To OPC or Not to OPC ?
Discussion
....that is the question!
Due the 8 year major service on the Cayman R (currently at 38.3k miles), and at the OPC its going to be in the region of £1200 with brake fluids, plugs (well.......they have covered 8000 miles since the last change 4 yrs ago), airbag/engine mount checks...... etc.
Pie Performance in Suffolk are quoting considerably less - not far off 50% less. I have extended Porsche warranty and I have confirmed with the warranty customer services team that as long as Pie follow Porsche service schedules and use genuine parts then there is no problem with invalidating the cover.
This would be the first work undertaken outside of the OPC network.
So..... to OPC or Not to OPC ?
Due the 8 year major service on the Cayman R (currently at 38.3k miles), and at the OPC its going to be in the region of £1200 with brake fluids, plugs (well.......they have covered 8000 miles since the last change 4 yrs ago), airbag/engine mount checks...... etc.
Pie Performance in Suffolk are quoting considerably less - not far off 50% less. I have extended Porsche warranty and I have confirmed with the warranty customer services team that as long as Pie follow Porsche service schedules and use genuine parts then there is no problem with invalidating the cover.
This would be the first work undertaken outside of the OPC network.
So..... to OPC or Not to OPC ?
s3 akr said:
....that is the question!
Due the 8 year major service on the Cayman R (currently at 38.3k miles), and at the OPC its going to be in the region of £1200 with brake fluids, plugs (well.......they have covered 8000 miles since the last change 4 yrs ago), airbag/engine mount checks...... etc.
Pie Performance in Suffolk are quoting considerably less - not far off 50% less. I have extended Porsche warranty and I have confirmed with the warranty customer services team that as long as Pie follow Porsche service schedules and use genuine parts then there is no problem with invalidating the cover.
This would be the first work undertaken outside of the OPC network.
So..... to OPC or Not to OPC ?
Stay OPC, it has a nice history and prices are firm in the model.Due the 8 year major service on the Cayman R (currently at 38.3k miles), and at the OPC its going to be in the region of £1200 with brake fluids, plugs (well.......they have covered 8000 miles since the last change 4 yrs ago), airbag/engine mount checks...... etc.
Pie Performance in Suffolk are quoting considerably less - not far off 50% less. I have extended Porsche warranty and I have confirmed with the warranty customer services team that as long as Pie follow Porsche service schedules and use genuine parts then there is no problem with invalidating the cover.
This would be the first work undertaken outside of the OPC network.
So..... to OPC or Not to OPC ?
TBH, 600 saving is nothing, OPC will have the car in, anything under the warranty will be picked up covered and recoded.
The support of the OPC will be right behind you, and if I was buying your car a set of OPC stamps would seal the deal.
£600 really is not worth it, you know that in your heart I’m sure.
The support of the OPC will be right behind you, and if I was buying your car a set of OPC stamps would seal the deal.
£600 really is not worth it, you know that in your heart I’m sure.
GT4RS said:
Full OPC service history is worth far more than the £600 possible saving!
OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
The warranty is covered as long as the specialist uses OEM parts and follows the Porsche maintenance plan. It might be a false economy to go outside of OPC but with my car having 38k miles on it, I'm not sure if that makes a huge difference to those that would be considering buying it in the future. If it were a 20k miler or less then I'd have no hesitation at keeping it OPC.OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
mr pg said:
You need to make more use of those spark plugs!
Agreed!! I think I'll keep the old ones and ebay them!!s3 akr said:
GT4RS said:
Full OPC service history is worth far more than the £600 possible saving!
OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
The warranty is covered as long as the specialist uses OEM parts and follows the Porsche maintenance plan. It might be a false economy to go outside of OPC but with my car having 38k miles on it, I'm not sure if that makes a huge difference to those that would be considering buying it in the future. If it were a 20k miler or less then I'd have no hesitation at keeping it OPC.OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
mr pg said:
You need to make more use of those spark plugs!
Agreed!! I think I'll keep the old ones and ebay them!!you also loose the body work warranty once out the network as that also is part of the 2 year service inc. body work check for the 10 or 15 year body.
I would not buy an R without a full set of OPC stamps as the cars a rare car. who know it could be the next 964 RS and it's £40k now but might be £140k one day, why skimp on a car which is free to run , also that's why I would not buy a car with out OPC stamps, as buyers say "why did he skimp there" "what else has the seller skimped on"
if it's a keeper get an indy to do it, but again, it would have to be RPM or JZM etc etc to make a sale easy later on, not some local garage.
Porsche911R said:
if it's a keeper get an indy to do it, but again, it would have to be RPM or JZM etc etc to make a sale easy later on, not some local garage.
+1 absolutely.It's OPC's that skimp. My last OPC service was total rubbish, damaged my paintwork, didn't know what the oil pressure gauge was supposed to read, were shut for the day when I went to collect at the arranged time (9.30am).
I'm going RPM from now on. Still won't make for an easy sale to a "normal" buyer who's never heard of RPM but at least research will tell them they're OK, if they still are. A buyer will always (wrongly) assume an OPC will be the best there is... until they themselves have dealings with one.
