Anyone have any experience/comments on the several San Francisco Bay Area dealers? Since I am ordering my car, I can go wherever I want...

I purchased my Cayman S through Michael Stead Porsche in Walnut Creek. Good folks. 925.280.4900

Sales: Mike Pardini; Ted Fisher
Either of them can get you a free track day ...

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Cayman S - a portable amusement park

- 2006 Cayman S
- 2003 Dakota SXT
- 1963 Studebaker Avanti, R2, 4-Speed
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LL

I've been a Carlsen (in Redwood City) customer for about 15 years. See Gary Quibelan (gary.quibelan at carlsenporsche dot com). I bought my 2002 996 turbo from him and he handled my Cayman order. He's actually the used car manager, but also sells new cars and is a very nice guy.

Carlsen has been around a long time, I'm friends with Charlie the owner, and they also spend a lot to sponsor quite a few local PCA events during the year - another reason I support them.

brad Edited by - beez on 02/24/2006 3:59:28 PM

Edited by - beez on 02/25/2006 06:45:05 AM

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I bought mine from Lawrence Kushner at Carlson Porsche in Redwood City and had a great experience. He was very helpful throughout the entire process. I would buy from him again without reservation.





Alan

I went to Porsche of Oakland. Everything went fine, but since I was not able to move them off MSRP I would suggest you shop around among the local dealers. I ordered my car back in November and perhaps it was too early to expect anything else. With Caymans actually on the dealer lots now you may not even have to order a car if you can find one close to your specs. And it may be easier to shave some off MSRP.

i purchased mine at Michael Stead Porsche in Walnut Creek.

They're not that bad just that everything seems to be delayed.

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fraser,

Something else to consider if you're going to order a car, is that the dealers are under an allocation system that is based on their previous sales volume - the higher the volume, the more slots they get to order cars, and you car may get built faster going to a high volume dealer. Sonnen in marin, and Carlsen are the two largest volume in the Bay Area. That said, I would shop for price and then ask the dealer what month the build slot would be - one of the smaller dealers still might be able to get the car made faster (even with a smaller allocation) if they have fewer people on the list.

brad

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thanks, that is all great advice. what i am hearing is that there is no totally great or awfully bad dealer, so one can shop around a bit.


interestingly (well, for me) is that i thought i wanted to buy a carmon red croc, but the wife (AND the 8 yo daughter) now insist that it be speed yellow...which every dealer seems to have one of on the lot..so...if that ends up happening...then maybe i'll just end up with what they have at a slight discount...

When I was shopping around in December, Oakland offered $1000 under MSRP without me even asking.

Carlsen had a speed yellow on the showroom floor when I was there a couple of days ago.

brad

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Anyone have any experience with Rector in Burlingame? Also, is a track day something I can bargain for? sounds like the guys in Walnut Creek were doing that. Finally, how does that work and what do you get? certainly not a driving course....just a few open laps?

Michael Stead for the following reasons:

Proximity. I live near walnut creek and didn't want to travel. My previous experience has been that you get better service from the dealer you purchased from.

Price was good, not great but close to 10% off. 64320msrp/58k purchase

Pardini was good, relaxed and took the time with me to go over things...

It would have been totally great if I had dealt exclusively with Mike. Unfortunately I dealt with another guy on one occasion and the deal became a total pressure, buy it now or lose it deal.

So I walked and finally let them know that I was going over to Carlsen. I started talking to Gary.

Thats when Mike Pardini got back involved and made me a better offer.

I am glad because no one else had the color combo in stock that I wanted.

Cobalt/Beige...