Results of the pre-purchase check: I really need your advice!
03-23-2002, 08:32 AM
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Results of the pre-purchase check: I really need your advice!
Dear Rennlisters, (warning: long post)
I sent 'the one', a silver 993 TT, in for a major pre-purchase check at Tech 9 and this is what they found:
BTW while reading this bear in mind that Stratstone's main Porsche dealer had given this car the 88 point check just 200 miles ago and found NOTHING wrong (you'll like the brakes and the diff comments in light of this).
1.) Crash damage to rear three quarter (nearside) resulting in repaired (not replaced) panel with visible paint blend line (tho' I had not noticed this when I went round the car). Said to have been more than a parking scrape, i.e. a fairly hefty impact but more than 2 years old and before current owner who didn't know (?!)
2.) Rear brake pads low, discs fine. Front pads and discs absolutely shot and should have been changed long ago.
3.) Chipped and flecked paint work behind front wheels.
4.) Rear air blower motor stage 1 seized: should replace whole motor? Came up on the computer fault analysis
5.) Airbag fault but no light suggesting that someone has just taken the bulb out rather than fix the airbag problem
6.) Limited Slip Diff worn through at the back so that one wheel spins independently of the other: has resulted in compelete wear of offside tyre from spinning away the power as people give it some on roundabouts
7.) Chain cover gaskets leak
8.) Rear main oil seals leak just behind the clutch.
9.) Both rear bumper brackets broken
10.) Oil leaks from gear-change linkage
11.) Both front diff output seals leak
12.) Cylinder leak test produced following wear:
No. 1: 10%; 2: 12%; 3: 8%; 4: 8%; 5: 12%, 6: 8%. (I was advised that if any get to 20% then engine rebuild is necessary.)
13.) Exhaust valve guides shot.
I am pretty worried by the telltale sign of removed bulb for airbag and the failure of the rear diff. Cylinders okay for a 27.5k miler apparently - what do you all think?
What REALLY gets me is that Stratstone found nothing worth commenting on at all only 200 miles ago. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
I don't reckon I will buy this one but I would be interested to know if you think this is common/outrageous/not-with-a-barge-pole sort of stuff etc.
Sorry again for the long post but any comments would be really appreciated.
W
I sent 'the one', a silver 993 TT, in for a major pre-purchase check at Tech 9 and this is what they found:
BTW while reading this bear in mind that Stratstone's main Porsche dealer had given this car the 88 point check just 200 miles ago and found NOTHING wrong (you'll like the brakes and the diff comments in light of this).
1.) Crash damage to rear three quarter (nearside) resulting in repaired (not replaced) panel with visible paint blend line (tho' I had not noticed this when I went round the car). Said to have been more than a parking scrape, i.e. a fairly hefty impact but more than 2 years old and before current owner who didn't know (?!)
2.) Rear brake pads low, discs fine. Front pads and discs absolutely shot and should have been changed long ago.
3.) Chipped and flecked paint work behind front wheels.
4.) Rear air blower motor stage 1 seized: should replace whole motor? Came up on the computer fault analysis
5.) Airbag fault but no light suggesting that someone has just taken the bulb out rather than fix the airbag problem
6.) Limited Slip Diff worn through at the back so that one wheel spins independently of the other: has resulted in compelete wear of offside tyre from spinning away the power as people give it some on roundabouts
7.) Chain cover gaskets leak
8.) Rear main oil seals leak just behind the clutch.
9.) Both rear bumper brackets broken
10.) Oil leaks from gear-change linkage
11.) Both front diff output seals leak
12.) Cylinder leak test produced following wear:
No. 1: 10%; 2: 12%; 3: 8%; 4: 8%; 5: 12%, 6: 8%. (I was advised that if any get to 20% then engine rebuild is necessary.)
13.) Exhaust valve guides shot.
I am pretty worried by the telltale sign of removed bulb for airbag and the failure of the rear diff. Cylinders okay for a 27.5k miler apparently - what do you all think?
What REALLY gets me is that Stratstone found nothing worth commenting on at all only 200 miles ago. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />
I don't reckon I will buy this one but I would be interested to know if you think this is common/outrageous/not-with-a-barge-pole sort of stuff etc.
Sorry again for the long post but any comments would be really appreciated.
W
03-23-2002, 12:54 PM
#3
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I would run away from this car and Stratstone.
The clientele in the Cheshire yuppie belt that use Stratstone have way more money than sense, and I guess Stratstone know this too.
I reckon they have one of the most expensive looking showrooms in the country.
--Paul--
'97 Carrera
The clientele in the Cheshire yuppie belt that use Stratstone have way more money than sense, and I guess Stratstone know this too.
I reckon they have one of the most expensive looking showrooms in the country.
