Here's the OPC Bournemouth's (predicatable) response. He's very quick to point out that its up to me to prove that the car was not fit for purpose, and that its all my fault because I strayed outside the OPC network. He also expresses no sympathy or regret that the car I paid his company £45k for 3 yrs ago is now little more than a heap of scrap:
_________________
Thank you for your e mail updating us on Porsche Cars Gt. Britain
response to your letter of the7th April. I have had detailed discussions
with my colleagues from our Aftersales Dept.but regret to advise you
that we would strongly contest your claim of selling you a car which was
not fit for it's purpose.
As you may be aware the law does state that the burden of proof after
six months since purchase falls on the purchaser to prove their case. In
these circumstances the vehicle was of course purchased in January 2003,
at a mileage of 26000 and has now covered, according to your letter, a
total distance of 68000 miles. In addition to this important point we
have not had the opportunity to carry out any inspection or maintenance
since 29th October, 2004, when I believe the car had covered 50,000
miles.
We are however very happy to meet with you to explain our position in
more detail and if this is of interest please give a call at any time.
_____________
If my case was an isolated one, then I'd agree with those who suggest I stand very little chance of proving my point after putting a further £40k miles on the engine, BUT lots of M96 engined cars are failing. Why would Autobarn and Perfect Bore be offering a solution to the problem if the problem weren't big enough to make it worth their while? Plus, their business represents only a fraction of the total number of failures, as some will be under warranty. One post on the PCGB forum reports six knackered 996 engines stacked outside one OPC - surely this represents a huge proportion of the total number of 996s on this OPC's books, and its a happening week in, week out.
I am taking legal advice and will make a decision based upon this, not my overwhelming sense of resentment about Porsche's shoddy treatment of me, and others.
I'm sorry to say it, but if you own a 996 (or Boxster by all accounts), all the evidence suggests that you are driving around in a time bomb. Just because you've got to 60k miles without the engine blowing up, don't think you've got 'one of the good ones' - mine went completely at 68k (looking back, it had been 'going' for some time). Either get yourself an Porsche warranty quick, or sell the car - its a liability, and Porsche will be only to happy to make more money out of you by denying responsibility and selling you a new engine at full whack (which is now £11.5k - the recent price increase is probably now subsidising the warranty replacements - how 'sharp' is that - no wonder they are the most profitable car company in the world).
Regretably, this will be my last Porsche; the dream has become a nighmare, and I will never forgive the brand for this. The company is trading on a reputation that it can no longer live up to; its selling a mass produced product at a premium price, and ripping off its customers in the process. Warranty or not, I had a right to expect that my car would last more than 68k miles and that it would not fail because the engine wasn't built properly. Its a shame, because i loved the car and I'm having a hard time deciding what to replace it with (once I've recovered from this financial hit), but Porsche will never see any of my hard-earned cash again.
Sell your M96 engined cars, or get a warranty today - they're a time bomb - take my word for it, its a mess when they go off and Porsche will do absolutely nothing to help you - profit is King!
Alison
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