Fellow Porschephiles, at one time or another, we have all purchased a new car from the dealer. As a repeat customer, how were you treated? In consideration of buying a new car or two, were you treated fair or dissed by the Sales Manager?

 

I went to a PCA drive day, where at coffee afterwards we all swapped our "screwed by Porsche" stories. Apparently everybody has one in one form or another.

I was never treated badly by the service managers at all. I have to say tho, that the general quality of the service of the dealers near my location (Ontario, Canada) pales in comparison to the service I received at a dealership in Charlotte, NC. If I could buy a car from them, I would.

Of course, 2 of the Porsches I owned (986, 996) had RMS issues, resulting in 2 replaced engines. I just hope the GT3 doesn't get that particular issue.

 

I agree, the service department is quite the example of excellent customer service. I don't have any gripes with them. It's too bad Management Sales and Finance) doesn't take lessons from their own counterparts. Maybe they should ask themselves why service is doing so well in business and profits and sales is struggling due to making issues personal when they should be looking at the big picture of customer satisfaction.

 

There are good and bad dealers. I took a 911 to a dealer in VA (not near DC) for a pre-purchase inspection, and they told me - "we did not find any problems, or evidence of existing damage to the car." They had, in fact, helped repair $17,000 in damage to that same car. Thank god someone told me about the car being wrecked in Driver's Ed at Summit Point raceway.

On the other hand, I have great experiences: Bluegrass Porsche in Kentucky have always been great, and Porsche of the Main Line in PA are the best folks I have ever dealt with. I would trust the guys at Main Line Porsche with anything - Erik, Sales Manager and Bob, Owner, are the best Porsche dealer personnel I have ever dealt with.

 

My passion for Porsche dates back to 1986 and since then I have owned over a dozen Porsches and purchased 5 new porsches, the newest one would have been with this sale of a '10GT3. I have been a past president and am currently an officer of our local PCA region. In addition, I worked 5 years in sales for the same dealership and after resigning in late '07 continued to reccommend and send business to the them. I am not an angry or disgruntled ex-employee since they were more than willing to hire me back this year although I chose not to. When my ordered GT3 arrived last week I was just looking forward to being a customer. My financing was approved, Tier 1, and I asked for a consideration to help smooth the edges of my $122K+ GT3. It would have made sense to continue our relationship in good standing. Instead, I was told by the Sales Manager, the price is set at full sticker price and there are two other parties ready to buy the car if you don't want it. There was No consideration, No counter, No explanation, not even an offer of a key chain. No one even had the courtesy to call me back, except a few days later. I guess squeezing every last dime out of a customer is much more important than any customer service or satisfaction. Would such an experience make you want to purchase a car at this dealership?

 

I guess the sad thing is that sales teams are short sighted. They don't look at you as a potential repeat customer, because in all likelihood, they will have changed jobs by the next time you are ready to purchase. As such, their best interest is to get as much cash as they can for the car, and not give anything away.

Once again short sighted from the point of view of the salesman, but hey, they wont' be around for long so who cares.

it does reflect badly upon the brand as a whole, but if we want the fine toys that nobody else has, we have to put up with crap.

 

sorry to hear of you treatment. i, for one, have had nothing but great treatment at any porsche dealer that i have dealt with over the last 37 years. this, whether, first purchase, second purchase, service, warranty problems, or anything else.

i guess i would write off that dealer for now. at least until they change sales/sales mgmt personnel.

alan

 

I wrote them off for sure, and it cost them 2 sales so far. I have to drive an extra hour to deal with another dealer, but it's worth it.

Oh well.

 

Only great serviceand treatment, always.

 

I don't see anything wrong here. You wanted what...? A discount off msrp on a new GT3?

 

I've had only two new car purchase experiences with Porsche dealers and both were not what I would call ideal.

I've returned to both to discuss the 997.2 GT3 and possible future RS. Granted that I have only purchased one Porsche (07 RS and an 08 RS) from each, so I was told by management at both that they will spec the cars and they would go for "market" value (My sales contact at both were embarrassed to deliver the news).

My next new car purchase will probably from Ferrari or Lambo (Great customer service).