--Paul--
'97 Carrera
03-23-2002, 12:55 PM
#4
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And you are still talking about this car!!!!!
Walk away!!!!!, Better yet RUN!!!!
Good luck in finding your "the one"
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Walk away!!!!!, Better yet RUN!!!!
Good luck in finding your "the one"
<img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
03-23-2002, 01:29 PM
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Very Good thing you didnt get OPC to PPI the car. I did and waste of money.
Things about PPI is that you either get sod all and then regret it (eg one done on mine) or
get too much info to the smallest detail (like a house survey report) and its difficulty to differentiate minor issues from major ones.
I would love to say theres plenty of them out there but I doubt that there is that many tt's.
Depending on your character, if you were to buy this, you might end up being continuously concerned about the state of the car. I know I would be.
Walk away. If you cant find a tt, then choose an RS or C4S. You should be able to pick up a decent quality one, that hasnt been thrashed.
Honestly you would have to be in love with car to still want it.
Replace Rear Brake Pads (common)
Replace Front Pads and Discs (common)
Thus what about calipers??
Replace Blower Motor??
Fix Air Bag Fault??
Overhaul Limited Slipped Diff??
Replace Tyres that are now worn (common).
Replace Chain Cover Gaskets (common and not expensive, happened to me on day I bought mine)
Fix Rear main oil seals leak just behind the clutch (not sure ???)
Fix Oil leaks from gear-change linkage??
THATS A LOT OF OIL LEAKS
Replace Exhaust valve guides?? (Sounds common)
Some of these probably need to be put right ASAP.
Either way most of these are problems that will NEED to put right.
Why should you have to pay for these to be put right.
BE WARNED - with all these things needing sorting could mean that there are further hidden problems too, eg calipers,turbos,chassis after hit. Also Fixing any of these problems could cause other problems later on.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
Things about PPI is that you either get sod all and then regret it (eg one done on mine) or
get too much info to the smallest detail (like a house survey report) and its difficulty to differentiate minor issues from major ones.
I would love to say theres plenty of them out there but I doubt that there is that many tt's.
Depending on your character, if you were to buy this, you might end up being continuously concerned about the state of the car. I know I would be.
Walk away. If you cant find a tt, then choose an RS or C4S. You should be able to pick up a decent quality one, that hasnt been thrashed.
Honestly you would have to be in love with car to still want it.
Replace Rear Brake Pads (common)
Replace Front Pads and Discs (common)
Thus what about calipers??
Replace Blower Motor??
Fix Air Bag Fault??
Overhaul Limited Slipped Diff??
Replace Tyres that are now worn (common).
Replace Chain Cover Gaskets (common and not expensive, happened to me on day I bought mine)
Fix Rear main oil seals leak just behind the clutch (not sure ???)
Fix Oil leaks from gear-change linkage??
THATS A LOT OF OIL LEAKS
Replace Exhaust valve guides?? (Sounds common)
Some of these probably need to be put right ASAP.
Either way most of these are problems that will NEED to put right.
Why should you have to pay for these to be put right.
BE WARNED - with all these things needing sorting could mean that there are further hidden problems too, eg calipers,turbos,chassis after hit. Also Fixing any of these problems could cause other problems later on.
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
03-23-2002, 02:25 PM
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My 2 pence worth:
1) Crash damage: The majority of tt's have probably had some repair work. Is the car straight ? if yes I wouldn't worry. Is it normal to replace the rear 3/4 panel ???
2)Brakes n pads get "shot" pretty quickly -easily fixed.
3)Paint gets chipped and flaked from day 1.
4)My blower comes up on fault analysis too stage 2 easily fixed.
5)Price for fixing it ?
6)Common - an opportunity/excuse to upgrade to a 40/60 LSD
7), 8) ,10) 11) the car is not new, leaks can be sorted.
9)what is the cause ?
12) You don't need rings yet, that's a bonus.
13)standard
Forget whining about Stratstone, your experience is par for the course.
OK taking out the airbag light is a bit shifty and someone who would do this is the sort of person who may play with the mileage.If you got a decent price reduction to cover the above work, would you be happy ?
These cars are getting older now, the last ones ('98) are now coming up to 4 years old. I have spent a LOT of money keeping my car in top condition and IMHO it would be unrealistic to think that there are that many owners who would do the same. To me the most important thing is that the chassis and body are straight, the other items are just bringing the car up to tip top condition.
1) Crash damage: The majority of tt's have probably had some repair work. Is the car straight ? if yes I wouldn't worry. Is it normal to replace the rear 3/4 panel ???
2)Brakes n pads get "shot" pretty quickly -easily fixed.
3)Paint gets chipped and flaked from day 1.
4)My blower comes up on fault analysis too stage 2 easily fixed.
5)Price for fixing it ?
