I've been lurking on this BB for a few months as I'm planning on buying a 993. I've learnt quite a lot to date so thanks for that !

I've found a car that is within my budget but I have a couple of questions that I'd like some opinions on please.

The car is a 1995 C2 with about 54k miles. It all looks ok and it has sailed through a PPI without any big problems.

The main concern I have is that there is a three year gap inbetween two of the services. In 1997 it was serviced when it had done 30k miles. It's next service wasn't until about 15k miles later in 2000.

I know when you read a buyers guide that they always say a full service history is the most important thing and that you should walk away if the car doesn't have one but this car is priced accordingly (about 3k less than market value). I just have to decide if it's an acceptable risk.

What do you guys think of that sort of history ?

Talking to the current owner, it sounds as though the car sat motionless in a garage for 9 months. Does that have any associated risks attached to it such as suspension problems ?

any help would be much appreciated.

Did they do a compression test with the PPI? If so and it passed and the car looks otherwise clean I would probably go ahead. Remember that the oil is synthetic and will last (although the rule is 7500 miles or every year). I shouldn't think it would be a problem. Did you ask the mechanic who did the PPI?

Since youve had the PPI done, may I ask whether it was an OPC or an independent Porsche technician.

There is no particular reason to not buy the car because it hasnt been serviced as regularly as it should. However, you must consider that there may be possible consequences if this. Unfortunately you are not likey to know about them until it has a full service again.

Since the car has not been driven for 9 months, a number of very important things...
1. make sure that you get an independent data check to ensure there is no current outstanding finance agreement on the car.
2. Check for any signs of accidents, etc on the bodywork. (why has car been hanging around for 9 mths)
3. Have all the brakes, brake calipers, handbrake cable checked out. Also have the complete aircon checked out, compressor, condensor, evaporator, filter. Oil leaks. These items can have serious problems if the car has been left alone for very long periods.
Talk to the PPI tecnician whether these items are okay.
The reason I suggest this is that when I purchased mine, it hadnt been driven for 10mths and there were problems with all these (even after an OPC PPI) and cost me over £2000 to repair within 6mths.

Also check with the previous service technicians to find out about the cars history.

Take this into consideration and try to get a better price.

At the end of the day, since you can get the car for less than market price, worse case is that you saved enough for the unexpected costs.

Sorry to sound negative but better to be safe. Try to be objective.

Best of luck

Hey Mids,

Good luck with your purchase..

My opinion is, just because the car does not have full service records does not neccessarily mean it was not serviced.
Although we would love to think that all Pcars are highly documented, many non enthusisasts and pcar owners don't take the time to record every oil change.

I take excellent care of my car and when I remember to, I file the service records. Admittedly, sometimes I forget but I still service the car very often and throughly.
Also, it is possible that a independent shop did the work and it's not in the Porsche America records. When I service my car, I bring it to a local Pcar race/service shop that is not a dealership. I don't know if there records are connected to Porsche but I trust them much more than any dealership.

If the car checks out clean, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

B

thanks for the replies - very helpful

It was an OPC PPI (gawd I'm beginning to sound like an expert already )

I spoke to the service department and the conversation was encouraging. The PPI was done two months ago and they explained all of the faults that they had found....

brake discs and pads worn out
cracked fog light
sticking window switch
cracked engine cooling duct

All of these components were replaced by the garage.

The only other thing they said was that the tyres were not far from being worn out. He said the car was sound with no signs of accident damage (original suspension etc).

JCH - I didn't ask the mechanic if he'd done a compression test but I presume that would be included in the standard Porsche 87 point check list ?

I'm beginning to think that it will be worth the risk and like Bins suggests, I am actually saving money which could be used on repairs if need be. If not, it's a bonus !

thanks again.

Mids,

Did *you* arrange for the PPI or did another potential buyer or simply the dealer/current owner? Having turned down one car after a bad PPI, I am a little paranoid, and I would only trust a PPI that I had arranged and paid for. Also it would be a mechanic who had not been working on the car or affiliated with the owner, so check this out.

As far as the compression test goes, it is part of the PPI, but I am finding that PPIs vary, so it pays to double check. The last PPI (for the car I just purchased) was sent to me in writing, so see if there is a copy.

Hope this helps and good luck! I can't wait to get my car (shipping from CA to GA).

The seller arranged for the PPI a few weeks ago when he put the car up for sale. He said it was to make sure that there were no problems.

There is paperwork to look at and I trust the mechanic that I spoke to. He didn't try to sell the car or anything like that, he just told me the facts and was very straightforward.

I think I'm fairly happy with the state of the car (apart from the interior which is a bit tatty, but nothing that a bit of TLC won't fix). My next move is to speak to the seller tomorrow to see if we can come to a deal

Be cautious and dont persuade yourself into a completely emotional purchase.

Point taken Bins

I don't think that this 1995 C2 had the varioram engine but after searching I can't find a definitive picture to help me figure it out.

Can anyone please tell me if this engine has varioram or not ?



TIA

thanks - that's pretty easy to tell once you know what you are looking at !

I'm now trying to suss out if the car will likely have the wiring harness problem but I'll try not to ask any more stupid questions until I've trawled through all of the related threads using the search facility

I would get your own PPI done
good luck,

Jason

mids:

The car you describe is almost identical to mine, a 1995 C2 coupe with 56K miles that I purchased in March. I also had similar concerns regarding the service history. In my case, the 30K and 60K services had not been done but the guy had been meticulous in changing the oil every 3K-4K miles and in doing other NECESARY maintainance. Fortunately it was a one owner, private sale so I was dealing directly with the only guy who'd driven and serviced the vehicle. Following a PPI that I arranged and paid for, I purchased the vehicle but was able to lower the price by Cdn $3,000, which was an estimate provided to me for the 60K service and related parts replacement and labour. To my pleasant surprise, the bill came to $1,400, which included an a/c test and recharge and a few other bits and bobs. So far, nothing but fun!

At the end of the day, the important things are that you like the car (silly things like color), that the car is accident-free, that the oil changes have been regular and at the proper intervals, and finally, that the PPI that you have arranged and paid for clears the car. You still won't have an iron-clad guarantee that your car will be problem free, but the odds will be strongly in your favor.

As a comparison a Ferrari 30k service MINIMUM is about 4K!