cab&coupe

No truer words were ever spoken

cab&coupe

Isn't the 20% off deal still valid?

EnigmaWmn

Out of curiosity, can those who chose "dealer" over "independent porsche shop" tell me why? I can understand if there isn't a reputable shop in your area, but provided there is, why not go there instead?

Btw, a Great Bear shop with a hunter machine was able to align my previous P!G better than a dealer.

I voted for the "independent", if it matters.

cab&coupe

I'm good with a quality dealer or independent porsche shop... just not Firestone who chances are most likely wouldn't know what a metric tool looks like.

Dennis C

I think it depends on where you live. When we were in Fort Wayne, IN - the dealer was the only way to go. Now that we live in the Denver area, there are some excellent independent mechanics who would be my preference. I think having the Hunter road-force balancer is important.

Andy E.

Pops as crazy as this may sound, I will only allow my independant shop to align my 928 since he's one of the few who still remembers how to do a proper alignment procedure on a shark (compress springs, simulate driver's weight using sand bag, etc...). As far as the Cayenne goes, the old timer can't be bothered.

I figure since it's new technology and run-of-the-mill Porsche stuff for Porsche technicians, I voted for the dealer.

Either way, a pimple-faced kid who may work part-time for Jiffy Lube will not touch any of the family cars in my stable.

SnP

My last experience with Firestone was terrible.

Wife took her car in for brake pads. Shop drained the fluid from her master cylinder and let her drive off the lot with no brakes.

They were attempting to sell her a new master cylinder.

I showed up, told them I was going to call the police, have the tech arrested for sabotaging the car and sending my wife off to her death.

After the old fart behind the counter screamed at me for a while, I picked up my phone, called the police and asked for an officer to come out to make a report.

The old guy stopped me, took the car back, topped the fluid back off and the car was fine.

The level of criminal behavior I experienced there that day was far beyond simple incompetence.

rkanok

Thanks everyone for your experiences, you have all confirmed my gut that its not worth going to Firestone. Likely I will goto the local porsche indy shop here in Austin. Mainly so that the dealer does not know the techart module is installed.



thanks
Robert.

cab&coupe

GL Robert, wise choice IMHO

wisky

I recently got my C4S aligned at my local dealer because I wanted to go with a more aggressive alignment. In the event that I wanted an alignment to OEM specs, I would trust my local Firestone, they are good guys and seem to know their way around cars. They even match Tirerack prices for me. I bring my non P-cars to them for tires and basic maintenance.

altonj

Why does everyone think a brand name tire store can't align your porsche?? It ain't rocket science. If you are looking for an alignment to factory specs for street use this is not difficult.

No matter where you are taking ANY vehicle you own for alignment you may consider speaking with the tech directly and having him show you the equipment and so on. Get a feel for who will be working on your car. Then base your desicion on the tech, not the sign on the store front.

I have seen many screwed up alignments and cornerbalnces done by the "porsche specialist"....

If a car leaves a shop with a bummed alignment most times it is because the owner did not do any research. Know the specs you want (factory or otherwise) and then compare them to the print out you get when the alignment is done. Your Porsche is not any more difficult to align than a honda.

Now, it is a little differnt when setting up a cup car.....

Cheers

joes95rx7

Well said

rkanok

So after my install of the TechArt Module and alignment here is what I learned. I actually went to the dealer as it was closer then the Indy shop. The alignment on the Air Suspension Cayenne through the dealer includes recalibration of the suspension module, measuring the car height at various levels after the alignment has been performed. So there is extra work, likely not always needed, to ensure the best setup for the Air Suspension cars requiring the PIWIS. The alignment took almost 4 hours on the rack, but was a flat fee.

In my case this meant calibration of my new TechArt module was included in the alignment.


Thanks all for you comments.

cab&coupe

IMHO it helps to have a dealer service record for resale down the road.

INURGRL951

rijowysock I do not see the need to alignment just by added the module by techart because the alignment is done with the cars measurement in "normal" setting and the normal setting I think is the same. If your running in a lower setting for long periods of times I have noticed the rear tires get a choppy wear, like the alignment is out but I work in a dealership and have had it up on the rack in numerous occasions and they have checked out to the proper specs for it in normal. We use the hunter hawk eye lazer system. The only way around the problem is to go down a tire series size.

firestone can only be as good as there alignment equipment. BUT since they work on many makes and models of cars they should be more the qualified for it. I would not do it BUT if you get a before and after print out of YOUR cayenne there should be no worries.