When loyalty isn’t enough, contemplating a switch…
Discussion
I've always been a fan of this brand and have been fortunate enough to own several of their cars. I always buy approved used models because I appreciate having a warranty, which has proven invaluable on three occasions. In the last two instances, I would have faced repair bills in the tens of thousands without it, so buying without a warranty seems too risky.
However, my experiences with the dealers, both sales and aftercare, have been terrible. My latest ordeal lasted eight months and peaked last week when they crashed my car. No one even bothered to call and apologise. While they did agree to buy it back at the original purchase price, I had to chase them down to complete the paperwork. I suspect that the car, which has a known mechanical fault (suspected engine failure pending), will just be resold to another unsuspecting customer!
I still love the brand, but I'm considering moving on. Has anyone else thought about or actually made the switch? Where did you go, and what were your experiences? At this point, even a McLaren might be in scope ??
However, my experiences with the dealers, both sales and aftercare, have been terrible. My latest ordeal lasted eight months and peaked last week when they crashed my car. No one even bothered to call and apologise. While they did agree to buy it back at the original purchase price, I had to chase them down to complete the paperwork. I suspect that the car, which has a known mechanical fault (suspected engine failure pending), will just be resold to another unsuspecting customer!
I still love the brand, but I'm considering moving on. Has anyone else thought about or actually made the switch? Where did you go, and what were your experiences? At this point, even a McLaren might be in scope ??
McLaren:
1) Worse reliability: I was scared to drive mine wondering what would go wrong this drive.
2) Much more expensive running costs.
3) Less enjoyable to drive at legal speeds on UK roads (limits so high and inert feeling unless you are spanking them).
4) Fewer dealerships, so if there is one that you don't get on with it is even more difficult to find one close to you that can take over. Ascot were terrible, so I had to travel to Bristol (who were, to be fair, very good). There is a well regarded, but busy independent however if you live close to them. Thorney I think they are called.
5) Massive repair bills: tens of thousands. Bigger than Porsche.
6) Loan car from McLaren while you car is off the road for a month being repaired? Forget about it. Not talking another McLaren here, even a VW Golf: none available. Whenever one of my Porsches are in for service the dealership asks me which model from the range I want to try for the day so I get to drive whatever I like more or less.
7) Replacement windscreen? Simple job? No: electric seats need to come out as the windscreen can only be fitted from inside the car. Repair botched and windscreen seal falls down into the car while driving down the road.
I really wanted to like McLaren, especially as it has a British connection. Admittedly I only owned one of them and the car was a lemon. The dealership experience from Ascot, however, was inexcusable. And my alternative in Bristol was too far away to be practical each time there was a problem or even routine servicing of the car. The experience with McLaren has turned me off them permanently.
Conclusion: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Porsche are popular for good reason. And I'd rather try Ferrari than McLaren next time if I looking for an alternative to Porsche.
1) Worse reliability: I was scared to drive mine wondering what would go wrong this drive.
2) Much more expensive running costs.
3) Less enjoyable to drive at legal speeds on UK roads (limits so high and inert feeling unless you are spanking them).
4) Fewer dealerships, so if there is one that you don't get on with it is even more difficult to find one close to you that can take over. Ascot were terrible, so I had to travel to Bristol (who were, to be fair, very good). There is a well regarded, but busy independent however if you live close to them. Thorney I think they are called.
5) Massive repair bills: tens of thousands. Bigger than Porsche.
6) Loan car from McLaren while you car is off the road for a month being repaired? Forget about it. Not talking another McLaren here, even a VW Golf: none available. Whenever one of my Porsches are in for service the dealership asks me which model from the range I want to try for the day so I get to drive whatever I like more or less.
7) Replacement windscreen? Simple job? No: electric seats need to come out as the windscreen can only be fitted from inside the car. Repair botched and windscreen seal falls down into the car while driving down the road.
I really wanted to like McLaren, especially as it has a British connection. Admittedly I only owned one of them and the car was a lemon. The dealership experience from Ascot, however, was inexcusable. And my alternative in Bristol was too far away to be practical each time there was a problem or even routine servicing of the car. The experience with McLaren has turned me off them permanently.
