A Cautionary Tale!!!
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 551
I will say as a recent buyer of a 09 C4S, this forum is soooo crucial. I've been reading this for at least 10 years even when I was younger to just look at the cars people photographed. It's been preached since the dawn of everything on here, a PPI is a must and get reviews. Don't be smart, just be wise enough to learn from others.... like the whole Porsche community!!! Mines ten years old and in tip top shape because everyone said investigate it and walk if it isn't right... so I did until the right one came along. Enjoy the Lexus I suppose...
Pro
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 615
Likes: 94
From: Memphis, Tn
I know of an Illinois based Porsche dealership that sold a car with FILTHY air/cabin filters. This AFTER the car passed their 100+ point inspection. Obviously they didn’t inspect the car at all. When they get a car in on trade they flip it as quickly as possible, sometimes with little to no inspection. They don’t care about you at all. They care about money.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 163
Likes: 33
From: Hannibal, MO
Originally Posted by posterchild2
Hey guys, I am simply going to chalk this up to "stuff happens". Nobody is going to feel sorry for me, or anyone else that is able to purchase a Porsche or any other high-end vehicle. Plenty of bigger issues people are facing in the world right now! My tale is more cautionary than complaint. I made a huge assumption and financial blunder by thinking that because I was purchasing a used Porsche from a Porsche Dealership that i was immune from needing a pre-purchase inspection. Don't make the same mistake I made! A pre-purchase inspection would have uncovered the CV issue as well as the brake wear. I would have either negotiated the sale price or walked away all-together with the knowledge of the pre-purchase inspection. My mechanic who I trust more than these yahoos told me that because there was no way to know how long the axle grease had been spewing out it was best to just replace the axles. They needed to remove them anyway, so I went ahead and approved the work. I'm not sure I have ever replaced pads without changing out the rotors as well. Bottom line, if you choose to drive these expensive vehicles you better have the money to repair them when stuff goes bad or have the backing of the factory warranty. If I ever decide to drive another Porsche, I am going to lease and after 2 or 3 years turn in the keys are run. LOL. I picked up the vehicle on Friday and paid the $3600 bill and the next day drove it to the Lexus dealership and drove away with a 2019 CPO ES300h. I have a 6 year unlimited bumper to bumper warranty. I disclosed the repairs that were made and decided after Porsche refused to make me whole that i was going to trade the car in. Let me tell you guys, I lost my *** on this car; but gained peace of mind and I can't put a price tag on my sanity! These are fantastic cars and don't let my experience deter anyone from thinking about getting into one, just do your due diligence and protect your investment.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 1,200
From: Vista CA
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 188
Personally, someone should buy 1/2 or 1/3rd of the car they can "afford" by most standards today. If you walk into a dealership and they say you can "afford" (based on payments etc) a new Rolls, then that means you should feel comfortable picking up that 911.
The current trend is the opposite. Lengthening terms out so that people can afford the monthly payments for cars that are in reality twice what they should be buying.
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Houston, TX
Not that it matters at this point; but even buying a 7 or 8 year old car from a brand dealership we should still get our own PPI done? I'm wondering how the dealership would have taken that! Do they welcome the mechanic into their garage and start poking around? I've done them at the mechanics shop before with private sales; but never at a dealership. Just curious how your PPI mechanic was received at the Porsche dealership?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 885
From: Northeast USA
Not that it matters at this point; but even buying a 7 or 8 year old car from a brand dealership we should still get our own PPI done? I'm wondering how the dealership would have taken that! Do they welcome the mechanic into their garage and start poking around? I've done them at the mechanics shop before with private sales; but never at a dealership. Just curious how your PPI mechanic was received at the Porsche dealership?
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 303
Likes: 61
From: Silicon Valley
This, I agree with.
Personally, someone should buy 1/2 or 1/3rd of the car they can "afford" by most standards today. If you walk into a dealership and they say you can "afford" (based on payments etc) a new Rolls, then that means you should feel comfortable picking up that 911.
The current trend is the opposite. Lengthening terms out so that people can afford the monthly payments for cars that are in reality twice what they should be buying.