Edited by DJMC on Friday 16th August 12:32
Porsche911R said:
you loose the good will from Porsche once you go elsewhere though, so any claim which is suspect will get refused where if you stay all OPC you get good will.
you also loose the body work warranty once out the network as that also is part of the 2 year service inc. body work check for the 10 or 15 year body.
I would not buy an R without a full set of OPC stamps as the cars a rare car. who know it could be the next 964 RS and it's £40k now but might be £140k one day, why skimp on a car which is free to run , also that's why I would not buy a car with out OPC stamps, as buyers say "why did he skimp there" "what else has the seller skimped on"
if it's a keeper get an indy to do it, but again, it would have to be RPM or JZM etc etc to make a sale easy later on, not some local garage.
I get what you say here but what if the indie was a porsche specialist? Parr Porsche (where I bought mine) have maintained it from well before I bought it. They are technical advisors to Porsche GB racing. How much better can a company be? I doubt that there are any OPC's with as much knowledge and skill as they have. Having said that, most owners will say that they prefer to buy with a full PSH. I don't have the same view but it will depend on the indie that has maintained it. you also loose the body work warranty once out the network as that also is part of the 2 year service inc. body work check for the 10 or 15 year body.
I would not buy an R without a full set of OPC stamps as the cars a rare car. who know it could be the next 964 RS and it's £40k now but might be £140k one day, why skimp on a car which is free to run , also that's why I would not buy a car with out OPC stamps, as buyers say "why did he skimp there" "what else has the seller skimped on"
if it's a keeper get an indy to do it, but again, it would have to be RPM or JZM etc etc to make a sale easy later on, not some local garage.
It is accepted that not all PH Porsche owning members live within a reasonable distance of Parr. I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied customer.
Johnniem said:
I get what you say here but what if the indie was a porsche specialist? Parr Porsche (where I bought mine) have maintained it from well before I bought it. They are technical advisors to Porsche GB racing. How much better can a company be? I doubt that there are any OPC's with as much knowledge and skill as they have. Having said that, most owners will say that they prefer to buy with a full PSH. I don't have the same view but it will depend on the indie that has maintained it.
It is accepted that not all PH Porsche owning members live within a reasonable distance of Parr. I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied customer.
if you want to loose your body work warranty then all good. OPC staff get all the latest updates and fixes and tweaks and have the full piwis equipment.It is accepted that not all PH Porsche owning members live within a reasonable distance of Parr. I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied customer.
Parr are VERY expensive, I would say no cheaper than an OPC !
if you don't have the OPC body work checks done every 2 years that's that, there was some one here who had a bubble in the door and Porsche said NO as you have not kept up with the OPC checks outlined in the service records.
As always there is a choice, but Parr would be no cheaper !!! I choose to keep a full Porsche history and body work check, some don't, nice having a choice.
OPC always give you a nice Porker to test for the day also when my cars are in for free.
but I don't get why people would throw away the body work warranty and good will to save a few quid and reduce resale values also.
but I sell my cars often so I need to get top values for them as I get board and very few 3rd party dealers will take cars in with missing OPC stamps.
hence you see places like RPM etc have to sell the cars they look after for the client as do others, so you can get a bit stuck with the car and only being able to do a SOR with RPM !! NO thanks...
older cars yep, but new cars under 10 years old, madness to go outside the network, but that's is of course imho !!!
911 Virgin sell a lot of cars they get OPC's to do the work , that says something...
Always choices and price points in the mark. but the likes of the big 4 super cars dealers would not take a car in without full OPC stamps.
Edited by Porsche911R on Friday 16th August 13:36
Porsche911R said:
s3 akr said:
GT4RS said:
Full OPC service history is worth far more than the £600 possible saving!
OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
The warranty is covered as long as the specialist uses OEM parts and follows the Porsche maintenance plan. It might be a false economy to go outside of OPC but with my car having 38k miles on it, I'm not sure if that makes a huge difference to those that would be considering buying it in the future. If it were a 20k miler or less then I'd have no hesitation at keeping it OPC.OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
mr pg said:
You need to make more use of those spark plugs!
Agreed!! I think I'll keep the old ones and ebay them!!you also loose the body work warranty once out the network as that also is part of the 2 year service inc. body work check for the 10 or 15 year body.
I would not buy an R without a full set of OPC stamps as the cars a rare car. who know it could be the next 964 RS and it's £40k now but might be £140k one day, why skimp on a car which is free to run , also that's why I would not buy a car with out OPC stamps, as buyers say "why did he skimp there" "what else has the seller skimped on"
if it's a keeper get an indy to do it, but again, it would have to be RPM or JZM etc etc to make a sale easy later on, not some local garage.
I suspect that most of these Rs are now in the hands of Indies and most bought through this network and not the OPCs.
supersport said:
I bet there are not many 964RS's with a full OPC service, t
They are long out the body work warranty time so a moot point.as I stated above >10 years, worth looking around, sub 10 years, you are making life hard for your self when you sell up.
but the last RHD RS LW I knew with full history sold at £270k, I bet the people getting £195k are kicking themselves now :-)
Edited by Porsche911R on Friday 16th August 13:40
I have a 2010 CS. I have/had a bodywork warranty? 
