Casey, could you please split the current estimate into two separate quotes?
- Quote 1 — Porsche Minneapolis (Eric Voge to pay directly): 4-wheel alignment, oil change & filter, brake fluid change, coolant change, transmission fluid change (drain & fill — NOT full service/flush), and tire balance.
- Quote 2 — Owner (Maximo Bredfeldt): Cabin air filter, wiper blades, and key box.
Important note on fluids: Please quote drain-and-fill (fluid changes) rather than full flushes where possible. At 17,000 miles, the fluids haven't seen heavy use — a change is the appropriate service. The ZF 8HP transmission in particular must NEVER be flushed with a machine per ZF's own guidance. See the technical notes below for details.
Eric Voge (General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis) has committed in writing to paying the dealership directly. His email of 3/23/2026 confirms this — he is CC'd on the service correspondence alongside Casey.
Porsche Minneapolis Owes
$4,214
Not Claiming / Deferred
$3,170
This vehicle is a 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR — one of fewer than 700 ever produced. It is a collector's item and a high-performance vehicle rated at 575 horsepower. The unfulfilled commitments by Porsche Minneapolis were not just a matter of inconvenience — they were dangerous and potentially damaging to a rare automobile. Selling this car to a buyer who they knew would be driving it through winter, while failing to perform the promised alignment, tire balance, fluid services, and cosmetic repairs, showed a serious disregard for both customer safety and the preservation of this vehicle.
What Porsche Minneapolis Knew at Time of Sale
-
⚠
The car had been sitting — dead battery. The vehicle required a new battery at time of sale, indicating it had been sitting undriven for an extended period. A responsible dealership would recognize that a car sitting for years means all time-based fluid intervals are due, regardless of mileage.
-
⚠
Tire damage was known — no balance, no alignment. Per Steve DiFiore's own email: "Sounds like there was rubber shaved off the outside of the tire." A bruise/shaving on the outside of a tire on a 575hp AWD vehicle points to a possible impact or severe misalignment. This should have triggered an investigation, not just a tire swap. They replaced the tires but did NOT balance them and did NOT perform the alignment — despite confirming in writing that alignment was part of the pre-delivery work. Sending a customer on unbalanced, unaligned tires on a 900-mile winter drive in a high-performance vehicle is a clear safety concern.
-
⚠
The buyer would be driving it 900+ miles home — in January. Porsche Minneapolis knew the car was being driven from Minneapolis to Lexington, KY in winter conditions. Sending a customer out on a high-performance vehicle with an unaligned chassis, unbalanced tires, and potentially degraded brake fluid is dangerous.
Jan 5, 2026
Porsche Minneapolis pre-sale inspection — Vehicle Health Report completed by tech Adam Sticha (advisor Hunt Russell). Right rear tire flagged red. Inspection done prior to promised work. Report marked nearly everything green — including "Free of Body Damage" despite known scratches, and "Inspect for fuel, oil, coolant or other fluid leaks" despite no fluid services having been performed.
Jan 6, 2026
Steve DiFiore confirms via email: "New tires and battery where installed yesterday." Max asks: "So it already got the new tires and alignment?" — Steve confirms, does not deny alignment was done. Notes tire had rubber "shaved off the outside" — pointing to impact or misalignment that should have triggered further investigation. Full fluid swap agreed verbally.
~Jan 10, 2026
Max picks up the Jag in Minneapolis and drives it 900+ miles to Lexington, KY on unbalanced, unaligned tires. Car delivered dirty inside; scratches not repaired.
Jan 12, 2026
During the drive home (Indiana) — Max photographs the steering wheel visibly off-center, confirming alignment was never performed.
Jan 18, 2026
Max texts Steve DiFiore: "The Jag is leaking... Something. Hopefully not transmission fluid." Max reports the issue within 8 days of taking delivery, while the car was barely being driven.
Jan 29, 2026
Max emails Steve requesting the alignment report. Notes the steering wheel is "a few degrees off-center." Also notes Eric (management) promised follow-up but never contacted Max.