Personally, someone should buy 1/2 or 1/3rd of the car they can "afford" by most standards today. If you walk into a dealership and they say you can "afford" (based on payments etc) a new Rolls, then that means you should feel comfortable picking up that 911.
The current trend is the opposite. Lengthening terms out so that people can afford the monthly payments for cars that are in reality twice what they should be buying.
Honestly, probably much more than twice what they can actually afford. I have only ever leased one car in my life (and it turned out good for me, since someone ran into it) but I could have easily written a check for it.
The thing with "high end" cars is that they come with high-end repair bills. I looked at V12 Mercedes SL AMG. Sweet car, clean, everything you could ever want, and it was a small fraction of the original $240k sticker price, with less than 10,000 miles on it. But - it was out of warranty and *any* significant issue like an engine or transmission problem, quickly turns into a 5-figure repair. I didn't get it, even though it was a monster car. It just didn't make any sense at all to me. An SL really doesn't need more than a 6 cylinder engine for what it is good for, which is pretty much a Beverly Hills shopping cart. (I had an SL-400 and I loved it)
To some degree, this is true of our cars as well. If we have a significant transmission issue on a PDK or an internal engine issue, it's a 5-figure problem, all said and done. There's no getting around that, as the machine is $100k+ brand new and it carries repair bills of that magnitude.
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 2,891
From: Idaho
[QUOTE=larrysb;16375264]Honestly, probably much more than twice what they can actually afford. I have only ever leased one car in my life (and it turned out good for me, since someone ran into it) but I could have easily written a check for it.
The thing with "high end" cars is that they come with high-end repair bills. I looked at V12 Mercedes SL AMG. Sweet car, clean, everything you could ever want, and it was a small fraction of the original $240k sticker price, with less than 10,000 miles on it. But - it was out of warranty and *any* significant issue like an engine or transmission problem, quickly turns into a 5-figure repair. I didn't get it, even though it was a monster car. It just didn't make any sense at all to me. An SL really doesn't need more than a 6 cylinder engine for what it is good for, which is pretty much a Beverly Hills shopping cart. (I had an SL-400 and I loved it)
To some degree, this is true of our cars as well. If we have a significant transmission issue on a PDK or an internal engine issue, it's a 5-figure problem, all said and done. There's no getting around that, as the machine is $100k+ brand new and it carries repair bills of that magnitude.[/QUOTE]
True. Which reinforces the argument for purchasing a warranty. (Although in the instance of the OP's situation, I don't think it would have been feasible to purchase one given the mileage on the car in question).
The thing with "high end" cars is that they come with high-end repair bills. I looked at V12 Mercedes SL AMG. Sweet car, clean, everything you could ever want, and it was a small fraction of the original $240k sticker price, with less than 10,000 miles on it. But - it was out of warranty and *any* significant issue like an engine or transmission problem, quickly turns into a 5-figure repair. I didn't get it, even though it was a monster car. It just didn't make any sense at all to me. An SL really doesn't need more than a 6 cylinder engine for what it is good for, which is pretty much a Beverly Hills shopping cart. (I had an SL-400 and I loved it)
To some degree, this is true of our cars as well. If we have a significant transmission issue on a PDK or an internal engine issue, it's a 5-figure problem, all said and done. There's no getting around that, as the machine is $100k+ brand new and it carries repair bills of that magnitude.[/QUOTE]
True. Which reinforces the argument for purchasing a warranty. (Although in the instance of the OP's situation, I don't think it would have been feasible to purchase one given the mileage on the car in question).
Thread Starter
AutoX
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 4
From: Houston, TX
To some degree, this is true of our cars as well. If we have a significant transmission issue on a PDK or an internal engine issue, it's a 5-figure problem, all said and done. There's no getting around that, as the machine is $100k+ brand new and it carries repair bills of that magnitude.[/QUOTE]
True. Which reinforces the argument for purchasing a warranty. (Although in the instance of the OP's situation, I don't think it would have been feasible to purchase one given the mileage on the car in question).[/QUOTE]
The dealership actually did offer an extended warranty for somewhere north of 5K, which I thought was odd given the year and mileage, now I'm wondering what the hell it would have covered anyway! Buy a car with a warranty or deal with the consequences of not having one! I'm getting 40 mpg in the Lexus Hybrid, cost me all of $15 to and from work this week. Lol. Call me Greta Thunberg!
