Where is this Porsche dealer premium experience that I keep hearing about?

[Cogs79]

Hi,

My Macan EV is the first Porsche, and Porsche dealer experience that I have had. Having dealt with 2 dealers (the one I bought the car, and the one I just scheduled an appointment to fix all the issues), my first impression of Porsche dealers is almost like they are amateurish, especially compared to my previous dealer (Chevrolet ffs!). I don't want to name the dealers, just want to describe my experience.

My Macan was pre-specced by the dealer and already in stock. When I picked up the car, the dealer had added $400 worth of winter mats to the price. $400 for a few dollars worth of rubber on a $140k vehicle. The "premium experience" was that the car was under a wrap and then revealed...even though I already saw the car and knew what it looked like. The tech had explained some of the features but some things did not work, like opening the rear hatch with the button and something else that I cannot remember. I was told I would also get a gift...and do you know what I got? NOTHING! My father was with me and had to ask for a Porsche cap. I remember my parents got Ford-branded camping chairs with their Ford Explorer many years ago, and I got some Chevy caps, a "Buick Encore" music CD full of jazz and eclectic music and other dealer-branded bags and t-shirts. That added a nice touch on a car that cost nearly 1/4 of the Macan. And Porsche, on a 140k car? Nothing until we asked, and only 1 cap.

Now I haven't brought my car in yet to the second, much larger dealer. I left the service department a voicemail to schedule the appointment to which they never called back. So I asked to schedule the appointment online and got an email titled "APPOIMTMENT REQUEST" (note the spelling mistake). The dealer rep was very responsive via email though, so definitely happy about that (which matters more than a spelling mistake). And given that I was traveling, we agreed to have the service for end of this week. I got a text message confirming the service...but it was on the wrong day! So I had to email again to correct the service date.

I realize the important part will be if the dealer can address the issues. The above complaints are petty, I know that! But seriously, I have not once felt anything remotely premium in my experience with Porsche dealers. I should not have Chevrolet and Porsche in the same sentence, yet here I am. The people that I have dealt with at the dealers have all been friendly, courteous and responsive. But nothing different or even as good as my previous experiences. I guess I will see how things go at the second dealer this week. Curious about the experience others have had with their dealers.

C

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[sparkhill]

You are not wrong. A couple things to think about…

Sales and service are completely separate. Both sales and service are bit more “premium” just because they are much lower volume. I drop my car off for Porsche service and I sit in chair and wait for the advisor vs. Audi where I stand in a crowded line with other people; less chaos at Porsche.

And for sales, have you not heard that the Porsche brand sells itself and you are lucky that are willing to even sell you one with a markup? I can’t wait for narrative to go away, and it already starting. I was at the dealer yesterday and they had lots of cars, including several 2-door models, which has not really happened since COVID.

Ordering a Porsche is different from Audi/BMW/Mercedes because you have a lot more options to customize. Most don’t matter, but I find that fun, and expensive. Other more premium manufacturers offer even more choices.

Don’t get me wrong. Porsche is still my favorite brand by a wide margin. All their cars drive wonderfully, are generally reliable, and look great. Sales and service is just a notch above the other Germans, largely due to lower volumes.

 

[prime]

My experience was not premium at all. Quite average. I had a better experience picking up my Tesla and Rivian. They just had the car washed and in the delivery room. Lots of micro scratches from a bad wash. Had them polish some areas and it got worse. Told them don’t worry about it. Going to detail myself..

 

[ColdCase]

I didn't get anything from Mercedes, got wonderful license plate frames from Chevy, key chains from Audi, BMW, Mini, Chrysler, Plymouth, Jeep (some genuine leather, some plastic), scratched body work from Ferd.... I think I got a lighted leather keychain from Dodge, nothing from Lancia, a nice leather wallet from Triumph... Ducati provided something nice, I just don't recall off hand, perhaps a wallet. Mini provided lunch, other dealers you were lucky to get enough gas to drive out of the lot You can't walk out of a Cheby dealer without a dealer advertising sticker, they stick them on as they leave the truck.

