This is a bit of a convoluted story as it involves two cars. I am so frustrated that I think I've lost all perspective and am looking for a bit of clarity. I have a 1989 930 911 Turbo and a 2006 997 911 Turbo. The 930 has had a hot starting issue, so I took it to an independent specialist, which admitted they didn't know enough about them, so I was a bit at a loss. Due to the Porsche Leeds being "classic certified" I gave them a call and they were very enthusiastic to take it in and assured me they were well versed in the old models. After about 10 days I called and was told that they didn't have the right equipment so they have sent it to an outside contractor. I was taken by surprise that they didn't check with me before sending it off site, but was assured this was normal. I asked where they have sent it, and it was a carburettor specialist I have actually heard of from my time with my Lotus, but haven't used them. As days turned into weeks I was getting nervous and every time I asked any questions was told that the specialist is very busy so has to slot my car in between other jobs, etc. I was assured that the car was stored indoors and protected from the elements (this was January). After about 3 weeks of a shifting story, the Porsche Leeds manager admitted frustration and asked me to speak directly to the specialist. This is now about 5 weeks after I had given them the car. So I speak to the specialist and it turns out he is a retired 82 year old man working part time in his son's business which he used to run, but now he's separate from it. He spends a long time telling me how he doesn't know Porsches, but he knows cars, and how Porsche Leeds are incompetent, etc. Over the next two weeks I call him a couple of more times until it becomes clear he doesn't actually know how to fix the car and has been calling in a separate independent Porsche specialist to help him. He claims the car has been fixed, but if I am unhappy after I receive it, not to bring it back to him or Porsche Leeds, but to go to this independent. Just to summarise, Porsche Leeds still have actual possession of my car, and since this is all during lockdown, I can't go visit it myself, but they also never go to check on it, despite saying they would.
So, after a total of 7 weeks, 5 of which the car was at this specialist, Porsche Leeds offer to either have the car transported back to their premises, or dropped off at my house. I chose the latter. The morning of the delivery I get a call from the specialist and he says the car has left, but when they were loading it it died and wouldn't restart. He says my fuel gauge must be broken... I nervously wait for the car and as the transporter arrives I see the car is completely caked in mud, from the tyres to the roof, thick farm mud. As it's unloaded I open the door and the driver side is also completely covered in mud. The original blue carpets, sills, the seat, all caked, rubbed in mud. Ironically, I fitted a set of cheap floor mats to protect the original carpets, and he has got them dirty, removed them, and got the carpets even dirtier. The car is unable to start, so I immediately call Porsche and they pick it back up and take it to their premises. I follow. They are horrified but promise to valet it for me to inspect it the following day. I call the specialist, but at this point it is crystal clear he is a very old man who literally didn't know what he was doing. He is hugely sorry, but seems to be genuinely unaware what he has done.
The following day I go to Porsche Leeds and the car is beautifully clean. All of the mud is gone and my worries of permanent staining were unfounded. However, now clean you could see two dents in the door, scratched and dented sill protectors, scratched and scraped seat and scratched dashboard, both rear wheels scratched and the intercooler housing chipped. They take notes of everything. The Service manager promises everything will be fixed, etc.
Now, while all of this was happening, before I got the damaged car back, my 997 developed a coolant leak. It was still in warranty so I booked it in at Porsche Leeds. It also has a leak out of the clutch fluid overflow tank which I took it into them twice previously, both times to be told it was overfilled. I knew it wasn't, as something in the system was making it pressurise and pump back. After being dismissed twice this time it seemed like they would have to fix it while it was in for the coolant issue. This was 7 weeks ago...
Basically, they confirmed there was a leak, decided they had to drop the engine to access it, and the car then sat untouched for a month. About two weeks into that is when the 930 came back, so now it's been 5 weeks since then. They dropped the engine, ordered a part, when that part arrived they saw that another part was needed and that has now been on order. They haven't even looked into the clutch issue, so even after the coolant is fixed there is still an outstanding issue which will require parts ordering and workshop time scheduling, so I have no idea about the schedule.
As for the 930, they got some of the damage fixed fast, as well as electrical issues hopefully fixed (of course the fuel gauge is fine), but then they sent the intercooler to be repainted and it all came to a total stop. The intercooler came back and sat for a week before they fitted it, then they had to check the car works before they could do the wheels, etc., etc. Every time I'm told "next Friday", and so on.
I had a call with their manager again last Friday and he said "Next Friday" for both cars, meaning this week, which I firmly challenged. Today I spoke to the service advisor overseeing the cars and he says the manager didn't have all of the info, so it more likely the Friday next week, which I also don't believe.
So that is over three months and I am basically out of ideas. Am I crazy? Is this normal? Am I overreacting? All I want is just to get my cars back, but feel completely between a rock and a hard place.
There is a lot more detail to it all, but I tried to summarise it as best I can. I try to put it into perspective as we are in a pandemic, but it's impossible to not let it get under my skin. Especially the obvious fact that they think their time is much more important than mine.
Thank you for reading.
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