True. Which reinforces the argument for purchasing a warranty. (Although in the instance of the OP's situation, I don't think it would have been feasible to purchase one given the mileage on the car in question).[/QUOTE]
The dealership actually did offer an extended warranty for somewhere north of 5K, which I thought was odd given the year and mileage, now I'm wondering what the hell it would have covered anyway! Buy a car with a warranty or deal with the consequences of not having one! I'm getting 40 mpg in the Lexus Hybrid, cost me all of $15 to and from work this week. Lol. Call me Greta Thunberg!
Banned
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,467
Likes: 1,103
From: Southern California
The only dishonest dealings I've had is with branded Porsche dealers.
The Armenian-owned used car lot in Glendale California called Future Auto Sales is the place that we might ASSUME to be dishonest and they were the ones that were forthright. Traded in my 997 and they found an expensive seal leaking almost nothing. They fixed it for the next buyer and I felt terrible they paid it. They are very honest IMHO.
But with a 9 year old car no matter what the operative word is "As-is where-is" 72k miles on it. I think to be nice they should discount the brake job and you pay half. Of course, their prices are marked way up so it's a scratch.
The Armenian-owned used car lot in Glendale California called Future Auto Sales is the place that we might ASSUME to be dishonest and they were the ones that were forthright. Traded in my 997 and they found an expensive seal leaking almost nothing. They fixed it for the next buyer and I felt terrible they paid it. They are very honest IMHO.
But with a 9 year old car no matter what the operative word is "As-is where-is" 72k miles on it. I think to be nice they should discount the brake job and you pay half. Of course, their prices are marked way up so it's a scratch.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,129
Likes: 911
From: Destin, Nashville, In a 458 Challenge
Yeah, I also got kinda lost reading, but shouldn’t one look at the brake pads and rotors before purchasing a sports car?
This is why you get a PPI as well.
Frint brakes, rotors and sensor . . . I got them done recently got about $450 on a 2010 997.2. Ordered parts from that place that warranties for life and a Disount Tire type of place charged me about $150 to put them on.
I am actually surprised and impressed they are covering CV joints.
This is why you get a PPI as well.
Frint brakes, rotors and sensor . . . I got them done recently got about $450 on a 2010 997.2. Ordered parts from that place that warranties for life and a Disount Tire type of place charged me about $150 to put them on.
I am actually surprised and impressed they are covering CV joints.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 774
Likes: 121
From: Jersey Shore
WOW! How the heck did this huckleberry find our holy forum then have the audacity to regurgitate the sweetness of a japanese hybrid.
Run on sentences, cry cry cry about how he was taken. Give me a break. This car, this forum is for men who love to drive hard and fast, not crybabies to want 45 miles on a gallon of gas. Enjoy your 5 mile drive to work at 35 mph every day. Don't forget your Venti Latte.
Run on sentences, cry cry cry about how he was taken. Give me a break. This car, this forum is for men who love to drive hard and fast, not crybabies to want 45 miles on a gallon of gas. Enjoy your 5 mile drive to work at 35 mph every day. Don't forget your Venti Latte.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 8,570
Likes: 1,114
From: Florida
The pen is mightier than the sword, so I will be sending a letter to Porsche North America detailing my experience. I am shocked that they would allow $3500 to tarnish their name and reputation. I gave them the opportunity to do the right thing and correct a problem that was obvious. People make mistakes and shouldn't be punished for them; but they must pay for them. Let this be a lesson to really do your due diligence when purchasing a used Porsche. I will keep everyone apprised of the situation.
Needless to say, a PPI by a third party with nothing invested in the car is a must, even for Porsche dealership CPO cars.
