what's the deal with Porsche CPO?

[jtraol]

i probably should have read the fine print, but the Porsche CPO program seems like a joke and a rip-off. i bout my car last may and have replaced the battery, did the console cover repair kit, need to repair my antenna lead and have "excessive rust" on my brakes (even though i drive the car daily, 12k in 11 months). Now the dealer wants 1300.00 to replace my door seals as they roll down with the windows. Porsche doesn't want to pay either.

Last week, my car started misfiring and the check engine light was flashing so I had the car towed back to the dealer. They think the problem is a coil, bit they wouldn't replce it as the car stopped misfiring one they got it - - they just switched it to another cylinder and told me to tow the car back when it happens again. Great plan.

any insight would be helpful, thanks.

[gandrade1]

i probably should have read the fine print, but the Porsche CPO program seems like a joke and a rip-off. i bout my car last may and have replaced the battery, did the console cover repair kit, need to repair my antenna lead and have "excessive rust" on my brakes (even though i drive the car daily, 12k in 11 months). Now the dealer wants 1300.00 to replace my door seals as they roll down with the windows. Porsche doesn't want to pay either.

Last week, my car started misfiring and the check engine light was flashing so I had the car towed back to the dealer. They think the problem is a coil, bit they wouldn't replce it as the car stopped misfiring one they got it - - they just switched it to another cylinder and told me to tow the car back when it happens again. Great plan.

any insight would be helpful, thanks.

Could you try a different dealer, perhaps?

AFAIK The CPO is not dealer specific and it looks like these guys you are taking your car to are not really consumer focused or ethical...

Best of luck,

Gus

[jtraol]

thanks gus,

yeah, seems that way - - especially on the coil issue. but porsche customer service are the ones who said "no" to the door seals. anyway, it's not a happy tale and whlie i love the car, i do miss the warm comforting arms of cusomer driven BMW.

i let you know how it goes.

peace,

jonathan

[jgriffin56]

I agree, CPO is a joke! I have had my on board computer go whacky, where the tach did not work and half of the warning lights flashed, etc. I was told at the dealer (the one that sold me car) that is was the on-board computer and it needed a complete reprogramming. I was told that if the computer "broke" they would replace it for free, but since it needed ONLY a complete reprogram, it was not covered. I also had the cable break that runs along the outside of the convertible top and I was told that it was "wear and tear". 27K and wear and tear on the convertible top, what kind of junk are they using in these tops. I had a convertible top place repair it and they told me that the cable was definitely defective, and that it should not break, in fact, he has only seen the Porsches with such a problem at these early miles. He has an ongoing business with all the dealerships in the area fixing the Porsche. Porsche has been making cars with convertible tops for 50 years,and still can't make a decent top It even get better, the driver's heated seat doesn't work, again, wear and tear, and not covered. Given, the RMS problems, and everything else that breaks on these cars, one has to wonder if the Porsche are worth the big dollars that they command. I have had 4 Porsches over the years and by far, this 996 seems to have more problems that all the others combined. One whould think that $110K would buy a quality car, but not so. I have friends with BMW M3s, that just laugh at me when I tell them of all the problems that I have with this car. Sorry, Porsche, you have got your last buck out of me, Where's the local BMW dealer?

[phillipj]

Sorry to hear about all the problems you're having. I think the problem lies more in the way Porsche runs their dearlerships than the cars themselves.

I agree they(the dealers) are the worst I have ever experienced. I love my Porsche.. But I won't let a dealer touch it. I won't even talk to them. I loath them :angry:

I have had BMW's and they break too (in my case a lot.)

It's too bad that Porsche doesn't pay attention to Dealer satisfaction. Now they have just lost another customer (that would be you.)

I don't blame you and enjoy your BMW!

Why doesn't Porsche get a clue??????? :huh: :huh: :huh:

[jtraol]

Thanks for the replies! Ii do think that there is a dealership problem, but it seems that the industry is out of whack somehow. in my experience, BMW and Subaru have been companies that really prioritize customers, and it's kept me coming back over and over. While I think the Porsche dealership misled me regarding the scope of the warranty, Porsche customer service was no help either. Recently, I purchased a new Toyota Tundra and have had tons of problems with it. I was blown away by how aggressively Toyota fought me regarding these problems and how willing the dealership and Toyota were to point fingers at each other and at me.

Anyway, I was very surprised that Porsche did not make any moves to try resolve my issues, and I feel if I fight the dealer I'd "get my way" but that stinks... Cars are a great love of mine and I'm interested in good design and beauty, but also a healthy relationship. :) I guess companies have the right to make money, but what comes around goes around>

For the record, I do love the car. I hope this is the end of my woes, and I'll fix the uncovered problems myself. I just hope it stops here.

Peace,

Jonathan

[anth_edwards]

I had an '03 C4S and had numerous issues all of which surprisingly werent covered by the warranty - I was really surprised given the emphasis at purchase that it was all encompassing. Sadly had to sell the car as our duaghter arrived but will never spend the money on a CPO again.

The dealers only interest is to take money out of you rather than provide a service. tried to charge me $1500 for new rotors and pads (because they were warped) actually just corrosion build up as the car had been in their yard waiting for the broken amp ($1000 not covered by warranty) to be relplaced - 10 miles later everything was perfect - anyone less knowlegeable about cars would have spent the money. Also refused to give me a trade in value when needed something bigger (12 months later)

Porsche Nanuet is the culprit

[phillipj]

That is just another Dealer horror story.

Here is one of mine.

I had an unusual engine noise in my old 966. It seemed to be coming from left rear of the engine. I took it to several places one being the dealer. They told me I needed new engine because I had a bad crankshaft. :huh:

I wasn't going for that...

Luckily I read a post on this site that had a person with a similar noise (even posted a sound bite.) Turns out it was a loose spark plug. The sound was exactly the same as mine so I tightened my plugs.... and noise was gone.

Dealer wanted to replace my engine..... nice. :angry: I loath those people.

Now thanks to this site I do almost all my own work on my car. :D I determine the work that needs to be done and I know that it's done right.

If you want to be a happy used Porsche owner do things yourself.

Sorry to stray from the warranty thread.....Just my 2 cents..

Edited April 14, 2009 by phillipj

[jtraol]

Well, I'm certainly on a "It's the Company too" kick. The Story of My Life: Do things yourself... What's funny to me about the Porsche gig is the non customer-centered approach is so in your face. Porsche customer service didn't even pretend to care about the fact that I was unhappy. Not covered, not covered, not covered.

As for the dealer, well I broke down a couple of weeks ago had the car towed to the dealer. They read the fault as a misfire in cylinder 1, but because the problem went away the didn't do anything except switch a plug and coil so when I break down again they'll be able to identify the issue. Ok, ok, that's a really "crappy dealer" story, but there must be some incentive from Porsche to pinch the pennies, no? In any event, why not just replace the coil and the plug it's the most likely and common cause of the issue and less than 100.00 in parts. I could hear it arcing and I believe even the Porsche workshop manual suggests the coil as a common cause of this symptom.

Seriously, what's up out there? Do companies think we need to be slapped around as part of the ownership experience. And don't get me started on my Tundra, unless you really want to get me riled up. Subaru and BMW do have it right in terms of prioritizing customers, and I'm surprised my current car experiences have been so different with my current Toyota and Porsche. I love my car, dont get me wrong - - I'm beginning to wonder if people don"t know any different?