Mar 23, 2026
Eric Voge (General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis) emails Max, Casey James, and others: "Let me know when you take it and we will cover the cost of the alignment. I will pay the dealership directly after it is completed."
Mar 25, 2026
Jaguar Land Rover Louisville inspection by technician Isaiah Walker (advisor Casey James). Multi-point inspection + full maintenance estimate completed. Technician could not identify an active oil leak — suspected residual fluid from prior work. All time-based fluid services found to be due.
Written & Verbal Promises by Porsche Minneapolis
-
📧
Alignment — confirmed in email (Jan 6) + acknowledged by GM (Mar 23): Max asked "So it already got the new tires and alignment?" — Steve confirmed. Eric Voge later acknowledged in writing: "we will cover the cost of the alignment." Steering wheel off-center + photo from Jan 12 proves it was never done.
-
📧
Tire balance — not performed despite new tire install: Porsche Minneapolis installed new tires but did not balance them. They were aware of tire damage ("rubber shaved off the outside") which on a high-performance AWD vehicle should have triggered both a balance and further investigation. Driving 900+ miles on unbalanced tires in winter is a safety issue.
-
💬
Full fluid swap — verbal agreement at time of sale: Dealership committed to replacing all fluids. No service records were ever provided showing any fluid work was performed. Jaguar Louisville's inspection confirms all time-based fluids are due.
-
💬
Cosmetic scratch repair — verbal agreement: Four sub-inch body scratches were identified before sale. Dealership promised repair. Scratches remain unrepaired.
-
📷
Fluid drips documented (Jan 18 — 8 days after delivery): Max texted Steve: "The Jag is leaking... Something. Hopefully not transmission fluid." Dark reddish-brown fluid drips were documented with photos. Jaguar Louisville's technician was unable to identify an active oil leak but found all drivetrain fluids due for service.
-
📧
Management follow-up — promised, never delivered: Max's Jan 29 email notes "Eric said he'd follow up with me, I never heard back" until Max escalated the issue months later.
Dark Reddish-Brown Fluid — Documented 8 Days After Delivery
Max documented dark, mildly oily reddish residue dripping from the vehicle (photos on file, garage floor markings). He reported this to Steve DiFiore via text on January 18, 2026 — just 8 days after taking delivery. Jaguar Louisville inspected the vehicle multiple times, including with the shop foreman, and was unable to identify an active oil leak.
Fluid color analysis: The dark reddish-brown tint is consistent with aged transmission fluid or differential/transfer case fluid — not engine oil (dark brown/black) or coolant (green/orange). This supports the assessment that drivetrain fluids are degraded and were never serviced by Porsche Minneapolis as promised.
Recommendation: Perform the committed fluid services. After completion, monitor the vehicle for recurrence. If drips return, a more thorough seal inspection is warranted.
Not Claiming / Deferred
Would have been nice
Rear Differential Service
$548.45
Transfer Case Service
$785.83
Front Differential Service
$628.32
Unnecessary at this mileage
Direct Injection Cleaning
$689.18
Fuel Injection Service
$517.81
Not Claimed
$3,169.59
Owner — Maximo Bredfeldt
Cabin Air Filter
$172.00
Wiper Blades
$141.19
Key Box (optional)
$45.05
Owner Total
$358.24
Porsche Minneapolis
4-Wheel Alignment
$265.00
Tire Balance
$111.83
Oil Change & Filter
$459.73
Brake Fluid Change
$358.47
Coolant Change
$781.02
Transmission Fluid Change*
$2,237.89
Cosmetic Scratch Repair
TBD
Mpls Total
$4,213.94
* Transmission service pricing: The $2,237.89 quote is for a full transmission service (fluid + pan gasket + filter). At 17,000 miles, a drain-and-fill is the correct service — the pan gasket and filter do not need replacement. A drain-and-fill typically costs $400-$600, which would bring the Porsche Minneapolis total down to approximately $2,376-$2,576. This is a good-faith effort to keep costs reasonable while ensuring the promised work gets done.
Steve confirmed alignment was part of pre-delivery work (Jan 6 email). Eric Voge acknowledged in writing on Mar 23, 2026:
"we will cover the cost of the alignment. I will pay the dealership directly after it is completed." Steering wheel was photographed off-center on Jan 12 during the drive home.
Evidence: Steve's Jan 6 email, Eric Voge's Mar 23 email, steering wheel photo from Jan 12.
Porsche Minneapolis installed new tires but did not balance them. Balancing is a standard and expected part of any tire installation — particularly on a high-performance vehicle. They were aware of prior tire damage ("rubber shaved off the outside of the tire"), which should have prompted both a balance and an alignment as standard practice. Sending a customer on a 900-mile winter drive on unbalanced tires is unacceptable.
Evidence: Steve's Jan 6 email acknowledging tire damage. Standard industry practice: balance is included with new tire installation.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Jaguar recommends oil service every 12 months or 16,000 miles. At 9 years old with a dead battery (car sat unused), this was critically overdue at time of sale. Standard pre-delivery practice on any used vehicle.
Jaguar interval: 12 months / 16,000 mi. No service records provided by Porsche Minneapolis.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Brake fluid is hygroscopic — absorbs moisture regardless of mileage. Jaguar schedule: every 3 years. At 9 years old, this was
3 service intervals overdue. Moisture-contaminated brake fluid reduces braking performance and causes internal corrosion — on a 575hp vehicle driven through winter, this is a direct safety hazard. The carbon ceramic brake system on the SVR makes proper fluid maintenance even more critical.
Jaguar interval: every 3 years. 9 years old = 3x overdue at time of sale.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. Jaguar interval: 10 years / 150,000 miles. At 9 years old, approaching the threshold and should have been done at sale. The supercharged 5.0L V8 generates significant heat — coolant integrity is essential to protecting the engine and supercharger. Must use OEM Jaguar coolant.
Jaguar interval: 10 years / 150,000 mi.
Part of the fluid swap agreement. The ZF 8HP transmission fluid is rated for 10 years / 160,000 miles by Jaguar. At 9 years old, this is approaching the time-based threshold. The reddish fluid drips documented just 8 days after delivery are consistent with aged transmission fluid. The dead battery confirms the car sat for an extended period, which accelerates fluid degradation through condensation and oxidation.
Jaguar interval: 10yr / 160k mi. ZF recommendation: 60-80k mi or 8yr.
* Note: The $2,237.89 quote is for a full transmission service including pan, gasket, and filter. At 17,000 miles, a drain-and-fill (~$400-$600) is the correct service. The filter and pan gasket do not need replacement at this mileage. CRITICAL: The ZF 8HP must NEVER be flushed with a machine — ZF explicitly warns this circulates debris and causes transmission damage.
Four sub-inch scratches on the Ammonite Grey body were identified before sale. Porsche Minneapolis explicitly promised to repair them prior to delivery. They were not repaired. On a collector vehicle (1 of <700), even minor paint damage affects value.
Verbal agreement at time of sale. Quote from local paint correction specialist to be submitted.
The following items are not strictly within their recommended maintenance window at the time of sale, so we are not including them in the claim against Porsche Minneapolis. However, a dealership selling a rare, high-performance collector's vehicle for over $70,000 would ideally have performed these services as part of responsible pre-delivery preparation — especially given the car's age and the fact that it had been sitting with a dead battery.
The SVR's electronic active differential uses Castrol BOT 720 fluid. Jaguar considers this a "lifetime" fluid. Enthusiast and mechanic recommendations suggest service every 30,000-50,000 miles. At 17,000 miles, this is
not yet within the recommended maintenance window by mileage. While the E-Diff fluid is important for the sensitive clutch system, we cannot fairly claim this was overdue at time of sale.
Jaguar: "lifetime" fluid. Enthusiast recommendation: 30-50k mi. Current: 17k mi.
The Haldex Gen 5 transfer case has a recommended fluid change interval of approximately 30,000 km (~18,600 miles). At ~14,677 miles at time of purchase, this was
not yet at the mileage threshold. Approaching, but not due.
Haldex recommendation: ~18,600 mi. Mileage at purchase: ~14,677 mi.
Jaguar's interval for the front differential is 9 years. At 9 years old, this is right at the boundary — but was not overdue at time of sale. Even Jaguar Louisville rated this "Attention Soon" rather than "Immediate Attention."
Jaguar interval: 9 years. Vehicle age at sale: ~8.5-9 years. Jaguar Louisville urgency: "Attention Soon."
These items are standard owner maintenance not covered by the sales agreement. They are genuinely beneficial for the vehicle and I'm happy to take care of them myself.
Due by time per Jaguar schedule. At 9 years old, well past due. Affects cabin air quality and HVAC efficiency. Standard wear item.
Technician noted small streaks. After 9 years the rubber is degraded. Safety item — standard wear.
Optional accessory that the SVR would have come with if purchased new. Nice-to-have for glovebox organization.
Carbon buildup on intake valves is a real concern on direct-injection engines, but at only 17,000 miles this is premature. The 5.0L supercharged V8 doesn't aggressively coke valves at low mileage. Revisit at 40,000+ miles or if performance symptoms appear.
At 17,000 miles the fuel system is fine. A $10 bottle of Techron or Liqui Moly Jectron in the tank every 5,000 miles achieves the same preventative benefit. Relevant at 60k+ miles.
Why Drain-and-Fill Is the Correct Approach
-
✅
At 17,000 miles, fluids haven't seen heavy mechanical use. A drain-and-fill replaces the bulk of the fluid and is the appropriate service. Full flushes are more aggressive, more expensive, and in some cases can cause harm.
-
❌
ZF 8HP Transmission — NEVER flush with a machine. ZF (the transmission manufacturer) explicitly states: "Do not use flushing machines — this can result in complications." Pressurized flushing circulates debris through the valve body, causing damage. Gravity drain-and-fill is the only approved method.
-
⚠
Coolant — multi-cycle drain-fill is acceptable. On the supercharged V8, a single drain only removes ~60% of coolant due to the dual-circuit system (engine + supercharger intercooler). Multiple drain-fill-run-drain cycles are appropriate. Must use OEM Jaguar coolant.
-
✅
Brake fluid — bleed-and-replace is correct. The "Wynn's Smart Bleed" service quoted by Jaguar Louisville IS essentially a fluid change (bleeding old fluid out, replacing with new). This is the right approach.
The Vehicle Health Report from Porsche Minneapolis (Jan 5, 2026) marked nearly all items as "Passed" green — including items that were demonstrably false:
-
❌
"Free of Body Damage" — marked PASSED. Four scratches were known and documented. Dealership had agreed to repair them.
-
❌
"Inspect for fuel, oil, coolant or other fluid leaks" — marked PASSED. Max documented fluid drips 8 days after delivery. No fluid services were performed.
-
❌
"Vehicle tracks and drives straight on level surface" — marked PASSED. Steering wheel was visibly off-center. No alignment was performed.
-
❌
"Oil, brake, clutch, transmission, transfer case, washer all levels" — marked PASSED. Jaguar Louisville found all time-based fluid services overdue.
-
❌
"Exterior is clean and free of road residue" — marked PASSED. Car was delivered dirty inside.
-
🏁
Eric Voge — General Sales Manager, Porsche Minneapolis
o: 763-744-9159 | c: 763-442-7044 | ericvoge@lithia.com / EVoge@carouselmotor.com
9595 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55426
-
🏁
Steve DiFiore — Porsche Brand Ambassador, Porsche Minneapolis
o: 763-421-8722 | stevedifiore@lithia.com
-
🔧
Casey James — Certified Service Advisor, Jaguar Land Rover Louisville
502-515-8930 | cjames@germaincars.com
4700 Bowling Blvd, Louisville, KY 40207