Porsche Dealer (Service) Southern CA
01-05-2010, 05:01 PM
#31
On the flip side...
I am one of those guy who would drive a long way for good service and prices. My closest dealer is Newport Import, but I've heard nothing good about them. So I made the drive out to Walters at Riverside for my first oil change. The SA's name is Justin Usary, very professional and courteous. Work done right and on time, not to mention one of the cheapest price in LA/OC county.
Hint: mention you are a PCA/OCR member for some "added values!"
Hint: mention you are a PCA/OCR member for some "added values!"
"BTW, I hear there's new software for the PDK. Can you check that out for me?" "OK, I did. There isn't one." "I'm sure there is, lots of people on the internet are talking about it." "No, I checked, there's nothing." "Well, OK."
Just about one week later, my car throws a CEL and the PDK starts acting funny. I take it back in for service. "OK, we fixed it. There's new software for it."
I might add that because of my job and evening traffic in Riverside, it is a HUGE hassle for me to get my car in for service, even though they're the closest Porsche dealer to me.
I wrote a pissed-off letter to the service dept manager who, in the tradition of service departments everywhere, said "Tough." His explanation, as best I could decipher it, was that they were only authorized to install the new software after the PDK malfunctioned, not as a prophylactic. Still, I was mad as hell.
This is a dealership from whom I've bought or leased, since 2005, an Audi S4 Avant, an Audi RS4, an '08 911C2 and my '09 911C2S. And I'm contemplating a Panamera to replace my Audi.
NOTE from June 2011: Please see my update post about 10 posts further down in this thread. Walter's has more than atoned for for pissing me off!
DMoore
'09 C2S PDK
'08 Audi S4 Avant
Last edited by DMoore; 06-30-2011 at 09:24 PM. Reason: update
01-05-2010, 10:32 PM
#33
Three Wheelin'
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Wow...dealer oil change for only $90???!!! Wish I had that deal down here. The local dealers are asking $240, and even my indy is charging $125.
01-05-2010, 10:41 PM
#34
Instructor
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Location: Torrance (310), CA
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01-06-2010, 02:45 PM
#35
For dealer service I like Mike Barcelona (service writer) and Master tech Ken at Rusnak Pasadena.
These two have treated me extremely well for more than 15 years.
I joined the SDR region of PCA http://www.pcasdr.org/ for the driving events when I joined because they were the most active but OCR is great also.
These two have treated me extremely well for more than 15 years.
I joined the SDR region of PCA http://www.pcasdr.org/ for the driving events when I joined because they were the most active but OCR is great also.
06-29-2011, 08:57 PM
#36
Rennlist Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Justin and Emory were the ones who handled the car and I agree completely with the favorable comments. Emory and I did a visual inspection while the car was on the lift. When I first take a car somewhere, I like to do that to assess the mechanic as well as the car. Since I'm an engineer, they can't easily blow smoke about what we're examining. On the other hand, a guy who's about to work on my car better darn sure know more specific information about it than I do. Lots more.
Emory is knowledgable. Very satisfactory.
Gary
06-29-2011, 10:30 PM
#37
Last year, I made a note of this post and when our car needed an intermediate service today, I drove to Walters. It is farther than Auto Gallery for us, but Auto Gallery requires we drive two of the busiest freeways in the world to get there. For Walters, I did have to use Google Maps instead of the PCM Nav to work out a realistic route, but the actual driving was a pleasure. Over half was nicely paved desert roads and the remainder was a run down the Fwy 15/215/91 route from Adelanto to Riverside. That avoids the heavy traffic regions of the LA basin. 115 miles each way, but pleasant miles.
Justin and Emory were the ones who handled the car and I agree completely with the favorable comments. Emory and I did a visual inspection while the car was on the lift. When I first take a car somewhere, I like to do that to assess the mechanic as well as the car. Since I'm an engineer, they can't easily blow smoke about what we're examining. On the other hand, a guy who's about to work on my car better darn sure know more specific information about it than I do. Lots more.
Emory is knowledgable. Very satisfactory.
Gary
Justin and Emory were the ones who handled the car and I agree completely with the favorable comments. Emory and I did a visual inspection while the car was on the lift. When I first take a car somewhere, I like to do that to assess the mechanic as well as the car. Since I'm an engineer, they can't easily blow smoke about what we're examining. On the other hand, a guy who's about to work on my car better darn sure know more specific information about it than I do. Lots more.
Emory is knowledgable. Very satisfactory.
Gary
06-29-2011, 10:34 PM
#38
Walter's Porsche of Riverside. Very close to your area. They gave me a big discount on the PSE exhaust and run a very nice operation. Always email me service discounts they have.
06-30-2011, 09:22 PM
#41
Fairness demands an update in this thread. Earlier, in January of 2010, I wrote a rather angry message about service at Walter's. It's about 10 posts "up" in this thread.
Since then, I've bought two additional cars at Walter's, a Panamera 4S in May of 2010 and my GTS in February of this year. I've had all my service on these cars done at Walter's despite my previous complaint. I'm sort of a captive, as the next closest dealer is about 45 to 50 miles from home (either Rancho Mirage or Newport Beach).
I've had zero problems since my earlier post. Zero. Nada. They take good care of my cars and give me FREE tech inspections when I'm taking the GTS to the track or AX which these days is every couple of weeks. Subsequent to my previous post, when that C2S (an '09, launch car for PDS) developed a leak in the PDS, they replaced the transmission entirely and had the car back to me in three days in time for another DE event. Recently their service dept. acquired a number of Cayennes to use as loaners and they give me a loaner even when the car is only in the shop for a FREE PCA tech inspection!
OK, they're not perfect. I still think they goofed on the PDS update, reported in my previous post. But they have made it right with continuing outstanding service in the year and a half since.
DMoore
'11 GTS
'10 P4S
Since then, I've bought two additional cars at Walter's, a Panamera 4S in May of 2010 and my GTS in February of this year. I've had all my service on these cars done at Walter's despite my previous complaint. I'm sort of a captive, as the next closest dealer is about 45 to 50 miles from home (either Rancho Mirage or Newport Beach).
I've had zero problems since my earlier post. Zero. Nada. They take good care of my cars and give me FREE tech inspections when I'm taking the GTS to the track or AX which these days is every couple of weeks. Subsequent to my previous post, when that C2S (an '09, launch car for PDS) developed a leak in the PDS, they replaced the transmission entirely and had the car back to me in three days in time for another DE event. Recently their service dept. acquired a number of Cayennes to use as loaners and they give me a loaner even when the car is only in the shop for a FREE PCA tech inspection!
OK, they're not perfect. I still think they goofed on the PDS update, reported in my previous post. But they have made it right with continuing outstanding service in the year and a half since.
DMoore
'11 GTS
'10 P4S
