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Board: Porsche - 911 - 997 Language: English Region: Worldwide Share/Save/Bookmark Close

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    Jan 5, 2007 4:12:22 PM

    easy_rider911
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    easy_rider911
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
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    How unusual for a London dealer...

    Porsche dealerships in London are notoriously miserly with test drives. Usually, after they have photocopied your drivers licence and made you sign a form where you agree to a GBP5000 excess on their insurance , they take you on a test drive where they drive for the first 5 minutes and then switch places with you.

    Usually test drives last no more than 30 minutes. Sometimes, one can persuade them to allow an extended test drive of about 1 hour.

    How refreshing when I looked at my post yesterday. Porsche Centre Mayfair wrote to me offering a 24 hour test drive in either a 997 Carrera 2 Tiptronic S Coupe or a 997 Carrera 4S Tiptronic S Cabriolet.

    I've never come across a 24 hour test drive in London before. I know dealerships abroad are much more generous especially with their regular customers.

    Jan 5, 2007 4:21:15 PM

    Alex_997TT
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    Alex_997TT
    Loc: Reading , United Kingdom
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    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    First time I ever drove a Porsche was last year (I still think it's 2006!) on my 30th birthday when one of my tennis mates just started working a Sales position at OPC West London. He got me a full spec demo 997 C4S Cab for the whole weekend!

    The following week, when I went into the dealership to place an order for a new C2S, I was then a total pushover for a practically new C2S Cab just sitting in the showroom (even though it was 10k more than I was planning to spend).

    So I really don't know why OPCs don't do this more often! No salesman convincing was required at all after my demo weekend, these puppies sell themselves!

    Jan 5, 2007 4:23:32 PM

    TheOldMan
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    TheOldMan
    Loc: Montreal, Canada
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    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    It is good to see that UK Porsche dealers are becoming competitive for business.

    If you want to purchase a 911 in the Montreal area, test drives are not normally available from December to April. Dealers and/or insurance companies don't want $120,000+ plus car driving around on snow ice, especially without winter tires. And if you wait for a test drive, you will most likely find out that allocations for the summer are all gone!

    So I would say that tht UK is doing much better than we are on test drives.

    Now this year may be an exception. There is now snow and ice and temperatures are warm enough for safe driving with summer tires. Maybe dealers have the test drive fleet ready for customers.

    Jan 5, 2007 4:26:05 PM

    throt
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    throt
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
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    Registered on: May 9, 2005
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    My demo at Chiswick::Tank down the M4 to pull off at the Datchet turn off , then on in to Windsor ctr where their was heavy traffic due to it being a Saturday , and then just back on to the M4 London bound . It was such a poor demo , it just consist of motorway driving really .

    Abroad , yes , I have heard of weekend demo's , now that should make one's mind up...

    Jan 5, 2007 4:26:51 PM

    moto Offline
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    moto
    Loc: London, UK
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    Reply to: TheOldMan

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    I had my 24 hour test drive too (From West London OPC)!

    I posted pics on a previous thread.

    Yeah, I was slightly taken back by their relatively "laid-back" approach.

    They sent me an invite, I gave them a call, turned up on the day, signed a document (Pounds250 excess) and off I went. Didn't even have to refuel!

    Lovely stuff!

    Jan 5, 2007 4:30:28 PM

    throt
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    throt
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
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    Registered on: May 9, 2005
    Reply to: moto

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Quote:
    moto said:
    I had my 24 hour test drive too (From West London OPC)!

    I posted pics on a previous thread.

    Yeah, I was slightly taken back by their relatively "laid-back" approach.

    They sent me an invite, I gave them a call, turned up on the day, signed a document (Pounds250 excess) and off I went. Didn't even have to refuel!

    Lovely stuff!



    You were very lucky , must have been my youthul look that put them off

    Jan 5, 2007 4:43:22 PM

    Le Chef
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    Le Chef
    Loc: Chicago , United States
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    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    The key here is "Tiptronic". Does this dealer have some excess (a relative term I know in the Porsche starved UK) stock of 997's with Tip? Is this connected with the arrival of the DSG gearbox?

    Jan 5, 2007 4:59:54 PM

    Porsche-Jeck
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    Porsche-Jeck
    Loc: Rheinland , Germany
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    Reply to: throt

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Quote:
    throt said:

    Abroad , yes , I have heard of weekend demo's , now that should make one's mind up...



