Low mileage car, looks great in the pictures. No service records. 592 range-2 overrevs occurred 5 operating hours ago. Seller says it was the previous owner.

How much of a concern should that be?

 

A lot. Pass. So, the current seller bought it 5 hours ago??

 

Think of it as a flipper...

 

was a test drive most likely. they aren't THAT big a deal, at that number of them. check the car out. folks run out of space and nerve far sooner than the type 2's ( assuming its not multiple missed downshifts ) can do any lasting damage ( in the most general of terms ). plus, perhaps the car has been flashed and the rev limiter raised which will log type two's while the engine is still operating within safe rev range(s). e.g. 7krpm instead of the oem and factory detuned 6750/6800rpm etc.

 

Based on my initial information, it doesn't seem likely that the car has been tuned.

Also I'm buying from afar and I can have a PPI done but can't quite fly out to drive it myself...

 

yeah, not my preference for purchasing a p turbo absent a known provenance, in addition to someone you KNOW that's trustworthy to inspect the car in person.

but two salient things i have noticed and witnessed over the years relative to buying these and pre purchase protocol.

folks place too much stock in this penultimate "PPI", which understandably is often only as good as the person performing it. it can mean very little if they are not expert at 996 turbo evaluations.

and often far too much weight is given to the relative importance of some type two's having been logged on the ecu. i mean, sure they are logged for a reason. but type two's having been logged, does not necessarily mean a 996 turbo flogged. if you're uncomfortable with those numbers ( i wouldn't necessarily be, i would sooner take ALL details into account ) then walk. you'll find another. good luck.

 

As a side note.. During the last 60 days. I have seen first hand 4 customers/Rennlisters buying 996TT's.. 3 went out and bought the car (2 drove it home).. All three reported conditions that were not described by the seller or PPI.. The 4th customer wished that he went out and seen the car. He would have asked for more monies off the agreed price due to the issues. The issues were wear items. Scratches on calipers, paint chips on bumpers, and interior trim issues and carpet wear. Three of the 4 recent buyers were not happy with the tire tread wear evaluations (uneven wear)!!

My point is.. I would strongly recommend buying a plane ticket to view the car prior to handing over the check. Time is money and a car sitting in the shop getting repaired with your hard earned money on a 12 YO car.. Buying across the country sight unseen with your eyes adds up to some pain and suffering>>and some monies..

 

+996! best advice i have seen given on this forum. if your dropping 50k$ on a 10 yr old car spend 500$ and fly out to look at it. i have flown to vegas twice and drove to indianapolis and chigaco for 2 amg cars and 2 turbos . seeing them in person clinched the deals and i knew exactly what i was getting

 

Not flying out is not about saving the money, it's that work and family make it very difficult.

Thanks for the advice so far, any other thoughts on the overrevs specifically?

 

Car doesn't have records..

Cars a flipper

OverRevs very recent.. How do you know if it didn't hit 8000 RPM's?

Are you planning on doing a PPI

 

My advice:
A ppi can be helpful, but usually worthless.
I bought my 997tt from a well known hi end dealer, ppi clean. It was physically impossible for me to fly out to look at it myself do to work. I negotiated a bit on the price based on a few minor over revs, I also insisted on an aftermarket power train warranty. Dealer price was 1900, built into the deal. Car arrives, immediately I noticed a couple of minor things that I could've used to negotiate the price even more. Plus it only had one key and no owners manual, I nudged the dealer to buy me said items, ~$400.
The highly respected Indy that did the $400 ppi totally blew it. I ultimately was refunded, but pissed.
Bottom line, don't totally trust the ppi, negotiate anything on the ppi into the price. (ie type 2s), if getting it from a dealer they have access to multiple aftermarket warranty companies, utilize it! You don't need a bumper to bumper, cup holder warranty, all you need is a basic power train warranty, a 996 in not too old to qualify.
Gl
C

 

I would not buy any used car that I or my father did not see in person and he is no longer here sadly. I also would be hard bent to sell a car as expensive as ours without buyer taking a look. A ppi is just an added tool that is a plus but not a safety net. Agree with TT Surgeon that warranty is the best insurance and if you cant find time to go look at the car you probably don't have time to enjoy it.

 

yes go see it. with the stock market and recent economy being what they are/were desperate people do desperate things. All you have to do is hang out on rennlist to hear of stories of how people buy cars sight unseen and wish they hadn't.
If the seller is really confident about the car, wire him a refundable deposit with the condition that you are satisfied when you flyout in a few weeks.

 

^Agree. I see quite a few owners selling cars they have owned for under a year or two= these are not cheap cars to maintain especially if you do things correctly.

 

No such thing as a cheap porsche, either pay up front or later.