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Wamiq · 04-18-2010, 07:34 PM

Okay. Sorry for this lengthy blog/note … and here is the whole story. My daughter went to Dominican University of California at San Rafael, on 65% scholarship (of the total cost). She was to study pre-med. As a gift for her success, we let her use my Porsche Boxster (2002). After returning to school from a home visit towards the end of November 2008, she called me and told me that the car was showing some engine problems, hesitation. So, I went up the next Saturday to take care of the issue. We drove the Boxster (please keep in mind the word "drove") to Sonnen Porsche (SP). Gary Wright was present that Saturday and was nice to us and took the car in for service/repair and the charges would be US $ 180. I told Gary that we were not in any hurry as I was from San Diego. After a week to 10 days, Gary called me and told me that the automatic transmission was "completely" shot ... they found that there was NO transmission fluid in the transmission!! I asked Gary if there was any leakage or crack on the transmission casing. Gary replied that they did not find any leakage or crack(s). [Question for you: How could my daughter drive from San Diego to the bay area, almost 600 miles, with no transmission fluid?] To fix the transmission, it would take $ 11K. I told him that I was not prepared for such expense at that time and that I would be making a trip back to the bay area towards the end of January 2009 and would pick up (tow) the car. Gary talked to his boss "Richard Runk", the service manager, and got back to me and told me that it was okay ... as no harm was done. I was late by a week and I went along with my daughter to Sonnen Porsche on first Saturday of February 2009. The service was closed and the sales were open. The wonderful people from sales force at SP started to laugh at us (my daughter and me) and told us that "Richard", the service manager had auctioned of my car at a DMV lien sale, about 10 days prior (from the day we stopped by to pick up the car). Supposedly, Richard has sent us a notice of lien sale via US mail, something that we never received, though SP has my street address on their intake paper work for the Boxster service inspection!! The car is worth far more than $180 (the service inspection cost). My daughter was present when I was talking to the sales associates. Upon hearing the news from the SP sales people, she had a mental break down. She had to drop out during second semester at Dominican University. She also lost her scholarship, etc. For the next 6 to 8 months, our family had to go through mental turmoil from medically treating (psychiatric and counseling) our daughter, which is still continuing. I tried in vain, called several different times, including leaving voice mail, Sonnen Motors PR hand written (recorded) note/message for Peter Sonnen (owner), their General Manager for overall Sonnen Motors (group). I never received any return courtesy call(s).

After I returned from SP to San Diego, I went to local DMV office in Poway and they suggested that I place a “Courtesy Stop for 30 days” of lien sale and ultimately put a restraining order from the San Diego Superior Court on the DMV to stop the lien sale permanently. In the meantime SP without realizing that I could do all of these, they went ahead and repaired the tiptronic transmission, with the hope that Richard would be able to sell the car at a dirt cheap price though the lien sale, and perhaps a relative of Richard could buy the car.

I contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repairs of California (BAR) and filed a complaint on SP. BAR’s enforcing division took up my complaint and two of their agents went after SP. In SP’s record it clearly showed that I never authorized SP to do any further work, except for the initial service check. Per BAR, SP was forced to return the Boxster to me at no charge. Therefore, the repair on tiptronic and other work (including painting the car) was at SP’s cost. Also, SP could not produce any US mail paper work showing that Richard (the ex-service manager, who was fired for trying to swindle my car) sent notice of lien sale to me. Finally, I was able to set a date (April 16, 2010) with SP to pick up my car. Since the rebuilt of the tiptronic in February 2009 (by a local transmission shop near SP), the car has been sitting at SP’s lot and was not driven till April 16, 2010.
This tiptronic incident happened on April 16, 2010 after I picked up the car and was heading back to San Diego.

One way or other, I do need a used tiptronic for the 2002 Boxster and any one in the forum can suggest a source to get it at a reasonable price, will be very much appreciated. Thanks.

04-18-2010, 07:34 PM	#5
Wamiq Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 7	Okay. Sorry for this lengthy blog/note … and here is the whole story. My daughter went to Dominican University of California at San Rafael, on 65% scholarship (of the total cost). She was to study pre-med. As a gift for her success, we let her use my Porsche Boxster (2002). After returning to school from a home visit towards the end of November 2008, she called me and told me that the car was showing some engine problems, hesitation. So, I went up the next Saturday to take care of the issue. We drove the Boxster (please keep in mind the word "drove") to Sonnen Porsche (SP). Gary Wright was present that Saturday and was nice to us and took the car in for service/repair and the charges would be US $ 180. I told Gary that we were not in any hurry as I was from San Diego. After a week to 10 days, Gary called me and told me that the automatic transmission was "completely" shot ... they found that there was NO transmission fluid in the transmission!! I asked Gary if there was any leakage or crack on the transmission casing. Gary replied that they did not find any leakage or crack(s). [Question for you: How could my daughter drive from San Diego to the bay area, almost 600 miles, with no transmission fluid?] To fix the transmission, it would take $ 11K. I told him that I was not prepared for such expense at that time and that I would be making a trip back to the bay area towards the end of January 2009 and would pick up (tow) the car. Gary talked to his boss "Richard Runk", the service manager, and got back to me and told me that it was okay ... as no harm was done. I was late by a week and I went along with my daughter to Sonnen Porsche on first Saturday of February 2009. The service was closed and the sales were open. The wonderful people from sales force at SP started to laugh at us (my daughter and me) and told us that "Richard", the service manager had auctioned of my car at a DMV lien sale, about 10 days prior (from the day we stopped by to pick up the car). Supposedly, Richard has sent us a notice of lien sale via US mail, something that we never received, though SP has my street address on their intake paper work for the Boxster service inspection!! The car is worth far more than $180 (the service inspection cost). My daughter was present when I was talking to the sales associates. Upon hearing the news from the SP sales people, she had a mental break down. She had to drop out during second semester at Dominican University. She also lost her scholarship, etc. For the next 6 to 8 months, our family had to go through mental turmoil from medically treating (psychiatric and counseling) our daughter, which is still continuing. I tried in vain, called several different times, including leaving voice mail, Sonnen Motors PR hand written (recorded) note/message for Peter Sonnen (owner), their General Manager for overall Sonnen Motors (group). I never received any return courtesy call(s). After I returned from SP to San Diego, I went to local DMV office in Poway and they suggested that I place a “Courtesy Stop for 30 days” of lien sale and ultimately put a restraining order from the San Diego Superior Court on the DMV to stop the lien sale permanently. In the meantime SP without realizing that I could do all of these, they went ahead and repaired the tiptronic transmission, with the hope that Richard would be able to sell the car at a dirt cheap price though the lien sale, and perhaps a relative of Richard could buy the car. I contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repairs of California (BAR) and filed a complaint on SP. BAR’s enforcing division took up my complaint and two of their agents went after SP. In SP’s record it clearly showed that I never authorized SP to do any further work, except for the initial service check. Per BAR, SP was forced to return the Boxster to me at no charge. Therefore, the repair on tiptronic and other work (including painting the car) was at SP’s cost. Also, SP could not produce any US mail paper work showing that Richard (the ex-service manager, who was fired for trying to swindle my car) sent notice of lien sale to me. Finally, I was able to set a date (April 16, 2010) with SP to pick up my car. Since the rebuilt of the tiptronic in February 2009 (by a local transmission shop near SP), the car has been sitting at SP’s lot and was not driven till April 16, 2010. This tiptronic incident happened on April 16, 2010 after I picked up the car and was heading back to San Diego. One way or other, I do need a used tiptronic for the 2002 Boxster and any one in the forum can suggest a source to get it at a reasonable price, will be very much appreciated. Thanks.