Trader220

I have metered thousands of cars.... 19 mil is body filler. Its not that big a deal, may have been a crease or something since apparently it wasn't 19 mil all over only on the high spots.

tjb616

Wow I've never even used a reader that goes to > 19mm. Thanks for posting the PPI.

Tarek307

Does your reader say "Fisherprice" on it in block letters by any chance? lol..just kidding, any reader has to read 19mil they read all the way to 40's

Trader220

The first meter I bought was maybe 15 years ago and it cost about a grand. These days you can buy a decent one for less than $100 bucks. Ive had a few over the years, you have to be careful with them.

People get too pissy about the paint depth. When you're looking at a 25 year old car with miles the odds are its going to have had some paint work at some point. I used to laugh at the people who came into our dealership and complained their brand new Porsche wasn't fresh because it was sitting outside for a month or had 50 miles on it. If they only knew how many port mishaps there were or how many times the factory resprays a scratch. If you're looking at a 25 year old car and one panel has had paint work that doesn't mean the car was wrecked, it could have been just a scratch or a tiny dent that cracked the paint. Now when I see 19mils I know there is body filler too. If its 19 all over I have issues but if its in one area maybe its not that big a deal, I'd have to see it with my own eyes and touch it.

tjb616

The last time I used one was 2012 and it was about $450 IIRC. I never saw a reading higher than 14-15, but I got a ton of non-reads. I probably tested 500 cars with it for my job at the time.

Tarek307

I bought a 964 2 months ago from a private seller 1989, sight unseen seller sent me video and pics and i specifically asked about the paint and he said its perfect, when i got the car, it was a mess, i kid you not some areas read in the 40's and others didn't read at all, needless to say i was furious, and his reply was you bought it you own it..typical scum bag he was..any ways i refused to even offer this car to anyone and ended up wholesaling it to someone that was looking for a project. Was my first time seeing 40 readings, i thought the paint meter was gonna start smoking

tjb616

Just goes to show, buying these cars sight unseen is getting more dangerous by the week. Sorry to hear about that Tarek.

cobalt

Buying these cars sight unseen is a huge risk. It has been for quite some time now. I rarely come across an example irrespective of how it looks or mileage that doesn't have skeletons in the closet. As far as 19 mils, it is a crap shoot. I have seen cars with 22mils that had no bondo but had a rainbow of shades of paint from the multiple resprays. It isn't common but it can happen and in either case to repair it properly meant stripping down to bare metal. Most meters will read up to 50 mils. .050". If it doesn't read it is usually considerably more than 50 mils. I have seen a number of cars that had sections of panels I couldn't get a reading on and some sold for huge money over $70k but the buyer wanted the car.

I have seen cars sold here on rennlist by well known listers that claimed to have "excellent paint for the age". When the buyer received the car it had multiple panels painted and the rest was a faded mess with all sorts of issues. You need to do your due diligence with these cars or you get what you get. I can't tell you how many people I have disappointed because they honestly believed their paint was original or the car had never been in an accident. They would argue with me despite what the meter said and or the obvious signs of paint or body work.


I always get suspicious of cars with 100+k miles and light interiors with minimal wear. I don't care how well you take care of these , (tan included) without some signs of cracking or rubbed out bolsters. Nothing wrong with a dye job assuming it was done properly. I suspected paint work but the pics aren't clear enough to say for sure.

Trader220

That's the beauty of a paint meter.... it has no horse in the race, it simply gives you the facts. I cannot tell you how many times I metered up a trade in from customer where the meter shows paint work and they still swore up and down that the car had none. Plenty of people will get pissy, scream and yell and swear we were trying to rip them off. As if I some how rigged the meter. Its not exactly rocket surgery, you hold the probe against the panel and the meter gives you a reading. End of story.

As I said earlier, having paint work on a 25 year old car is no big deal, in fact I expect it. It all depends on the quality of the work and the amount of work. Its okay if the car has had a total respray, again, if its done right and is oh good quality.

Trader220

https://www.pca.org/classified-ad/332341

Don't know much about this one but it looks pretty decent.

Wi29

Bloose993TT

https://www.chequeredflag.com/1993-P...5/Details.aspx

Trader220

Love the color but that seems like a big number for a car with no history and those miles.

6 owners and not a single mileage entry on the carfax since 2002 at 63k miles

Spyerx

This is a good car:
https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-...990-964c2.html

Trader220

Nice looking car but not much detail. 70 is the new 50?