No buying history required to purchase a GT product

[Ryan9729]

So it appears you do not need any buying history to purchase a GT product anymore; thoughts on this one?

Spec'ing my PTS 718 Cayman GT4! Paint to Sample GT4 - YouTube

 

[Motorhead]

Couldn’t be bothered to watch it Carl, but from my experience it’s still difficult to source a car like the GT4. The PC waiting lists are long and supply is still very limited for the usual reasons. Plus, putting down a £10k deposit to be on a waiting list and not for a guaranteed allocation smacks of sharp practice to me especially when Porsche GB clamped-down on the dealers for doing this with the 981 GT4s.

Jeff

 

[AndrewCS]

Certainly not the case at my local, who has four used GT4`s (one PDK) at elevated prices which one is encouraged to be interested in - instead [:'(]

 

[Ryan9729]

I think for me, the issue is there appears to be no rules or guidance, when I looked at the 718 GTS I could not purchase a GT4 as I had no 'purchase history', fast forward to today, I contacted the same dealer and asked now if I can order a GT4, the answer, still no....

Makes no sense.

The dealer I'm talking about and the dealer in the video are the same.

 

[Twinfan]

There are no rules because each dealership does it differently. Porsche GB do not get involved in allocations to customers, they just allocate the build slots to OPCs. So each OPC is free to allocate each car to whoever they want to, using whatever technique(s) they wish.

Someone with no buying history could be in the right place at the right time and drop onto a cancelled order when they ask for a car, for example. Or someone could never be in the right place at the right time as the waiting list isn't strictly managed and it's more pot luck who gets a call for an allocation depending on which Sales Executive gets hold of the slot.

Having an exisiting good relationship is obviously your best chance at getting a hard to obtain car, but even then you're not alone in asking and are not necessarily going to be successful. If you're getting nowhere with one particular OPC trying another is all you can do.

 

[Ryan9729]

I understand there are no hard fast rules but there should be a self-imposed code of conduct, wouldn't be difficult to throw out an email to existing customers inviting them to a 'spare' allocation. Keeps exclusivity of the GT models and actually rewards loyalty. The approach above is just shooting at the hip!

 

[Twinfan]

Why should there be a rule applicable to all OPCs? Each one is an individual business, even if it's within a dealership group, with its own targets and customer base. I get the frustrations people have with trying to get certain cars, and the hoops you have to jump through, but unless demand drops substantially then I can't see anything changing any time soon. OPCs can sell any GT car they get allocated several times over, so they have reason to change whatever they're currently doing.

It's not just about loyalty, there are other factors - financial reasons, personal relationships, spreading the cars across as many people and types of people as possible etc. Like it or not, it's a selective process and there aren't enough cars for everyone.

Your suggested appropach, for the GT4RS for example, would cause absolute carnage with a barrage of emails, phone calls and people turning up at the dealership!

 

[Ryan9729]

I didn't say there should be 'rules', but a self-imposed code of conduct, OK, you like to play devil's advocate with everything I write here but let's play this out

Imagine you have bought let's just say 5-6 new Porsche's from a said dealer, and they know full well you want a 'GT4' or 'GT4-RS' and then someone with no previous relationship with the dealer snaps up the 'spare' allocation of said GT4 or GT4-RS, you contact the dealer and ask for an allocation and they say 'sorry no can do!' Does that seem like a decent way to run a business?

I would argue no, the correct thing to do is perhaps call or send a few targeted emails out, not difficult!

 

[Twinfan]

I'm not just playing devil's advocate for the sake of it, I just see things differently to you. You seem very upset about this subejct, and I don't wish to argue with you, so I'll answer your direct question and leave it at that.

In your scenario, I would assume the reason they allocated a car to the person with no relationship was because it was better for them as a business to do so. Maybe that person or one of their family members also wants to buy two Macans and three Taycans, maybe they can give them some good publicity to overcome some recent bad publicity they've had, maybe they buy many fleets of BMWs from elsewhere in the group and this would be their first Porsche so they want to keep the customer on-side - there are lots of possible scenarios including one where the repeat customer is a real pain to deal with and is not nice to the OPC staff so they don't want to give them a GT car allocation.

I just don't see it as black and white as you do, I see it in a much more nuanced way like a lot of things are in life.

 

[Scrounger]

To be honest, If I went to my OPC and said I wanted to spec a GT4 for a you tube video and it would give you loads of publicity, they'd probably do it. Would I ever see the car or even get an allocation is another matter.

I didn't watch it to the end as it was a typical 'I want one but can't get one but I'll make a youtube video anyway and get some revenue on it' type of production.

As a side note, there is rumblings in the US that OPC are no longer taking orders for GT4/RS and those with deposits in but no allocation are having moneys returned. Possibly the beginning of the end??

Dan

 

[Ryan9729]

The scenario I chose was in the realms of reality.......

 

[Wollemi]

I ordered my first Boxster GTS4.0 way back in January 2020, mine was the first order placed at my OPC. I had no buying history at all but I had been a service customer for 6½ years. I was asked a few week later if I wanted to change my order to a GT4; which I declined as the roof doesn’t fold down well on a Cayman.

 

[JaseGT4]

Same for me with my GTS, prior to that I had no new car buying history with my OPC. However I had had 20 years of dealing with them on my not new 911s and 944s with servicing etc. The GTS wasn't an issue then but the GT4 was still a challenge but I did get an allocation and they were superb throughout. I know many people are trying to get on the list for GT4s and a number are dropping out. One of the big issues at the moment is the lack of bucket seats and bose which is slowing down buying - I think.

There are a lot of GT4s for sale secondhand as well which looks like there is a lot of flipping going on but not sure where those buyers will be as the interest rate changes. I'd prefer to wait and have a car spec'd to my requirements.

Finally the deposit on the GT4 is £5k but I know some dealers are popping you on the list for no charge until they have an allocation for you.

Keep trying if you want one, best driving decision I made moving from the GTS but also nowhere near as practical.

 

[MrWelshB]

I think you have to know your dealership and they you. I have the allocation for a GT4 RS and I think I was given it because they know I am a true enthusiast not a flipper, I try and be pleasant (even when being told I'll not get allocation for a992 GT3!) will track the car when it comes and, of course, I have a good purchase history with them. So, I don't think its one thing, it's many and there will always be an element of just little luck!

 

[ChrisW]

The criteria for my local dealer is how much you spend with them.

Strangely the result of this is concentric "circles" of cars with more owners than miles on the clock, with the OPC apparently connected at every ownership change ... and with every sale other than the first at the list price plus ....

Porsche are just washing their hands ... but may one day need the genuine but now disillusioned enthusiasts who helped them to where they are today ...