Tempted....but.....

[jjflash]

On eBay:

Porsche : Boxster : eBay Motors (item 300410504883 end time Apr-02-10 19:51:59 PDT)


This 2000 model fits a lot of my criteria but there are some questions I want to throw it here about how I can properly evaluate it since the seller seems, mmmm, a little touchy about a real PPI. Here's a list of my pro's and con's:


Pro's:

1. It's cheap--below $10K.
2. It's a 2000 with the 2.7 engine and the updated steering wheel shifters (I think).
3. It's a Tip, which I am starting to consider a plus for my needs.
4. Not a BAD color, although wouldn't be my first choice.
5. I kind of like the "wood" touches--although I suspect they may not be real wood ;-).
6. It's semi-local--within driving distance for an inspection.
7. IT'S GOT THE HARDTOP!

Con's:

1. Mileage is a little higher--over 100K.
2. No records of maintenance.
3. The only reason I haven't gone down to OC to take a look was that when I contacted the seller on eBay and told him that I was a cash buyer and interested in the car, but that if it passed my visual inspection I would want to have a real PPI done, at my expense. His response was that if I wanted to bring a mechanic to look at the car, OK; if I wanted to take the car somewhere, not OK. Quote: "I don't like mechanics. They always want to find things wrong with a car." That kind of rubbed me the wrong way and I smart-assed him back with "Well, that's all I need to know--good luck with the sale."

Now that I've backed out of smart-ass mode, I'm wondering if there might be another way to skin this cat, by finding a really good mechanic and taking him down there and checking out the car at the seller's place.

What think ye? Anybody know whether it's possible to do a decent PPI without getting the car on the rack, doing a compression test, etc., etc.? Anyone local anybody can recommend?

Or, am I just getting carried away by the chance to get a hardtop-equipped car at decent price? Actually, if you read his ad, there are quite a few add-ons including the full 9.5% CA sales tax, so it's really about an $11K car. One major problem, or even a lot of deferred maintenance and it's bad buy.

Also complicating things is that our LA house just sold and it looks like we're moving to New Mexico in the next couple of months--maybe not the best time to pull the trigger.

[Wayne 962]

Cool. I like posts like these...

- I like tips, I bought one for my wife about 3 years ago, and it's great around town. She loves it too.

- The wood on the inside, I would suspect that's real wood and from the factory. The big clue is the steering wheel which would be very difficult to "fake" with some aftermarket wood. As far as I know, the wood kit was available from the factory when new, and the steering wheel did come like that. Not a cheap option.

- Hardtops are cool, and they cost about $1000 if you bought one on Craigslist or some place like that. That said, they are also difficult to ship, so you have to purchase one locally - works out best for buyer and seller sometimes.

- I don't like dealers, and dealers don't like PPIs. I would much rather sell a car to a guy that doesn't want a PPI than some guy who does. It's true, 9 times out of ten, on an older car like this, the PPI will find a laundry list of things wrong that the buyer will then go back and beat the seller up with. If someone wants a PPI done on the car, I usually negotiate the price in advance, and then that's the price, whether the car is perfect, or about to explode. When I bought my 959, that was the way it was with the PPI - the price was the price, and it was take it or leave it (I took it).

- Looks fairly clean, why is the spoiler up in the back? Does the guy know enough about the car to put it down using the hidden switch near the fuse box?

- Guy's a dealer, yet these photos are taken in front of a house. Yellow flag for me.

- What is the condition of the plastic window that you cannot see?

These are really neat cars and you get a lot for $10K these days. As with any Boxster, you may have problems in the future, or it may run to 150,000+ miles without any issues. Change the oil every 3,000 miles. Problems with the IMS can sometimes be detected by comparing left/right camshaft deviation when the car is running, measuring it with the Durametric tool, or a PST-2. But, if it's running well, then you can just update the IMS anyways.

Have fun! You should go take a look at it regardless, what is life for anyways?

