Porsche Dealer or Private Shop

chitown944 · 07-12-2004, 05:13 PM

Well im outta options cant figured out what the deal is with my car. Tried everything I could think of. So I think I'm ready to tow her somewhere to get fixed. So the question should I just take her to the Porsche Dealer or private shop. My choices are very limited on private shops and they charge about as much as the dealer labor wise. So im leaning towards the dealership. If anyone knows of a mechanic in Chicago please post.

Dave L · 07-12-2004, 05:21 PM

With the price the same I would look in the parking lot and see how many 944's are there to be serviced. I would guess the dealer would have 0 and an independant might have a few.

epbrown · 07-12-2004, 06:04 PM

The last shop I used was Fischer Motors out in Barrington - bit of a hike to have your car towed from the city. Since Motodelta moved to Naperville (now run by Cstreit and Souk of Pelican's 911 board), I'd been planning on using either Vaia on Lake St, west of the Loop, or this shop at Sheffield and Armitage (R&M, I think). I always see lots of 911s and 944s outside and in, but I don't know anyone that's used them.

Emanuel

TCMdocs944 · 07-13-2004, 07:26 AM

What I hear most often is that the dealer is the wrong place to go. They don't have the experience with the 944's in most cases.

bull4u2me · 07-13-2004, 07:41 AM

I had to get my 944 fixed recently, and I have learnt a lot. For instance... with dealerships, their techs aren't trained for the 944 (obviously, coz they dont manufacture 944's anymore and they would rather invest in training for boxsters,911's and cayennes....where the money is).

Even if they did offer to fix the car (obviously it would be a shame for a company to turn down support for its older products), guess what? They either do radical stuff (like complete replacement), or, they eventually call out to independent mechanics (who were trained in that era).

As mentioned earlier, check to see if independent mechanics have a few 944s lying around, ask if they were factory trained. I'd rather take my 944 to a good independent than to the dealer. You could do what I did. I called the dealership... ask them who do they call on for really tough problems (I made up some story about the engine giving a really whacky noise, just to unnerve them), and I contacted that person myself!

TCMdocs944 · 07-13-2004, 07:54 AM

At the few really good Independents here I always see a few waterpumper parts cars in the back lot. Also always see one or two on the rack when I go in.

That breeds a little confidence.

chitown944 · 07-13-2004, 09:56 AM

after reading these posts im gonna try independants...thanks fellas

Drover · 07-13-2004, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TCMdocs944
What I hear most often is that the dealer is the wrong place to go. They don't have the experience with the 944's in most cases.

They made billions of these things, many of which are still on the roads. How can the dealers not have experience with 'em??

Drover · 07-13-2004, 02:17 PM

If you're looking for area independents, there's a Porsche specialist on Irving Park in Bensenville. Can't remember the name of the place. Might try a regional section on the forum or find the Chicago area PCA website for more info.

chitown944 · 07-13-2004, 02:25 PM

Thanks for the replys the place on Irving Park is Midwest EuroSport Racing but they cant do anything until mid next week cuz theyre having races over the weekend. I may have found a place nearby my shop a guy that works on Alfa Romeros and some Porsche. He said he owned 2 turbo 944's so maybe ill try there otherwise I may be leaning towards H&M Auto Haus in Westchester.

epbrown · 07-13-2004, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Drover
They made billions of these things, many of which are still on the roads. How can the dealers not have experience with 'em??

After a car is out of warranty, the dealerships rarely see them anymore. Factor in mechanic turnover and pretty soon you've got a shop full of guys that only vaguely remember 944s, 968s, and 928s. This is helped by the fact that dealer rates aren't cheap, nor are parts, so someone that paid $4000 for his 944 isn't likely to pay half that again for his annual service, and they see them even less.

Midwest is always busy and tough to get into. I might be looking for a 944 shop as my crankshaft pulley appears to have seized.

Emanuel