sjinto

Well the prelim PPI notes are in!... I'm just not sure what to feel right now


"Here is your 2009 997-II Mid-Process:

Catalytic converter monitor "Not Ready" status
EVAP Tank vent monitor "Not Ready" status
Vario-Cam system monitor "Not Ready" status
Monitors not run means car had dead battery or fault/s removed

Car should not pass emissions test at this time (monitor status)
Engine oil level OK

Ashtray lid paint (finish) peeling
Car smells lightly like cigar

Both rear wheels appear to have been previously repaired-not 100%

Most of car has paint overspray
RR quarter panel (fender) has been repainted
RR quarter panel (fender) rock guard missing
RR quarter panel (fender) substantial scratch
RR quarter panel (fender) has swirl marks (rest of car OK)

There appears to be no substantial accident damage

Both exhaust header pipes bent & scratched from contact with road
Front spoiler lip missing

Various scratches and scrapes on complete lower front bumper (under car)
Passenger exterior door handle has poor touch up paint repair

PDK transmission pan sweating oil
Pollen-Interior air filter dirty
Engine air filter slightly dirty

All Paint thickness readings are good expect RR quarter panel

Upholstery shows signs of patina including driver's seat bolster
Complete exterior of car shows signs of patina

Engine oil filter inspection passed test
Test drive was acceptable-no notations

Engine over-Rev data only exists in Range #1, more information Monday"

simsgw

I never used them, so all I could say is they were polite to the level of a Ritz-Carleton concierge when I was talking to them in advance of that buying trip. You see, we live about 75 miles north of all the dealers for German cars we would consider, and at our age the health problems add up to making it a project when you plan that trip. Besides, the dealer had totaled Cindy's NSX and we had no other car, so we were determined to come home with a car and leave the verdammte rental sedan somewhere, anywhere, and get back into a car of our own. We had been six weeks in rentals. Aaaagh!

Come to think of it, my usual negotiating style is open candor and I'd told all the dealers I contacted that we planned to make the buy on that trip. Not being a looky-loo probably had a lot to do with their being motivated to treat us well. But of course many people are motivated to do things without having the talent and wherewithal to carry through. Auto Gallery, Rusnak, and BHP all seem to have the skills to treat you as an exotic buyer expects.

That isn't a major factor when you're planning to take the car out of state, but it does make the buying experience more pleasant. It also indicates they are used to dealing with demanding customers and are less likely to do something randomly stupid. (Leaving examples to our collective imagination.)

Gary

pewter82

Wow Gary, how tall is that horse your sitting on ?

just kidding my good man

simsgw

Never stayed in a Ritz-Carleton? That's okay. Just call Beverly Hills Porsche and tell them you're ready to buy a Panamera -- or a Carrera or a Turbo or even a Boxster I would suppose. The way they'll treat you is how a Ritz-Carleton or Four Seasons concierge deals with your wish to play a round of golf on the same day your wife wants you to escort her to some special show and "by the way she wants to get her hair done first and I forgot my clubs, can you arrange a set of Mizunos for me?"

"Yes sir. Please have a seat in this lovely chair covered in fine Scottish tweed and I'll have an espresso brought. Relax while I make some calls."

It would be a pity to have so much money you got that treatment all day every day because you'd quit noticing it and no longer get the full joy of it. But I highly recommend staying in a Ritz-Carleton once in awhile. At least as often as you buy a new Porsche...

One of the subtle joys our bank suggested was to offer to pay the cash portion using our Mastercard, so they upped our limit to allow it. (See, that way we get back one percent, but you knew that Porsches were included in the rewards program, right? Honestly, I didn't. Heh heh. I love my bank. Continuing on... ) The Sales Manager at Auto Gallery didn't even blink. "We don't normally accept Mastercard. Some buyers have caused arguments by denying the charge after... well, later. [I presume the unspoken part was "after the spouse finds out" or so near Hollywood, even "after they sober up/come down."] I replied "Well, it's all cash of course. I can always just write a check, but <disarming smile> you don't often get a chance at so many points. We were looking forward to that little joy. How about just the first ten thousand?"

We worked out something. It never was an issue to care about. Just one to talk about while you negotiate the important points. Like how much money of whatever color. Seriously, when negotiating is involved these things add up. They provide nice chairs and treat you like Bill Gates because you surely won't quibble about buying wheel and tire insurance when it's only money, right? How about some undercoat with that? (Wait. These days, they come with undercoat. What is it they sell? Clear protectant of some sort isn't it?) That's their ploy.

Your best response is being so comfortable with the whole plush treatment you obviously deal with these sums of money routinely. So when you ask for ... whatever and then politely express your regrets and start to walk out when they... well, let's be honest, when they quibble about a little thing like ten thousand here and there. Well, you clearly are the sort of person who knows you can drive down the street to Beverly Hills and get the deal you're asking. So his inclination is to find a middle ground, rather than try to bull his way through to the high-end target he sets.

I said "deal with these sums of money routinely" and that impression works at my age if you can pull it off. (True or not.) The other approach is "not impressed with large sums, because it's all just money and not really important." This one doesn't get said, just conveyed. I grew up in Newport Beach cheek by jowl with the kids of millionaires and waiting on them at tables in fine restaurants. I never learned to resent them, just understand them. They weren't strange creatures in the expensive misty distance I mean. Then I spent a career in the military where every damn thing you touch is horribly expensive and it doesn't matter at all compared to real issues like people dying. So I can carry off the "it's only money so don't give me any crap" routine by second nature after the best part of a century.

But so can any of us. Especially when we're talking about Porsche dealers. If you can remind yourself it's only special because it's a toy, a joy you can afford because you earned it doing whatever you do that probably is important. Compared to getting this plane on the ground with everybody alive, getting the right medicine for Cindy, getting the right surgeon when you need one, him getting the right instrument when he needs it... well compared to that real stuff, getting the right price for a Porsche is just a lark. It's a small reward you earned, so enjoy it without taking it too seriously. And you'll get a better price and/or a better car than the guy who walks in with spreadsheets and checks the addition on the options list and wants to debate whether the "console in exterior color" is really necessary.

Which the horse was an American Saddlebred, so
he was indeed pretty high, but his pasture is empty
these days because he couldn't live as long as...

Gary

pewter82

You should be a writer, you have the knack for it.

I agree with everything you've posted. But please don't be hard on a salesman, he's trying to make a living, and some of us are actually good people, and save all our nickels and dimes to afford Porsche's.

jason

rodsky

That PPI looks very off. It's indicative of someone who really didn't care too much for the vehicle. I'd personally avoid it. Lots of scrapes, scratches and who knows what else. There are too many good cars out there to compromise.

Gary - you're funny!

simsgw

Never in life. Not only do I as a buyer understand and appreciate their role, but I made enough money to buy Porsches from designing ... well, stuff. (After I retired from the Air Force where you design big stuff in exchange for no one objecting to the occasionally embarrassing evidence of your vow of poverty.) Designing is just over-documented daydreaming if you don't have sales people to get from your idea to somebody's pocket book. (Skipping the people who actually build it only for the sake of brevity.) If we all do our job right, the end buyer feels grateful to exchange that over-heavy purse for a bright shiny exciting... idea incarnate. But it takes all of us and I guarantee I'm no damn good at selling (and mediocre at production engineering).

Pretty fair at buying though. My niche!

Gary