Disappointing Dealer visit - guess I'm not a sale prospect

Deschodt · 02:47 PM

I've been toying with the idea of a used 997(Mk2) but I confess the 718 looks and attractive pricing/performance got me wondering, despite the 4 banger...I wanted to hear one in the flesh... Went to the dealer today, hadn't been in ages..

First things first, no cars. At all... I mean a ridiculous small number of used or certified cars (90% convertibles and 100% PDK). No 718 at all... I mean all this media stuff on the 718 and they are actually not showing up for another 45 days in showrooms... The salesmen knew nothing about them other than what *we* already read... No videos, nothing... Odd !

Amusingly, the dealerships are loaded with 2015-2016 Cayman/Boxsters which are slower than the upcoming cars and none of them was to be had under $80K !!! Who's going to buy a *base* 981 for 80 grand when the new base is as fast as a 981 "S" for 25K less?!!! You look at MSRP of a base 718 Cayman of 53900 and you think, "eh, maybe I can pull that off, if it doesn't sound too bad". You quickly realize the dealer only has cars with 15-20K of options... I really wonder how on earth they think they are going to offload the old ones at those prices, esp. considering the reversal of Cayman/Boxster standing in the lineup...

I toured the entire showroom and parking lot, even the area with newly arrived cars still cocooned: Zero stick shift cars... Kid you not, not one ! The only 2 sticks to be seen were a customer 991 not yet retrieved and my parked car. I ask the sales guys where the sticks are, he laughs at me like I'm a few fries short of a happy meal... calls me "old school", says they don't order them anymore unless it's a GT4 or something, and I should not hold my breath to see one here... I briefly argue the "fun car = stick" POV, he's now looking at me like I dropped more fries! Well, then !! I guess I'm not a proper customer for the new Porsche world, I went back to my 72 911 - which had a small crowd of dealership employees gathered around it, and left.

Kinda dissapointed here... First in us - we either buy all PDK or they make us, either way that's out bad... Also in the bad strategy (media barrage before actual availability, especially considering that 4 banger has up and down reviews on sound), the lack of cars on the lot (not just the new models, not much choice in current ones or certified or used), the 100% PDK tack and all the BS that came with it (salesman telling me the gov't is "making them do it" - not exactly, you are free to spec out manuals, still), the gazillion $ of options on *all* the cars - I get it's a biz but I'm sure strippers would sell, and generally the condescending attitude and lack of product knowledge of the sales people... And that's a certified premier dealer or whatever... I'm thinking a dealership that would order enthusiasts cars and not load them like pigs might do well, but I guess I'm wrong - enthusiast are just not the target market anymore... Guess I'm a "used" Porsche buyer now and forever...

Jim Richards · 05-22-2016, 02:24 PM

No manuals? Oh well.

Baz · Baz's Garage

And there are still those who think we are advancing as a civilization.....

Hell we have been in reverse for quite some time!

impactbumper · 05-22-2016, 02:38 PM

Same with the dealer over here. No Good selection, half the cars are loaner Cayennes and bunch of convertible automatic weak optioned 911s. In the showroom they have this RS that has been sitting there for almost half a year $100k over sticker.

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impactbumper · 05-22-2016, 02:39 PM

Oh the other thing is nobody even bothers to get off their asses and ask if you need any help!

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wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I'm thinking a dealership that would order enthusiasts cars and not load them like pigs might do well, but I guess I'm wrong

Yes, wrong. As far as dealers are concerned, Porsche is just a marketable brand. The actual product isn't as important as the brand name.

I've only driven one PDK car and I thought it was pretty cool. I was skeptical, but came to like my first automatic choke car too ('63 VW), so I'm an early adopter when it comes to new technology.

BE911SC · 05-22-2016, 04:36 PM

My buddy and I walked into Rector near SFO a few months ago and the salesman was great. I even told him up front that I was just a looky-loo (and a PCA member and air-cooled owner) but he was very cool about talking about sales, ordering, the cars on-hand, etc. That same buddy walked into Beverly Hills Porsche last summer and got the treatment you got. No cars, no care.