These are usually dealer provided accessories and your mileage may vary. My understanding these gifts get thrown into the trash most often and over the years dealers don't waste a lot of money on them.

Walk into a Cheby dealer and you are mobbed by sales associates. Not so much BMW and Audi, Porsche, you will be in the showroom an hour before anyone will recognize you and then just to say hi.

Different areas of the world will have different customs and there are exceptions.

 

[CandianPorsche83]

Haven’t received mine yet but was told they were going to take care of a bunch of accessories on including all weather mats etc

 

[jesslop]

Your milage may vary. We received key fobs, a $75 certificate to the store and a free wine tasting at a local winery. Our Ice Grey Metallic was nicely prepped, I had a moderate look around for paint defects, found none. It goes next week for software update to fix a couple of bugs. Cheers!

 

[evdriver2016]

I kind of go in not expecting much so I increase my odds of coming out happy or at least not upset.

Having said that Porsche dealers are usually in my experience pretty great compared to others and I’ve only had great experiences at mine.

 

[nick776]

I may be the oddball, but the 2 dealers I get my cars from (BMW, Porsche) know not to TOUCH my cars. My cars come straight from the factory off the truck, get PDI and that is it! I specifically request to remove plastic, shipping tape, etc. myself and then I have my own detail guy go to the dealer and prep the car at my own cost. I consider a dealer who lets me do that without any fuss to be a PREMIUM experience. There are far too many dealers out there who have total buffoons washing cars, hell some will even run them through what I call the abrasion station (i.e. car wash).

 

[krissrock]

maaaan, I got a Porsche Martini Racing jacket from the porsche shop, priced around $300 iirc and I got the all weather mats...and don't forget the free year of charging!

was the experience premium? idk really...the premium part to me was customizing my car.
I suspect part of the issue is that you got a car off the lot...Which i'm not sure how that works, cuz those are sent and spec'd by Porsche, and not the dealer. I don't know how the money works with those vs one that was spec'd and ordered.
and then to go to a different dealer that didn't get any money from the sale...

 

[phil-c]

Good morning,
I received as a gift. a gift for my wife a bouquet of flowers delivered to her work and me a tailor-made shirt from a tailor and in addition champagne on delivery and a key ring I am super delighted with the Porsche dealership Louvain La Neuve Belgium

 

[HltMacan]

Hi all, I'm really sorry to hear your bad experiences with Porsche dealership/services.
Just to let you know a truly premium experience is possible I like to share my story.
It's a long story so please skip if you are not interested. I've driven several Asian
brands, a 1982 911sc and for the last 10+ years Mercedes. Service experience with the
Asian brands was really good but at Mercedes I experienced what premium meant. Last
year in May I contacted a Porsche Center to make an appointment to have a look at the
new Porsche Macan EV. I was told the vehicle was not yet available in The Netherlands
and was through to a sales rep. He told me that indeed no dealership had the Macan EV
yet but if I would be interested to visit a mobile showroom at the importer where I
could have a look and feel with the first model in NL. I made the visit a week later,
where the rep drove me in a Taycan to the importer. It was a litle less than an hour
drive. I got the look and sit in the vehicle (no drive, no pictures allowed yet) and
I got to drive the Taycan back myself. Early June I configured the Macan 4 I wanted
and got a 750 euro discount on the options I spec'd and I ordered the car. The rep
assured me the car would be delivered before the end of November. 3 months later in
September, the rep contacted me and invited me to attend an event where the Macan EV
was officially introduced in NL. I went my son to the event, it was in an exclusive
setting, with food and drinks, really cool! Then in the first week of November, the
rep called to say that they had received the car and it would be ready for me the
next week. When I picked up the car, it was indeed wrapped and I unveiled it while
it was filmed. I also received a gift package, containing champagne, 2 glasses, a
nice key ring and a Porsche Advanced Driver Training. A month after delivery the rep
contacted me to ask about my experience with the car. All in all, I am very pleased
with the service from Porsche so far. I have not yet have the need to service the
car, so I cannot tell about that. I have experienced some of the software glitches
that are mentioned in this forum already, but fortunately none of them to serious
and lasting.

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