Porsche NA and their delaers
05-22-2003, 11:42 AM
#31
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Stirs,
You have, sorry to say, hit on a very sore point for many with your statement "I would love to own Porsche autos the rest of my life but will not spend hard earned dollars with a company that has no respect for me". Too many at PCNA have no respect for the owners - in fact, I have heard many use many negative comments when discussing the owner base.
I do hope your future experiences turn out better....
J
You have, sorry to say, hit on a very sore point for many with your statement "I would love to own Porsche autos the rest of my life but will not spend hard earned dollars with a company that has no respect for me". Too many at PCNA have no respect for the owners - in fact, I have heard many use many negative comments when discussing the owner base.
I do hope your future experiences turn out better....
J
05-22-2003, 01:33 PM
#32
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After thinking about this, is there any car company that really treats its customers with the respect you desire? I would exclude Rolls Royce, Ferrari and the like, but thinking back on every vehicle I have owned I have gotten awful treatment. Generally all related to service or issues after that initial purchase where they bend over backwards to get your money. Until reading this thread I attributed it to something else.
05-22-2003, 01:40 PM
#33
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dawktah
I am very pleased with BMW. I had an X-5 that had problems relating to cold start issues (the CEL would continually come on). BMW did a very favorable trade assist into a new X-5. They handled the entire process, all things considered, very well. Mind you, the problem I had never left me stranded and wasn't a safety issue. So there are car companies that treat their customers fairly.
I am very pleased with BMW. I had an X-5 that had problems relating to cold start issues (the CEL would continually come on). BMW did a very favorable trade assist into a new X-5. They handled the entire process, all things considered, very well. Mind you, the problem I had never left me stranded and wasn't a safety issue. So there are car companies that treat their customers fairly.
05-22-2003, 01:43 PM
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dawktah:
You may be correct but as Porsche owners we are paying a heavy premium when we buy our cars and a level of service higher than that of mass market car manufacturers is to be expected. As owners we should be statiscally more important to Porsche than individual buyers would be to Ford. IE if I were .1% of Porcshe's business than I would be .0001% of Ford's. Put simpler, when Porsche loses customers its decline will be far more rapid than the other manufacturers.
You may be correct but as Porsche owners we are paying a heavy premium when we buy our cars and a level of service higher than that of mass market car manufacturers is to be expected. As owners we should be statiscally more important to Porsche than individual buyers would be to Ford. IE if I were .1% of Porcshe's business than I would be .0001% of Ford's. Put simpler, when Porsche loses customers its decline will be far more rapid than the other manufacturers.
05-22-2003, 02:37 PM
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Ironic - but "my" Ford dealer does much more than "my" Porsche dealer - basic maint for 2/24, "equivalent" loaner (if you bring in an SUV, you get an SUV) for service, responds to email on service appointments w/in 15 ~ 20 min. I wish the P store were 1/2 as good.
J
J
05-22-2003, 03:46 PM
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Laurence you are right on. I have had several BMW's and only had one problem during all that time and it was with an installed phone that cost me $2K (voice recog., etc.). When I complained to BMW they referred me to the regional rep. who authorized a refund of one half of the cost of the phone and a promise to resolve all issues. So yes there are car companies that give a damn about the customer.
05-22-2003, 04:38 PM
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Here in Dallas (and I suspect all over the country), it all depends on the dealer principal (owner), regardless of the marque that they sell. I had considered ordering a Ferrari recently, but when you go to Ferrari of Dallas, it's like they are doing you a favor by selling you the car. I had a lot better sales experience with Porsche than Ferrari. I ended up ordering the new Aston Martin AMV8. They might be owned by Ford, but it's best purchase experience that I have ever received. They are sending me to England when the time comes to pick out exterior and interior color, whereas with Ferrari, they bump you when your time comes and ask you for a premium if you actually want to take delivery.
BMW also has a very spotty service and sales reputation in Dallas. For those who have had lots of dealings with BMW in Dallas, you kind of know that it's better to go a little further and drive to Fort Worth (Autobahn BMW) to buy a car. Classic BMW has one of the worst management staffs of any of the hi-line dealers in the DFW area (no thanks to JT Bryant - you would think he had uncompromising pitures of the owners). John Roberts BMW is a little better, as long as you don't try to get a loan car from them.
All in all, when it comes to service, it is not as much the corporate culture of the manufacturer that dictates the dealership's performance as much as who actually owns the dealership. Service managers could care less about PNA, but if their owner requires a higher level of service, then they will perform to that level or be forced out of a job. If the owner could care less, then you are out of luck and I suggest you move on to another dealership.
Karl
BMW also has a very spotty service and sales reputation in Dallas. For those who have had lots of dealings with BMW in Dallas, you kind of know that it's better to go a little further and drive to Fort Worth (Autobahn BMW) to buy a car. Classic BMW has one of the worst management staffs of any of the hi-line dealers in the DFW area (no thanks to JT Bryant - you would think he had uncompromising pitures of the owners). John Roberts BMW is a little better, as long as you don't try to get a loan car from them.
