1st Porsche ruined by Stratton Motor Co and a mis informed PPI by Autowerke Norwich
Sorry in advance for the long post!😕
As some of you know I bought a 996 C4S in Sept last year.....I met a few of you on the run down to the Goodwood Charity Event shortly after, but unfortunately this was the first and only run out I made in the car😔
I knew of all the common issues with these cars when I began my search, and thought I had done my due dillegence by paying £300 for a comprehensive PPI but unfortunately for me on this occasion I was Mis-informed......
It all started driving home, and the Brakes were just not working...to a dangerous level! I kept saying to myself perhaps it's me and I'm not used to it?
Then once home Parked it on the drive and at this stage happy as a kid in a sweet shop. The next morning went to start it, and noticed the oil level was alarmingly low on the dash....checked the stick and sure enough no oil! I also noticed it was smoking from one exhaust.
I was going on holiday the next day for a fortnight so left it at home and went away forgetting about the issues.
When I got back off holiday I booked it in at OPC for a service....it was due on purchase but negotiated a discount from the dealer so I could get it done at main dealer.....This is where the real problems began.
My worries of the brakes were confirmed, and the OPC said they were shot! Not even really functioning! Along with this they found a fairly comprehensive list of issues but did not probe too in depth being just a service appraisal! I was a bit shocked to be told there were a number of issues with the car which were not identified on the PPI 2 weeks previous!
I complained to the supplying dealer but they were very dismissive and unhelpful, and wanted a further pinion on the brakes. I took it to a local MOT test station where they said although the brakes would just scrape through an MOT, they were knackered and one side would not lock up and a massive imbalance.
At this stage I begin doubting the PPI report.....I booked the car into my local independent specialists to get some of the bits sorted including 6 new coil packs and a drive belt.....whilst there I paid extra to have a further in depth inspection including borescope...what I expected to be done the first time!
When I collected the car the news I was given made me feel physically sick. A significant list of issues, none of which were highlighted to me on the initial PPI Including, failed top mounts, RMS leaking, Scavange pumps leaking, heavily corroded fuel rails, leaking coolant from water pump, drive shafts and diff seal leaking.....the list goes on and on - and the worst bit.....bore scoring to cylinders 4,5 and 6!😔
I wrote a formal letter to the supplying dealer requesting these issue are sorted.....to begin with they wanted me to return the car as the doubted the report. I refused as the supplying dealer was 250 miles away and I was also not happy about a 5.5hr Drive with all the problems. They eventually agreed to collect the car which was the end of Nov last year.....
They have had my car since!
There have been many emails back and forth and I have done my damdest to keep it amicable, but more or less all responses were to the same tune that they refuse to accept the bore score issue and a number of other issues. They have cherry picked the less expensive issues. They did agree to the fuel rails.
I had not agreed a way forward with them, nor had we come to any resolution and was shocked to receive an email a few days later to say they had taken the engine out without my knowledge.
I told them to stop work and not to touch the car any further until we had agreed a way forward.
From here we went round and round in circles by email for some time and I had excepted that it was a stale mate and the car would not be repaired. I was further taken back when the supplying dealer suggested they could probably sell the car on my behalf and return me the majority of my money!! Obviously I wasn't happy with that suggestion!
I wrote a further formal letter stating that in line with my consumer rights, as they had refused to repair I was entitled for my money to be refunded and would expect payment in 14 days.....This didn't happen.
It is now in the hands of a solicitor.....I was further shocked to discover late last week that whilst having a quick cuppa before work I was browsing on Autotrader only to find they were trying to sell my car without my knowledge or permission! I rang my dad and asked if he would call to enquire and they gave a load of ***** that it was a car they had taken in a couple of days ago and it's just in prep! They even had the neck to give my reg no, and also said it would come with the balance of a warranty.....my warranty!
And also for £2.5k more than I bought it for!
I informed my solicitor about it and wrote them a very angry email to which they back tracked and said they were just testing the water! Funnily enough now removed!
I received an email from them today offering my money back, but not all of it....basically the offer is approx £500 less than I paid.
Not sure what to do at this stage.....if I pursue with a solicitor I could potentially claim all my costs which far exceed the offer, but then there's the time, hassle, stress and expense.
I'm gutted to lose money on it, but part of me just wants to move on and put it behind me and get a new car.
I wasn't going to post this....a bit embarrased really. Been a car nut all my life and nobody wants admit they got suckered into buying a lemon.
It's left me a little hesitant with the brand but don't want to give up on it yet. I don't think I'd go for another 996 C4S, and although I've probably just been unlucky I'd most likely go for a less problem prone model like a 996 Turbo or a Gen2 997 S.
