We bought a 2009 Cayman S PDK - fell in love looking at it while our Cayenne GTS was getting serviced. Was a pretty good deal overall and we had been happier with our previous 87 Targa and 96 C4S (the Cayenne was great - but it still is just a fast SUV). In fact we were confident that Porsche would never let us down with a new(updated) model after the stellar reliability of our previous Porsches.

Anyway, drove the Cayman for 3.5 weeks and one day while running errands in downtown Key West, started the car, and put it into reverse. First got a "transmission emergency run" message. Car did not move in gear. Put into park and then received the "check engine" message. Game over. Never launched it, never went over 5K RPM... bah. Flatbedded to the Collection in Miami - over 3 hours away. They've been very nice so far - 2 days of diagnostics - PTEK sent to Porsche engineering - nothing so far. Bought the car from Jim Ellis in Atlanta - the service manager seems to be taking an active role so far (used to work at PCNA 2 miles away from Jim Ellis) - the Ellis sales manager seems uninterested so far.

Anybody have an opinion of what to expect from PCNA - any love or concern. We're kinda of freaked out and seriously bummed out. I can't find any other mention of problems (PDK or DFI) but the Collection is looking first at problems with stuff thats "what's new for 09". How long until I should be asking for a different car - would I have any luck?

On a side note - it also bums me out that the 19K Kia Rondo I rented until I get to Miami for a loaner has a stereo almost as good as the Bose with sirius, usb, and aux in. At least it drives like a golf cart.

 

not fun, but its under warranty. I would guess that even though this is a pain in the ***, it will be resolved.

 

Like Karrera4 said, it's under warranty. Nothing to expect but a fixed car. Sorry to hear about your dissapointment. That does stink.

 

There's always going to be issues with cars for the first model/body style year, but I'm sure it'll be fixed in a timely manner and under warranty. I've heard nothing but good things about PCNA so you should be fine. Good luck with everything! And don't let one bad mishap ruin your feelings for the car!

 

I think I saw a similar post about a 997 PDK failure on rennlist.

 

Heard from the Collection this AM. Porsche is replacing the entire PDK in the Cayman.

 

Sorry to hear what happened. Did the dealer provide you with a loaner car?

 

I could have gotten a loaner if I went up to the dealer in Miami - but that is a 3.5 hour one-way trip. According to everyone involved so far, Porsche will reimburse me for a rental car we picked up down here in Key West.

Per a conversation with the selling dealers service manager - PCNA is defintely aware and concerned with this incident. His guess is the old PDK unit is going to go to Germany for a post mortem. So kudos so far to the service dept's (managers) at the Collection and Jim Ellis, and PCNA. Sounds like everbody wants to make things right.

 

Although an unfortuante series of events. Its a good thing that they are replacing the whole unit instead of just trying to fix it and hope the same thing happens again.

 

Sounds eerily similar to the issues I and many others had with the first year of the M5 SMG tranny. Good it's under warranty, but it sounds like there's a serious problem.

 

Glad to hear that they didn't give you bs, but instead resolved everything.

 

I have the same problem with my 09 C4S cab ,waiting to hear from the dealer to see what they are going to do.

 

According to the our trainers (I am a sales consultant for Porsche) any time there is an issue with a PDK unit, it will get sent directly to Germany for Porsche/ZF to examine. No dealer is allowed to open up the gear box without supervision of someone from the engineering dept. Sorry to hear about your issues, Porsche has been great to all of our customers thus far. Issues have been decreasing as well. g/l in the future!

Rich

 

also drove the Kia Rhondo, not bad for what it is.

 

drytortuga ,did you have stock or after market wheels on your car,if after market what size did you have ?