No PPI
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From: NYC, NY
No PPI
I posted a thread yesterday about getting a ppi done for a hi-mile car that is over 2 hours to the nearest qualified independent or dealer. Obviously nobody is going to drive a 4 1/2 - 5 hour round trip for a ppi for a prospective purchaser.
I'm going to have a look this weekend.
I would be the 4th owner and the current owner has had the car serviced at a very reputable independent (2 1/2 hrs away). New clutch ($3k), tune-up ($2k), misc hydraulics/clutch lever ($1k) all done in the last year or two. No receipts from owners 1 & 2. Carfax is OK.
As an admirer of Porsches in general for a lifetime, but a complete newbie in purchasing one, am I crazy for even considering buying it? Any recommendations?
thanks.
I'm going to have a look this weekend.
I would be the 4th owner and the current owner has had the car serviced at a very reputable independent (2 1/2 hrs away). New clutch ($3k), tune-up ($2k), misc hydraulics/clutch lever ($1k) all done in the last year or two. No receipts from owners 1 & 2. Carfax is OK.
As an admirer of Porsches in general for a lifetime, but a complete newbie in purchasing one, am I crazy for even considering buying it? Any recommendations?
thanks.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 39
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From: Concord, NC
How high is "high miles"? Did you talk to the independant where the current owner gets work done? Is the owner discounting the car for the high mileage.
A PPI is always a good idea- if you have never owned a 911, it's a REAL good idea. Some of these cars will give you great service and fun with lots of miles; others will cost you so much money that you won't enjoy the car.
You need a qualified shop, or a Rennlister/911 owner, to help you through this. There's lots of 993s out there, don't just lock onto the first deal you see.
EB
97 C2 Coupe
A PPI is always a good idea- if you have never owned a 911, it's a REAL good idea. Some of these cars will give you great service and fun with lots of miles; others will cost you so much money that you won't enjoy the car.
You need a qualified shop, or a Rennlister/911 owner, to help you through this. There's lots of 993s out there, don't just lock onto the first deal you see.
EB
97 C2 Coupe
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From: NYC, NY
High miles is a little over 100k and the owner is discounting for the miles. I know that these aren't cheap cars to maintain, but I don't want to have a car that costs so much that I won't enjoy it.
Wasn't really planning on buying one so quickly, I've given myself 6months to a year to find the right one, but this one looks pretty close and I really hate the feeling of "the one that got away".
Wasn't really planning on buying one so quickly, I've given myself 6months to a year to find the right one, but this one looks pretty close and I really hate the feeling of "the one that got away".
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From: Mount Prospect, IL
well, I would at least give a call to that independant that has worked on the car for an opinion.
hopefully you have driven another 993 or 2 or 3 so you have a comparison base for yourself
...just make sure you can get under the car WITHOUT the engine tray and look closely for any leaks (RMS leak, etc.)
hopefully you have driven another 993 or 2 or 3 so you have a comparison base for yourself
...just make sure you can get under the car WITHOUT the engine tray and look closely for any leaks (RMS leak, etc.)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Incline Village, NV
What's your mechanical aptitude - have you worked on cars before? At minimum, you would need to buy or borrow an OBDII code reader to see if the engine has any pending or stored DTC's. If that does not make immediate sense, then I think you should get a PPI. Otherwise, you are simply making a $10K bet that something bad won't happen. Are you feeling lucky?
You commit to a PPI only after you and the owner have agreed up on terms, subject to a clean PPI. The driving hours is small beer in the big picture.
Porsches are wonderful cars. Good ones are very reliable and relatively easy to maintain. But a "cheap porsche" can be the most expensive car you have ever owned. Caveat Emptor.
You commit to a PPI only after you and the owner have agreed up on terms, subject to a clean PPI. The driving hours is small beer in the big picture.
Porsches are wonderful cars. Good ones are very reliable and relatively easy to maintain. But a "cheap porsche" can be the most expensive car you have ever owned. Caveat Emptor.
Race Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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I know that these aren't cheap cars to maintain, but I don't want to have a car that costs so much that I won't enjoy it
Personally I'd rather have a car that costs a few thousand more when I purchase it, than be a maintenance nightmare down the road. A PPI for a used Porsche is critical IMO.
Personally I'd rather have a car that costs a few thousand more when I purchase it, than be a maintenance nightmare down the road. A PPI for a used Porsche is critical IMO.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Incline Village, NV
Originally Posted by mborkow
PPI won't catch clogged SAI passages...that's the big ticket item of which i'd be affraid.
I belive (no data however) that cars driven in stop and go traffic, warmer than average temperature (e.g. SoCal and/or engine tray on) infrequent or no high RPM excursions are more prone to SAI clogging. It's my theory anyway.
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From: Mount Prospect, IL
Originally Posted by Don Plumley
I belive (no data however) that cars driven in stop and go traffic, warmer than average temperature (e.g. SoCal and/or engine tray on) infrequent or no high RPM excursions are more prone to SAI clogging. It's my theory anyway.
...my theory has been all my full throttle track DEing has prevented any SAI problem on my car... then again, I only have 41k miles so maybe it's too early for me to worry anyway?
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From: Dahlonega, Georgia
I committed the cardinal sin of no PPI. Not only that, I never saw the car (Except in photos) before it was delivered to my home. The car was 700 miles away and was serviced by a reputable independent shop. I contacted the the independent, arranged to pay him for an hour's worth of labor with the understanding that he was working for me and not the current owner. I made a list of very specific questions (Most generated from info gleaned off this site), we had a conversation, and with the owners permission he faxed me all the records he had on the car. After one more call to the shop I struck a deal, the independent dinged my VISA for $75 and the car arrived just as advertised and has run like a champ ever since.
Stupid? Maybe...Maybe not...The way I see it I'm dealing with a nine year-old high performace car...Anything can go wrong at any moment. I was prepared for whatever happened and it turned out good for me.
YOU decide what YOU can deal with, do the "due diligence" and then jump on the car you want. Hell, you can buy a new one and have trouble from the git-go.
TMc
Stupid? Maybe...Maybe not...The way I see it I'm dealing with a nine year-old high performace car...Anything can go wrong at any moment. I was prepared for whatever happened and it turned out good for me.
YOU decide what YOU can deal with, do the "due diligence" and then jump on the car you want. Hell, you can buy a new one and have trouble from the git-go.
TMc
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 39
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From: Concord, NC
TMc,
I did almost exactly the same thing; the car I bought was 500 miles away. When you talk to a shop you can get a feel for how the guy has maintained the car (and in my case the shop manager spoke highly of the seller on a personal basis); you can tell if they are selling you a bag of s***. After I had a comfort level with the car, I still budgeted $2000 for unforeseen repair and factored that into the sales prices.
I have owned the car for 9 months and a DIY oil change is the only maintenance money I have spent, so it worked out this time.
To be fair, Bobby needs to read some of the posts about buying a car and getting a CEL a week later. You pays your money, you takes your chances.
EB
I did almost exactly the same thing; the car I bought was 500 miles away. When you talk to a shop you can get a feel for how the guy has maintained the car (and in my case the shop manager spoke highly of the seller on a personal basis); you can tell if they are selling you a bag of s***. After I had a comfort level with the car, I still budgeted $2000 for unforeseen repair and factored that into the sales prices.
I have owned the car for 9 months and a DIY oil change is the only maintenance money I have spent, so it worked out this time.
To be fair, Bobby needs to read some of the posts about buying a car and getting a CEL a week later. You pays your money, you takes your chances.
EB
