Has anyone here ever commissioned a PPI by a Porsche Dealer? Obviously this is not my 1st choice, but every Indy I've called is literately booked for weeks. Even if it's only a code readout and a quick onceover, I'm thinking it still might be worth it....

It's in San Diego

 

No, dealers will not do them anymore. I’m sure you’ve tried Black Forest and Vollig. Not sure who else there is - some previously recommended mechanics no longer have shops here.

 

Not true - Dealers will do PPI's. I just had PPI performed at Roger Jobs Porsche Dealer in Bellingham Wa. and had another PPI done in MAy 2021 at Porsche Burlingame in South SF Bay San Francisco.
They are a bit more expensive $320 PPI & $375 Bore Scope Inspection but worth every penny.
Generally speaking Dealer PPI's are usually excellent.
I have always preferred an excellent Indy shop but as you say many slammed for weeks

Call around to the local dealers and verify PPI and make sure they can do the Bore Scope Insp as well

 

Recently? I shopped nationally for my car and was met with sound rejections from every single dealer. One even told me it was a somewhat recent universal policy change.

 

@groovzilla I also tried to have Prestige Porsche in Denver do a PPI on my new to me 2015 CD and they declined saying they don’t do them anymore. Prestige is one of 2 Porsche dealers in Denver and one of 4 in the state. I called my Indy and a couple of other indies as well and it was definitely difficult to get a time slot for a PPI. I did get one done, but it was not effortless.

 

I had 3 dealer PPIs done for 2 997s and a Cayenne Turbo S.

Sewickley Porsche in PA did my 997 RUF car back in 2012
Had a dealer in MI do my other 997 in 2013
FL dealer did my Cayenne Turbo S in 2016

So, nothing recent, but dealer PPIs.

 

I had one done in August by a Porsche dealer on Long Island - they were still doing them at that time.

 

It may not be a universal thing, but many dealers and even some Indys won’t do them for any price lately when I check. The exception seems to be if you limit the scope of the inspection and limit your reliance on the tech to a reasonable degree - perhaps even in writing.

Seems that the definition of a PPI (and the car buying process certainly) have changed a lot over the past 10-15 years. Before, a PPI meant a general lookover for obvious things like condition of wear items and deferred maintenance that may need to be addressed. That, together with talking to seller and reviewing the records available, would inform your decision as buyer: take it, reduce your offer to bake in the cost of making the car road-worthy, or walk. That simple.

Lately, “PPI” seems to have taken on a proper name and more of an expectation of a forensic study of the whole car inside and out. Oil analysis, borescopes, dme reports, evidence of paint work, etc.

For a number of techs I’ve spoken with, that’s a huge ask and an even larger potential detrimental reliance on their findings for very little money and time. They speak of times when a customer pays for a PPI, buys the car, then to some degree blames the tech when something breaks when there may have been no way to warn or predict. In other words, buyers are relying less on their own sleuthing and more on the tech’s findings with a leaning towards some implicit guarantees. In terms of a 997, you’re looking at a 10+ year old car at this point. Things fall apart.

The rise of internet distance buying, BaT and the like have really changed the game, obviously. They’ve also taken the arms-length nature of the transaction away for many, and like everything else these days, our attention spans and patience are next to zero thanks to the instant gratification machines in our pockets.

I don’t know how to unring that bell, but I still buy with the understanding that: there’s only so much I can expect from an inspection, I must satisfy myself that the diligence has been done, and there will be some issues to address.

It’s hard to go wrong with a 997 that has lived a good and normal life, but it can happen. Caveat emptor is alive and well.

 

Yes, it’s absolutely for liability and reputational reasons. Dealers really don’t gain anything from doing them so that’s why many have stopped.

 

They will do them but some may not officially call it a PPI. They called it an in depth multi point inspection and the seller gave them permission to contact me with the results.

 

I live in SD. What Indies have you called? I may know of some others......
Jay

 

I just had PPI performed at Roger Jobs Porsche Dealer last week and PPI at Porsche Burlingame Dealer in May 2021.
Personally I prefer excellent Indy shops to do my PPI's however Roger Jobs allowed me into the shop to look under car and was extremely thorough.

 

I understand many Porsche Dealers as well as Mercedes Dealers aren't doing PPI's. But there are also many that will do them.
Indy shops around here are booked ot for 5-6 weeks or longer.



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None of the dealers near me in South Florida were willing to do a PPI when I was looking for one last year. They all said it was too much liability and politely declined. This includes a dealer where I've had a lot of warranty service work done on my Cayenne, and had a relationship with them.

 

perhaps it’s more of a thing on the west coast where cars and car culture are more prevalent? Those of us stuck in the middle have less access to those services, not to mention the sheer volume of cars and car collectors. Some places where I live, taking my humble little silver 997 to the store can feel like driving an orange Lambo. It’s that exotic to many passers by. Not so much on the left coast and other areas.