What should I do? take the money and move on or go for what im due?
Sorry in advance for the long post!😕
As some of you know I bought a 996 C4S in Sept last year.....I met a few of you on the run down to the Goodwood Charity Event shortly after, but unfortunately this was the first and only run out I made in the car😔
I knew of all the common issues with these cars when I began my search, and thought I had done my due dillegence by paying £300 for a comprehensive PPI but unfortunately for me on this occasion I was Mis-informed......
It all started driving home, and the Brakes were just not working...to a dangerous level! I kept saying to myself perhaps it's me and I'm not used to it?
Then once home Parked it on the drive and at this stage happy as a kid in a sweet shop. The next morning went to start it, and noticed the oil level was alarmingly low on the dash....checked the stick and sure enough no oil! I also noticed it was smoking from one exhaust.
I was going on holiday the next day for a fortnight so left it at home and went away forgetting about the issues.
When I got back off holiday I booked it in at OPC for a service....it was due on purchase but negotiated a discount from the dealer so I could get it done at main dealer.....This is where the real problems began.
My worries of the brakes were confirmed, and the OPC said they were shot! Not even really functioning! Along with this they found a fairly comprehensive list of issues but did not probe too in depth being just a service appraisal! I was a bit shocked to be told there were a number of issues with the car which were not identified on the PPI 2 weeks previous!
I complained to the supplying dealer but they were very dismissive and unhelpful, and wanted a further pinion on the brakes. I took it to a local MOT test station where they said although the brakes would just scrape through an MOT, they were knackered and one side would not lock up and a massive imbalance.
At this stage I begin doubting the PPI report.....I booked the car into my local independent specialists to get some of the bits sorted including 6 new coil packs and a drive belt.....whilst there I paid extra to have a further in depth inspection including borescope...what I expected to be done the first time!
When I collected the car the news I was given made me feel physically sick. A significant list of issues, none of which were highlighted to me on the initial PPI Including, failed top mounts, RMS leaking, Scavange pumps leaking, heavily corroded fuel rails, leaking coolant from water pump, drive shafts and diff seal leaking.....the list goes on and on - and the worst bit.....bore scoring to cylinders 4,5 and 6!😔
I wrote a formal letter to the supplying dealer requesting these issue are sorted.....to begin with they wanted me to return the car as the doubted the report. I refused as the supplying dealer was 250 miles away and I was also not happy about a 5.5hr Drive with all the problems. They eventually agreed to collect the car which was the end of Nov last year.....
They have had my car since!
There have been many emails back and forth and I have done my damdest to keep it amicable, but more or less all responses were to the same tune that they refuse to accept the bore score issue and a number of other issues. They have cherry picked the less expensive issues. They did agree to the fuel rails.
I had not agreed a way forward with them, nor had we come to any resolution and was shocked to receive an email a few days later to say they had taken the engine out without my knowledge.
I told them to stop work and not to touch the car any further until we had agreed a way forward.
From here we went round and round in circles by email for some time and I had excepted that it was a stale mate and the car would not be repaired. I was further taken back when the supplying dealer suggested they could probably sell the car on my behalf and return me the majority of my money!! Obviously I wasn't happy with that suggestion!
I wrote a further formal letter stating that in line with my consumer rights, as they had refused to repair I was entitled for my money to be refunded and would expect payment in 14 days.....This didn't happen.
It is now in the hands of a solicitor.....I was further shocked to discover late last week that whilst having a quick cuppa before work I was browsing on Autotrader only to find they were trying to sell my car without my knowledge or permission! I rang my dad and asked if he would call to enquire and they gave a load of ***** that it was a car they had taken in a couple of days ago and it's just in prep! They even had the neck to give my reg no, and also said it would come with the balance of a warranty.....my warranty!
And also for £2.5k more than I bought it for!
I informed my solicitor about it and wrote them a very angry email to which they back tracked and said they were just testing the water! Funnily enough now removed!
I received an email from them today offering my money back, but not all of it....basically the offer is approx £500 less than I paid.
Not sure what to do at this stage.....if I pursue with a solicitor I could potentially claim all my costs which far exceed the offer, but then there's the time, hassle, stress and expense.
I'm gutted to lose money on it, but part of me just wants to move on and put it behind me and get a new car.
I wasn't going to post this....a bit embarrased really. Been a car nut all my life and nobody wants admit they got suckered into buying a lemon.
It's left me a little hesitant with the brand but don't want to give up on it yet. I don't think I'd go for another 996 C4S, and although I've probably just been unlucky I'd most likely go for a less problem prone model like a 996 Turbo or a Gen2 997 S.
What should I do? take the money and move on or go for what im due?