Porsche Bolton "Joyriding"
- Thread starter Richard Dawson
- Start date
Guest
New member
I had two very bad experiences with Porsche dealers recently. Both of them in the same week.
I have been looking for a 996 Turbo Cab for some time but failed to get hold of one. I decided to give the new 997 c4s cabrio a chance and booked a test drive at Porsche Colchester for late afternoon on easter monday. I was impressed with the car and decided to make an offer approx 4k under the advertised price explaining to the sales man that my preference is the Turbo but if I can get this 997 for the right price I'll take it (this was a 82k car). Anyhow they turned the offer down (wanting to meet me in the middle) and I and the salesman agreed to think about it till the day after. I did think about it and decided that I really do want a Turbo and not a c4s. So I proceeded to call Porsche Colchester up the next day and told them I had changed my mind. Instead of trying to find solutions and helping me to find a Porsche Turbo Cab the salesman decided to insult me instead. "It seems a little strange how you book an appointment to drive the car, make an offer and then change your mind", implying that I had wasted his time from the beginning basically. What a cheek! Especially considering he could have agreed to my offer the evening before and the contract would have been signed there and then. Anyhow i complained to the head of sales and he appologised for this guys behaviour but I didnt go back to them after this incident funny enough!
That same week I kept looking for my dream car and was shocked to find a 996 turbo cab (april 04 first registered, 24k miles) advertised on the Porsche approved used car website for almost the same price as the average private sale car. I did think Porsche Silverstone must have made a mistake (the car was up for £60750) but rang up anyhow just to check. The salesman there agreed that it seemed too cheap but said he would check and call me back. An hour later he rang me back and said that the car was indeed advertised too cheap, it should have been up for £62750 not £60750, but he mentioned since they made a mistake on the website they would offer me the car for £61750. I had a quick think about it (millisecond)and told him I'd take it. He asked me for my credit card number in order to pay the 5 % deposit and as I was telling him this number I heard someone shout "Dont do it mate, the car has just been sold!" in the background. The salesman confirmed the car had indeed been sold and that he was really sorry. I was gutted and asked the salesman to call me back when he'd found out how that could have happened when I had already agreed with him and was paying the deposit. Whilst I was waiting for him to ring I checked out the Porsche website again and found they are still advertising the car, but now for £ 64850.-. I decided to ring back to find out whether the car was still for sale but just put the price up. So i called and asked to speak to the head of sales as I was having no joy with the salesman. I talked to a guy called Allen, he explained that they havent sold the car afterall and confirmed that it was now up for sale for £ 64850.-, because they had quoted it too cheap.They also told me that when I was enquiring about the car, I should have known there was something wrong and that it was up too cheap(Like it's my job to know these things, I even told them it was too cheap at the beginning!) At this point he became quite abrupt with me and was telling me that he was also a legal adviser, after I asked him if he wanted to listen to the conversation as all my conversations are taped. He didnt seem to be bothered and carried on as if nothing had happend, they just didnt seem to care at all. So after asking and checking with Salesguy and even telling them that the car looked cheap, giving them time to think about it and then asking for a deposit from me, they just decided that the price should have been higher, twice and that was that!!! What a bunch of comedians, I was absolutely furious! Minutes later I was on the phone to the principal of Porsche Silverstone, Robin something (I think b*****d should be his surname), and at first he seemed to make an effort to sort this problem out but then disappointingly came back and tried to offer me only a £350.- discount on the latest price of £64850.- - thanks !!!! He said that they havent actually got the car yet (they failed to mention that before funny enough) and that the garage needs to make a £3000 profit on this car!! Surely after what happened you would expect the principal of Porsche Silverstone to cut his profit in half at least to offer me his best price - but no, he still needed to make 3 grand. I turned them down and told them I had enough and wasn't interested in buying a car from them. Robin even admitted that if he would be me, he wouldn't be buying a car from Porsche Silverstone either! Sorry??!!?? *&&$%^^^* I've now purchased a car off an independent dealer - who I might add was so much more helpful than these arrogant Porsche main dealers (I do understand that it was only two branches I dealt with - not saying every Porsche main dealer is the same.
