A Automobile Man’s EV
In our First Timer collection we communicate with individuals who have bought their first electrical, plug-in electrical or hydrogen gas cell electrical car. Lately we met up with a “automotive man” with a historical past of owing efficiency and premium vehicles to get ideas on his 2023 Porsche Taycan 4S.
Our Porsche Taycan 4S proprietor, KB, is a retired software program government, married, with a daughter and two grandsons. He was desirous about going electrical. After asking round, he settled on the Porsche Taycan, which he took supply in December 2023.
Clear Fleet Report:Inform us a bit about your self.
KB: My spouse and I reside in Central Orange County, California, a couple of miles from the seashore. Being retired, my day by day driving totals about seven miles. Going to the health club. Visiting the grandkids. As soon as every week to a cost station.
CFR: You want vehicles? Inform us about some you’ve owned.
KB: I’ve had many vehicles, all German and Japanese. At the moment we personal a 2023 Audi A4. The automotive previous to the Taycan was a Nissan GT-R. We’ve got leased Audis for a very long time as it’s good to get a brand new automotive each few years. Beforehand, I had a Lexus IS 250 and two BMW 325s over a 25-year interval as I actually appreciated these vehicles. Additionally, a second-generation Mazda RX-7.
CFR: What analysis did you do, and the way was the shopping for expertise?
KB: Someday, driving dwelling from the health club, the transmission in my Nissan GT-R wouldn’t shift previous 2nd gear. I attempted the paddles, but it surely was caught so I may solely go 20 miles per hour. Boy, are folks impolite zooming previous you and honking! I had it towed to the Nissan vendor, and so they instructed me the transmission wanted to get replaced, and it was going to price an unlimited amount of cash to repair it. I had already started researching EVs. With the recommendation of my monetary advisor and a push from my spouse, we determined to maneuver on from the GT-R. I bought it to the vendor, who should have had it mounted as I noticed it driving down the street.
I walked into one of many two Porsche sellers close to my home, and instructed a gross sales rep I wished to purchase a automotive. I instructed them what I wished, and really shortly it turned obvious this individual knew little or no in regards to the Taycan. That was confirmed once they admitted having solely labored there two months. (Lengthy story brief) I lastly took a check drive within the automotive I leased.
The Porsche vendor stated the longest lease they provided was 36 months, with a most of two,500 miles per 12 months. [Editor Note: Standard leasing terms are up-to 96 months and 10-12,000 miles is the common allowance per year. Clean Fleet Report has never encountered a dealer’s finance department only offering a lease of this length with a 2,500 miles per year cap.]
The automotive was prepped completely, however I wasn’t very glad. I’d say I used to be disillusioned.
CFR: Have you ever had contact with the vendor because you took supply?
KB: The low tire mild got here on. Since I had bought the tire guarantee, I went to the opposite vendor in my space, that are each owned by Auto Nation. They wanted the automotive for a pair days to search out the tire and do some software program upgrades, so that they paid for an Uber to my dwelling. After I returned to choose up the automotive, the vendor gave me a goodie bag with a lanyard, key FOB and a pair different gadgets with the Porsche brand.
CFR: So a superb vendor expertise?
KB: Up to now, till the A/C started blowing ambient temperature air. I referred to as to schedule a service appointment and wished a loaner automotive, however was instructed I would want to attend three weeks earlier than it turned obtainable. My historical past with Lexus sellers is that they have a fleet of loaners at all times obtainable, and there’s a automotive ready for you. I used to be considering I spent all this cash on the automotive, and there isn’t a loaner? The A/C began blowing chilly once more, so I by no means took it in for service.
CFR: Has Porsche and/or the sellers despatched you a buyer satisfaction survey?
KB: Many. Two had been by e mail, and one every by textual content and a telephone name. One was in regards to the gross sales rep and shopping for expertise, however I didn’t reply, not desirous to say they had been horrible. Different surveys had been in regards to the dealership and my tire service.
CFR: Did anybody ever say it was vital so that you can give them excessive marks?
KB: Sure, they did on each the gross sales and repair surveys.
CFR: Primarily based in your vendor expertise would you ever purchase one other Porsche from these sellers?
KB: Folks instructed me “Porsche is Porsche” and also you don’t have a lot leeway in what they do. In order for you a Porsche, you could “play the Porsche sport.” However I’d return to Porsche as a result of I just like the automotive a lot. I want the vendor expertise was a bit of higher as a result of it shouldn’t be the case.
I’ll preserve the automotive till the lease is completed, and would return to those sellers, however with what I do know now, it will be completely different.
CFR: Are you happy with the automotive?
KB: The one factor I’m not happy with is the charging—charging stations being damaged and the supply of charging stations. Generally I’ve to attend 45 minutes for a 15-minute cost to 80%. I even have seen folks will go into the mall and go away their vehicles plugged-in despite the fact that they aren’t charging. I’ve not felt the necessity to set up a house charger for the miles I drive and the supply of free charging.
[Editor’s Note: KB’s Taycan came with three years of complimentary charging at Electrify America stations, so his comments relate to experiences in their network of public chargers.]
CFR: Do you take pleasure in driving the Taycan?
KB: It’s a great automotive that drives nice, even higher than I assumed it will. My spouse loves it and needs to drive it extra.
Let me evaluate the Taycan to my GT-R, which was a number of enjoyable to drive. To get response you’ll downshift, then await the turbo increase to kick in, after which the automotive would go. With the Porsche there’s prompt torque and no ready. A pal of mine has a Tesla and the Porsche is faster. (He demonstrated by simulating G-Forces being pushed again within the seat, with eyes huge open.)
CFR: Do you’ve any closing ideas on proudly owning the Taycan?
KB: I’ve seen most Taycan homeowners are girls, who wave when passing. That’s enjoyable. I discover homeowners of non-electric BMWs and Audis ask in regards to the Taycan. I’ve additionally discovered EV homeowners are pleasant.
Observations
KB’s expertise driving the Porsche Taycan 4S is what we hear continuously. It’s quick, clean, highly effective and cozy to drive. It’s also a great-looking automotive.
His vendor experiences are troubling, although, whatever the model or price of the automotive.
We want he had accomplished the acquisition and repair surveys as Porsche company and the vendor have to know the way their clients are being handled. Or, possibly they don’t care?
That his preliminary contact was an individual with zero data of the Taycan is a critical situation Porsche must right. By product coaching and the vendor having new workers shadow a extra skilled gross sales consultant, no buyer shopping for a $130,000+ automotive ought to need to expertise such a state of affairs.
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Story by John Faulkner, Pictures by John Faulkner and KB.
Extra First Timer tales.
The publish First Timer: 2023 Porsche Taycan 4S first appeared on Clear Fleet Report.
