Car in shop for a month because part not available

Some kind of defect in my heater core caused a coolant leak that saturated my interior carpet. According to the dealer, the interior is not available and needs to be manufactured. This means the car will be in the shop for a month when all is said and done. Maybe longer. They are providing a Cayenne as the car is under warranty. I don't want the Cayenne for a month or more. I want my car fixed. I already have a minivan and an SUV. I pay $1000 a month to drive a sports car. I am thinking of contacting PNA to try to come to some better accommodation. Get me a Boxster loaner. Wave a lease payment. Take the Cayenne back and give me a service/ merchandise credit. Anything. Why? Because the dealership has lied to me one too many times, and losing a month of driving because they don't stock parts properly for a two year old car...is unacceptable customer service. Any thoughts on how to proceed? Any success stories?

Dave, I'd rather have a Cayenne than a base Boxster with a tip. I know what you mean when you miss your car. I took a loaner out of town (base Boxster w/tip) and I couldn't wait for the dealership to open, I got my extra set of keys and grabbed my car on Sunday.

Given that it's a leased car I think you have a reasonable argument. I'd ask for a month waived as well as a 997S as the loaner. Not saying they'll comply but if you never ask....

Look into the Lemon Law for your state... In Maryland, if your car is being serviced for over 30 days, they have to buy back the car... it's a little bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea. Research it and file a complaint with the attorney general in your State. I had my Chrysler Crossfire bought back and declared a "lemon" without ever going through the expense of an attorney.

During the first 18 months in California, 30 days in the shop = Lemon unless proven otherwise (generally speaking). I am at 29 months.

I already have a minivan and an SUV. The Cayenne isn't as nice as either of them. I'd take the Boxster w/tip. My wife would enjoy it. So would I. You can't open the sun roof on the Cayenne without a sonic boom noise. My wife hates it and won't drive it. We are both surprised by how much we dislike the thing. She was thrilled when we picked it up. Our Honda drives better by any measure. I have Pirellis on our minivan and it feels better on the freeway. Add this to the BS the dealer keeps slinging my way for no apparent reason, and I am not a happy customer.

Dave - can they temporarily cut out the affected carpet area (assuming it isn't that large) and patch it so you can get going again, albeit with a less then perfect interior? Then you're not at the mercy of their parts timing at least. I hear the stripped racing look may be coming fashionable again too! Free roll bar install courtesy the dealership?!

I don't know of too many dealerships for any make that stock car interiors. They are almost always special order.....it takes a little while to get things like this, especially from overseas. I feel for you in this situation, but I don't see how this is the dealerships fault. Take the loaner, let the time pass, and get your car when it is done.

So they aren't building any more Caymans and don't have any parts on the assembly line? No parts in inventory in Germany that can be air shipped? No part at a salvage yard from a wrecked Cayman? Seems like lots of options to get you on the road sooner than 30 days. I agree they need to waive a lease payment or let you keep the car an extra 30 days at the end of the lease, you didn't agree to lease a Cayenne, although you need to consult the fine print of your lease, there probably is something in there about what they will do in the event that your car is in for repair for an extended period of time.

The dealer is only responsible for the part where they lied about the fact that the interior was soaked with coolant so that they could attempt to clean it without telling me. The whole thing is bizarre. I swear it is like they act like lying is so normal, they forget when they are doing it. The manufacturer is the one who may very well end up crediting me if the car is there beyond 30 days...because they don't have parts stocked. They seem to agree that this is reasonable, although nothing is final and the car has only been in the shop for a week thus far. The dealer has nothing to do with it. Again, Porsche sees it as a customer service issue, and I am very happy with the person I am working with.

Dave, I have the perfect vehicle for your family! 2011 Odyssey Concept at the Chicago Auto Show - Official Honda Site

Yes. Automotive purgatory. My reward for having four children. They say Hondas are for people who hate cars. Electric sliding doors are like heroin, though. Maybe a Toyota Sienna? The kids love that Chrysler with the seats that can surround a table. I want one of these:

I'm not keen on facing backwards unless it is in the very back of an old Pontiac station wagon. If you do it long enough whenver you stop the scenery seems to rush towards you. I imagine with a little extra chemical stimulation that could be quite interesting. I have a scale model of the Chariot somewhere in the basement, but if you want one, here's how to get one: Chariot, Lost in Space