My new Baby, the Porsche from HELL part 1
#31
01-28-2006, 11:27 PM
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Monterey County
Posts: 623
Rep Power: 55 
Segment 4 of the Porsche from HELL Part 1
Later that week I call the service manager (SM) and ask if the warranty inspection guy has looked at the car and approved the new engine. The inspector from Universal Underwriters (UU) had reviewed the damage and agreed that the engine was irreparable. But the final approval for the new engine purchase by the dealer from Porsche factory had to come from the honcho’s at UU because it was so expensive. The SM said he expected a call from them tomorrow. Tomorrow came and the SM called me. He said UU said my warranty was invalid. They said Bill Pearce (BP) did not have the authority to issue that warranty because they didn’t complete the special UU inspection report that UU requires. Further, they had not even received payment for the warranty that BP sold me. Of course, I hit the roof. What the Hell am I going to do?
I call UU and they tell me the same thing—that Bill Pearce shouldn’t have sold me a warranty. As it turns out BP didn’t even forward my money to UU until 3 weeks after I bought the warranty. Good grief. The finance guy at BP won’t even talk to me except to say “it’s out of my hands and you have to talk to UU.” Well, if the warranty is invalid, then where the hell is the money I paid for it?—3K? At that point, they agree to refund my $3K. How’s that for an honest car dealer? I also spoke to a couple people in the service department who said too much and then were told by their boss at BP not to speak to me anymore. I conclude I’ll have to sue these bastards to recover the cost of a new engine.
THIS IS THE PORSCHE FROM HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I remember that silly 30 day, 1K mile ebay warranty I applied for, printed out and put in the Porsche file. I gave that one page document to the SM and he called the phone number on it and requested a warranty inspector come to the dealership to see the damage. So, the new inspector reviews the damage and agrees the engine is irreparable. AON risk services (the insurance company that underwrites car warranties for ebay) AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A BRAND NEW $30K ENGINE. So that makes me happy after a week and half w/ a brick in my stomach.
The engine that was installed was not a remanufactured engine. It was a brand new 2005 turbo engine straight from the factory with brand new turbo chargers, air conditioning pump, alternator and exhaust. The whole thing came wrapped in plastic wrap, bolted to a big metal palate and encased in a big cardboard box. It was awesome.
But BP is still not off the hook in my opinion. I paid them for the PPI, paid them again for a warranty and then they screwed me. So I had to sue them. My best friend is an attorney and a Porsche enthusiast, so we sit down and figure out my costs, i.e., cost of not having the car to drive for 2 months
1) Insurance bills for the car while inoperable
2) Cost of another vehicle to drive during that time
3) Refund of the PPI costs that they screwed up.
4) Ten hours of my time at $250/hr trying to manage this nightmare.
5) $500 deductible on the ebay warranty.
6) Cover the cost of a NEW 4 yr, 50K mile $100 deductible warranty.
They responded by offering to pay the $500 ebay warranty deductible only. I couldn’t believe it. These sons of *****es at Bill Pearce! My attorney said I could sue them in small claims court in Reno and that the state of Nevada allows plaintiffs to represented in court by counsel. He said we’ll just go up there and rip the shorts off these idiots. So we get the small claims court paperwork sent off. Then, when BP realizes I’m not taking any prisoners, they call my attorney and say they’ll send me a check for all damages if I sign a document that says I won’t sue them further. Ha! I won! They’re damn lucky they didn’t have to fork over the cost of the engine.
I finally got the check in the mail from BP for damages. And I finally got my turbo back, with a new engine and a new warranty ;-). Porsche also warrants the new engine for 2 years, unlimited mileage.
So that’s my story of the Porsche from hell. I drive it a lot and it’s just awesome. It’s my first Porsche and sure hope no one has to go through what I did, but at least it worked out for me.
Later that week I call the service manager (SM) and ask if the warranty inspection guy has looked at the car and approved the new engine. The inspector from Universal Underwriters (UU) had reviewed the damage and agreed that the engine was irreparable. But the final approval for the new engine purchase by the dealer from Porsche factory had to come from the honcho’s at UU because it was so expensive. The SM said he expected a call from them tomorrow. Tomorrow came and the SM called me. He said UU said my warranty was invalid. They said Bill Pearce (BP) did not have the authority to issue that warranty because they didn’t complete the special UU inspection report that UU requires. Further, they had not even received payment for the warranty that BP sold me. Of course, I hit the roof. What the Hell am I going to do?
I call UU and they tell me the same thing—that Bill Pearce shouldn’t have sold me a warranty. As it turns out BP didn’t even forward my money to UU until 3 weeks after I bought the warranty. Good grief. The finance guy at BP won’t even talk to me except to say “it’s out of my hands and you have to talk to UU.” Well, if the warranty is invalid, then where the hell is the money I paid for it?—3K? At that point, they agree to refund my $3K. How’s that for an honest car dealer? I also spoke to a couple people in the service department who said too much and then were told by their boss at BP not to speak to me anymore. I conclude I’ll have to sue these bastards to recover the cost of a new engine.
