The 996-C4S saga.
07-05-2002, 09:07 PM
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The 996-C4S saga.
I would like to be happy to announce that arrival of a new toy. After waiting for the 13 month gestation period, a manual 996-C4S arrived on June 20. Unfortunately I can only wish to be happy, as fate has selected an alternative course. Some of you might have already guessed about the trials and tribulations of the C4S.
On July 4, it died: stuck in second gear after driving a total of almost, but not quite, 400 miles. Does this sound somewhat familiar to anyone? So I took it back to the shop. They kindly provided a 'free' Volvo - after I paid for the insurance on the loaner!
The saga begins. The two-week old car needs a new transmission. Apparently it'll be ready by Wednesday.
It's a little sad, to be honest. I must say that paying anything at all after handing over $95k cash did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. At a minimum I expected a free Porsche. I got a $20/day Volvo.
- The unhappy camper.
On July 4, it died: stuck in second gear after driving a total of almost, but not quite, 400 miles. Does this sound somewhat familiar to anyone? So I took it back to the shop. They kindly provided a 'free' Volvo - after I paid for the insurance on the loaner!
The saga begins. The two-week old car needs a new transmission. Apparently it'll be ready by Wednesday.
It's a little sad, to be honest. I must say that paying anything at all after handing over $95k cash did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. At a minimum I expected a free Porsche. I got a $20/day Volvo.
- The unhappy camper.
07-05-2002, 09:20 PM
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As others, I know Exactly how you feel. When I dropped off my C4S I was given a Taurus wuth 45000kms on it! I drove it straight home and picked up my Denali....I do not understand how we spend this kind of dough, then are treated this way...
Frustrating as hell.....
Ron
Frustrating as hell.....
Ron
07-05-2002, 09:22 PM
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[quote] The saga begins. The two-week old car needs a new transmission. Apparently it'll be ready by Wednesday <hr></blockquote>
I'm terribly sorry to hear this. You've clearly read the threads and know what a hassle this can be. The debate lies mainly in whether a new transmission makes the car "as good as new" or whether it negatively impacts the car for good. My personal feeling is that a new transmission - while psychological damaging - should really not affect the performance or driving characteristics of the car in any manner. And you will be under the Porsche 4-Year Warranty as well, which should provide tremendous comfort.
It's still a shame, though, and a terrible inconvenience. I'm apalled that they've given you a loaner Volvo. Completely unacceptable, and you should demand a better car, as well as additionally goodies thrown in for the tremendous inconvenience.
Regards.
I'm terribly sorry to hear this. You've clearly read the threads and know what a hassle this can be. The debate lies mainly in whether a new transmission makes the car "as good as new" or whether it negatively impacts the car for good. My personal feeling is that a new transmission - while psychological damaging - should really not affect the performance or driving characteristics of the car in any manner. And you will be under the Porsche 4-Year Warranty as well, which should provide tremendous comfort.
It's still a shame, though, and a terrible inconvenience. I'm apalled that they've given you a loaner Volvo. Completely unacceptable, and you should demand a better car, as well as additionally goodies thrown in for the tremendous inconvenience.
Regards.
07-05-2002, 11:03 PM
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You and I can sit back and have some beers together in 6 months.....and laugh at all the BS we put up with.
Yours died much later than mine, which was at 5 hours old and 30 miles.
Write PAG, complain to your dealer, get all the "good will" freebies you can, I am!
Mine's been fine (and I beat the hell out of it) since my new tranny went in. Yours will be, too.
Oh, and concerning the rental car they offered me....my dealer said they called Enterprise rent-a-car, who would call and deliver my rental to me. Enterprise never called me!
Seems none of us got P-car loaners <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
Yours died much later than mine, which was at 5 hours old and 30 miles.
Write PAG, complain to your dealer, get all the "good will" freebies you can, I am!
Mine's been fine (and I beat the hell out of it) since my new tranny went in. Yours will be, too.
Oh, and concerning the rental car they offered me....my dealer said they called Enterprise rent-a-car, who would call and deliver my rental to me. Enterprise never called me!
Seems none of us got P-car loaners <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
07-06-2002, 12:58 AM
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Thanks for the comments. I fully believe that the car will be fine once it's fixed. I was just taken aback by the audacity of the dealership. The cheeky monkeys.
And urbanski, it's good to hear that yours is fine now.
-- The somewhat disgruntled camper.
And urbanski, it's good to hear that yours is fine now.
-- The somewhat disgruntled camper.
