I found a 96, 993 - Polar Silver - Tiptronic - Coup
59K miles for $34,500.
Everything is clean on carfax
Tires have less than 5K
New brakes
Had 60K checkup - everything okay

My Porsche "expert" friend (who's a collector up north) says I should be able to get that car for much less because once it hits 100K, it'll drop substantially in value. Better to pay $36,000 and get something with 30K miles.

Challenge is, how common are $36,000 993s with 30K miles?

He also says because it's a tiptronic, it should be cheaper.

Also, he says the question is: Are you going to want to hold on to it for 10 years (if so, it may be okay) ... but if you're going to want to upgrade in three or four years, you may not want to get something with 59K miles.

Help! Is this a great, good, fair or poor deal I'm getting?

 

I'm no expert but P-cars in So. Cal. are usually a bit priceier than other areas of the country. I have a '95 cab, tip, with 36k miles and I wouldn't think of parting with it for less than the low $40's - so, the price looks reasonable to me if it has no issues, clean PPI, clean bodyshop inspection, all 10 year service items done, etc. I think low miles 993's are getting harder to find. new tires, 60k service done, documented history - sounds like a nice car if it's the color you want.

Peter

 

59k miles on a 96 993 is not that many miles. I wouldn't worry about that. If you do a thorough PPI and it checks out I think $34.5 not bad. If this is the car you want (tip and color) buy it, enjoy and don't look back.

 

For an example, I sold my 1997 Arctic Silver 993 coupe with 43K miles on it last year about this time for $33,000.

 

Has it had the 60K maintenance done to it or has it simply been "looked at"? Big difference.

The price isn't too bad, so, no, you're not getting screwed at the current price. I think the price should be be lower by about a grand, especially with the tiptronic, but maybe it's a super clean example and you've been looking for a while.

Have you actually seen it and looked it over?

 

There's always something cheaper out there. Decide what you want, how much you want to spend, and buy the one that's closest to what you want and within your price range. The sketchier the history, the more you should budget for repairs.

 

60k miles is often about the time people encounter SAI problems...do your homework on this car.

 

All of this is great advice. I would only add that your buddy is a collector, you are not. Totally different scenarios. Price is totally subjective. The car you are looking at, if it was properly maintained, is barely broken in. My next car (hopefully a TT) will be a well-maintained mid-miler, with probably 70-90K on it and it will be driven daily.

 

NO, you're not getting screwed. That's a fair price, especially if it actually had the 60,000 mile service. Polar is a great color and there's nothing wrong with a Tip.....

 

Remember....it's a car, not an investment. Buy it, drive the tires off of it and enjoy it. Sell it down the road for a lot less than you bought it for and treasure the memories. Life is way too short....

 

Thanks for all the great responses everyone. I feel much better. After searching the web for months, I didn't think I was getting screwed but my friend (actually, more business aquaintance) made me a bit nervous ... the seller probably could come down a bit (according to KBB) but whatever. As long as it's not bad.

Also, a PPI was done (recently) at Euroquipe in Costa Mesa, CA. Anyone know if that's a reliable place? Or, should I take it for another one?

 

I agree with Mark's comment, that 60K mile service is more than a "checkup". You can pay well over $1K... I know, I just finished my 60K service and it cost that. And I did it myself... what would a shop charge????

 

Thanks for all the great responses everyone. I feel much better. After searching the web for months, I didn't think I was getting screwed but my friend (actually, more business aquaintance) made me a bit nervous ... the seller probably could come down a bit (according to KBB) but whatever. As long as it's not bad.

I'll verify on the 60K service.

Also, a PPI was done (recently) at Euroquipe in Costa Mesa, CA. Anyone know if that's a reliable place? Or, should I take it for another one?

 

Wesley, please, forget about the numbers of KBB. On a Porsche 993, those figures are useless.
KBB is not an accurate representation of what these cars are selling for. Yes, KBB is good for Honda's, but not 993 911's.

Here is the way to find the right price for your potential car. Open up an Excel Spread Sheet. Keep track of every car you are interested in. Price, Mileage, Options, etc. You will start to see a pattern. Most people who own these cars know full well, there are many buyers out there willing to pay for a nice one.
If you have been searching for some time, you already know this, what I am telling you. Everyone on this board (except for original owners) have asked this same question, "am I paying too much for this car?" -- The only way to know that answer is to familiarize yourself with as many "like" cars as you can find within a reasonable (or unreasonable) distance. You need to shop, look, drive, these cars. But also trust your gutt. No one can give you the answer on this. Is the car too much? has it been abused? Is it worth it? Will it have clogged SAI's at 60K? Is there too much mileage?
-- We will try to help everywhere we can. You can even ask us to look at the car for you. Many of us are more than willing to help any way we can including a visual inspection (most of us are not mechanics..) But the only way to know the right price, is to know EVERYTHING else on the market.
Usually, Pcar (used) dealers have a $10k-$15K premium over private cars as well.

---- So forget about blue book and edmunds. They are really no help if the seller knows the first thing about cars. On the books my car is worth about $30K I think (I have to look) but in the real world.. It would cost you a whole lot more than that.. (if it were with a Pcar dealer, ray calvo, etc. think almost double.)

B

 

Price seems about right to me...