Do you rate?

Porsche recently launched a loyalty program offering a $3000 and $4000 incentive on Boxsters and Carreras respectively. This was only offered to selected owners, did you rate? I bought a number of new Porsches in the past 12 months and I didn't earn their loyalty. I wonder why? Does anyone know what the criteria were?

good question, colm. i buy at least 1 porsche every 2 years. i would also like to know how they decided who to give the rebate to, and what kind of a rebate that it is (in addition to your deal from the dealer, etc)

I got something in the mail 2 weeks ago that basically said that Porsche dealers are searching for good, pre-owned cars to add to their inventories. If I'm interested in trading in, I should take the letter to my dealer and he will offer me a better deal in exchange. The letter had the stipulation at the bottom that it was only valid for my VIN number. It mentioned no dollar amount other than to iterate that the dealer will know what to do with it. Since I am not in the market to upgrade my C2 and I couldn't pass it on to someone else (like my bro-in-law), I ended up tossing the letter.

letter to trade ? bizarre has any one else heard of this? do you purchase a new car often?

My only new Porsche purchase (heck my ONLY Porsche purchase) has been the 2001 C2. Nothing before and nothing (don't want to turn my only marriage into my first marriage) since. I should say that the letter stipulated that I can only trade my car in for a *new* Porsche (could be the 911, the 986, or the Pepper).

I asked my dealer about it right after I received the letter, dated 18 August, 2003. I thought I might get a good deal on trading my '99 996 Cab in on the '04 TT Cab I just ordered. He said; "No dice." The offer is to clear remaining '03 model inventories before the '04 stuff shows up. The offer specifically omits TTs, GT2s, and the like. It's only to move the plain, vanilla iron off the lots.

I received the same letter in the mail as Chicago996.

1 new and 1 used Porsche in the past year... no letter.... no love. I would actulally think about trading the Boxster for a Cab if the deal was right.

Don't feel bad, 4 new cars in the past year, three more on the horizon (big family!)....and I didn't get a letter. Come to think of it never even got a thank you. I guess they know who the suckers are. I sure feel like one.

Wow Mike V!! Hello, your device has saved my a$$$ several times - thank you.

Hey Colm, They are probably using an old data base of some kind. I don't think PCNA has all the latest tools when it comes to lead generation. As far as I can tell, anybody can get these deals, with or without the letter. It may be that the letter targeted owners of older model Porsches (I have a '99 cab after all) that might be ready to trade. If all of your purchases are relatively new, they may have assumed you wouldn't be worth the postage because, normally, they wouldn't expect you to be ready to trade. It'd be fun to know what selection parameters they used to generate the mailing list.

Rob, Thanks for the kind words.

Come to think of it, they shorted me out of a paperweight too! I must have filled out a dozen surveys and not a damn thing!

if w8mm is mike valentine, you do make the best detector.

Yes, docjackson1, I am he. Thanks for the complement.

Call customer care. I got mine even though the girl I spoke to said the program was obsolete. She said she'd put in the request anyway.

colm-do you know the person who recieved an offer of 4-5k off of a porsche? did someone tell you that they recieved this?

docjackson1, Some questions should not be asked publicly, and if asked, never answered publicly. You understand confidentiallity better than most. Accept that my sources are good (until proven otherwise), and the amounts are $3k and $4K respectively.

Colm, This is the deal. The incentive option is for first time porsche buyers. They had to purchase a 2002 or older (996, 986). They then show this letter to the dealer and get an incentive for a 2003 996. As mike v. said only the basic 996, no C4s, no C4, no TT, etc. I think I have seen your list of cars before and they are all too fancy . If you are the second buyer you don't qualify, only first time <2002. roy for those that fit these criteria and interested in an upgrade. Call porsche and they will/should hook you up.

LAJ, I think you mean original owner, as in bought a car new from an Authorized dealer. Not first time buyer, as in first Porsche ever owned.