PPI when buying from a Porsche Dealer?
11-05-2013, 11:26 AM
#16
Rennlist Member
My friend works in the auto industry at a very high level. He laughs at the accolades given to PPI. He says " no matter what standards are presented by the manufacturer, the inspection is only as good as the person doing it locally, which means the inspections are all over the map. It's not like Porsche is dispatching someone from corporate to look at your car". His company has the same thing and he sees the results. I took my dealer at their word and thankfully they exceeded every one of my expectations. IMO, it would be more important to negotiate how they would handle any problems you incur, that way you reduce or eliminate the X factor of who inspects it, you save the cost and if something is overlooked you have discussed the path forward with the selling dealer. If you can get whatever they offer you in writing then you are the king of rock and roll.
This
11-05-2013, 12:02 PM
#17
Do the PPI with a third party, if only to judge the dealer's reaction to the request. They should do it without hesitation, and probably offer to transport the car if the other shop is local. If they hesitate then you know it is time to start asking hard questions / transition from friendly to aggressive.
Car dealers will be car dealers.
Let us know what you did!
Car dealers will be car dealers.
Let us know what you did!
11-05-2013, 12:13 PM
#18
Rennlist Member
Although I purchased a CPO car and did not get a PPI, I would strongly recommend that you do so. There were several issues the dealer did not catch (and even did not acknowledge after I brought it to their attention). I came out of pocket to replace things that should have been done during the CPO process. I would have an independent do the PPI. Porsche North America was ZERO help. Rather disappointing.
11-05-2013, 02:07 PM
#19
11-05-2013, 02:27 PM
#20
When Joe Sales throws that pitch, you tell them there are other cars you are considering, then have the fortitude to walk right out the front door. If they won't negotiate with you one iota on a car that costs more than what some people live in, run away! My local dealer lost his shot at selling me a car because he's a dick....This is the internet age, I bought a car more than thousand miles away, you just have to be polite but firm. When car shopping, say what you mean, mean what you say but don't say it mean...
11-05-2013, 02:45 PM
#21
When Joe Sales throws that pitch, you tell them there are other cars you are considering, then have the fortitude to walk right out the front door. If they won't negotiate with you one iota on a car that costs more than what some people live in, run away! My local dealer lost his shot at selling me a car because he's a dick....This is the internet age, I bought a car more than thousand miles away, you just have to be polite but firm. When car shopping, say what you mean, mean what you say but don't say it mean...
That is why you need a PPI. The issues are on paper from a third party and represent real current issues, not potential future issues.
Of course these are now 10+ year old cars. At a certain point, you takes your chances...
11-05-2013, 02:56 PM
#22
So you get a PPI and then something breaks, now you're out the PPI cost and you don't have anymore leverage for repairs than you had without it. My dad drove every second hand car off his lot several days before selling them to work out every possible ailment and still some were not unearthed, PPI is a show, nothing more. To me it's as dumb as carfax, if a seller wraps a car around a pole and then pays cash to the body shop for repairs guess what? carfax = useless. There was only one time I saw the equivalent of a PPI work and that was when my dad found that the entire rear end of a car had been welded into place to effect a repair, obviously the guy bailed on buying it.
11-05-2013, 03:23 PM
#23
Race Director
PPI is crucial when maintenance records are sketchy, which is often the case when you're buying from a non-Porsche car dealership like I did.
Asking the dealer selling the car to do the PPI is tantamount to asking your girlfriend's mother for her unbiased opinion about her daughter...the information you actually want will not be provided.
Asking the dealer selling the car to do the PPI is tantamount to asking your girlfriend's mother for her unbiased opinion about her daughter...the information you actually want will not be provided.
11-05-2013, 03:26 PM
#24
I did that once, never again, Id much rather buy from a private owner than Jimmy's house of cars, where you get one key, no records and a BS story from a guy who usually knows diddly about Porsche cars. A guy I've been corresponding with on this site just got burned on a 987 from such a lot, he sent me a picture with nearly every bolt out of the right CV joint. Talk about dishonesty, you can't miss that doing an oil change!! I keep such a detailed log on the Spyder you would think I was it's physician!!
Last edited by terbiumactivated; 11-05-2013 at 04:10 PM.
11-05-2013, 04:23 PM
#25
So you get a PPI and then something breaks, now you're out the PPI cost and you don't have anymore leverage for repairs than you had without it. My dad drove every second hand car off his lot several days before selling them to work out every possible ailment and still some were not unearthed, PPI is a show, nothing more. To me it's as dumb as carfax, if a seller wraps a car around a pole and then pays cash to the body shop for repairs guess what? carfax = useless. There was only one time I saw the equivalent of a PPI work and that was when my dad found that the entire rear end of a car had been welded into place to effect a repair, obviously the guy bailed on buying it.
11-05-2013, 07:18 PM
#26
Relax, I'm not PPI blocking you guy. It seems to me there are enough fastidious and talented people on this forum to do their own. For example, I'd much rather search for body repair with my own lights and methods than any PPI mechanic but that's me.
11-05-2013, 09:20 PM
#27
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11-05-2013, 10:28 PM
#28
I can appreciate that approach and respect it as well. I spent more than an hour looking for evidence of body work on my 986, that's a good look at things. I was fortunate enough to buy the Spider new.
11-05-2013, 11:43 PM
#29
One of the advantages that I find with a good PPI is that you can use the results as a tool for price negotiations. It has worked for me in the past and even with the C4 that I now drive. The mechanic that did my PPI wrote it up itemizing those things that would need immediate attention and those things that could wait for 60 or 90 days. A good PPI is a most valuable tool
Also like a home inspection, they can only do so much and not really tear into the drywall for example, to inspect any structural, electrical, and plumbing condition. Just like a typical PPI won't go into dropping the tranny and pulling the IM$ or being able to visually inspect the flywheel or clutch. These are the kind of things the buyer should set aside a contingency fund for.
01-19-2014, 12:00 PM
#30
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I've been trying to arrange an indie PPI on a CPO'ed Porsche at a dealership, but they are telling me that they never deliver cars to indie shops or allow such shops take the cars offsite to perform the PPI. Is there any consistency in Porsche dealer policies on this? Or is this a car I should walk from?