ScottArizona

Awesome Mark. This is what I plan to do with my 99 tip when it is paid off, namely, keep it as the daily driver/wife's car and get something fun for the weekend stuff (gt3, turbo...heck, maybe even a supercharged 99!). Keep us posted on the progess of the Iris beauty! Scott.

DFC

Good move Mark, I think that you would have really been dissappointed afterwards had it sold so cheaply for such a nice car. Best of luck, and happy to hear the car will be staying with its proper owner for at least a while longer!

Mfletch

Thanks guys. My wife did enjoy driving it today. I told her how good she looked in it as I was detailing her SL.....I don't think I'll have to sleep with the dog tonight.

tooloud10

No offense to Mark or his car, but the salvage title is probably what's killing the price the most, with the Tiptronic a close second. I think people are much more willing to take a chance with a salvage title on a $10k Civic than on a Porsche.

Personally, having owned a salvaged vehicle, there's no way I'd take the chance on buying one from somebody I didn't know. Having "access" to Mark here at Rennlist is a huge plus, but it doesn't mean much to the average eBayer looking for a deal on their first Porsche.

I see another early 996 (like Mark's) with Tiptronic and 96k miles (but a clean title) sold for $21,555. The other MY99s generally sold for upper $20ks and low-mid $30ks, which isn't far off from a year ago when I looked at every 996 that was listed on eBay.

That said, I bought my MY99 C4 and the three cars I bought before that off eBay, and it's very hard to say what would have happened to Mark's bidding if it had been left as-is. I rarely bid until the end unless it's something I dearly want or there's a Buy-It-Now, meaning that someone could poach it before the end of the auction. There's just no good reason to bid until the end on a No Reserve auction.

Chuck Jones

Tooloud: I do a lot of eBay'ing myself....bought both of my P cars off eBay...and I'm one of those hated folks who use a snipe program.....so Mark's auction didn't go far enough to determine if any snipe bids might have entered the picture.....but I agree with you about a salvage title and not knowing the seller. I had a chance to buy a really nice 04 S that only had a slight hit to the left front...replaced the panel and the left front wheel....but I passed strictly becasue it was a salvage. Those of us on this forum who know Mark and have read about the kudos he's gotten and recognition of his skills....wouldn't have as much heartburn over buying a salvaged car as someone who was just signing onto eBay. Most folks are warned that the Porsche unibody cant' withstand any hit and that you're buying into trouble if you buy a salvage car. It may not be correct....but it's the perception of trouble and misinformation that guides the prospective buyers.

tooloud10

Sure, and unfortunately, when one is in the market to spend $30k on what might be a third or fourth car, there's really no reason to take a chance on a car with a story.

Though technically, my 996 came with a story, but since the story ended with "new engine and 24-month warranty", I bit anyway.

carlo$

mfletch, let me know if you decide to sell it. okporsche@aol.com

gota911

carlos - make him an reasonable offer. He may sell it now, you never know!