I have been looking for a 996 Turbo Cab for some time but failed to get hold of one. I decided to give the new 997 c4s cabrio a chance and booked a test drive at Porsche Colchester for late afternoon on easter monday. I was impressed with the car and decided to make an offer approx 4k under the advertised price explaining to the sales man that my preference is the Turbo but if I can get this 997 for the right price I'll take it (this was a 82k car). Anyhow they turned the offer down (wanting to meet me in the middle) and I and the salesman agreed to think about it till the day after. I did think about it and decided that I really do want a Turbo and not a c4s. So I proceeded to call Porsche Colchester up the next day and told them I had changed my mind. Instead of trying to find solutions and helping me to find a Porsche Turbo Cab the salesman decided to insult me instead. "It seems a little strange how you book an appointment to drive the car, make an offer and then change your mind", implying that I had wasted his time from the beginning basically. What a cheek! Especially considering he could have agreed to my offer the evening before and the contract would have been signed there and then. Anyhow i complained to the head of sales and he appologised for this guys behaviour but I didnt go back to them after this incident funny enough!
That same week I kept looking for my dream car and was shocked to find a 996 turbo cab (april 04 first registered, 24k miles) advertised on the Porsche approved used car website for almost the same price as the average private sale car. I did think Porsche Silverstone must have made a mistake (the car was up for £60750) but rang up anyhow just to check. The salesman there agreed that it seemed too cheap but said he would check and call me back. An hour later he rang me back and said that the car was indeed advertised too cheap, it should have been up for £62750 not £60750, but he mentioned since they made a mistake on the website they would offer me the car for £61750. I had a quick think about it (millisecond)and told him I'd take it. He asked me for my credit card number in order to pay the 5 % deposit and as I was telling him this number I heard someone shout "Dont do it mate, the car has just been sold!" in the background. The salesman confirmed the car had indeed been sold and that he was really sorry. I was gutted and asked the salesman to call me back when he'd found out how that could have happened when I had already agreed with him and was paying the deposit. Whilst I was waiting for him to ring I checked out the Porsche website again and found they are still advertising the car, but now for £ 64850.-. I decided to ring back to find out whether the car was still for sale but just put the price up. So i called and asked to speak to the head of sales as I was having no joy with the salesman. I talked to a guy called Allen, he explained that they havent sold the car afterall and confirmed that it was now up for sale for £ 64850.-, because they had quoted it too cheap.They also told me that when I was enquiring about the car, I should have known there was something wrong and that it was up too cheap(Like it's my job to know these things, I even told them it was too cheap at the beginning!) At this point he became quite abrupt with me and was telling me that he was also a legal adviser, after I asked him if he wanted to listen to the conversation as all my conversations are taped. He didnt seem to be bothered and carried on as if nothing had happend, they just didnt seem to care at all. So after asking and checking with Salesguy and even telling them that the car looked cheap, giving them time to think about it and then asking for a deposit from me, they just decided that the price should have been higher, twice and that was that!!! What a bunch of comedians, I was absolutely furious! Minutes later I was on the phone to the principal of Porsche Silverstone, Robin something (I think b*****d should be his surname), and at first he seemed to make an effort to sort this problem out but then disappointingly came back and tried to offer me only a £350.- discount on the latest price of £64850.- - thanks !!!! He said that they havent actually got the car yet (they failed to mention that before funny enough) and that the garage needs to make a £3000 profit on this car!! Surely after what happened you would expect the principal of Porsche Silverstone to cut his profit in half at least to offer me his best price - but no, he still needed to make 3 grand. I turned them down and told them I had enough and wasn't interested in buying a car from them. Robin even admitted that if he would be me, he wouldn't be buying a car from Porsche Silverstone either! Sorry??!!?? *&&$%^^^* I've now purchased a car off an independent dealer - who I might add was so much more helpful than these arrogant Porsche main dealers (I do understand that it was only two branches I dealt with - not saying every Porsche main dealer is the same.