HardDrive · 05-22-2016, 04:54 PM

In contrast, I bought 2 CPO cars from Barrier Porsche in Bellevue, WA and my experience was excellent both times.

....and you can keep your manual. I'm done with them thanks. I'm a certified paddle shifting whore, and I'm proud of it.

ZAMIRZ · ZAMIRZ's Garage

Not really sure what you mean by bad strategy. Why would the dealer order a bunch of stick shift cars that hardly anyone wants to buy on the off-chance that you swing by in your old 911 to kick some tires? As far as having the 718 at the dealer so soon after official announcement, this is nothing new and not isolated to Porsche. Every car company does this. The cars aren't hitting the lots that close to launch.

onewhippedpuppy · 05-22-2016, 05:38 PM

Sadly your experience is a reflection of the average new Porsche buyer. PDK, SUV, very little knowledge, just a car. They don't make their money off of enthusiasts. We buy used.

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Not sure if I will ever buy a new Porsche in my lifetime, but if I do I'd rather order it and spec it out myself. Can't imagine settling for dealer stock if I'm spending all that money. I'd be fine waiting for the car that I spec.

My father ordered a 944 back in 82 before it was released based entirely off of brochures and pictures. I think it was a nine month wait and the car was picked up at the factory. Porsche included a bouquet of roses on the hood and really rolled out the red carpet including offering a factory tour. The company was much smaller back then and the buyers were probably different too. I doubt the experience would be the same today.

mreid · 05-22-2016, 06:36 PM

Like Berk I've been to the San Antonio dealer three times in the last 18 months. Each time they ignored me or didn't follow up on requested info. Idiots really.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I worked at a really good Porsche dealer on the sales floor for a spell back in the mid-'80s and while there were enthusiasts buying the cars, most buyers seemed like either rich douchebags or other people more interested in the image than the car. I doubt the ratio has changed much. Right off the top of my head, I know a couple guys with new Caymans who are real Porsche guys. I also know two friends w manual transmission 991s, you can get one if you want. The market is small these days.

As for dumb salespeople, that's just the nature of car sales and always has been. It's not exactly where the best and brightest wind up in life, generally speaking. Even I did it.

I walked into Beverly Hills Porsche's new showroom a couple months ago w my business partner who was shopping for a car, possibly a new GT4. He's a young guy, (30s), I'm 56 w white hair. They were nice to me to the point of obsequiousness and ignored the crap out of him. He practically had to tap them on the shoulder to get a question answered. He's very reserved but if they were worth a schit and paying attention, they would have noticed that he was the customer, not me. Adding to their stupidity is the fact that he could buy the dealership including all inventory and fire them all the next day.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

If I were getting a new Porsche, I would spec it myself. It is not the same company it was in 1984 when my brothers took factory delivery of dad's car. They were impressed by how small the place was. Did not say anything about roses, but they were picking up a 911

pwd72s · 05-22-2016, 10:54 PM

Nothing Porsche makes today interests me. The soul of the little family owned company that made only sports/GT cars left Stuttgart long ago. And...perhaps even then it was merely a myth.

sc_rufctr · 12:47 AM

Porsche had to change to stay relevant in today's market. Sadly volume is more important than perceived quality.
Even a modern Rolls-Royce has issues that would've been unheard of before BMW bought them. (Failing trim, Not so perfect paint etc.)

Personally I like that they don't hassle you in the dealership.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I can't see ever buying a new car; the economics of such an idea alone are idiotic. Heck, I can't see any reason to buy a car newer than about 1996 or so... I MIGHT be able to be talked into a 996 or 997 - maybe. They are too plastic / loaded with expensive and unnecessary electronic garbage, much as I like the look of them. I'm liking my fleet of older 80s / 90s cars and bikes. They're inexpensive to operate and maintain.

jcommin · jcommin's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I've been toying with the idea of a used 997(Mk2) but I confess the 718 looks and attractive pricing/performance got me wondering, despite the 4 banger...I wanted to hear one in the flesh... Went to the dealer today, hadn't been in ages..

First things first, no cars. At all... I mean a ridiculous small number of used or certified cars (90% convertibles and 100% PDK). No 718 at all... I mean all this media stuff on the 718 and they are actually not showing up for another 45 days in showrooms... The salesmen knew nothing about them other than what *we* already read... No videos, nothing... Odd !

