RobMc

Has anyone here ever bought from or had service done at Inskip Auto in R.I.? I took a thorough test drive of a 96 narrow body there a couple of weeks ago. It was my first time driving a Porsche and it was a great experience.

vjd3

I bought a 95 C4 there a month ago. I thought the sales process was first-rate; the salesman, Kirk Stingle, was knowledgable and I found that the negotiations were easy and straightforward. I got a fair deal on my trade. If you buy there, they will pick up and deliver your car for service, give you a free loaner (not a Porsche), etc.

As far as the service side, I have been treated well. When I bought the car, it was Porsche certified for a year. After two days in my garage, I noticed some oil on my garage floor. It turned out to be a rear main seal leak. I took the car back, they put me in a loaner (Infiniti I-35 after I pitched a fit when they offered a Neon), dropped the engine and replaced the seal. As a precaution they also did the other internal seals for the gearbox. They also put a new clutch disk in at no charge to me. A few other minor things in the car were also attended to, including a dim LED segment in the trip computer, for which they gave me a new tachometer and computer display.

Now, this cuts both ways for service ... the tech was great, he really knew 911s and I am totally satisfied with the results. But ... the service department was also supposed to go over that 993 with a fine-tooth comb to spot problems before delivery, and they missed that oil leak. The service manager told me the dealership had to absorb the repair because Porsche would've rejected it so quick after the sale. I have little doubt that at dealership part prices and $80 an hour labor, that bill was a whopper. A Boston dealer told me he would have charged $4500-$5000 for the job -- perhaps another good reason to stay in Rhode Island.

One other picky thing; the original owner had to apply for a duplicate title, so there was a long delay between my purchasing the C4 and actually being able to register it. They gave me a dealer plate to drive on. Four weeks later, I got the registration. I was a little frustrated in their communication to me during this process; I had to call periodically. But tell you what, when they wanted their dealer plate back they were calling constantly.

I would use them again. In fact, the third brake light just went out, and I'm flying out of Providence tomorrow. They're taking the car, driving me to the airport and picking me up Wednesday to re-re-deliver the car. Add in all the repairs, and I gotta helluva deal ...

Vic
95 C4

RobMc

Vic, Kirk was the person I went on the test drive with also he was 1st rate he was just back from a DE at road atlanta and explained the traits of the car to me fully and encouraged me to drive it spiritidly. You must of bought the guards red as that is the car I was going to see and he told me it had just been sold. I drove the arena red 96. It is really important to me when I purchase my car that the dealer goes thru it thouroughly BEFORE I pick it up and takes care of any and all problems. Did they have a history on your car to day one? Thanks for the info.

vjd3

That was me ... I saw the arena red car, it was very nice, I'm just very partial to cashmere interiors. If it had cashmere instead of black, I might have bought it.

The guards red car I bought had been sold new and serviced at Inskip by the original owner until I bought it. They were very familiar with the car. The owner (a doctor) traded it for a guards red 02 C4S. In fact, the salesman told me the guy had originally had a guards red/cashmere 964 C4, which he traded for the 993 I bought. He didn't tell his wife, he just stuck it in the garage and it took her a few weeks to notice the difference. He was going to do the same thing with the guards red/savannah 996 C4. Wonder if she spotted it quicker?

I don't know what to say about them missing the oil leak. I suppose it may have just started leaking, although I'd say that's unlikely. There must have been quite a bit of oil to be dripping off the undertray. I suspect they just didn't pay much attention to the car when it was traded knowing they had been servicing it since new and were confident about it. I do have the PCNA checklist they used, and it and the "no oil leak" checklist is marked off.

But I'll bet you they are being a lot more careful now ... and as for me, I liked the fact that I got a new clutch out of the deal and also that I won't have to worry about any of those seals for a while. I know you wind up paying more for a certified car from a Porsche dealer, but it can easily pay for itself. I was considering another guards red/cashmere 95 C4 up here at an independent, and it was $2000 less than the Inskip car, but it occurred to me today how p---ed I'd have been if I'd bought it instead and had to pay for the rear main seal and the third brake light in the first month. I think it would have been a LOT more than $2000. It was irritating losing the new car for a week right after I bought it, but it drives great with that new clutch.

Vic
95 C4

RobMc

I want a guards red car also, I mainly test drove the arena red because I wanted to get a feel of the 911 in general of which I told the salesman and he had no problem with that. He led me to believe it was an auction car he wasn't sure if they had a history on it. This dealer is high on my list because of this salesmans good attitude but this is a very big purchase for me so I am going to be very picky and do as much research as I can.

vjd3

That's a good plan. The guards red 95 C4 that I looked at in Boston is still available, as far as I know. It's a Hatch & Sons in, I think, Natick MA; they are a Mercedes specialist who have a few Porsches also. They specialize in restoring and concoursing vintage Mercedes and other cars, they also have a couple of Ferraris and race cars in the showroom. They have some famous clients -- the sales guy showed me a beautiful old Mercedes convertible they were working on for Jimmy Buffett -- I'm not a fan of his music but he apparently has good taste in German cars.

I drove that C4 about 6 months ago. It was very clean and very straight. Some minor things -- nicks on the rims, etc. -- but I might have bought it if they had stepped up better on my 01 Boxster, but they didn't really want the car. Might be worth a phone call. They were asking $46,900 for the car which seemed very high to me, but it's been there for a while and they might let it go.

Vic
95 C4

KINGSRULE

Both you guys are don't have a clue. Hatch sells overpriced questionable cars. They had a Turbo S there that was "mint". Well, it was a Flordia lease car that had body work. In addition it was spotted the pervious weekend being beat beat to **** at Limerock by Hatch sales people. They use the Jimmy Buffet deal on everyone!
As far as Inskip is concerned, I've bought 4 new cars from them. The deals are great. But their service sucks. Kirk, the Porsche salesman doesn't know a thing about the cars, He's a SALESMAN ! Nothing more. Obviously got you two. I wouldn't buy used anything from them. Look at how they delivered your car. Leaking.
Need I say more?

RobMc

I am familar with Hatch and sons. I am going to the greenwich concours next weekend and they are always there with a lot of there great cars. Does Alex Finnegan work there? That is another name in Ma. associated with Mercedes. I have set a goal of next spring to buy my car. My dream car has always been the 308 gtsi but I have been getting a lot of info from owners and the reliability and cost of parts/repairs may be a bit much for my 1st hi-end car. I have yet to drive one but will this summer to add to my decision. After driving the 993 I can't imagine anything better. I want a c2 coupe with sunroof in guards red. I'm hoping that some day I will own a 993 and 308 that is my ultimate goal.

RobMc

GJ my name is Rob and the other gentlemans name is Vic I think you have us confused with this person don't have a clue.

Phil

Don't hold back GJ,
Blast them damn dealers..and those damn salespeople..... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

vjd3

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am really thankful that there are people like GJ who have such vast knowledge and wisdom to make insightful and literate posts like the one above. I really had no idea that I didn't have a clue. And I'm glad to know that Inskip's Porsche master technician isn't qualified, either. And imagine, someone took a twin turbo to Lime Rock and then drove it hard! I only wish I had consulted with GJ before I had bought the other eight 911s I've owned ... who knows how many other mistakes I've made over the years?

Vic
95 C4

Phil

Vic,
Inskip must be great, he bought 4 new cars from them. I wonder how many cars he traded?...hmmmm....and what was wrong with the trades that he didn't bother to mention?

vjd3

What irritates me is these broad generalizations. "You don't have a clue." "Their service sucks."

Tell me why. What happened that formed your opinion. Did your car fall off a lift? Did they forget to put oil in your car when they gave it back to you? Did they scuff the heck out of your rims and then refuse to pay? Did they keep your car 8 days when they told you 2? That's useful information. Just as I posted that they sold me a car with an oil leak and then went above and beyond to make it right immediately -- the clutch was fine, it had life in it and didn't need to be replaced but they did it anyway.

I had a security guard walk by me at work as I was replacing a fuse on my 911SC years ago and he said, "Them foreign cars is crap." Perfect example.

And Inskip sells Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti, Volvo, VW and who knows what else. I'm sure if you got lousy service at the Honda store, the Porsche store must be terrible, too.

Vic
95 C4

vjd3

By the way, Rob, I harbored a dream of a Ferrari one day and almost bought a 308GTS quattrovalvole in 1999. After talking with owners and doing some research on maintenance, I backed off and bought an 87 930 instead. When I found out the 30k scheduled maintenance (belts) on the 308 was in excess of $5,000 at the dealer, that was it for me.

I drove both a 308 and a Mondial with the 328 motor. The cars sounded great but the performance was not particularly impressive. The guy who owned the Mondial bought it used with an uncertain service history, put 300 miles on it and lost some teeth off the timing belt. $10k repair and that was after a dealer on the Ferrari list took pity on him and gave him a break on the parts and labor. The lesson: It's an expensive car to maintain and you'd damn well better maintain it or it will kill you. Terrifying story.

A Porsche can get expensive, but it's nothing compared to a Ferrari. Great perspective when it's service time.

For a great site on living with a 355, go here.

<a href="http://www.nsxfiles.com/f355_update.htm" target="_blank">Ferrari tales</a>

Vic
95 C4

RobMc

I got a kick out of that355 story Vic.I think setting the 993 as 1st priority would be my wisest move. In addition to the fact it is more reliable it is also substantially newer. I am waiting long enough so that I will be able to keep a 993 in top condition and also have a reserve set for any unexpected repairs. If I went with a 308 I would be nervous every time I took it out! I want to enjoy my car! As far as GJ I doubt there is any validity to what he says.