Guest
New member
I would write to Porsche UK. They don't deserve to run delaerships.
It's interesting what you hear about some dealers. A local independent who used to work for my local OPC told me that the most experienced mechanic who works at that OPC has only worked on Porsches for 2 years.
I don't use OPC's. However, I wouldn't rule out buying a car from one if it was what I wanted.
It's interesting what you hear about some dealers. A local independent who used to work for my local OPC told me that the most experienced mechanic who works at that OPC has only worked on Porsches for 2 years.
I don't use OPC's. However, I wouldn't rule out buying a car from one if it was what I wanted.
Alex Postan
New member
I have used two OPCs - Solihull and Swindon - and they have both been totally correct and helpful at all stages of all the transactions that I have done. Plus a great deal of help and courtesy.
Do as you would be done by.
Do as you would be done by.
Vron
New member
My 996 was returned to me from Porsche Sheffield with an extra 70 miles on it after making the fatal mistake of leaving it with them overnight when it went in for service. No response from Service manager or dealer principal, letter to porsche UK resulted in a rather curt letter from Porsche Sheffield saying it was "normal" to do lengthy test drives - HA! But, as a goodwill gesture I could have 20% off my next service not that I want to take it there again.
Guest
New member
Hi everyone,
I didn't complete the 996 TT Cab transaction, because it failed a 111 check and would have left me with a £3500 bill. So I now have a small confession to make. I have since gone back to Porsche Colchester to make the head of sales there an offer on the 997 c4s cab I test drove on easter monday. Ok I know, youre going to say I'm mad to go back after what happened. True, maybe... but I justify it by them owning a demo car which had the specs I really wanted. Price wise they accepted a lower offer than I made originally. I'll pick it up after work tomorrow and can't wait. Here are the specs:
997 Carrera 4S Convertible
01/07 first registered
2500 miles
Basalt Black with Black Leather Interior
Manual
[*]19 inch Carrera S wheel
[*]Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor
[*]BOSE Surround Sound System
[*]CDC-4 six disc CD autochanger
[*]Door entry guards in stainless steel
[*]Extended navigation module
[*]Heated seats
[*]Instrument surround in Aluminium Look
[*]ParkAssist (parking aid rear)
[*]Preparation Vehicle Tracking System
[*]Sport Chrono Package Plus
[*]Telephone module
[*]Three-spoke multi-function steering wheel in smooth leather (only with PCM)
[*]Windscreen with grey top tint
[*]Seat belts in Guards Red
[*]Sports seats
Cheers,
John
I didn't complete the 996 TT Cab transaction, because it failed a 111 check and would have left me with a £3500 bill. So I now have a small confession to make. I have since gone back to Porsche Colchester to make the head of sales there an offer on the 997 c4s cab I test drove on easter monday. Ok I know, youre going to say I'm mad to go back after what happened. True, maybe... but I justify it by them owning a demo car which had the specs I really wanted. Price wise they accepted a lower offer than I made originally. I'll pick it up after work tomorrow and can't wait. Here are the specs:
997 Carrera 4S Convertible
01/07 first registered
2500 miles
Basalt Black with Black Leather Interior
Manual
[*]19 inch Carrera S wheel
[*]Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors with integrated rain sensor
[*]BOSE Surround Sound System
[*]CDC-4 six disc CD autochanger
[*]Door entry guards in stainless steel
[*]Extended navigation module
[*]Heated seats
[*]Instrument surround in Aluminium Look
[*]ParkAssist (parking aid rear)
[*]Preparation Vehicle Tracking System
[*]Sport Chrono Package Plus
[*]Telephone module
[*]Three-spoke multi-function steering wheel in smooth leather (only with PCM)
[*]Windscreen with grey top tint
[*]Seat belts in Guards Red
[*]Sports seats
Cheers,
John
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