Hi everyone -

Multi part question here. Tripped over this in ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ory=10156&rd=1

Has anyone heard anything about the dealer - Platinum Car Center? I'm always somewhat suspicious of independent dealers on ebay.

Is anyone close enough/willing to take a look at the car for me? I ran a carfax and it was clean. I'm about 3h away, so close enough to come up if it's the real deal, but not close enough for a quick fly by.

Anyone here actually buy a car on ebay? I'm unsure how to proceed vis-a-vis PPI and actually getting the car. Ebay always seemed like a great place to sell/****ty place to buy a car to me.

Thanks for any help/advice.

Stef

 

From what I have read on this site, some folks have had luck with EBAY and car purchases. However, I have had an unsavory experience, though luckily did not lose any $$. As usual, I think it is not EBAY, but the seller that makes or breaks the experience, so research the car and the seller. Talk to them extensively, and get second and third opinions.

I did buy a piano on EBAY about 2 years ago, got a great deal on a little Steinway console, and it has checked out perfectly with the local techs. But I did get in writing (from the dealer) certain guarnatees, etc, etc, and had the right to return (no shipping charges) if not satisfied. So you can absolutely find good stuff there. Just wade through the crap.

In the end, just be careful. And be paranoid. You're 3 hours away, so go look at the car.

 

Stef,

Never heard of this dealer in Mass.

I agree with Stedge, though - you're so close, just go look at it. The pics do look pretty good and the car looks unmolested, as much as you can tell from photos.

Insist that the dealer provide ALL service and warranty records AND the name, address and phone number of the PO. If he won't do this, then take a pass. It wouldn't be unreasonable to request info on the PO before you invest a six hour round trip. You can talk to the PO and see if the car has a clean history before you invest the time.

It would be reasonable for the dealer to ask for a small ($300 to $500) "good faith" deposit, refundable in full if you look at the car and it is not for you for any reason. Put any deposit on your cc, so you could dispute it if something got ugly.

Good luck.

 

Whoww, that looks like a beautiful car, only if you could buy it at that ($20.000) price. Here in Holland such a car will definately go for €50.000 - € 60.000,-- If you are only 3 hours away, go for it!

Joris

 

See that outer driver's side bolster on the bottom cushion (photo from pass side). Looks pretty misshapen to me. More miles?

 

Is it just me or is the front bumper a slightly different shade of violet than the rest of the car? I'm close to the dealer but unfortunately can't help you out as I'm having surgery in the morning. Good luck.

 

I'm sure the price won't stay at $20K (up already in fact) and ebay has a tendency to inflate prices so the whole deal may become moot, but it looked to good to not dig a little.

Good idea about trying to get PO info and looking at records beforehand. Looks like the car had at least 2 owners and moved from NJ to OH to MA.

Stef

 

It's a lovely looking car and may even check out fine in a PPI, but in my experience independent dealers NEVER allow auctions to proceed on ebay without artificial bidders. I guarantee that car will magically go way up to full retail as the auction draws to a close. In the unlikely event the dealer does let the car go cheap, there'll be a good reason for it.

 

I work in Danvers, Ma, not too far away. It looks to me to be zenith blue..Ill definitely go look at it..however, I work very close to that shop, and have never heard of it, and most local shops have their Porsche services done at my dealership...

 

I do not see any stone guards for the rear fenders--behind the doors. Aren't they supposed to be there on all 993s? May be a repaint +?

 

Thanks Alfie.

Matt - yes, I keep repeating the "if it's too good to be true..." mantra in my head.

Stef

 

on a 97 c4s, is it supposed to say varioram on the engine? it does on my 96 c2, but i cant see it on that picture... It may be too good to be true, we'll soon find out..

 

A coworker of mine claims to know the previous owner. If it's the same car (that was recently traded in at a Porsche dealership), it had been rear ended and has new paint and has never driven quite the same since. I forwarded him the listing and he immediately recognized it, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of him thinking I was interested. He's also in the market, but for what it's worth, he really didn't seem interested or he would have driven over during lunch as he usually does when a local 993 pops up.

 

i called them, and they said they want 44,500 for the car, but are taking offers...they told me what a hot car this is, and how 3 people were going to look at it today. They also said it has never been painted....

 

The stone guards are there. You can see them if you look closely.