Conclusion: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Porsche are popular for good reason. And I'd rather try Ferrari than McLaren next time if I looking for an alternative to Porsche.
OP, I suspect that you’d get different responses if you posted the same question in the McLaren section … we all like to defend the cars we are currently driving.
My switch from Porsche to McLaren happened whilst I was living in the Middle East so not really relevant to a UK experience but it was significantly different (in fact the exact opposite) to XMA Simon’s. 13 years later and I’ve owned 4 McLarens, the 4th being a car purchased when we returned to the UK and still owned. Afraid that 911s are something I simply did not consider when thinking of the next car and I don’t really see this changing.
My switch from Porsche to McLaren happened whilst I was living in the Middle East so not really relevant to a UK experience but it was significantly different (in fact the exact opposite) to XMA Simon’s. 13 years later and I’ve owned 4 McLarens, the 4th being a car purchased when we returned to the UK and still owned. Afraid that 911s are something I simply did not consider when thinking of the next car and I don’t really see this changing.
My experience with Porsche has been the total opposite but if I was in your position I'd try something else. My experience doesn't matter to you and me telling you they are brilliant wont make you feel better.
I think the dealer is the key to a good experience, problems are to be expected at some point and how you deal with it is whats remembered. If you swap to another brand just research the dealer and make sure they seem good before buying.
I think the dealer is the key to a good experience, problems are to be expected at some point and how you deal with it is whats remembered. If you swap to another brand just research the dealer and make sure they seem good before buying.
I’ve been a Porsche fanatic since I was a kid. Had my 911 for 20 years.
Modern 911s leave me cold and disinterested. a Boxster 4.0 GTS would be nice. But 911 at starting at £100k is too much.
I bloody love my McLaren. What a car. I never get bored of it.
I’m never selling the 911, but I will never get another one either.
Modern 911s leave me cold and disinterested. a Boxster 4.0 GTS would be nice. But 911 at starting at £100k is too much.
I bloody love my McLaren. What a car. I never get bored of it.
I’m never selling the 911, but I will never get another one either.
I was a very long time owner of Porsches, but fancied a change so I tried an M4 but didn't find it special enough - now in an AM Vantage. Perhaps the BMW interlude helped, but I'm really enjoying the car. That said, I'm not looking forward to the AM "tax" when I have to spend on services (it has 2 free remaining) or warranty.
I think P cars are quite reasonable ownership propositions (notwithstanding the Covid blip) overall, but brand dilution and indifference from dealers helped me look elsewhere.
I think P cars are quite reasonable ownership propositions (notwithstanding the Covid blip) overall, but brand dilution and indifference from dealers helped me look elsewhere.
I think this is very "OPC" specific ?
And part of the problem is Porsche themselves demanding that their cars should be sold in expensive palaces to the brand ... executive free coffee and comfortable chairs sometimes at the expense of great engineering and fair pricing ???
They have also tasted the market corruption of recent years which will take some weaning off (and things said cannot be un-said) ... in my view those who are falling short should reach out to bruised customers and make themselves "great" again ?
There is a lot of good in clear view, the GT cars in particular deserve their accolades and the extended warranty is exceptional / as is their acceptance of track day use. Customers are king, good recommendation cannot be bought just with cash ... and a lot of social media is becoming very self interested ... IMHO.
And part of the problem is Porsche themselves demanding that their cars should be sold in expensive palaces to the brand ... executive free coffee and comfortable chairs sometimes at the expense of great engineering and fair pricing ???
They have also tasted the market corruption of recent years which will take some weaning off (and things said cannot be un-said) ... in my view those who are falling short should reach out to bruised customers and make themselves "great" again ?
There is a lot of good in clear view, the GT cars in particular deserve their accolades and the extended warranty is exceptional / as is their acceptance of track day use. Customers are king, good recommendation cannot be bought just with cash ... and a lot of social media is becoming very self interested ... IMHO.
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