-Wayne

[jcb986]

Ok, so you have a dealer...does he have a sales lot. New way of selling cars is from home. Get a dealer license and go to the auction and buy an auto then list it on craigslist or e-bay or auto trader and find a buyer. Since I know what I am talking about you can bet this is a $2-3 pounder, which means, he can make $2000 to $3000 off the car. I wouldn't waste my time on a $100 or $500 sale, no way. So, he really doesn't know anything about this car and you said there is no paper history, this should alert you. No auto sales company will let see this kind of paper work. Scares most people away.
Yep, it's a 2 owner in exceptional condition...come see for yourself. Then you get the potential buyer excited in touching and driving the vehicle which makes a personal bond. Bang, you're hooked. Don't make it personal...yep, it's a nice one but just a little out my reach and I'm a little worried about the mileage. This is when the sales start...well, maybe we can come to an agreement, I can give a little. Remember, it has 100K on the clock, so, you have a lot of maintenance for the future.
I looked at the images of the car and it looks like it's been taken care of, and since it's CA car, you folks do a lot of highway driving, that's good. A Porsche likes to be driven, not sitting. The TIP is a plus for me...the IMS problem is more with the sticks than the TIP's. I would tell him, I have a small Porsche shop, not a dealer, that I would like them to look it over and give me an assessment of what I may need to do in the future. Also, you now can see under the engine for leaks, etc. You can tell him you're DIY guy and you just want to get a handle on what you may need to do right after you make the purchase. Make him feel comfortable about your concerns, and proceed from there. If he says no...walk away or tell him, ok, I will give you $7500 cash. He will turn that down...well, what did you expect, I need to know what I am getting into.

[headdead]

For what it's worth, I noticed this posting over a month ago, so he may be open to negotiation.
I say "go for it" but then again, last month I fell in love with a 2000 Boxster in Arctic Silver and brought it home, so I may be biased...

[jjflash]

Originally Posted by headdead

For what it's worth, I noticed this posting over a month ago, so he may be open to negotiation.
I say "go for it" but then again, last month I fell in love with a 2000 Boxster in Arctic Silver and brought it home, so I may be biased...

I noticed it previously also. I've tried to re-contact him, but haven't heard anything back. I wish I hadn't been so dismissive--you'd think I'd have learned that lesson by now! It's worth an hour drive to check it out in person, just because it has the hardtop!

He doesn't have any contact info other than the eBay link, so I'm now at his mercy.


(Sharky wants a Boxster to play with.... )

[jjflash]

Someone from Florida hit the "Buy It Now" button and it's gone.

Next:

2000 base with a 2004 engine - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by jjflash

Someone from Florida hit the "Buy It Now" button and it's gone.

Next:

2000 base with a 2004 engine - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

That's a sign that the market thought it was a fairly good deal - bought sight unseen, plus have to ship all the way to FL ($600-800 more). Keep that in mind when checking out pricing on other cars.

-Wayne

[jcb986]

Well, the guy in Florida may be an impulse buyer and in 6 months he may be wishing he never bought it. I Like to drive it, look it over very closely and get it inspected for hidden problems. I live in Orlando, Florida and finally found the one I've been waiting for. It was listed on craigslist and was in Ft. Lauderdale. I sent him an email and made a deal to come down and inspect it and was there a dealer I could take it to for an inspection. He had no problems with that and give me the names of two dealers, one in Miami and one in Ft. Lauderdale. Needless to say, I wasted no time in closing the deal. A 2000 S with 62,000 miles, one owner, clean history, came with just about all the options you could get then, plus it had a Valentine 1 radar system installed with the display in the rear view mirror. I have the sticker which was just under $70,000 and the radar was not on it. Must have been dealer spec option. Hold out for what you really want and wait, but be ready buy.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by jcb986

I have the sticker which was just under $70,000 and the radar was not on it. Must have been dealer spec option.

The rear view mirror thing is an aftermarket accessory - a car stereo shop probably installed it...

-Wayne