Shmurzik

As for me, in the case of late model 928s I find dealer prices too high. And since even a reputable dealer does not provide any added value in this particular case, I see little sense in rewarding their leg work (if any was done). The reason being - I see no tangible benefit to myself or to the community that I enjoy. I am in no way disputing the dealers' right no make profits, but there is a point at which profit taking becomes profiteering. So, even though I have the money, I would much rather find my own car. And any help would be appreciated. Similarly, if you need my help - ask.

cobalt

This subject has become tiresome.

Everyone has it so etched in their minds that people like Willhoit are making mega $$ on every sale. This is such BS. I paid less for my 53k mile 5 speed GTS from Willhoit than several cars I looked at previously sold through private parties. In each case the private sale needed extensive (thousands of $$) work. In one case it was a nice car but had nearly double the mileage and was an auto and sold for $2k more than I paid for a perfect example 5 speed in a unique color combo. I have had to do relatively nothing to the car and it had its complete records and a money back guarantee so I was able to bring the car to me for inspection instead of taking time I didn't have to fly out and inspect it personally. I have since been offered $10k more than I paid for the car and I have driven it over 7k miles.

I see no down side to this and a good deal is a good deal no matter whom you purchase from.

So for all of those that think there is no upside to these people you are sadly mistaken.

pewter82

Anthony, I think your missing my point. You can buy more car for less money from an individual than a dealer...neither car will have a warranty days after you buy it. This particular post is not a slam against Wilhoit.

cobalt

Actually I think I do understand. I don't think you are slamming Wilhoit and I understand your aversion towards dealers and the added cost/value they bring to these cars.

I was trying to point out that I looked for close to a year and from my experience the cars I felt were worth buying would have cost me more from a private seller and were not as nice as the car I purchased from Willhoit. I am not saying this happens all the time but I was lucky to have it happen to me. I have purchased other Porsche's from private sellers and I found my deal with Wilhoit to be on par if not easier to deal with than the private sales. He even sent me money to replace all my hoses when one began to leak after I took possession of the car. How many private sellers do this?

Yes, if you are looking for a rock bottom deal they do happen from time to time and they would not be from someone like Willhoit. To be honest I passed on some low priced GTS's at the time because I felt that even at a $10K savings the cars were not worth paying less for. By the time I would have repaired everything myself and paid to have paint work done I would have had as much into the car as I have now and it would not have been a 5 speed (which I prefer, nothing wrong with autos) or in a unique color combo (also very important to me).

I liken this to the threads about converting a GT to a GTS. Yes, it can be done, yes it may or may not cost you less. However, in the end you have a GTS clone that cost almost as much as a GTS and can be sold for the price of a fair GT vs a good GTS. There is nothing wrong with a GT in fact they are way undervalued but I would rather have a great GT vs a so so GTS if my budget was limited to GT pricing and then not have the money to fix what is wrong with it. Even worse dealing with a car that has problems which takes the pleasure out of owning these wonderful machines.

I think you might find like I have that it is very seldom you find a great deal that is actually a great deal and that this car may or may not have more issues than meets the eye. So if it needs work (odds are at this price) or has a been repainted several times or other unknowns is it such a bargain?

In the end it doesn't matter what you paid for it, it is all about what you have into it. We all know that the wrong car can cost you as much as its purchase price and then some.

Shmurzik

Anthony,

Not to dwell on a tiresome topic, but a “good deal” is subjective by definition. I am happy for you as fellow 928 enthusiast to have gotten a good deal through a dealer. Moreover, I spoke to Mr. Willhoit and he seemed a perfectly pleasant person, but me personally – I consider the prices he quoted me to be excessive. I really do not care how exactly those prices came about. Since I am the one with the money – the car is only worth as much as I am prepared to pay for it. Granted that since there is a limited supply, I am facing a risk of not finding what I want, but that’s a risk I am willing to take.

There is also another consideration, a more general one. I am not convinced that used car dealers in this particular situation add any value. Finding a car? I can search the web on my own. Due diligence? Please, I am not going to take a word of used car dealer when spending $50K. So, and this is once again my personal inclination, I would much rather pay the money directly to the previous owner and limit my expectations accordingly. But I am more than willing to listen/read about the upside. Thank you.

tdelarm

Good points Big about responding to too many pm's. But there must be a way this can work.

cobalt

Sounds like an off topic rennlist members only thing. Might be worth having a section to post links to ads for good deals you want to pass on to other members.

Chuck Z

I'm not trying to stir this pot because I agree with Anthony on this one but Tim, do you really think this is the case? I saw this ad the first day it posted to Autotrader which was a a day or two b/f Bigs made this post and before they changed the price from $23k to $28k. These guys in the car biz do not find the cars they buy here, they check the major "for sale" sites constantly for deals like this one. Trust me, by the time most of us see these ads they have already called on the car.