6)Common - an opportunity/excuse to upgrade to a 40/60 LSD
7), 8) ,10) 11) the car is not new, leaks can be sorted.
9)what is the cause ?
12) You don't need rings yet, that's a bonus.
13)standard
Forget whining about Stratstone, your experience is par for the course.
OK taking out the airbag light is a bit shifty and someone who would do this is the sort of person who may play with the mileage.If you got a decent price reduction to cover the above work, would you be happy ?
These cars are getting older now, the last ones ('98) are now coming up to 4 years old. I have spent a LOT of money keeping my car in top condition and IMHO it would be unrealistic to think that there are that many owners who would do the same. To me the most important thing is that the chassis and body are straight, the other items are just bringing the car up to tip top condition.
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03-23-2002, 02:45 PM
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TB993TT,
I can see your point of view.
Its not a new car, but then its not that old either.
Just sounds like the cars been thrashed a bit too much. Having said that, it is a tt. (Youre not gonna drive around like Miss Daisy.)
In which case there would be 2 options
1. Walk away anyway.
2. Get the dealer to have everything fixed or if you want to get the work done yourself, then get the car for an excellent price (remember, if you are happy to walk away from the deal then you have the advantage)
Then the only caution is hidden problems/further problems. How much time, effort and money are you willing to spend further on , after spending so much on buying it in the first place.
Even if money isnt the issue, its the principle.
Regards
I can see your point of view.
Its not a new car, but then its not that old either.
Just sounds like the cars been thrashed a bit too much. Having said that, it is a tt. (Youre not gonna drive around like Miss Daisy.)
In which case there would be 2 options
1. Walk away anyway.
2. Get the dealer to have everything fixed or if you want to get the work done yourself, then get the car for an excellent price (remember, if you are happy to walk away from the deal then you have the advantage)
Then the only caution is hidden problems/further problems. How much time, effort and money are you willing to spend further on , after spending so much on buying it in the first place.
Even if money isnt the issue, its the principle.
Regards
03-23-2002, 03:05 PM
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Thanks folks... Bins, money is plenty enough of an issue but your main point is right... what else is hidden? The airbag bulb suggests that someone was more interested in covering up problems than looking after their car.
Walk away it is, I reckon.
Anyone one want to contribute to that OPC/independent survey over on the Feedback forum? Tech 9 get a very high rating from me.
Speak to Phil.
Walk away it is, I reckon.
Anyone one want to contribute to that OPC/independent survey over on the Feedback forum? Tech 9 get a very high rating from me.
Speak to Phil.
03-24-2002, 04:36 AM
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[quote]Originally posted by TB993tt:
<strong>
Forget whining about Stratstone, your experience is par for the course.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Back off, TB.
You live in Manchester, you must have dealt with Stratstone. Maybe long ago you realised they were no good but... for the rest of us I don't think that it is unreasonable for fans of this marque to expect quality not just in their cars but also in their dealers unless specifically warned otherwise. (And Stratstone hasn't been mentioned as being this poor anywhere else in these pages.)
<strong>
Forget whining about Stratstone, your experience is par for the course.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Back off, TB.
You live in Manchester, you must have dealt with Stratstone. Maybe long ago you realised they were no good but... for the rest of us I don't think that it is unreasonable for fans of this marque to expect quality not just in their cars but also in their dealers unless specifically warned otherwise. (And Stratstone hasn't been mentioned as being this poor anywhere else in these pages.)
03-24-2002, 04:46 PM
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Willbank
Keep looking, the right car is out there somewhere. Have you checked the classified pages of Porsche Post. Having paid for the experience of an independent inspection, at least you know what to look for in future cars. Just because it's a Porsche and priced in excess of £50k, don't expect honesty from the seller, particularly in the UK.
Keep looking, the right car is out there somewhere. Have you checked the classified pages of Porsche Post. Having paid for the experience of an independent inspection, at least you know what to look for in future cars. Just because it's a Porsche and priced in excess of £50k, don't expect honesty from the seller, particularly in the UK.
03-24-2002, 07:05 PM
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Figured it out. PCGB.
What do you think of Porsche Post, compared to the 911&Porsche World and GT magazines?
Regards
ps , Phil Raby might be reading this!!!
What do you think of Porsche Post, compared to the 911&Porsche World and GT magazines?
Regards
ps , Phil Raby might be reading this!!!
03-25-2002, 03:39 AM
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Bins
Porsche Post has good classifieds section but is low on content unless you like reading about recent regional events. Porsche World is good all round but gets a bit samey after 18 months of reading. GT is like the "Hello Magazine" of the Porsche fraternity. Just MHO.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Porsche Post has good classifieds section but is low on content unless you like reading about recent regional events. Porsche World is good all round but gets a bit samey after 18 months of reading. GT is like the "Hello Magazine" of the Porsche fraternity. Just MHO.
<img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />