Almost a 996 Targa not so happy story

Interesting read if you are considering buying from them... Have been in the market for a Targa for a few weeks now, and one arrives at Cridford Porsche (Indy in South West London). I call by for a viewing the Saturday. Am attended by a polite, mid-age chap called Jonathan who shows me around the car. He comes across as a genuine, very knowledgeable salesperson without having to be too pushy. Am impressed. And by the way, make a positive comment as a result of this on a different thread: http://www.911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=39694&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=cridfords&start=30 Boy, could I not had been any more wrong. Coming towards the end of our encounter, I mention that I'd be interested in having cruise control and the rear parking sensors fitted (they were not present as part of the spec). He goes: 'Sure, no problems we can do the sensors free of charge and the cruise control at cost". Sounds a fair deal to me. We agree he would call me the the following Monday to confirm price for car + cruise control + parking sensors. No call back on Monday so chase late in the afternoon. He tells me he still isn't entirely sure on how to fit the cruise control and he couldn't get hold of his engineer. He advises he will revert the following day. As a gesture of goodwill and helpfulness, I do some research of my own (thanks 911uk!) and send him some material on fitting CC. No call the Tuesday, I chase and he goes 'Still can't get hold of the engineer, I'll call you in the afternoon with a final price for the whole package". No call that day. I call back the Wednesday, am told he's taken the day off. I call on Thursday and am told that his engineer is out for the day. On the Friday I give up on them getting these bits and pieces right and agree to take the car as is. We agree a price and I ask him if he would like me to leave a deposit. He goes: 'No need, let's get the Pre Purchase Inspection done and you can pay me the deposit then". Fine. Same day (Friday) I book the car for a PPI at the nearby Porsche Byfleet the Monday morning. Monday (today). I get a call at about 17.30 from Jonathan @ Cridford. With a mix of disbelief and disgust am advised that the car had been SOLD !!! :evil: He didn't one single second apologize about the whole situation. He kept going on and on talking about how someone had 'walked in in the morning and paid the deposit" (the car was booked for a 9am PPI appointment, I wonder how that happened!!!). He kept interrupting me as I was telling him it would have been the least of professionalism to give me a call first, assuming someone was really standing there 'begging" to pay him a deposit on the car. Anyhow, I cannot believe how unprofessional these people at Cridfords are. Not to mention Jonathan's tone, attitude and rudeness on the phone. Needless to say, glad I didn't buy the car from them. Edit: spelling for Cridford

This happened to me way back in 95 when they were in Weybridge and I was after a 944 Turbo. Thought I'd done a deal on the weekend, only to find out during the week that they had sold it to a guy who walked in and offered the full price. Left a bad taste at the time, but taught me a lesson in buying. Thought this garage were better than that now though. Ended up with a better value silverrose 944 from somewhere else (though this one was clocked :roll: )

Just had an enquiry this afternoon from a gentleman who wanted retrofit cruise control Phone Exeter OPC, got a price, phoned customer, sold car, booked the car in for fitting on friday morning, all done in less than 20 minutes, and less than £350, which is what i quoted him in the first place

An OPC retrofitted cruise to a 996? In less than 20 minutes? 997, perhaps.

My quote was for a 997 But i believe its the same for a 996 Both have 'e gas' electronic throttel rather than a cable so all you do is fir the indicator arm, couple of wire, pop the car on the PIWIS laptop to tell the ecu that it has cruise control about an hours labour on a 996 it must be a post 2000 model year car

That's absolutely correct, but OPCs don't do 986/996 cruise retrofits - that's why I asked. It isn't 'in the book' and takes some improvisation, so they don't offer it. It is quite a bit more involved to do than a 987/997.

I'll investigate into a 996 price when i'm there on friday

It's a shame you didn't read the anti-Cridfords posts on PH. They are renowned for being arrogant, unhelpful and generally f@cking useless.

I would have been uncomfortable not leaving a deposit. I'm not for one second defending them for selling it to someone else but I can't say I'm surprised. What's that expression? "There's no honour among used car dealers." Something like that, anyway.

Definitely smell El Rat there - dealers usually bite arms off for a deposit. On a general Targa note, when I took my 993 in for some roof work, a 996 owner had just been presented with a bill for £6000 to have his roof sorted out - something to do with the cartridges. And it wasn't an old high mileage car. Might be worth seeing if roofs and the mechanical parts are covered in your year's warranty (and keep renewing it if you can). Not saying anything will go wrong but if it does, it could be big bucks.

I believe legally if you leave a deposit subject to a satisfactory PPI the passing of the PPi becomes part of the conditions of sale I.e. you pay a deposit subject to passing a PPI, if the car fails the dealer is liable to put all faults right as it now becomes part of the contract of sale, so you pay a £500 deposit the car needs £6,000 of work the dealer must pay or you sue him for breach of contract I PPI my cars as soon as i buy them so i can fax email post any enquirer the report, but if only the rest were as scrupulous as me

I've been less than impressed with Cridford's and the sales person that you mention in particular. I guess he already knew someone else was interested in the car and was doing a delaying tactic. They probably get a lost of messers to be fair, but doesn't excuse their attitude and I think he's a bit of a nob personally.

Fully agree. Which makes me the angrier as I feel (and think) he's taken for a massive ride.

I had a quote for replacement of targa roof panel - if memory serves it was £5 shy of £2k + vat less than a year ago. I can't imagine where the £6k would come from!! Peter

Sounds a bloody scoundrel :eh!: