Underbody Protection Panel damaged. Batteries and coolant lines need inspection. $72.5K replacement & labor cost. Dealership is Tom Wood in Indiana

[irrelevant]

I have a 2-post lift at home so it would probably be pretty easy to replace the tray myself.

If I didn't have a lift and I was in this position, I'd agree to pay a reasonable diagnostic fee of <$500, have the car and under tray loaded on a flatbed, and delivered to my home, where I'd pull it onto some RaceRamps and jack stands, and spend a half hour or so installing either the original panel with the dent hammered out if possible, or a replacement panel.

I'd also never visit this dealer again, and if they agreed to anything less than the terms above, I'd publicize my experience with them as widely as possible.

Again, best wishes with the resolution. @Maelstrom

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[DerekS]

Just had a call from the dealership - to get my car back they are quoting $6.7k to replace the protection plate as they don't want to fit the damged on - I'm getting an estimate tomorrow as that seems absolutely over the top

I missed this nuance before that they insist on replacing the panel.

Tell them you'll supply your own OEM part. Get one from Suncoast, eBay, or a wreck.

I would really like them to explain their part cost when these sellers have OEM parts for < $1000:

Porsche Atlanta Perimeter: $616.32
Porsche Columbus: $568.17
OEM Parts Online: $552.81
Sunset Porsche Parts: $568.17

And the same part number is available as an Audi part for $147.56!

 

[T4S]

Something is very wrong here.

@Maelstrom, when was the last time you have physically seen your car? It should not take a significant amount of time to bolt up the cover plate for these Taycans, especially since they haven't even dropped the battery. It should also not cost that much.

You are very patient! If I were you, I would go in person to talk with the service manager. Sometimes that is enough to get things resolved. If it doesn't resolve, I hate to say it, but I would get an attorney involved.

If you haven't seen your car in a while, I would take the opportunity to physically see my car (not just pictures). I wouldn't accept this treatment with a $20k car, let alone one that costs $150k+.

 

[DerekS]

Here's a new plate for $92.93!

https://cars245.com/en/item/audi-volkswagen-9J1804097AY-protection-plate/

 

[bluesky]

Sorry if I’m naive about this, but maybe this is a matter for the police if they are refusing to give you your property back.

 

[T4S]

Sorry if I’m naive about this, but maybe this is a matter for the police if they are refusing to give you your property back.

I am not a lawyer and the info provided shouldn’t be considered legal advice. I just give my non-solicited advice. So take at your own risk.

I believe the dealer can claim that they performed a service and are holding the vehicle unless they are paid. Though that estimate is arguably outrageous.

I would give Tom Wood Porsche of Indianapolis one more chance to make things right by talking to the people in the order below, escalating each step if no resolution.

Service manager -> General Manager -> Porsche US Customer Service (probably need to be very specific that you want an investigation done due to gouging prices or whatever you feel would best reflect the situation).

 

[Jasper4S]

it’s time to call the police or a lawyer and inform your insurer to stop pending payments.

 

[Scandinavian]

I would give Tom Wood Porsche of Indianapolis one more chance to make things right by talking to the people in the order below, escalating each step if no resolution.

Service manager -> General Manager -> Porsche US Customer Service (probably need to be very specific that you want an investigation done due to gouging prices or whatever you feel would best reflect the situation).

I am surprised at the patience you all seem to have. I would long ago have written and try to call both the dealer principal, CEO PCNA plus written an email to Blume, CEO of Porsche.

If I did not get any satisfactory response I would engage a solicitor.

 

[bn8959]

I also can’t see how they could possibly quote for a job (the $4.5k inspection), but then leave the car in a state that would need another $6k to put it back together. That’s isn’t an inspection! One job should be completable leaving the car back as it was - otherwise it isn’t a complete job!

imagine sending your car in for a rattle and being quoted $100 for them to look. When they tell you they’ve found the rattle but it will cost $5,000 to fix, you say, no thanks. Then they said ‘oh and your car is in 15,000 pieces and we will now charge you $25,000 to put it back together’! Clearly they misrepresented the initial $100 job - as not an inspection and/or an incomplete job!

 

[whitex]

I'm doing that today - I have a friend in from out of town so am a little distracted.
To complete the loaner scenario - they told me Friday afternoon that if they didn't have the car back by 3pm on Saturday then they would be charging me $150/day

Perhaps they realized they won't be able to get a huge payday for you (I'm guessing $30K+ in profit), so have no more interest in doing any work for you, even though they already got paid a pretty penny for the inspection. I would switch dealers for any future business. I probably would write up a review on Google/Yahoo/Yelp, simply summarizing what happened ending with how they recalled the loaner and stopped responding to you.

 

[whitex]

Just had a call from the dealership - to get my car back they are quoting $6.7k to replace the protection plate as they don't want to fit the damged on - I'm getting an estimate tomorrow as that seems absolutely over the top

They are full on extorting money from you now. I would ask for a detailed broken down bill for the inspection they did so far - $4,500 to remove a battery cover from the car- already extortion! I'd also ask for a detailed breakdown of the quote of what it takes to install a new plate and put the battery cover back on. I'd also ask for a written refusal for why they refuse to install the original plate back. Then call an attorney, see what your rights are, maybe have the attorney give them a call or write a firm letter requesting they return the car and revise their bill (both, the removal and re-assembly). Then post reviews online showing how much they charge for work so that prospective customers get a good idea before they do any business with them.

 

[whitex]

This has cemented my resolve on how to handle my own Taycan. If any dealer mentions underbody damage I will not let them touch it.

If the car burns down, so be it. I’ll get out and toast marshmallows.

Given the depreciation it’s just good money after bad trying to repair this “fault.”

At the very least the lesson here is - before letting the dealer disassemble anything, get a quote for the disassembly and assembly back "as is".

 

[T4S]

Not sure if this was linked previously. But looks like 3mm is indeed the magic number. Though the quote from the Facebook post seems to match closely to what the actual quote was supposed to be. Still really high, but not $72.5k.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/road-damage-50k-battery-repair.16913/

 

[whitex]

I am not a lawyer and the info provided shouldn’t be considered legal advice. I just give my non-solicited advice. So take at your own risk.

I believe the dealer can claim that they performed a service and are holding the vehicle unless they are paid. Though that estimate is arguably outrageous.

I would give Tom Wood Porsche of Indianapolis one more chance to make things right by talking to the people in the order below, escalating each step if no resolution.

Service manager -> General Manager -> Porsche US Customer Service (probably need to be very specific that you want an investigation done due to gouging prices or whatever you feel would best reflect the situation).

At this point I would talk to an attorney to learn my options, then pay a visit to the dealer general manager and offer that if they put the car back together for $500 total for the complete inspection and putting it back together, then give me $500 credit for my time and attorney cost, so call it even. Otherwise I'd unleash the attorney, as well as write an honest review online of my experience so far. IMPORTANT - talk to the attorney first about what to say. While writing a true account in a review should not get you in trouble with the law in the USA, telling the dealer that you will write a bad review unless the dealer does something for you could be illegal as it could cross intro extorsion/blackmail territory. I had a similar situation like this long time ago (not involving cars), so I learned from the attorney about the extorsion caveat before going to chat with the party that was screwing me. In my case, my conversation with the offending party was short and sweet, they made me whole as soon as I gave them the business card of the attorney and told them he will be representing me. I assume it was just that they didn't want to deal with attorneys, but who knows, maybe my attorney had a reputation or was "connected", as their stance changed instantly once I gave them his business card.

Oh yea, IANAL. I'm an engineer.

 

[T4S]

Another Taycan owner on the forums had a similar issue as well… I do wonder how much the protective cover ended up being.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/damage-to-battery-shell.19325/

At least we are all questioning these costs now. I hope there is pressure for Porsche to have clearer guidelines to resolve these types of issues while making the costs reasonable. Especially since they are pushing hard towards EVs.

I am guessing Macan owners won’t be as forgiving with these types of things. Much more competition in EV SUV space.

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