPC and on the day when they were released for sale, a friend with a strong history of new car purchases rung up that day and got 2nd on the list, significantly 'ahead' of me despite me having a LOI in for months

Job done, don't be suprised - it's how the world works, although it's admittedly majorly unfair........

Yup. Always has been and always will be! Any business will always look after its best customers. That might not be fair but that's the way any business works.

I am sure half the people that moan about not getting allocated these cars have screwed dealers to the floor when they've bought cars or bought cars from a wide variety of OPC rather than showing loyalty to one. People want to build good relationships...you have to leave something on the table when you do a deal.

Ferrari are almost worse. When you eventually do get allocated one of these cars you get told (fairly bluntly) that unless you tick plenty of profitable boxes your car will take an awfully long time to arrive!

[m33ufo]

mdianuk said:

Not in my case

You must have been taking lucky pills.

I stick to my local OPC and hope for the best.

[Porsche911R]

mdianuk said:

Not in my case

You were very lucky and a one off.

Future sales on these type of cars after all this flipping mean no loi, no deposits, no lists etc etc.

The DP will choose who get a car and on bases will be if you part ex your own one, you are local and you have history.

Ie good history not a flipper which seems like 30% of sales so far.

Edited by Porsche911R on Saturday 20th February 23:10

[v8ksn]

I have been a Porsche fanboy from my playground days but the only Porsches I have ever bought with my own money have been 997 C2S from RSJ and a 997.1 GT3 privately.

Porsche have never seen any cash from me apart from servicing and warranty work.

If they ever make a new manual GT3 that I like the look of and want to buy I have no doubt that I have a snowball's chance in hell of getting the opportunity to buy a new one

[throt]

m33ufo said:

You must have been taking lucky pills.

I stick to my local OPC and hope for the best.

I got lucky.

My first P is my 991 GT3. There is more to it than just a list of names when acquiring one..

[SidewaysSi]

I'm getting a GT4 but have never bought a new car, let alone any Porsche.

[LordHaveMurci]

throt said:

I got lucky.

My first P is my 991 GT3. There is more to it than just a list of names when acquiring one..

It's not what you know eh

[mdianuk]

Porsche911R said:

You were very lucky and a one off.

Nah, not so much luck, hard effort on my part approaching all 34 OPC's time and time again, though granted being 'localish' to the dealer certainly seems to have played a part, but enthusiasm significantly more. I know of quite a few that have managed to achieve build slots in the same way, some of which I helped them with.

[Porsche911R]

mdianuk said:

Nah, not so much luck, hard effort on my part approaching all 34 OPC's time and time again, though granted being 'localish' to the dealer certainly seems to have played a part, but enthusiasm significantly more. I know of quite a few that have managed to achieve build slots in the same way, some of which I helped them with.

but only after Porsche released another 150 odd cars.
and hence finding a slot in the end.

Same with a lot of late people coming in on the 981 Spyder, each dealer got quite a few more my OPC got 7 Spyders !

[RSVP911]

Porsche911R said:

but only after Porsche released another 150 odd cars.
and hence finding a slot in the end.

Same with a lot of late people coming in on the 981 Spyder, each dealer got quite a few more my OPC got 7 Spyders !

Well that's 7 extremely lucky people - it's a bloody awesome machine the Spyder

[Porsche911R]

RSVP911 said:

Well that's 7 extremely lucky people - it's a bloody awesome machine the Spyder

It's ok :-), but not quite as good as the old one ;-p

[acey81]

I've bought my two Porsches from two different dealerships a long way from home due to supply (or lack of). If Porsches exciting cars are so difficult to get hold of, how are you supposed to build a relationship? I have very little interest in buying Cayennes, Macans (although I tried, quoted 18 months waiting list) or Panameras to be able to be in a position to buy a car I actually want? Luckily I was still able to get a GT-car, but the whole system needs reworking. I do agree that loyal customers, especially those who represent the brand, should obviously get something for it. But surely they should be equally interested in getting more proper enthusiast and petrolheads to the brand?

[DouglasAllen]

acey81 said:

I've bought my two Porsches from two different dealerships a long way from home due to supply (or lack of). If Porsches exciting cars are so difficult to get hold of, how are you supposed to build a relationship? I have very little interest in buying Cayennes, Macans (although I tried, quoted 18 months waiting list) or Panameras to be able to be in a position to buy a car I actually want? Luckily I was still able to get a GT-car, but the whole system needs reworking. I do agree that loyal customers, especially those who represent the brand, should obviously get something for it. But surely they should be equally interested in getting more proper enthusiast and petrolheads to the brand?

this exactly my sentiments. by prioritising existing customers porsche are potentially limiting the new customers to the brand. I'm happy waiting but when some spiv at porsche cambridge lies just to get my £10k deposit it just proves that the system needs to be reworked, it also refelcts very badly on the brand. I dont know why a waiting list cant exist at the national level. GT3 has been my dream car since I was 16 (i know sounds naff), and now in my late 20s I'm in a position to buy one, I just think it's not going to happen as the waiting system is a total fix, and i wasted 7-8 months being led down the proverbial path.

Edited by DouglasAllen on Sunday 21st February 17:53

[sidicks]

Porsche911R said:

You were very lucky and a one off.

Not true.