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I am considering paying the extra expense to get a 2016 Cayman GT4, on sale by my local Porsche dealer, certified as a Certified Pre-owned (CPO) vehicle. I am having a pre-purchase inspection performed on the car, which has 6K miles and 2 previous owners. Beyond the fact the it passes the Carfax tests, I don't know much about the car's history, such as if it has seen a track. I am told that the CPO would cost $2K (charged by Porsche) and any dealer fees needed to "bring the car up to specifications."
I plan to use the vehicle for pleasure and at least some track time.
What are your informed opinions about paying the extra $$ for the certification? I am aware of the issues with 3rd gear failure and the strut tower failures. Are there other typical trouble spots which I should consider?
FWIW, I've had over $6k in service visits that were covered by CPO status, since picking up my GT4 in August. Three of the visits, at two different dealerships, were for the same issue, which was ultimately resolved by myself, by replacing the air filters.
FWIW, I've had over $6k in service visits that were covered by CPO status, since picking up my GT4 in August. Three of the visits, at two different dealerships, were for the same issue, which was ultimately resolved by myself, by replacing the air filters.
What exactly are they doing for the $2k other than warranting the car for 24 additional months? Fluid changes, new tires, etc.? I bought my GT4 CPO in March and it's now telling me I need an oil change. Because my mileage hasn't required an oil change, I would have thought my next oil change would be on the anniversary of when they performed the CPO???
The car will get a new gearbox if not already. If not already, that's yours to do. Porsche isn't acknowledging the strut tower failure as anything more than a remote possibility, no different from any other 981. Avoid pot holes and off-road excursions!
My experience: personally the CPO was worth it to me. Since owning he car, Porsche replaced the gearbox. I also got a nail in the center of my left rear Cup 2's contact patch, thinking Porsche would repair it. My dealer told me that Porsche doesn't allow them to repair race tires and I would need to buy a new one (tire has less than 1k miles on it), for which I argued the Cup 2 is a DOT approved street tire. Nonetheless Discount Tire patched it for free. Michelin advised I take it to Discount Tire.
- "Right muffler" ($4k alone for part, per invoice emailed to me by delivery company) replaced due to found "leak"; "Left muffler" remains, with rust along welds
- PCCB Park brake "error", would not engage (6hrs waiting/labor at dealer until resolved)
- 2nd "brake" issue where squealing audible when pulling away from standstill...techs could not replicate...still intermittent; also "burning hickory" type smell from passenger rear from shoret ride/light braking...later subsided
- PDLS "error" message in cluster...(3) instances, techs could not replicate, issue subsided
- Intermittent Engine Knock/Ping/rattle under slightest of throttle, @ 2,100-2,200RPM and @ 2,800-2,900RPM, and hesitation under moderate to hard acceleration...(3) visits, (2) dealers...I swapped air filters..."new car"
- Metallic plate rattle sound at front of car over certain bumps, could be felt in steering wheel...front swaybar adjustment nuts/bolts came off following my request for adjustment prior to delivery. Cost of repair of replacing with new nuts, per Porsche SOP after every adjustment, was $300 at closer dealer...later reduced to $70 following my "WTF?" comments...was told to file for refund at purchasing dealership...let it slide since happy it wasn't strut tower fail
...do the (3) screws/flats in the Cup 2s in first (2) weeks of ownership count? Third found screw discovered by guy at tire shop when swapping for all-seasons, and thinking I'd start next spring with (3) good Cup 2s and alerting me, "Hey, did you know you had a screw in this one?"
I’ve purchased 2 CPO Porsches in the the past 2 years and the only issue i had was with my Macan S - the alignment was slightly off and I brought the car back a month later and they corrected with out any issue or questions.
If I were you I would get the PPI along with an over rev report first and then go back to the dealer with that info and ask them for a solid cost estimate to get the car up to CPO standards based on the PPI.
Here’s a copy of a CPO checklist for reference.
On a 6,000 mile car the only costly things that may not meet CPO specs are possibly brake pads and tire tread depth if the car was driven hard.
I believe the CPO program now includes the first service so there’s some savings there.
It may help to post a link to the car you’re looking at so the members here can give some feed back regarding pricing, options etc also, someone here may actually know the car and provide solid feedback.
Mine is CPO'd and while bringing it up to spec, it appears they replaced the brake pads (PCCB).... and i did not get charged. So ... Seriously, it's nice knowing it's their issue if something goes wrong. Only been in once for an issue that I ended up resolving, the complementary Targa 4 GTS loaner made up for the down time.
Fortunately, the tires just meet spec. God help me if the rotors don't meet spec. Battery is not OEM; I've heard that an OEM battery is required for CPO.
Even this sum is still worth the peace of mind. I suspect a busted 3rd gear would cost more than this sum to fix. Kind of crazy, huh?
Fortunately, the tires just meet spec. God help me if the rotors don't meet spec. Battery is not OEM; I've heard that an OEM battery is required for CPO.
Even this sum is still worth the peace of mind. I suspect a busted 3rd gear would cost more than this sum to fix. Kind of crazy, huh?
The nice thing is the 3rd Gear would be covered under the 'recall'. I don't think that would be of concern.
12-09-2019 | 01:27 PM
Opinions please: obtain CPO certification or not?
Seriously, it's nice knowing it's their issue if something goes wrong. Only been in once for an issue that I ended up resolving, the complementary Targa 4 GTS loaner made up for the down time.
