Car salesman canned for damage while taking Porsche Cayenne out for a weekend spin

csv8 · 11-12-2011, 11:15 AM

Car salesman canned for damage while taking Porsche Cayenne out for a weekend spin

by: Kay Dibben From: The Sunday Mail (Qld) December 11, 2011 12:00AM 3

The car happened to be a luxury $170,000 Porsche Cayenne S, and after driving through a flooded spillway in the Sunshine Coast hinterland in January, causing $40,000 damage, Mr Webb was sacked from Porsche Centre Brisbane.

Mr Webb had worked there for almost seven years, was "passionate" about Porsches and had been considered a successful new car salesman, Fair Work Australia heard.

Mr Webb, who is now working for a nearby European car firm, took an unfair dismissal claim to FWA.

It heard that he had permission from his workplace to take home the car, known as the "press car" because it was lent to motoring journalists.

On January 9, Mr Webb drove the Porsche Cayenne SUV to his father's property in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and said after lunch he drove the car to a spillway.

In his evidence, Mr Webb said it had been raining and, noticing the water was already deeper on his return journey, he walked into the running water and found it was up to his knee.

His father came down and drove his own Toyota HiLux 4WD through the water first to test the depth.

"We decided that it would be safe to take the Cayenne, since it was a 4WD, through without any problems," Mr Webb said. He said he drove the Cayenne through the water, following his father's car, but said when he got to the other side the engine stalled.

Fair Work Australia senior deputy president Jennifer Acton found Mr Webb had failed to provide a credible explanation after he and his father were cross-examined.

In her November 29 decision, Ms Acton concluded Mr Webb must have been at least negligent with the Porsche, and she rejected his unfair dismissal application.

flappist · 11-12-2011, 11:48 AM

What is this taking a Porsche 4WD away from inner suburban streets?

Are they crazy?
It will get dirty.
Who is going to admire them in their designer "outback adventurer" ensemble?

There are no half double decaf grande latte soy frappuccino with extra dollop specialist baristas with fabulous hair that far from the metro quarter in the CBD.

It has to be a media stunt.......

2011G6E · 11-12-2011, 12:52 PM

There's a black Porsche Cayenne running around out here...you regularly see it dirty and obviously getting used on dirt roads.
They're a very capable off-roader, despite the price tag (you'd be better off buying the cheaper-but-basically-identical VW Toureg), but like any four wheel drive, being "four wheel drive" doesn't mean you are immune from being an idiot and getting into trouble. There's a bit of a difference between a Hilux and a Cayenne...

Franco Cozzo · 11-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

There's a bit of a difference between a Hilux and a Cayenne...

Obviously, but its still seen as and advertised as an AWD/4WD type of vehicle, even though its an SUV.

Water was only up to the drivers knee remember.

b0son · 11-12-2011, 01:14 PM

Only in Australia.... you cause $40k worth of damage to your employer, and think its unfair to be held accountable for it.

Shame they cant pursue him for the cost of the repairs.

Road_Warrior · 11-12-2011, 01:16 PM

'faux wheel drive'

**cs123** · 11-12-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

There are no half double decaf grande latte soy frappuccino with extra dollop specialist baristas with fabulous hair that far from the metro quarter in the CBD.

Sunshine Coast hinterland Flappist. Plenty to be had there.

Wretched · 11-12-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b0son

Only in Australia.... you cause $40k worth of damage to your employer, and think its unfair to be held accountable for it.

Shame they cant pursue him for the cost of the repairs.

Agreed.

The Cayenne is actually pretty handy offroad, not extreme mountain climbing offroad but general bush bashing.

Iggypoppin' · 11-12-2011, 01:53 PM

My old employer has a Cayenne and it is regularly covered in mud and dirt. So I guess they do go offroad sometimes. If I where him I'd have stuck with the V8 Sahara though.

Nikked · 11-12-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Water was only up to the drivers knee remember.

Thats what the jury was told...

The car is not a fault here, but the human.

