considering a 1999 in Safe mode?
 

Seller claims car is in "safe mode" (not a knowledgeable guy it appears) because he recently changed transmission fluid and level is wrong.

BS or possible? Anything I should look at if I go by?

?!?!????

take it to a dealer and get it checked. I call BS.

Limp home mode?

Run

Strike one, it is in limp mode
Strike two, it appears to be an automatic

Don't know why you're even wasting time on this one, considering there are hundreds of others for sale.

Seller should fix his car or at the very least have it properly diagnosed, walk.

LOL.

More details would help. Whats the asking price and circumstance. I doubt someone would change the trans fluid, get a code, and say F@#$ It!, I'll just sell the damn car.

Do you really need a PST2 or PIWIS just to change the fluid? Another reason not to own an auto. This just became a sub $10K car (see other thread).

Run forrest run!!!!!!!

If you buy the car you are talking about the car in limp mode your brain is in limp mode...

Seriously, unless the seller flat beds the car to a dealer and gets the level fixed -- it is not the level the car is sick sick sick, but let me assume it is just the fluid -- so the car is no longer in limp mode and you can therefore give the car a thorough used car check out -- test ride/test drive -- you can make no real evaluation of the car.

So you gamble that it is just a fluid level issue -- though a question becomes what if any damage has the Tip sustained in this low fluid level mode? -- but it could be new Tip time. Ouch.

And then because you were not able to drive the car give it a complete check out you find then the engine is a rattly as a handful of bolts in a blender.

Keep looking.

FWIW: The other day, I spotted a 2001 996 with a Tip and around 85K miles for sale at a dealer for $27K. Exterior dark green, interior that light brown color.

Added: Check that $27K. This is the number I thought I remembered seeing on the sticker on the car but on the web site the price is $22.5K. Color is dark green metallic. Here's a link:

http://www.porscheoflivermore.com/in...&start_index=1

Even if it's the level....what caused the level to be low?

If the guy didn't take enough care of the car to manage this properly, what other things have been ignored or not taken care of?

The most dangerous thing I ever hear a seller say is, "Maintenance just doesn't hardly cost anything on these." Car. Home. Boat. Airplane. Doesn't matter. All it means is that they used it up and are passing on to you all their months/years of deferred maintenance. Screw 'em and the horse they rode in on.

Thanks for the input.

The other shoe has dropped. It is a police impound auction car with 100k on the odo. Current owner has BoS but no title, owned it 2 years without touching it and just decided to sell. Asking $12900 OBO but sounds like 10K to much.

Don't need this much of a project car.

If you can attend the auction do so.

The car might be picked up for something that makes the risk of a bad Tip or something else worth taking. I mean just saying that because the seller wants $12.9K doesn't mean he'll get it, anywhere near it. 'course he probably has the option of not selling the car if his minimum price isn't met.

OTOH, if the car doesn't sell, walk up to the seller afterwards and see if you can strike a deal. He will have time to think and may take your money.

'course, don't pay too much regardless.

Or don't go to the auction. Entirely up to you.

I may be wrong but reads like the current owner bought it at police auction and never did anything with it.