Is my dealer screwing me/lying to me?

I was just calling around to check up and make sure I'm getting the best deal possible and I heard some disturbing news from another dealer in delaware. My dealership has told me I am confirmed (as of the $1000 deposit I put down yesterday) for an april or may build date for delivery in early June and that as soon as I specify my options it will be locked in, gauranteed, sent off to Porsche, done deal, etc. This guy I just got off the phone with seemed more tha willing to help but only had build dates for december (possibly november) which he didn't seem to want to use on someone wanted a June euro delivery date. He went on to say (which he was very adamant and quite pushy about) that my dealer was basically bull****ting me by telling me that I have confirmed car to built much past January or February. He said that NONE of the delears have any confirmed dates that far as Porsche hasn't given them out to anyone yet and that nobody knows for SURE (although it's mostly likely) that those later build dates will ever be granted at all. Also noone knows exactly how many cars will be built. I have no reason to trust this guy more than my local dealer but why would he make that? My question is what should I do from here? I won't be in any position to take the car earlier than June '04, simply can't do it. I do want to option out my car, put down my money and be gauranteed the car right now (by the end of this week) so all I have to worry about is waiting. What do you guys reccomend I do? Also any reccomendations for dealerships that have open build dates right now and will give me something off MSRP (my local dealer will)? I'm going to do euro delivery and probably pick it up at the south carolina port when it returns so I could care less which of the 50 states the dealership is located in. I'll be totally content to do the deal by phone, fax, bank wire, etc as long as I believe I'm getting someone I can trust and can gaurantee my car on time when I want it! Thanks in advance.

BRH --- I can definitely relate to your angst over this whole mysterious ordering ritual with PAG/PCNA. While both organizations are exceptionally reputable (some Rennlisters might differ w/ this regarding annual max. vehicle production promises made/broken for certain P-cars), it is a funky way to market vehicles. They've gotten this far though, so that counts for something. We could always "just say no" to buying Porsches (yeah, right ). You don't mention what car your after, but I'm assuming a 996 of some type? It is likely that PCNA has not released allocations to dealerships for orders across the P-car range for next summer. There appears to be some allocations made for certain vehicles such as CGTs and GT3s, as some Rennlisters seem to have confirmations in hand for those types of P-cars. When I ordered my '04 TT Coupe a month or so ago, the allocations to US dealers had just gone out for production through October. By now they should have released November or maybe even December. If you are after a "limited" production variant (at least from what we've been told thusfar) such as a TT Coupe, GT3 or CGT, maybe you can truly get ahold of an allocation as far out as you've been told. If you want to get more insight and are truly ready to put your $ down, I'd highly recommend either of the following two dealers: Bert Smith Porsche (St. Pete, FL); salesman John Daly [phone removed] Porsche North Scottsdale (Ariz); salesman Mark Siffert [phone removed] Of all the dealers that I spoke w/ prior to placing my order (and I talked w/ at least 20 around the US), these two guys were without question the most customer-oriented, straight up dudes. Both had discounts in the 6% range on the table for me. Just be honest/open with them as to what you're after. Good luck! Jeff

If you are already waiting until June 04, you might as well wait the couple extra months for the 05 997 to come out. Just my $.02 -Lou

Thanks for the info. Sorry, I thought I mentioned it, it's a GT3 I'm after!

Most importantly I want a GT3 not a 997. Secondly June is when I can do euro delivery which is very much worth while to me. If I were to wait I wouldn't be able to do again until the following summer. I'm sure the 997 will be nice but i doubt it will be any comparison to a GT3. Also I always shy away from the first year of a new model

not far from you, in south jersey (west long branch) is schneider-nelson porsche. i have personally purchased 5 different porsches from the general manager, michael schwartz. he is absolutely honest and reliable-i have complete faith in him. i also think that he has a gt3 allocation for spring-summer 04. i referred another board member to him, and that board member purchased a feb car (gt3) from him. his number is [phone removed]-he may be off on wed. tell him that doc jackson sent you. at the least, he will give you a straight up answer-he is the gm.

Just curious, but where did you put the deposit down? I've had nothing but good experiences with Don Rosen. And I'm not positive, but I also think that there is a spring allocation for the GT3 already.

are his lips moving?

New Information/Conclusion: Talked to Michael Schwartz (sales manager, schneider-nelson porsche [phone removed]) and he set the record straight. He said that normally it's true that dealers don't get truly confirmed build dates more than three months out and that any order you placed for further out than that would be on the dealers assumption about when they think their allocations will come. However, with the GT3 specifically, because it's such a special limited edition car, to the best of his knowledge all the GT3 allocations were given out ahead of time to the dealerships. Unless Porsche changes their world wide (or nationwide) allocations for the GT3 every dealership knows exactly how many they're getting and when the build dates are. He said he has confirmed dates as far out as march. (FYI: He said he has a local cusotmer that is most likely going to take this last March date but that there's a small chance it may become available). Furthermore, he told me if anyone is apprehensive about whether or not they actually have a confirmed build or not you can simply ask your dealership for the reference number (a 7 digit number) they will be provided when they actually send your order off to Porsche and you can call up PCNA within a day or two and give this number and confirm your build. He said the process off ordering a car takes about 15 minutes and really should be updated in Porsche system world wide within a day or two max. Great info. Hope this helps someone else out. P.S. Michael Schwartz seems like a great guy. Of course I haven't bought a car from him but he seemed more than happy to take time out of his day to help me out and answer my questions even though I wasn't purchasing anything! Highly reccomended.

Didn't know you wanted a GT3, I obviously would want a gt3 over the 997. Are they making an 05 GT3? or will that be the end of the production line. -Lou

From what I have heard they are not making an '05. It's only one year. If history is any indication I assume the 997 based GT3, turbo, and other special models will return a couple of years down the road (although I have no facts to base this on).