Auto-Forums.net

[Dan Stephenson]

I'm running into some major warranty problems with the '02 Boxster I
bought on June 10 of that year. The four year warranty should last
until June 10 of next year, 2006, right? Wrong.

When I was recently up at the dealership the service rep said my
warranty expired in January 2006.

I've spoken with the General Manager (GM) of the dealership who says
that Porsche has January in its computers and after he brought this
problem to their attention they refuse to change the date.

My service rep hypothesized that my car had "its ticket punched" in
January to make it a demo car, thus starting the warranty period, but
that it simply never got driven, that's why it had 45 miles only when I
first test drove it.

The dealership GM has made comforting noises about "making me whole"
but I for one am upset. I know it is a technical triviality to change
the date on Porsche's computers, so I conclude the GM has deduced it
was the dealership's fault - maybe the "demo car" hypothesis above.

The GM has said he can offer to make good on the "warranty" through
June 10. Or that he'll absorb the cost through then of an extended
warranty. Last Tuesday morning he said he'd look into extended
warranty options and get back with me, and now it is Thursday night
with no word. Does he think I'll just go away if I don't call him
back??

I was planning to keep the car but wasn't planning to decide on forking
out for an extended warranty until April. But if I were I would be
wanting the extended warranty to START on June 10 - but a "factory"
warranty cannot start then, I'm told by the dealership that it has to
be agreed on one month BEFORE the end of the official warranty period -
which is now Janurary 2006!

I'm feeling majorly screwed here. Even if I sign up for an extended
warranty, say, for 3 years, that would mean expiry in Janurary of 2009
and not June 10 of 2009 like it was suppose to. And I have an
expensive repair PLANNED for say, March 2009, if you get my drift.

I am going to call USAA, who does my insurance and financed the car
originally (it is paid off now though) to see what they think, or maybe
they do extended warranty things, too.

But I wanted to relate this tale of woe to all the experts who read
this newsgroup and ask you what you think of the situation, and what
you think I should do, or DEMAND, at this point? Should and how would
I call Porsche itself myself to get satisfaction??

I realize Life isn't always perfect but this is just wrong.

Please post, or if you email remove the 'nospam' in the email address.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

[Weekend Guru]

Dan: This kind of thing can be worked out. It is NOT impossible to get
those dates changed, as I had somewhat of a similar problem some years ago.
I would require:

1. That Porsche Cars North America agree to change the "in service" date.
It is likely that the proper contact by the dealership GM to PCNA can get
this done. Sure...it's a hassle, and they don't want to get involved...but
it can be done. At the same time, you can separately contact Peter
Schwarzenbauer, President and CEO of PCNA, tell him your story...in writing,
and copy the GM at the dealership. Be professional and ask for only what
you should have received in the first place. This may well get it done.

2. The dealership gives you in writing a letter, signed by an officer of
the corporation that they are aware of the error, and that they will pay for
any warranty eligible repair thru 6/10/06. This would also apply if you
were traveling and required service elsewhere.

3. An alternative is that the dealership sells you a solid extended
warranty, at their net cost, less the % of time they owe you...and pay any
difference if required to extend it thru June 10 of the last year of the
warranty.

I think you can get #1 accomplished. In my experience with
Porsche...beginning in 1971 when they were imported by VW...I've
persisted...and always gotten what I wanted. Quiet persistence and the
"promise" that the folks in question would never be rid of me if they didn't
acquiesce generally prevailed.

Good luck....

[Dan Stephenson]

[Dan Stephenson]

A follow-up.

The dealership GM says that PCNA won't change the service date because
the fault was the dealership's: they told PCNA to start the clock in
January instead of June 10 of 2002. So me writing a letter wouldn't
help, so says the GM. Sigh.

So the GM offered to cover my current warranty through June 10 2006 to
fulfill the normal duration. He said he'd write me a letter saying I
would be covered through then. I replied that I needed the letter to
spell out all the details of my original warranty, e.g. oil and tires
are not covered, steering rack and power steering pumps are covered.
Etc. He said he'd be out all next week and could he do it the
following Monday. I suggested it wasn't complicated to trascribe those
details so he said he'd try to get to it before he left, otherwise it
would have to wait to the second Monday from today.

Getting the factory extended warranty was a non-starter: USD$4,000.

I intend to keep my baby forever, so I guess now it is time to think
about extended warranties beyond June 10 2006. What do the assembled
Wise of this ng suggest along these lines?

Please post, or email but remove the 'nospam', thanks in advance,
Dan

[Stan]

I think you need to have an attorney give them a call.