    Yes, I enjoyed more than one weekend with demo-cars from the Porsche Center - seems to be one of the advantages in Germany. Also, since I'm registered as a customer, got invitations for so-called "driving days" with the opportuniy to testdrive new models (no GT3 unfortunately )
    Salesperson as a passenger Nanny ? The salesguys just handed over the key, gave some basic instructions about the car and recommended not to push that PSM switch
    I really can't understand why P-dealers in some countries have a problem to offer extensive testdrives - it makes selling so much easier (no marketing blabla needed after a weekend in the P-car)

    Jan 6, 2007 10:13:48 PM

    ISUK Offline
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    ISUK
    Loc: UK , United Kingdom
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    Registered on: Dec 16, 2004
    Reply to: Porsche-Jeck

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    There a lot of posts on various forums from people in the UK saying that they have been offered 24hr test drives by OPC's across the country. The general concensus appears to be that sales are down and dealers are having to push a bit harder for business. I've seen a lot of people talking about 12 week lead times on factory orders which is unprecedented I believe. I think Porsche GB may have oversupplied the market on both the 987 and 997 and are now reaping the reward as there are lots of used cars on the market driving prices down and a lot of owners looking at switching to other brands as well.... AM V8, Audi R8 etc.

    Jan 6, 2007 10:15:27 PM

    Jeannot
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    Jeannot
    Loc: Currently in Hong-Kong , Switzerland
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    Reply to: Porsche-Jeck

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    here not problem at all to get a testdrive for an hour, even if you show up in jeans, and old sweater, looking in late 20s...and never been before in that garage...the 5KGBP story is scary...

    Jan 7, 2007 7:19:59 AM

    oliver
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    oliver
    Loc: Belgium , Belgium
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    Reply to: Jeannot

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    In Belgium, it's around 3000 Euro I think.

    Jan 7, 2007 11:08:35 AM

    Silver Bullet
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    Loc: Canada
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    Reply to: oliver

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    My first testdrive of a Porsche was a used Boxster S. I had it alone for about an hour - nice.

    My second test drive was with the salesman in a 996. He did most of the driving, but it was a MUCH better test drive for me. At the time, he was a much more skilled driver than I was, and he really showed me what the car could do. It was a thrilling and eye opening experience. After THAT, I was a pushover for Porsche.

    Things are different now I'd say, but the lesson is that if you're new to Porsche and high performance sportscars (as I bet most Porsche customers are, and they are not represented on this forum), the standard test drive with the salesman doing most of the driving isn't such a bad idea (as long as the salesman knows how to drive!)

    Jan 7, 2007 1:13:40 PM

    bluelines
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    bluelines
    Loc: Argovia , Switzerland
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    Reply to: Jeannot

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Quote:
    Jeannot said:
    here not problem at all to get a testdrive for an hour, even if you show up in jeans, and old sweater, looking in late 20s...and never been before in that garage...the 5KGBP story is scary...



    Hehe, indeed - a few weeks ago I went to the Porsche dealer in Baar, for the first time, wearing jeans, sneakers, hood and a cap. It was a spontaneous thing and I just stopped by to look at the used cars standing outside. 15 minutes later I was driving a new 997 Turbo... without even asking for a test drive

    Jan 7, 2007 2:23:26 PM

    throt
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    throt
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
    Posts: 6078, Gallery
    Registered on: May 9, 2005
    Reply to: Porsche-Jeck

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Quote:
    Porsche-Jeck said:
    Quote:
    throt said:

    Abroad , yes , I have heard of weekend demo's , now that should make one's mind up...



    Yes, I enjoyed more than one weekend with demo-cars from the Porsche Center - seems to be one of the advantages in Germany. Also, since I'm registered as a customer, got invitations for so-called "driving days" with the opportuniy to testdrive new models (no GT3 unfortunately )
    Salesperson as a passenger Nanny ? The salesguys just handed over the key, gave some basic instructions about the car and recommended not to push that PSM switch
    I really can't understand why P-dealers in some countries have a problem to offer extensive testdrives - it makes selling so much easier (no marketing blabla needed after a weekend in the P-car)



    Lovely , a weekend with just you the family and the car is whats needed..Gives you so much more time too , to check out all the cabin gizmo's , and overall switch gear quality..

    Very nice , bud

    Jan 7, 2007 2:32:34 PM

    dreamcar
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    dreamcar
    Loc: Hampshire , United Kingdom
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    Registered on: Apr 19, 2004
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Bournemouth test drives are also never any longer than 30 minutes. Maybe this is a Porsche "directive". Want to take a car out on your own? No chance! The only exception to this was when my last car was in for some remedial work for 3 days and I was loaned a 997 C2S, possibly because they thought I might buy one one day.

    Jan 7, 2007 4:20:18 PM

    Le Chef
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    Le Chef
    Loc: Chicago , United States
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    Reply to: dreamcar

    Re: How unusual for a London dealer...

    Quote:
    dreamcar said:
    Bournemouth test drives are also never any longer than 30 minutes.



    Which is a crying shame considering the roads you have to the north and west of you.

    I visited your dealer while I was waiting for my 996 C4S to be built (a fix was needed) while on a trip over to see my father in Southampton. They were very off-hand and almost rude.

    Can you buy from dealers in Germany if you live in UK, or is that verbotten?
     
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