Jim Goose · 11-12-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

"We decided that it would be safe to take the Cayenne, since it was a 4WD, through without any problems," Mr Webb said.

Therein lays the problem.... he assumes he has a 4WD therefor its safe.... hmmm

Bossxr8 · 11-12-2011, 07:41 PM

Me thinks the water was just a tad higher than he claimed.

And the dads Hilux was a diesel with a snorkel, 35 inch mud tyres and jacked up another foot or 2 off the ground.

Mickxr8 · 11-12-2011, 07:46 PM

Water up to his knees eh ? , there`s your 1 st clue sherlock lol ,
Ahh its good to sit back on a sunday arvo and be amazed with some people

new2ford · 11-12-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickxr8

Water up to his knees eh ? , there`s your 1 st clue sherlock lol ,
Ahh its good to sit back on a sunday arvo and be amazed with some people

Exactly!

Mind you, at the opposite extreme years ago I was driving a Toyota Corolla near Canberra and came to a causeway over the Molonglo with a few inches running over it. Quite safe from my past experience. There were a few faux wheels drives stopped wither side with the families inside having a contemplate. I drove across OK and looked in the mirror and saw the faux wheel drives follow me in a procession! I'd say oh what a feeling if I didn't choke on it!

|Nate · 11-12-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2ford

Exactly!

Mind you, at the opposite extreme years ago I was driving a Toyota Corolla near Canberra and came to a causeway over the Molonglo with a few inches running over it. Quite safe from my past experience. There were a few faux wheels drives stopped wither side with the families inside having a contemplate. I drove across OK and looked in the mirror and saw the faux wheel drives follow me in a procession! I'd say oh what a feeling if I didn't choke on it!

Same happened to me in my EB. Howitt St was flooded about 1ft over the road at the highest parts. There was a few worried 'faux wheel drives parked with their hazards on, and I just went through it.

The procession through the water was, Me (Lowered EB Falcon), Hilux, Land Cruiser, Camry. I am the leader of the sheep!

Rodge · 13-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Knowing how the euro's charge for parts, that "so called" $40,000 would have been based on the retail price of parts and retail cost of labour.
The real cost of parts would be a mere fraction of that and the local dealership could easily have provided the labour for free filling-in between other jobs.

Big picture, maybe the real cost was about $10K, (possibly considerably less), and the article says he'd been a sucessful salesman for many years, selling their heavily over-priced vehicles and making the company perhaps several million dollars over the years...and they dismiss him over that.... hmmm I smell a Rat. I think they wanted to get rid of him and get some fresh blood and enthusiasm on the sales yard, after all people can only maintain the charade that those vehicles are worth anything like their retail asking prices for so long and after that...

Fev · 13-12-2011, 04:55 PM

They should have kept him on - They have insurance for these sorts of things! The bad press from taking what is supposed to be an SUV offroad though only a foot and a half of water - which is now on the news instead of being kept internal isn't very good!

drew`SEVNT5 · 13-12-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

They should have kept him on - They have insurance for these sorts of things! The bad press from taking what is supposed to be an SUV offroad though only a foot and a half of water - which is now on the news instead of being kept internal isn't very good!

Methinks this was just the straw that broke the camels back.

Ie: an excuse.

Do a google search on 'Porsche Valley dumb****s'

Ben73 · 13-12-2011, 10:15 PM

No way he should of lost his job. That is what insurance is for. I bet in the Cayanne's booklet in the dealership it has photos of it in offroad locations anyway and states it's capable off road.

Scott · 13-12-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben73

No way he should of lost his job. That is what insurance is for. I bet in the Cayanne's booklet in the dealership it has photos of it in offroad locations anyway and states it's capable off road.

Page 49 to be exact.

Trevor 57 · 13-12-2011, 11:11 PM

I have seen on on the track at Winton for a Fun Day, it went quite well, it wasn't out there for very long

Transit Truck · 14-12-2011, 12:01 AM

Must of been water in the exhaust. Need to rev hard in first gear for the crossing. I had the same problem in a Navara. Was taking it too easy.