Parr's servicing costs are not higher than OPC's They are not more expensive than OPC for anything I think. I would go to them everyday rather than an OPC. If it were a new car then perhaps my view would be different but for me, Parr is perfect.
Parr's servicing costs are not higher than OPC's They are not more expensive than OPC for anything I think. I would go to them everyday rather than an OPC. If it were a new car then perhaps my view would be different but for me, Parr is perfect.
Johnniem said:
I have a 2010 CS. I have/had a bodywork warranty?
Parr's servicing costs are not higher than OPC's They are not more expensive than OPC for anything I think. I would go to them everyday rather than an OPC. If it were a new car then perhaps my view would be different but for me, Parr is perfect.
As I said great we have a Choice which makes us all happy. Parr's servicing costs are not higher than OPC's They are not more expensive than OPC for anything I think. I would go to them everyday rather than an OPC. If it were a new car then perhaps my view would be different but for me, Parr is perfect.
s3 akr said:
GT4RS said:
Full OPC service history is worth far more than the £600 possible saving!
OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
The warranty is covered as long as the specialist uses OEM parts and follows the Porsche maintenance plan. It might be a false economy to go outside of OPC but with my car having 38k miles on it, I'm not sure if that makes a huge difference to those that would be considering buying it in the future. If it were a 20k miler or less then I'd have no hesitation at keeping it OPC.OPC if you want to keep the warranty up.
mr pg said:
You need to make more use of those spark plugs!
Agreed!! I think I'll keep the old ones and ebay them!!If the indy had an excellent reputation, used official parts & carried out the service schedule Porsche stipulate then it would not put me off buying the car.
Not worth skipping the plug service though, as that would put many buyers off.
As others have pointed out, this might affect the goodwill with the OPC. At £600 only the owner can really decide whether it is worth the risk.
But thousands of Porsche's are service outside the OPC network, and still bought/sold outside it too. So still a healthy market of buyers interested, including Indy's and especially if they know the car (having serviced it)
Not worth skipping the plug service though, as that would put many buyers off.
As others have pointed out, this might affect the goodwill with the OPC. At £600 only the owner can really decide whether it is worth the risk.
But thousands of Porsche's are service outside the OPC network, and still bought/sold outside it too. So still a healthy market of buyers interested, including Indy's and especially if they know the car (having serviced it)
My view is use who you have most confidence in, from my experience the best independents offer a genuinely personal service and have way, way more knowledge than OPCs have, certainly on older (997) cars. For me it felt as though if i was maintaining it for the the next owner then I should use an OPC but if I'm wanting the car to be maintained to the very best standard then most definitely it is a trusted independent. Also from my experience there really isn't much difference in cost, it's the knowledge, attention to detail and quality of work that is the differentiator.
Also, for me, the OPC is super convenient (only 20 minutes away), they are alway polite, easy to deal with easy to get an appointment, nice coffee, nice curtesy car, etc. etc. but I still feel my car is being so much better maintained when I use an independent - that is 1 1/2 hours away (though admittedly, does have even better coffee!
)
Also, for me, the OPC is super convenient (only 20 minutes away), they are alway polite, easy to deal with easy to get an appointment, nice coffee, nice curtesy car, etc. etc. but I still feel my car is being so much better maintained when I use an independent - that is 1 1/2 hours away (though admittedly, does have even better coffee!
) The more I'm seeing it written, the smaller £600 looks as a number!!
The common issue with minor corrosion around the bonnet catch on the underside of the bonnet has just been done via warranty (full repaint of the entire bonnet - excellent job), which supports the point about keeping the bodywork inspections up to date. The consideration of good will with the OPC is also fair comment.
For me, the intention is to hold the car as a keeper, but for some time to come, it will be a lump of cash to be released in case of emergency by selling it. Life can have its twists and turns so although I'm not aiming to sell, I like to keep my cars tip top!
I've requested the OPC consider a discount and they are reviewing the quote - it doesn't hurt to ask.
I am not going to skip any aspects of the service that are due, so it will get the plugs done, but that and the brake/clutch fluid changes are quite steep which may give them some wiggle room on price.
The common issue with minor corrosion around the bonnet catch on the underside of the bonnet has just been done via warranty (full repaint of the entire bonnet - excellent job), which supports the point about keeping the bodywork inspections up to date. The consideration of good will with the OPC is also fair comment.
For me, the intention is to hold the car as a keeper, but for some time to come, it will be a lump of cash to be released in case of emergency by selling it. Life can have its twists and turns so although I'm not aiming to sell, I like to keep my cars tip top!
I've requested the OPC consider a discount and they are reviewing the quote - it doesn't hurt to ask.
I am not going to skip any aspects of the service that are due, so it will get the plugs done, but that and the brake/clutch fluid changes are quite steep which may give them some wiggle room on price.
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