. . . seems like pulling teeth!

Last time my repairs were refused, the staff encouraged me: 'Buy a new car, then everything would be covered.'

This reminded me of the sales persons pitch: "Everything is covered bumper-to-bumper just like it is a new car."

The same part that failed last year failed less than a year later. The rear hatch strut doesn't seem to be able to take our cold weather. But, had I gotten in there a mere two weeks earlier, the part would have been covered under CPO warranty.

Gee, it failed within 10 months. It takes a couple of weeks to get an appointment with my dealer.

I bought the SUV sight unseen from a very large and reputable dealer in LA without an inspection because of this assurance for which I was paying an extra premium. Furthermore, it seems I am still sorting out problems that came with the car when I bought it. While the CPO has covered the majority of problems for which I am grateful, I have about $500 in outstanding denials of coverage.

OK, this urging to buy a new Porsche so that the defect would be covered reminded me of something I had heard on this forum. Then I saw someone comment that Porsche CPO sales got word that everything was covered but the CPO computer systems were not changed for the upgraded coverage.

Then I read that this disparity apparently persisted for some time, perhaps a year or so. HOWEVER, as of August this year all Porsche CPO cars are supposedly covered bumper-to-bumper.

Right! I doubt that! In fact, I think THAT is the same bunch of lies sales people have been using on unwitting customers for quite some time!

So, what is the truth?

What is the practise?

What has it been historically?

Does anyone have anything in writing?

The owner of my local dealership encouraged me to call him if I had any problems. I have called three times and left three messages, but he doesn't return my calls.

Any ideas on how to reseach this and nail Porsche down shall be appreciated. If sales people are lying, then that practise needs to be stopped.

I have thought of writing a letter to Porsche headquarters in Germany--because this seems to be a Porsche North American problem and that is apparently where the denials occur in the PNA offices.

Thanks for reading; thanks for the help.

Let's sort this out and put a stop to the sorry assed practise!

PS I searched this topic but see bits 'n pieces spread out. Certainly, this topic merits its own thread whenin all the facts and stories may be united and the stories documented.

Part of the reason I bought this Porsche is because I thought (perhaps wrongly) that I would not be hassled like I have been in the past by other cheaper marques.

 

Yeah I remember reading about the tech who said in August something changed in the systems to cover everything. Honestly the porsche website is pretty vague about what's covered.

 

To be honest I think that the more expensive vehicles the service seems to want to hose you for everything, from what I've seen so far. It's like it's their right to hose you because you should be able to afford it anyways. How many people go in and pay for all the crap that should be covered and just let it slide because they don't know any better or figured that's the way it is. I make sure when I take any of my vehicles in that they realize that there better not be any charges coming my way if it is covered under warranty! The best I've seen is dealer cannot duplicate-please pay this amount... or how about shop charges based on percentage of bill... What a world we live in.

 

It certainly seems the dealer is more interested in me buying a new car from them than servicing this one, and it seems Porsche is satisfied with dealerships making promises that are not kept. Sad.

 

Also, the dealer's son working in service told me they made no bones about it. They won't let the older Porsches into their shop. Think about that! He said that the owners couldn't afford to pay their bills so they weren't taking any old Porsches in!

Let's see. Might it have something to do with charging $25 per spark plug, $9.50 per quart of Mobil 1 or $30 for an oil filter cartridge?

They are not busy and they are losing money. In fact, I heard they may be having difficulty holding onto their franchise/dealership.

They've a history of not negotiating on new car sales at all. Sadly, the two Panamera's sit on the lot. Had they been flexible earlier, they'd have sold them.

The same with their Carrera Cabriolet. Imagine >$97K for a non "S." If they'd have shown signs of flex when it was summer, it would have been gone. Now, they've slashed the price to $77K. It is beautful and it sits.

Indeed, I am out of my leagure when it comes to prices and it's a shame there is little support for keeping the marginally able to afford these in these cars.

It won't be long before mine has no warranty whatsoever. The dealership is geared towards driving me into a new one but that's not going to happen.

However, the trend is used car prices has been distinctly upwards, except on these Cayennes. I have a feeling it has something to do with Porsche reputation for costly repairs and upkeep.

 

I bought my '05 S last year with CPO at Monterey in CA. I took the truck home and had multiple issues right away. First dealership tried to screw me by suggesting all the fixes which wouldn't be covered by warranty. Luckily, the dealership I purchased the car from covered the initial bill (which didn't fix the issues at all). I then found a dealership with a better service department which was just a little farther away. They got me in within a couple of days and fixed the truck right the first time. Since then every issue I've had has been covered without any discussion. I've loved my CPO.

 

CPO that stared in 2009 are bumper to bumper. Your dealer is the problem.

Keep in mind that even new car warranty doesn't cover all items that are due to wear and tear.

It really sucks when there is only 1 dealer around. I have the same problem with Lambo in SF

 

Gr8ful,Soooo sorry to hear about your negative experience
I believe its a great idea to let everyone know about a dealer that is not doing his job properly,especially since he gives those(a good majority)who do their job..a bad name
For example:I have bought my Cayennes and 911's from Porsche of Naples,and could not be happier about the quality and attention to detail of their service:not only are they mod friendlybut they also have a master mechanic who specialises in fixing ANY Porsche,no matter how old

 

Can somebody provide a exhaustive list of things that are NOT covered by the CPO warranty?

 

Great, that's what I thought. Can you tell me the exact month in 2009? I received mine late in August 2009.

 

is that unless you are, at the end of the day, willing to put up with the hassles and significant costs of a legal battle, the dealership can pretty much do whatever they want. Even if something is covered, they can simply say it isn't. Say it is a $300 repair. You can hire a lawyer, go through all the hassles, or you can just pay the $300.

In the end, what is "right" or "just" or "fair" all comes down to money.

 

...if a dealer has accomplished a repair within two years and the same item has to be repaired again later (within two years),
regardless of CPO or not, it is covered. This is how it was explained to me when I got the water pump, thermostat, and oil
sending units done recently.

 

Due to your support I decided to take this to the mat as reasonably as possible. If worst comes to worst, I will write Porsche in Germany and ask PAG to step in to clarify the sales practises and warrantee practise on Porsche CPO cars because we can't seem to get the truth out of Porsche North America.

After leaving calling the dealership owner who previously urged me to call him should I experience any difficulties and being rolled over to his voice mail after I was informed the owner was on the premises, AND leaving three messages (one long and two short) WITH no return phone call, I decided to take the advice of my local PCA President and call Porsche North America (PNA) directly today.

FYI, “Mary Ann” at PNA either could not or would not confirm Porsche’s CPO policy and history or any possible changes. What she told me is that not everything is covered by their warranties. She cited oil changes and the like.

I asked her specifically about any changes in CPO coverage and she could not or would not account for any possible changes in CPO policy or practice historically. In other words, the reports that there have been recent changes to the CPO are false. They are all lies!

What Mary Ann at PNA told me is that the administration of the CPO warrantees is up to the local dealers—of which there is only one in all of Alaska, of course.

I informed her that the local dealer claimed that it is Porsche of North America who has been declining my coverage. Mary Ann’s only response to this was to open a claim or inquiry.

Today I filed a request for assistance with PNA. I want two items reviewed for consideration of repair under CPO warranty. I have a case number and the name of the person following up on this, “Tammy Miller.”

Mary Ann asked me twice what I wanted PNA to do for me. I want PNA to look into CPO coverage for the parking brake strut which has been faulty since I bought the car sight unseen AND I want PNA to look into the rear window strut(s) and rear hatch struts—which failed twice in our cold weather—once in November 2009 as soon as I hit cold weather and then 10 months later it completely failed when cold weather hit again in September 2010.

My impression is that the rear hatch struts cannot take our winter weather. While the rear hatch lift range seemed to diminish during the summer, it completely failed when I went hunting in September in 16F weather.

Because the local dealer is often very busy, it took them an inordinate amount of time to get me in. I needed to have my snow tires put on immediately. I went to another independent reputable shop, “German Steel.” They got me in immediately and changed my wheels and my oil.

When I got into the dealer, I was informed that had I gotten in to see them merely two weeks earlier, the rear strut part failure would have been covered! Also, if I bought a new car, everything would be covered.

What it comes down to is this:

CPO warrantees have NOT changed.

CPO warrantee administration seems dictated by the dealership themselves.

I do not appreciate being ping-ponged between the dealer and PNA claiming that it is the other that is denying my coverage of repairs. While I really like my car, I doubt I can buy another with quite the confidence I had.


Being pushed to buy a new car when the repairs are so minimal feels abusive.

I’ll keep y’all updated. Thanks for your input and support.

 

Maybe I live in the wrong area to own a Porsche. I've heard the dealer has been on edge of losing his dealership. They won't allow any mods. They won't take any older Porsches.

Alaska is about to crash economically. If it does, I'm staying. But if it doesn't, it is just too expensive to live in. Besides, I miss warm weather and great dancing.

I'll stay because I'll buy low. Maybe a condo with a two car heated garage--for a used Cayman. I'll leave because costs are high. I'm paying $3.58.9 for gas and its only 90 octane.

I am thinking of southern Utah. certainly, I'll be shopping for a dealership and good Porsche service. There are so many options in the States.

If these problems of gross mis-representation persist, I think PAG would like to know. Having lived in Germany as a child, I know the German people are far more innocent and more rational than Americans--of which I am one.

Porsche wants to grow right now and that'll only be possible if their American representatives are more honest than it appears they currently are.

I just might sell the Cayenne and buy a motor home. Last month the CT saved me twice--once from a certain fatal accident. I like the car but the dealer takes too long to get me in, a long time getting parts and seems to jack me around--while my independent shop gets parts faster than I can turn around, charges me 40-50% less for parts but is not authorized to provide CPO service.

CPO seems to drive people into dealerships. Next time I might pass on CPO. But I see no reason to buy new. Not when one is treated this way.

In the past I raved accolades about my local dealer, but the lack of return phone calls and blaming PNA bring me to not liking the Porsche experience. I should have learned when I took in my Euro 924 (grey) to them decades ago.

Enough of my *****in'

Time to get out of the house.

 

check out porsche's site on CPO.

http://www.porsche.com/usa/pre-owned-vehicles/approved/

at the bottom, there is a pdf you can download. page 4 / 8 says

"The Porsche Approved Certified

Pre-Owned limited warranty is just like
our new car limited warranty.
All you’re responsible for are normal
wear and tear components, such as
brake pads or wiper blades and
scheduled maintenance. What’s more,
you receive 2 years or 50,000 miles
of coverage (whichever comes
first) following the remainder of the
new car limited warranty. Plus, our
around-the-clock Porsche Roadside
Assistance in the unlikely event you
have trouble on the road.
All in all, you can rest easy knowing

that you’re covered."

Print this and show it to your dealer. If they have a problem, talk to the PNA. CPO warranty is not a dealer warranty. It is a warranty offered by PNA and that's why it's on PNA website.