Dr. Vader

I miss Sebring

IXLR8

Other than periodic fluid changes, a 30K car will not have needed all that much maintenance. A 60k+ car is another matter.

Maintenance being equal, I'd sooner get a low mileage, low number of owners example.

140.6

Ok, this may be a very poor assumption on my part so please feel free to correct me, but in the case of a 15-17 year old car with mid-30k miles there should be at a minimum annual oil changes, all other fluids every 2-3 years, tires should have been replaced several times even just for age, belts for the same reason, potentially brake pads, maybe a clutch, etc. If I found a mid-30k car with only annual oil changes for maintenance I would likely pass on that car.

Am I thinking about this the right way?

tommyg

Some of the typical wear items that you mentioned are contingent on owner's driving agressiveness, ie clutch, brakes and tires, but yes, it's a fair assumption, as a a mid-30k car should have had a 30k service interval in addition to the typical oil changes every 3-5k, or yearly, depending on your beliefs.

IXLR8

I did state "fluid changes" not just oil changes.

I believe I still have the original clutch in my car, and driven properly, there is no reason a clutch won't last well over 120K miles. If I found a car with compete documentation showing a clutch change at some low mileage, I'd worry as to how it was driven and even cared for by the owner.

I also prefer a lower mileage unmolested car because chances are better that some weekend warrior hadn't worked on it yet.

140.6

Fair enough, I missed that one. And you are absolutely correct I would have some doubts about the need for a new clutch in such a short use span. It certainly would create more questions, but if the PPI came back with very high marks I might still consider it.

This is all going to be so much fun ... I mean that somewhat sarcastically, I expect that there will be a lot of frustration along the way but the ultimate reward will be worth it.

IXLR8

Most owners will tell me I was nuts, but I bought the first 993 I came across. I didn't even get a PPI done, although I personally inspected the car over two weekends. It was the second of three Porsches I saw that weekend, but with the other two being 997s, the choice was easy.

So far in almost three years, no surprises. Who knows, maybe I'll get bitten in the butt one day.