07-06-2002, 10:58 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by Ed Newman:
<strong>Yell and scream... call PCNA, I'll give you the number if ou need it. I've heard of up to $800 in freebies from similar problems.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My dealer made my first payment, over $1K. And I'm still waiting for PAG's good will offerings.
<strong>Yell and scream... call PCNA, I'll give you the number if ou need it. I've heard of up to $800 in freebies from similar problems.</strong><hr></blockquote>
My dealer made my first payment, over $1K. And I'm still waiting for PAG's good will offerings.
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07-06-2002, 12:14 PM
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Something to ponder when negotiating w/ PAGre "good will offerings":
The 996 rents for $400,- per day.
<a href="http://www.exoticcarrentalslasvegas.com/porche966cabriolet.html" target="_blank">http://www.exoticcarrentalslasvegas.com/porche966cabriolet.html</a>
The 996 rents for $400,- per day.
<a href="http://www.exoticcarrentalslasvegas.com/porche966cabriolet.html" target="_blank">http://www.exoticcarrentalslasvegas.com/porche966cabriolet.html</a>
07-06-2002, 08:07 PM
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Hello Karl, Urbanski, Ed et al.
Any details on the preferred "chain of command" in escalating this through the ranks would be appreciated. To date, I have only written to the dealer's equivalent of a general manager. A few strongly worded, yet open-ended hints were made. I am hoping that this should be sufficient.
As a separate thread, I ought to contact PAG. The transmission is apparently a non-serviceable unit and, therefore, not necessarily the dealer's fault. From reading this bulletin board, it would appear that I should contact PAG on this issue.
All my booklets are in the car and, therefore, at the dealership. Hence I don't have the contact details for PAG other than the 1-800-PORSCHE number. Is there a preferred route for this type of matter?
Regards,
The camper who has started recovery from this incredible ordeal.
Any details on the preferred "chain of command" in escalating this through the ranks would be appreciated. To date, I have only written to the dealer's equivalent of a general manager. A few strongly worded, yet open-ended hints were made. I am hoping that this should be sufficient.
As a separate thread, I ought to contact PAG. The transmission is apparently a non-serviceable unit and, therefore, not necessarily the dealer's fault. From reading this bulletin board, it would appear that I should contact PAG on this issue.
All my booklets are in the car and, therefore, at the dealership. Hence I don't have the contact details for PAG other than the 1-800-PORSCHE number. Is there a preferred route for this type of matter?
Regards,
The camper who has started recovery from this incredible ordeal.
07-06-2002, 08:46 PM
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I called that 800-PORSCHE number, they told me to work through my dealer. I talked to the dealer GM several times, and he was willing to talk to PCNA for me. I am working on a letter to PAG in Germany at the moment.
Work through your dealer best you can, if he is reluctant or being unhelpful, ask for his "boss" at PCNA.
Work through your dealer best you can, if he is reluctant or being unhelpful, ask for his "boss" at PCNA.
07-07-2002, 01:24 AM
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Go right to the TOP:
Porsche
980 Hammond Drive, Suite 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30328
President/CEO: Frederick J Schwab
770-290-3500
<a href="http://cartalk.cars.com/Got-A-Car/To-The-Top/" target="_blank">http://cartalk.cars.com/Got-A-Car/To-The-Top/</a>
Porsche
980 Hammond Drive, Suite 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30328
President/CEO: Frederick J Schwab
770-290-3500
<a href="http://cartalk.cars.com/Got-A-Car/To-The-Top/" target="_blank">http://cartalk.cars.com/Got-A-Car/To-The-Top/</a>
07-07-2002, 01:51 PM
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[quote]Originally posted by karl k:
<strong>Go right to the TOP:
Porsche
980 Hammond Drive, Suite 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30328
President/CEO: Frederick J Schwab
770-290-3500</strong><hr></blockquote>sweet! thanks
<strong>Go right to the TOP:
Porsche
980 Hammond Drive, Suite 1000,
Atlanta, GA 30328
President/CEO: Frederick J Schwab
770-290-3500</strong><hr></blockquote>sweet! thanks
07-08-2002, 01:20 PM
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Always easier to go straight to the top. Even on my new car order, when the dealer can't give me the info I want, I call PCNA and start bithcing. I feel sorry for the dealers, they are always the last to know anything.
As for goodies, the first months payment is a great idea. A nice chunk of chain and easily arguable.
As for goodies, the first months payment is a great idea. A nice chunk of chain and easily arguable.
07-08-2002, 02:00 PM
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Forgive me in advance for the length of this posting - but I thought maybe my experience could serve as a customer service benchmark.