All in all, when it comes to service, it is not as much the corporate culture of the manufacturer that dictates the dealership's performance as much as who actually owns the dealership. Service managers could care less about PNA, but if their owner requires a higher level of service, then they will perform to that level or be forced out of a job. If the owner could care less, then you are out of luck and I suggest you move on to another dealership.
Karl
05-22-2003, 04:58 PM
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Porsche is the most profitable car company in the world! One would think they have achieved this by keeping their customers happy. From the likes of this board (and my personal experience as a new Porsche owner), I am inclined to believe that it is lack of customer care that seems to have helped them get so far.
I hope they've saved up... because they're going to need everything they've got to get out of this mess!!
I hope they've saved up... because they're going to need everything they've got to get out of this mess!!
05-22-2003, 05:09 PM
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BTW, I have had extensive dialog with Porsche AG in relation to a business venture we were exploring together, and can confirm that they have the same lousy attitude as PCNA. Essentially, Porsche is a very proud and dedicated company when it comes to their products, but the same pride turns to arrogance when it comes to dealing with customers and their problems.
05-22-2003, 10:51 PM
#40
anir, i hear what you are saying, and i certainly don't think that stirs was treated well, but if that is the case, then next time go to another dealer or buy a different brand car, but get past it. believe me, if i sound condescending, i am not trying to project that. i am sensitive to the disappointment that stirs feels, and maybe even the betrayal, but it is still just a car, and at the worst, the loss of a few thousand dollars-stirs is left driving a great car-i am sorry, but all in all, stirs has landed on his feet. things could be worse-move on.
05-26-2003, 05:19 PM
#41
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I've also had great experience with the local Don Jacobs BMW dealer. When the E46 M3 threw a connecting rod bearing, they replaced the engine in just over a week with great attention to customer service.
However, we've had pretty crummy luck to date with the Louisville Range Rover dealer, which is interestingly the same company (Bluegrass) that owns the only Porsche franchise in the state (so docjackson1, it is not always so easy to simply change dealers for some of us). So, I guess it depends more on the individual dealer's attitude than on the make of car.
However, we've had pretty crummy luck to date with the Louisville Range Rover dealer, which is interestingly the same company (Bluegrass) that owns the only Porsche franchise in the state (so docjackson1, it is not always so easy to simply change dealers for some of us). So, I guess it depends more on the individual dealer's attitude than on the make of car.
05-26-2003, 10:38 PM
#42
amir, you are not alone. i live in nj, and my land rover dealer is less than great. actually, i haven't spoken with anyone who is in love with their land rover dealer. i live within 50 miles of 5 porsche dealerships, so you are correct-if i am unhappy with one, i could certainly find another. i agree with you, if there is no other dealer in close proximity to where you live, you are at their mercy.
05-26-2003, 11:24 PM
#43
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">BTW, I have had extensive dialog with Porsche AG in relation to a business venture we were exploring together, and can confirm that they have the same lousy attitude as PCNA. Essentially, Porsche is a very proud and dedicated company when it comes to their products, but the same pride turns to arrogance when it comes to dealing with customers and their problems. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">This is just typical when dealing with German businesses. It is engrained into their society. I have had a considerable amount of litigation here in the states where in I represented German GmbHs and etc., and their pride does turn to arrogance when dealing with problems and customers. Germans make bad witnesses here in the states and they do really stupid things to hurt thier cases. Can lead a camel to water . . .
Have to take the good and the bad and live with it. Otherwise, buy American or Rice and they will be happy to kiss your *** to compensate for their product.
Have to take the good and the bad and live with it. Otherwise, buy American or Rice and they will be happy to kiss your *** to compensate for their product.
05-27-2003, 10:52 PM
#44
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Doug H:
<strong>[QUOTE]Otherwise, buy American or Rice and they will be happy to kiss your *** to compensate for their product.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
<strong>[QUOTE]Otherwise, buy American or Rice and they will be happy to kiss your *** to compensate for their product.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"><img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
06-04-2003, 09:16 AM
#45
I have had Porsches all my adult life, starting with a tired 914 when I was 17. I love the marque and hope to keep my 993 for a long, long time.
For everyday, all-weather use, however, we have two Lexus vehicles. You just can't break the darn things and the level of customer service is almost embarrassingly attentive--and this seems to be the case at several different Lexus dealerships I've used across the nation. It is always an unpleasant shock when I head to the Porsche dealer after being treated so well at Lexus!
Yes, the two makes are *definitely* apples and oranges in terms of performance, etc., but, at least in my experience, Lexus shows it is possible to have a good and desirable product with customer service to match.
For everyday, all-weather use, however, we have two Lexus vehicles. You just can't break the darn things and the level of customer service is almost embarrassingly attentive--and this seems to be the case at several different Lexus dealerships I've used across the nation. It is always an unpleasant shock when I head to the Porsche dealer after being treated so well at Lexus!
Yes, the two makes are *definitely* apples and oranges in terms of performance, etc., but, at least in my experience, Lexus shows it is possible to have a good and desirable product with customer service to match.