Northway Porsche, anyone bought from them?
Discussion
I know Ray has a good reputation on the servicing front, but it seems he is expanding the sales aspect of the business now, he always had only a few cars for sale but now has around 20.
Just wondering if the cars are well prepared and if he stands behind them like the better specialists (911V, RSJ, etc)? I get the impression that its more of a 'sale or return' business, so possibly he is just acting as the intermediary, the relatively high mileage cars he stocks and somewhat lower prices would confirm this. Not that its a problem per se, just good to know what to expect.
Feel free to PM if you'd rather not post here.
Thanks in advance
Northways has always sold cars at least for the last 15 years I've known him, but doesnt concentrate on sales as he still mainly supports the maintenance side of his business. I would say 90% of the stock is his own and he usually has 15 to 20 cars around, though he does occasionally sell something on sale or return for past customers/friends.
The cars are usually ex Porsche Finance, customers cars and trade ins. They are usually very competitively priced have a 6 month warranty and his own support so are well worth buying so they are definately a safer bet than a seller without the maintenance backup and he has been around 20+ years. They may not always look immaculate as is valeter is now over 70 and not has good as he used to be and if there is anything you spot wrong with them he will normally fix or amend the price oh and of course his maintenance bills are very low.
The cars are usually ex Porsche Finance, customers cars and trade ins. They are usually very competitively priced have a 6 month warranty and his own support so are well worth buying so they are definately a safer bet than a seller without the maintenance backup and he has been around 20+ years. They may not always look immaculate as is valeter is now over 70 and not has good as he used to be and if there is anything you spot wrong with them he will normally fix or amend the price oh and of course his maintenance bills are very low.
Edited by lanesra10 on Sunday 19th February 14:46
Northway are a good bunch. Just check the bodywork of your purchase with a fine tooth comb as they use the 'skills' of a very bad bodyshop on the same industrial estate as them.
I had a very bad experience with the bodyshop a few years ago and was threatened by them when i complained.
Northway themselves are very good - let that not be mis-understood.
I had a very bad experience with the bodyshop a few years ago and was threatened by them when i complained.
Northway themselves are very good - let that not be mis-understood.
The business round the corner was sold a couple of years ago I think by an old chap called Eric! to someone else(Geordie) who I believe may have subsequently closed down.
Anyway Ray has been going else where including Porsche Reading for his bumper resprays and a new company, name escapes me started by the sprayer at Specialised Paintwork. He doesnt normally buy anything with body damage. Most of the paintwork he has done is related to front end stone chips and the odd scratched panel.
Anyway Ray has been going else where including Porsche Reading for his bumper resprays and a new company, name escapes me started by the sprayer at Specialised Paintwork. He doesnt normally buy anything with body damage. Most of the paintwork he has done is related to front end stone chips and the odd scratched panel.
Again, thanks for all your replies. I've just returned from having spent the morning there and can confirm all the positive feedback above. Ray seems a great guy, the impression I got is that he is very straightforward and someone you can trust. I was impressed that, despite obviously having loads of work and having his hands dirty, he spent quite a lot of time talking things through with me.
The car itself is very nice and possibly the best 997 I have driven, indeed the only issue as such is the bodywork in that neither on 'mine' nor any of the other cars there had had much prep work, certainly different from OPCs and some of the other specialists I've been to.
What also struck me is that Ray seems intent in helping owners run their cars on realistic budgets.
I am now very torn on what to do, buy this 997 from him with his support and the 1 year bought in warranty (£5k claim limit, although Ray reckons this is what it costs for an engine rebuild at his place) or to pursue OPC cars. I'd be saving £3k off the bat going through Ray plus the cost of the next service due this year (which he will undertake), so roughly £4k off when compared to OPC.
I did warn you about the old fellow doing the prep work, he forgets to put his glasses on! But at least you see its real condition
As the car you are looking at is a 997 I would guess that theres a 90% chance its come from Porsche Reading in the first place.
Regarding the car save yourself £4k.
Maintenance he is one of the cheapest around and most importantly he doesnt do any unneccesary work or unauthorised i.e. if your brake discs are low he will tell you thta they have 5000 miles left and to leave them until then or the next service. His support/maintenance is why I sti;ll drive Porsches. http://www.northway.co.uk/16821/npl_service.htm
The warranty can always be upgraded via the 111 point check at an OPC. But Rays repair work and nature is that if the worst happened he would not expect you to pay even if the warranty cover wasnt suffucient i.e the bill would be £5k. By the way the warranty is £5k/claim, you can have multiple claims and he wouldnt wriggle out of anything like the poorer OPC's do!.
Also get the price reduced and spend the money on a Zymol specialist so its spotless when you collect. Or ask him to get it valeted.
As the car you are looking at is a 997 I would guess that theres a 90% chance its come from Porsche Reading in the first place.
Regarding the car save yourself £4k.
Maintenance he is one of the cheapest around and most importantly he doesnt do any unneccesary work or unauthorised i.e. if your brake discs are low he will tell you thta they have 5000 miles left and to leave them until then or the next service. His support/maintenance is why I sti;ll drive Porsches. http://www.northway.co.uk/16821/npl_service.htm
The warranty can always be upgraded via the 111 point check at an OPC. But Rays repair work and nature is that if the worst happened he would not expect you to pay even if the warranty cover wasnt suffucient i.e the bill would be £5k. By the way the warranty is £5k/claim, you can have multiple claims and he wouldnt wriggle out of anything like the poorer OPC's do!.
Also get the price reduced and spend the money on a Zymol specialist so its spotless when you collect. Or ask him to get it valeted.
My car came from Northway, it was being sold as a customer's SOR. It had been sold by Northway twice before and they did the servicing for both of those owners so they knew the car well and were happy to stand by it.
I've never been one to trust a salesman but I felt totally comfortable dealing with Ray. Definitely nothing like you'd find in an OPC and all the better for it IMO.
I've never been one to trust a salesman but I felt totally comfortable dealing with Ray. Definitely nothing like you'd find in an OPC and all the better for it IMO.
Good to have some additional endorsements, thanks.
sundayjumper said:
I've never been one to trust a salesman but I felt totally comfortable dealing with Ray. Definitely nothing like you'd find in an OPC and all the better for it IMO.
I'm 100% with you on that, had exactly the same feeling. I hope its not that he is just a great salesman! 
lanesra10 said:
Anyway Ray has been going else where including Porsche Reading for his bumper resprays and a new company, name escapes me started by the sprayer at Specialised Paintwork.
You mean Tyrone Fuller at Excel in Reading. A good guy who has done my GT3 and AMG recently. Peter Tognola usese him too.I bought from Ray last year and will be using him for servicing this. I was very happy all round buying from him, just wish he was a little closer to me. The car was well priced, I got him to have the bonnet resprayed and it came fully serviced rather than getting money off. The bonnet was done by Porsche so was done beautifully
they look after my Cayenne and have been really straight forward and always very helpful.
Just done a deal on a 996T Cab elsewhere, just a shame that Northway didn't have anything suitable for me as I'd prefer to give them the business.
would hardly call Ray a salesman; usually got his head under a 911 and covered in grease. No frills or gimics there.
Just done a deal on a 996T Cab elsewhere, just a shame that Northway didn't have anything suitable for me as I'd prefer to give them the business.
would hardly call Ray a salesman; usually got his head under a 911 and covered in grease. No frills or gimics there.
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