THIS IS THE PORSCHE FROM HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I remember that silly 30 day, 1K mile ebay warranty I applied for, printed out and put in the Porsche file. I gave that one page document to the SM and he called the phone number on it and requested a warranty inspector come to the dealership to see the damage. So, the new inspector reviews the damage and agrees the engine is irreparable. AON risk services (the insurance company that underwrites car warranties for ebay) AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A BRAND NEW $30K ENGINE. So that makes me happy after a week and half w/ a brick in my stomach.
The engine that was installed was not a remanufactured engine. It was a brand new 2005 turbo engine straight from the factory with brand new turbo chargers, air conditioning pump, alternator and exhaust. The whole thing came wrapped in plastic wrap, bolted to a big metal palate and encased in a big cardboard box. It was awesome.
But BP is still not off the hook in my opinion. I paid them for the PPI, paid them again for a warranty and then they screwed me. So I had to sue them. My best friend is an attorney and a Porsche enthusiast, so we sit down and figure out my costs, i.e., cost of not having the car to drive for 2 months
1) Insurance bills for the car while inoperable
2) Cost of another vehicle to drive during that time
3) Refund of the PPI costs that they screwed up.
4) Ten hours of my time at $250/hr trying to manage this nightmare.
5) $500 deductible on the ebay warranty.
6) Cover the cost of a NEW 4 yr, 50K mile $100 deductible warranty.
They responded by offering to pay the $500 ebay warranty deductible only. I couldn’t believe it. These sons of *****es at Bill Pearce! My attorney said I could sue them in small claims court in Reno and that the state of Nevada allows plaintiffs to represented in court by counsel. He said we’ll just go up there and rip the shorts off these idiots. So we get the small claims court paperwork sent off. Then, when BP realizes I’m not taking any prisoners, they call my attorney and say they’ll send me a check for all damages if I sign a document that says I won’t sue them further. Ha! I won! They’re damn lucky they didn’t have to fork over the cost of the engine.
I finally got the check in the mail from BP for damages. And I finally got my turbo back, with a new engine and a new warranty ;-). Porsche also warrants the new engine for 2 years, unlimited mileage.
So that’s my story of the Porsche from hell. I drive it a lot and it’s just awesome. It’s my first Porsche and sure hope no one has to go through what I did, but at least it worked out for me.
#34
01-29-2006, 12:01 AM
Uggghhh! You're lucky you got away with a slap on the wrist so to speak. Thats the way it goes with extended warranties. It is so damn hard to make them honour it once something goes wrong. Imo its better to put that money in the pocket and use it when something breaks.
-Peter
-Peter
#35
01-29-2006, 12:08 AM
Good to hear that you won your battle. It might've been worth your time and effort for the brand new engine. Enjoy it.
#36
01-29-2006, 06:28 AM
Damn you, I'm down to the cuticles! This story reiterates 2 things: 1) insurance companies are mostly scum and 2) most dealers are also mostly scum. Insurance companies are MASTERS at collecting funds and then finding a way out when it comes time to pay. Dealers are not your friend and are always glad just to take your money. Every so often there is an exception to #2, but it is mostly true. I'm glad it worked out for you and I'm even gladder you didn't let those bastards get away with anything. Sadly the small slap on the wrist you gave them won't change anything. They probably took your car for a 2 minute drive and called that a PPI for a few hundred bucks! The only loop hole would be if the problem occurred as a result of your drive home and it was just bad timing. Good luck.
#44
01-29-2006, 02:19 PM
conrgats man, smart moves all in all...what did the seller (the collector) have to say about the car and the whole ordeal ?
#45
01-29-2006, 04:50 PM
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Monterey County
Posts: 623
Rep Power: 55
turbo freak,
That's a good question. The collector/seller was a good sport and great guy throughout the process. I purposely have withheld his name because I don't want anybody to associate him with my series of unfortunate events.
His family is pretty well known. We talked thru the whole ordeal and when it looked the bleakest he actually said we should just cancel the whole thing and he would give me my money back. How many dealers would make that offer? Of course this guy needs money like a pig needs wings and probably would have had his lawyers handle Bill Pearce and UU without a hitch. Not only did he offer to refund all the purchase price, but said that if I told him exactly what options I'd like on another turbo, he would find one as close as possible through his connections and make me a great deal on it.
I don't think he even wants much of this kind of business--selling Porsches; I think he just does it once in a while to keep his license active.
If I ever buy another high-end car he's the first guy I'm going to call.
That's a good question. The collector/seller was a good sport and great guy throughout the process. I purposely have withheld his name because I don't want anybody to associate him with my series of unfortunate events.
His family is pretty well known. We talked thru the whole ordeal and when it looked the bleakest he actually said we should just cancel the whole thing and he would give me my money back. How many dealers would make that offer? Of course this guy needs money like a pig needs wings and probably would have had his lawyers handle Bill Pearce and UU without a hitch. Not only did he offer to refund all the purchase price, but said that if I told him exactly what options I'd like on another turbo, he would find one as close as possible through his connections and make me a great deal on it.
I don't think he even wants much of this kind of business--selling Porsches; I think he just does it once in a while to keep his license active.
If I ever buy another high-end car he's the first guy I'm going to call.