Hey everyone — looking for some honest feedback here. I have owned a 993 base 6 speed and i regret selling it to this day...

I came across a 1998 C2S Tiptronic that initially seemed like a good find, but the more I dug, the more red flags popped up. Hoping to get some perspective from those who've dealt with similar projects or knows the current market on these.

Here's the situation:

• The car has been sitting outside for over 10 years.
  
• Interior is completely stripped and pretty beat up.
  
• Missing parts — the seller and shop would need to coordinate to reinstall everything.
  
• Mileage discrepancy: odometer shows 114k, Carfax shows 134k.
  
• Carfax shows clean title and no accidents.
  
• Shop owner says he did a complete rebuild about 8 years ago, but the car hasn't moved since then.
  
• Shop owner also mentioned the original owner still owes him money, but since they're friends, he's trying to help him out.
  
• Owner is firm at $85k. I generously offered $79k and said I'd handle paint separately, but he's holding at $85k. Its complicated because we would need to sign the contract of the shop reinstalling all the remaining parts and also pay the shop owner first because the owner has no money to pay for it...
  

My gut says this is a nightmare waiting to happen — between the mileage discrepancy (title issues later?), the decade of sitting outside, the stripped interior, and the weird financial situation between the owner and the shop.

But I wanted to check with you all in case I'm missing something. Is there any world where $85k makes sense for this car? What would you actually pay for something in this condition?

Appreciate any thoughts, warnings, or similar experiences.

Thanks.

 

Listen to your intuition bro.

 

To restore this one it will cost you as much as a good clean drivers condition tip would cost you..

 

just run !!

you will find good / much better tipper for less than 85K on the market ...

 

...yes, run, as fast as possible.

 

is it def a C2S or a C2 tip S? world of difference..................but from look of it i think its best to set off running now and dont turn around

 

it’s a c2S

 

a C2S WB are worth more than normal but i think it looks like a world of pain with the mileage and all the parts you need, not to mention it being parked up for so long - shop around, buy a sorted one and save your sanity

 

haven’t seen many C2 S’s tip for that price range

 

OK so apologies if I offend anyone, but...

Tiptronic is awful.
Wide-bodied (WB) cars are the same under the skin as NB, but with 25mm more metal in the rear fenders, a sill that sticks out, and because of these design features, a reworked and contorted, bulbous rear 'bumper' that the designers probably still weep over. Do you really want one?
This car has high mileage, and a no-paperwork? engine rebuild that was done by someone nobody has heard of in the air-cooled game?
Ownership is grey/contested, mileage is wrong, the interior and the exterior are trashed, rust will appear constantly (look around the windscreens), and you still think it's a good idea?

Why do you want this 993? To drive, or to make money? It ticks neither box.

 

Agree except your argument about the tiptronic ...
Best Porsche option at that time for daily use and none track oriented driving

 

Hi shiftmechanism,
"The car has been sitting outside for over 10 years." Says it all: all the calipers will need to be rebuilt, and probably all the rotors and struts replaced too.
Corrosion in the brake hydraulics may precipitate a major rework. Also, lots of dried-out soft parts, including the ones in the shift linkage, suspension, and steering rack, will probably need replacement.
If you think you will drive it someday, plan to spend more on it overall than you would on a better one in good condition.
If the owner thought it was a restoration candidate, he would have restored it already.
The car is probably best suited for a salvage yard as a source of used parts.
Here is my page on evaluating a 993 for purchase that should give you some insights.
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...-purchase.html
Wants $85K, ha... that's a joke. Even if he gave it away, it probably is not a good deal. Would he sell it to his mother at that price?
Also, when you do get a car, I would avoid using a shop that says stuff like:
"The shop owner also mentioned the original owner still owes him money, but since they're friends, he's trying to help him out." More like he and the owner, if there is one, want to help themselves to your wallet.
Andy

 

This car is not unlike my lower intestines. Stinky and loaded with danger. Skip it and don't look back. Your gut is right.

 

If I was him, I would've taken your $79k offer and laughed all the way to the bank. I think you dodged a bullet here.

 

I don't understand why people get tangled up on milage discrepancy on these cars as the odometer gear fails on all of them (nothing evil here, they just fail and most people don't fix them) and there is no difference between 114K and 134K miles.
For the original poster here, are you going to do your own work and enjoy doing it? If yes then it is a 15K car but they will hold out for 20K and if you want a TIP then go for it.
Otherwise keep looking. If you think you can find a 993 for cheap or one that need a lot of work and you are not doing the work yourself , you are in the wrong game. I got mine for super cheap , but it came from my neighbor who bought it new in 1994 and I did all the work myself.
You have to know the owner if you want a good deal and have it work out. These are fun cars but they are 30 years old and paying to get them fixed up correctly is going to be more expensive than most people are expecting.
You do not have to do your own work or have a history of doing the work but only those will understand what is required to put a 30 year old Porsche with probably 100,000 + miles into a condition 2+ driver or a number 1 car.
If all you are using is money then you should find an owner or a well known dealer for these cars and be done.
We have a guy in our PCA group who picked up a 37,000 mile 993 C2 from Autokennel in Costa Mesa a few months ago . Beautiful car. Don't know the price but he now has a fully sorted car from a well known seller.
Good luck