As an owner of a 2002 C4S since March, I have been reading the threads related to transmission failures with quite a bit of anxiety. For me, thankfully, its been so far, so good through 2,500 miles.
What has amazed me even more than the mechanical issues are the customer service shortcomings that Prosaic id, Urbanski, et al. have faced while waiting for their repairs to be sorted out. A Volvo, a Taurus and Enterprise Rent-a-Car? Are you kidding me?
I have had my C4S in the dealer twice since taking delivery - first (in April) to have aluminum gauges and RUF pedals installed and second (last week) to have the center console painted and an aluminum shifter installed. Due to my travel schedule, both times my car was at the dealer for several days.
The first time, I had a friend follow me to the dealer in the late evening so I could drop my car. Since the service manager was gone for the day, I was told to simply pull the car into one of the available service bays so that the car would be secure over night. When I arrived in the office the following morning, I already had a voicemail from my service manager asking me to contact him re: a loaner. I called him back to let him know that I didn't really need a loaner since I planned on using my other car (MB E430 Sport) while my C4S was tied up. When he offered to send a porter into the city to pick me up (I work/live in Chicago), bring me out to the dealership (in the suburbs) and set me up with a Boxster loaner, I knew I had bought my car at the right place. After thinking this was just a good-will gesture in recognition of my recent purchase I was pleasantly surprised to find the same protocol as I dropped my C4S last week - brought the car in on Saturday afternoon (June 29th) and given a black/black 2002 Boxster with 600 miles to drive until I pick-up my C4S tomorrow evening (July 9th). Note - NO CHARGE either time for the loaner.
When I called this morning to confirm my car would be ready tomorrow, the service manager was eager to hear my impressions of the Boxster. His comments of "boy, you sure had a nice week to enjoy top-down motoring" and "did you take the Boxster out of town for the Holiday weekend" really accentuated the overall mentality of the dealership. These guys are genuinely committed to me having a positive experience as it relates to my interaction with the Porsche brand.
I refuse to believe my experience is an anomoly. Please tell me there are others out there who are getting what they paid handsomly for!!
As an owner of a 2002 C4S since March, I have been reading the threads related to transmission failures with quite a bit of anxiety. For me, thankfully, its been so far, so good through 2,500 miles.
What has amazed me even more than the mechanical issues are the customer service shortcomings that Prosaic id, Urbanski, et al. have faced while waiting for their repairs to be sorted out. A Volvo, a Taurus and Enterprise Rent-a-Car? Are you kidding me?
I have had my C4S in the dealer twice since taking delivery - first (in April) to have aluminum gauges and RUF pedals installed and second (last week) to have the center console painted and an aluminum shifter installed. Due to my travel schedule, both times my car was at the dealer for several days.
The first time, I had a friend follow me to the dealer in the late evening so I could drop my car. Since the service manager was gone for the day, I was told to simply pull the car into one of the available service bays so that the car would be secure over night. When I arrived in the office the following morning, I already had a voicemail from my service manager asking me to contact him re: a loaner. I called him back to let him know that I didn't really need a loaner since I planned on using my other car (MB E430 Sport) while my C4S was tied up. When he offered to send a porter into the city to pick me up (I work/live in Chicago), bring me out to the dealership (in the suburbs) and set me up with a Boxster loaner, I knew I had bought my car at the right place. After thinking this was just a good-will gesture in recognition of my recent purchase I was pleasantly surprised to find the same protocol as I dropped my C4S last week - brought the car in on Saturday afternoon (June 29th) and given a black/black 2002 Boxster with 600 miles to drive until I pick-up my C4S tomorrow evening (July 9th). Note - NO CHARGE either time for the loaner.
When I called this morning to confirm my car would be ready tomorrow, the service manager was eager to hear my impressions of the Boxster. His comments of "boy, you sure had a nice week to enjoy top-down motoring" and "did you take the Boxster out of town for the Holiday weekend" really accentuated the overall mentality of the dealership. These guys are genuinely committed to me having a positive experience as it relates to my interaction with the Porsche brand.
I refuse to believe my experience is an anomoly. Please tell me there are others out there who are getting what they paid handsomly for!!
07-08-2002, 05:25 PM
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The dealer where I purchased my '02TT is located 75 miles from home. Because I've purchased four Porsches, a used BMW and an Isuzu P/U from them, they go out of their way to provide me with a Boxter loaner. Incidentally, that is how I also came to own a Boxter. Got one as a loaner and liked it so much that I bought an '02. The sales manager lives a few miles from me and he drops off the loaner at my house. Really good people. I'm theirs forever. 