Good Dealer Experiences
Discussion
Hey all, I know it's not forum etiquette to bad mouth dealers, but after putting a deposit down on a 718 in January for September delivery, I've cancelled my order today. This was to be my first Porsche, and I loved the car, but the dealer tarnished the whole experience. I understand the odd thing is occasionally going to go wrong, but it seems that the cars are so good, some (emphasising some) dealers are complacent/sloppy. And reading others experiences on here too, I'm not the only one who's had issues.
My experience;
- firstly they promised the price was locked down (and promised to put it in writing and never did, after chasing). Maybe my mistake...admittedly, but new to Porsche this seemed fair when I was putting down a deposit.
- then when I read about the price increases here, I checked I was not be affected given nothing in writing. Took two weeks chasing before even an acknowledgement! After I'd finally went in to see them, the salesmen admitted he'd said the deal was locked down and He shouldn't have said it.
- when I went to cancel, the dealer thought the residual values would level out, so told me to hold out
- two months later told my car was coming in July. Great. Agreed a p/x. Day I went in to lock down spec/ finances told me it had gone into build, and not the spec I wanted.
- rang dealer principle (who I knew was in) but left a message to call me. Over a week before a response.
- Back to square one, and told they could get a car for September.
- Went in this week (meeting setup by me, knowing final finances and residual values hadn't levelled out) I learnt car not coming until late October/November. Worst still, the dealer told me car was going into lock down in the next 48 hrs - which given I'd orchestrated the meeting seemed unbelievable ! And there was no financial/discount for all the messing.
Not the experience I'd expect when spending £55k+.
This was the final straw... however there is some good news to all this. While all this was going on, when I was at the PEC, the team there told me Wolverhampton Porsche gets great feedback (Kendal being one of the best), so I engaged with the team at Wolves given not too far from me. What a refreshing experience! Honest, friendly (no arrogance) and do the basics well - return calls, follow up when they say they will, and achieved a slightly better price. The car's planned to arrive in March/April but won't know the true date until their Q1 allocation.
I came to the conclusion, I've waited 7months, another 7 is going to go just as fast. Plus they deserve the business and I trust them to get my car right.
Just wondered what the general experience of others has been? And big up the better dealers...who deserve the business, to help Porsche newbies like me.
My experience;
- firstly they promised the price was locked down (and promised to put it in writing and never did, after chasing). Maybe my mistake...admittedly, but new to Porsche this seemed fair when I was putting down a deposit.
- then when I read about the price increases here, I checked I was not be affected given nothing in writing. Took two weeks chasing before even an acknowledgement! After I'd finally went in to see them, the salesmen admitted he'd said the deal was locked down and He shouldn't have said it.
- when I went to cancel, the dealer thought the residual values would level out, so told me to hold out
- two months later told my car was coming in July. Great. Agreed a p/x. Day I went in to lock down spec/ finances told me it had gone into build, and not the spec I wanted.
- rang dealer principle (who I knew was in) but left a message to call me. Over a week before a response.
- Back to square one, and told they could get a car for September.
- Went in this week (meeting setup by me, knowing final finances and residual values hadn't levelled out) I learnt car not coming until late October/November. Worst still, the dealer told me car was going into lock down in the next 48 hrs - which given I'd orchestrated the meeting seemed unbelievable ! And there was no financial/discount for all the messing.
Not the experience I'd expect when spending £55k+.
This was the final straw... however there is some good news to all this. While all this was going on, when I was at the PEC, the team there told me Wolverhampton Porsche gets great feedback (Kendal being one of the best), so I engaged with the team at Wolves given not too far from me. What a refreshing experience! Honest, friendly (no arrogance) and do the basics well - return calls, follow up when they say they will, and achieved a slightly better price. The car's planned to arrive in March/April but won't know the true date until their Q1 allocation.
I came to the conclusion, I've waited 7months, another 7 is going to go just as fast. Plus they deserve the business and I trust them to get my car right.
Just wondered what the general experience of others has been? And big up the better dealers...who deserve the business, to help Porsche newbies like me.
Interestingly only after I placed my order did I know it was part of Sytner group. Having known that, I'd never have gone there based on poor experiences using the same group for other car brands in the past (both sales and service).
That said My dad had three porsches from the same dealer in the past, four years ago from the same dealer. I think they've just gone off the boil (or I'm getting a grumpy old git as I head to forty )
That said My dad had three porsches from the same dealer in the past, four years ago from the same dealer. I think they've just gone off the boil (or I'm getting a grumpy old git as I head to forty )
edo said:
Edo thanks for the share, but unfortunately that link doesn't work :-(ellesmereFNC said:
Bought a Cayman gts from our nearest OPC, sales were very good but then it all went a bit wrong. After driving car for a week we booked it back in for some issues we found which we were assured by the service manger were real and were backed up by the techs on a test drive. Anything can be repaired we're his encouraging words as we left the car there...FOR 14 WEEKS!
After much to'ing and fro'ing the conclusion that our very real issues were a characteristic and couldn't be fixed...absolutely gutted and totally disappointed by this north west dealer, took car to our next nearest dealer...Wolverhampton...and although we haven't asked them to repair anything they seem a really good bunch of people and they will be getting our trade from now on.
Pleased to hear above Wolverhampton. What was the characteristic issue with the CGTS?After much to'ing and fro'ing the conclusion that our very real issues were a characteristic and couldn't be fixed...absolutely gutted and totally disappointed by this north west dealer, took car to our next nearest dealer...Wolverhampton...and although we haven't asked them to repair anything they seem a really good bunch of people and they will be getting our trade from now on.
ellesmereFNC said:
Bought a Cayman gts from our nearest OPC, sales were very good but then it all went a bit wrong. After driving car for a week we booked it back in for some issues we found which we were assured by the service manger were real and were backed up by the techs on a test drive. Anything can be repaired we're his encouraging words as we left the car there...FOR 14 WEEKS!
After much to'ing and fro'ing the conclusion that our very real issues were a characteristic and couldn't be fixed...absolutely gutted and totally disappointed by this north west dealer, took car to our next nearest dealer...Wolverhampton...and although we haven't asked them to repair anything they seem a really good bunch of people and they will be getting our trade from now on.
Pleased to hear above Wolverhampton. What was the characteristic issue with the CGTS?After much to'ing and fro'ing the conclusion that our very real issues were a characteristic and couldn't be fixed...absolutely gutted and totally disappointed by this north west dealer, took car to our next nearest dealer...Wolverhampton...and although we haven't asked them to repair anything they seem a really good bunch of people and they will be getting our trade from now on.
Si-3PO said:
Sorry to hear about your experience Ollie, wasn't your order with Solihull? My 718 will be my 6th or 7th car from them and I've only good things to say about the dealership and Nick Harris who I deal with.
Yeah it was... I dealt with a chap who has now left. But that said, I wasn't impressed with the wider team either. I think I may have said, but my dad was surprised too, who's had several cars from them. Chatting to the experience day staff, they said experiences can be patchy, like any dealership I guess. But I just didn't expect such inconsistency for a premium brand. If Solihull worked in my line of work, they'd be out of business in a week. Just can't even do the basic well.edo said:
Odd. Try this:
Arrival: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=140565...
Leaving: https://youtu.be/YPanAJW0cm0
Haa haa awesome! Some Impressive flying skills :-))Arrival: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=140565...
Leaving: https://youtu.be/YPanAJW0cm0
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