Back in 2009 when I was shopping for a 996 Turbo and found one I got a CarFax report -- the Porsche dealer supplied me with a copy -- and noted the car had spent its time in the SF Bay Area (close to me). I called the Porsche dealers and with the VIN was able to get some info about the car's servicing.

I didn't ask for and was not offered any details about the previous owner which was ok by me. But I got dates and miles as to what was done and after I got off the phone I was pretty comfortable the car had received reasonable servicing.

You have to be careful. Porsche Turbo prices -- 996s and 997s -- are starting to go up. A "low priced" 997 Turbo is a bit of a red flag. Generally dealers price these cars quite dearly. They do not need to sell the car right away to keep the dealer lights burning so they can afford to wait for someone that pays the asking price.

If a car is priced low it suggests the dealer doesn't know what it is doing -- about as unlikely as expecting a fish to not know how to swim -- or more likely the dealer is hoping the low price gets a quick sale because there's something about the car that would come out with a proper evaluation of the car and cause people to run away.

Remember too a Turbo was an expensive car when new. My 2003 cost 120K new and I'm sure cost the original owner some big bucks to service and maintain. But even in 2017 now it costs me like the dickens to service and repair.

Every service that I have done for my Boxster when I have this same service done for my Turbo the cost is more, 10% to 20% (or more) more.

My local dealer doesn't discount labor for my older cars and parts still cost like they are made out of gold and platinum.

You can save some money doing your own services but these are not easy cars to service. There is no factory service manual available so you are working in the dark in this regard.

Most services are done with the car on a lift.

Run of the mill services are not that straight forward either.

For instance spark plug changes require removal of the rear wheels, rear bumper cover, intercoolers which means the intake hoses are disconnected (always an opportunity for the unsuspecting to encounter intake/boost leaks), and the exhaust system unbolted. (The exhaust system on my Turbo requires new metal o-rings be used where the turbo bolts to the exhaust system to ensure no leak at this location.)

 

The pic on google does not look like the inventory he has listed . SCAM ALERT

 

Here is the build sheet on this TT...

 

Thanks for all the info.

 

completely wrong and more proof that you speak as if you are reporting facts when you are often grossly mistaken.

 

I received a message that the turbo is sold in NM, but I found a c4s in TN closer to home to look into.

The quest continues....