Amusingly, the dealerships are loaded with 2015-2016 Cayman/Boxsters which are slower than the upcoming cars and none of them was to be had under $80K !!! Who's going to buy a *base* 981 for 80 grand when the new base is as fast as a 981 "S" for 25K less?!!! You look at MSRP of a base 718 Cayman of 53900 and you think, "eh, maybe I can pull that off, if it doesn't sound too bad". You quickly realize the dealer only has cars with 15-20K of options... I really wonder how on earth they think they are going to offload the old ones at those prices, esp. considering the reversal of Cayman/Boxster standing in the lineup...

I toured the entire showroom and parking lot, even the area with newly arrived cars still cocooned: Zero stick shift cars... Kid you not, not one ! The only 2 sticks to be seen were a customer 991 not yet retrieved and my parked car. I ask the sales guys where the sticks are, he laughs at me like I'm a few fries short of a happy meal... calls me "old school", says they don't order them anymore unless it's a GT4 or something, and I should not hold my breath to see one here... I briefly argue the "fun car = stick" POV, he's now looking at me like I dropped more fries! Well, then !! I guess I'm not a proper customer for the new Porsche world, I went back to my 72 911 - which had a small crowd of dealership employees gathered around it, and left.

Kinda dissapointed here... First in us - we either buy all PDK or they make us, either way that's out bad... Also in the bad strategy (media barrage before actual availability, especially considering that 4 banger has up and down reviews on sound), the lack of cars on the lot (not just the new models, not much choice in current ones or certified or used), the 100% PDK tack and all the BS that came with it (salesman telling me the gov't is "making them do it" - not exactly, you are free to spec out manuals, still), the gazillion $ of options on *all* the cars - I get it's a biz but I'm sure strippers would sell, and generally the condescending attitude and lack of product knowledge of the sales people... And that's a certified premier dealer or whatever... I'm thinking a dealership that would order enthusiasts cars and not load them like pigs might do well, but I guess I'm wrong - enthusiast are just not the target market anymore... Guess I'm a "used" Porsche buyer now and forever...

How timely you write this. The local Porsche dealer just had its sem-annual clinic. I have gone to many of them over the years and I enjoy the event. One of their mechanics is a 944 guy and I literally shadow him when my car is on the lift.

The event is catered and this gives me an opportunity to grab lunch, talk to car guys and look at cars. There was nothing under $150K, several at the $200K and over plus on 918 Spyder under a car cover. Since new was out of my price point, I looked at used. Not much there either - all high priced less than 2 years models. There were no Boxsters or Caymans.

I know everything is market driven and I guess the market has moved beyond me.

onewhippedpuppy · 05-23-2016, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcommin

How timely you write this. The local Porsche dealer just had its sem-annual clinic. I have gone to many of them over the years and I enjoy the event. One of their mechanics is a 944 guy and I literally shadow him when my car is on the lift.

The event is catered and this gives me an opportunity to grab lunch, talk to car guys and look at cars. There was nothing under $150K, several at the $200K and over plus on 918 Spyder under a car cover. Since new was out of my price point, I looked at used. Not much there either - all high priced less than 2 years models. There were no Boxsters or Caymans.

I know everything is market driven and I guess the market has moved beyond me.

They make big money on the CPO stuff, so nothing used is less than 2-3 years old. It's pretty much the case with most new car dealerships anymore.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

We have a member of our local PCA region that walked into the local dealership to order a GT4. It took a while to find a salesman that was willing to take an order. Finally they started to write it up and the dealer said "oh by the way since we have a small allocation of GT4s we are adding 5 grand to the sticker. He got up and got in in 991 and drove to Dallas and the dealer was happy to take his order with no markup. Another member wanted to order a Boxster Spyder. He got the exact same treatment. He went to Dallas to order his car as well. The cars came in on the same truck so they shared a ride down to Dallas to pick them up and drive their new cars home.

The very same thing happened to a member that wanted to order a new Gt3Rs only they wanted 10 grand over sticker. Guess where he went to order his car.

Some dealerships are great, some suck.