Update.
So the supplying dealer offered to fit a new (replacement) engine from Porsche (2 year warranty) at no cost to me (also comes with all new ancillaries apparently too), but he wanted to use his guys to do it and not Byfleet as a lot of the cost was coming from their labour costs.
After talking to a few "right honourable" mates, I was going to accept with a couple of caveats -
1) They stand by their work on the car for 12 months
2) They allow me to send in an independent inspector to investigate their work before I collected the car
3) They meet me half way on the cost of stripping the engine at Byfleet (which I expect to be circa £1,000)
I would've been ok with this as for around £500 I would've had a new engine with the work inspected and signed off as well as covered for a year, plus the engine itself is warrantied by Porsche for 2 years.
Not a bad result.
However, I heard from Byfleet last week. Seems the warranty company engineer who went in is going to reject the claim. Looking at the engine he feels the damage on the cylinders (scoring) is old. Therefore I was sold a car with an already damaged engine. So they're talking about not paying anything and I'm back at the dealer's door. :wall:
I think that I might still be ok as the warranty company and the dealer go back a long way and they sell lots of policies through them - so I doubt the warranty company will leave the dealer completely high and dry and lose a good customer.
I think if between them I can get them to honour the dealer's offer (i.e. new engine fitted, inspected and work guaranteed for 12 months, engine for 24) then I'll take it. :dont know:
I'll be back on the road with a new engine.
Another option is to tell the dealer I'm rejecting the car under the Sale of Goods Act and go through the courts to get all of my money back. However, I love the car, that could take months, it's not 100% certain the judge would rule in my favour (although I expect he / she would).
And yet another option is to talk to Santander (who finance part of the car) as they have an interest in their assest being on the road in working order. They would get quite heavy handed with the dealer.
I'm so undecided as to the best way to go. One day I just want the car back with a new engine, the next I think I never want to see it again. :?
And by the way - quick question - given that my engine probably had some damage (however minor / major) when I bought it - is it likely that it wasn't running at 100%? I'd love to get the car back even better (and faster!) than before!
uh: