Hi everyone - just joined the forum but been reading a lot for the past couple of years. This is a gold mine of info so thanks all that contribute to it.

I am looking at a 996 TT at a Porsche dealership in California and live in NY so was curious to who would take the risk of buying without seeing / testing the car in person I understand most people on this forum would do a PPI even if the car comes from a reputable dealership. By the way, on this topic, I got quoted $2.5-3.5k (this is not a typo) for a thorough (2 days) PPI by Callas. Probably worth it on a $150k+ car but not on $50 I think..

Thanks for the feedback.

 

That's obscene for a PPI. I mean if they're going to spend that much time on it, ok I get it. But that's way over the top.

 

agree. insanity. it's a two hour job at MOST! porsche takes about one hour to certify their cars for a "certified pre-owned" certification and accompanying factory warranty.

sight unseen is really a gamble that most take without issue. i'm not sure i could stomach any undiscovered surprises, and there is NO redress should something be amiss upon your receipt of the vehicle after transport.

the primary reason i am so circumspect about buying without eyes on the car, is that porsche sold me a cpo'd car that had 2nd gear pop out and yet, they gave it a clean bill of health by "certifying" it.


was an enormous PITA to resolve ( though i successfully did ).

 

I have done this a few times before. A decent PPI (not 2500) is in order and I bet there is someone on the board here that would help you out by going to see the car. I have done that 4-5 times for cars here in Denver.

Good luck in your search.

 

Thanks for the feedback. If anyone in the Torrance area (LA) has a few minutes to spare please let me know!

 

That PPI cost is the most outrageous thing I have heard in my ENTIRE life. I bought sight unseen without a PPI from a Porsche dealer, and am a happy man, but it was definitely a risk, so if you have time before someone scoops it out from underneath you, find a shop that will charge you 200 to go through it for piece of mind. What kind of dealer is it at?

 

I paid 140 which is one hour of labor at the shop I used, of course compression test/leak down etc adds to cost but that price is nuts..

 

That's a flight, cabs, hotel and PPI with $1000 left for tires.
You may as well go look at it for that $.

What's the mileage on the car?

 

I've bought my middie sight unseen, with a PPI. The PPI failed to highlight a few things unfortunately. Next PPI I do, I'll send a three-page checklist of things for the shop to check. So I guess the bottom line is, only do it if you can trust the PPI shop to be extremely thorough.

 

Most PPI's I've done run between $275 and $400. It's a few hours of time and well worth it. Callis is a high end shop and charge accordingly.

Pristine is Huntington Beach may be a good option. Ask for Gloria. You could also have the car taken to TLG in North Hollywood, but that may be farther away and into the "traffic zone" of LA. Pristine is about 20 miles down the coast from Torrance.

 

IMO, if you choose to purchase a car sight unseen, you will be disappointed. The degree of disappointment will be dependent on the true condition of the car and your level of expectation.
When you see, touch, smell, and drive the car yourself your knowledge of the car is based on your direct experience and not based on another's opinion.

 

Agree never buy sight unseen.

 

I got burned buying sight unseen even with a ppi. The PORSCHE dealership that did the ppi missed seized wastegates and a slipping clutch.

 

fly out for the weekend. don;t buy sight almost always people regret when they do this.

 

I test drove a 996tt from a Porsche dealership that had massive cosmetic issues which you couldn't tell from the pics and ever bigger technical issues (warped rotors and shot engine transmission mounts, at that point I stopped digging). The car had been "serviced" and was "ready for sale". It was a disgrace. Porsche dealership or not made no difference in this case...