Ignorant Buyers

daepp · 09-18-2006, 08:23 AM

After taking my daughter surfing on Satruday, we visited one of my favorite (nameless) Porsche stores. The kind that buys old P-Cars, and either spruces them up or does a frame-off restore, then sells them for what I believe is a 50% markup over market value. I've seen average early cars with the wrong (3.0) in them for $30K +. However, the owner is a pretty nice guy and there's always plenty of eye candy.

Anyway, a guy flys in from up norht to pick up an early "T". I'm guessing the price was in the low to mid 30's. Good looking car - nice respray but paint on the window rubber. I ask the buyer if he would mind if I looked at the engine. "No problem" he says, and moves to the FRONT of the 911 (I kid you not!). He says "I'm not sure how to open it." So I open the drivers door and pull the release for the engine lid. He looked shocked.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or to cry. Who knows, maybe he was testing me - but I don't think do.

Pray for him!

Moral of the story - direct new buyers to the Pelican Forum.

p.s. The engine looked very tired!

widgeon13 · 09-18-2006, 08:32 AM

He'll be posting in the next week wondering how to check the oil level or having overfilled it and wondreing how to get the mess off the floor of his prissy garage.

The old axiom applies "more money than brains", probably just got access to the trust fund and starting off with small purchases. He'll be smacking up a turbo soon enough.

Vipergrün · 09-18-2006, 09:47 AM

He'll post in a month asking about a engine rebuild by MotorMeister

daepp · 09-18-2006, 09:56 AM

I really do pity the guy. He had quite a trip home planned - I hope he makes it!

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by daepp
After taking my daughter surfing on Satruday, we visited one of my favorite (nameless) Porsche stores. The kind that buys old P-Cars, and either spruces them up or does a frame-off restore

I hope they don't do too many frame-off restorations on Porsches!

BTW, is this place on Lincoln Ave., by any chance?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

with a chequered past?

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
with a chequered past?

Perhaps. Just wanted to flag them for prospective buyers...

daepp · 09-18-2006, 02:35 PM

Very funny - okay - no frame off's.

The palce is not on Lincoln - it's on Placentia. But I am unaware of any checkered past. The just charge a lot. Caveat emptor - unless they'v edone something underhanded.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

oh yes...those guys. Not who Bill and I were talking about. I checked out a car at EC before. Way overpriced and a quite *****ty "restoration." The paint work was a joke.

Vipergrün · 09-18-2006, 02:52 PM

Heck, let's throw CC into the mix as well. Their prices are thru the roof as well....

thamlin000 · thamlin000's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by techweenie
I hope they don't do too many frame-off restorations on Porsches!

BTW, is this place on Lincoln Ave., by any chance?

If that is the place I'm thinking of, it's less than a block from where I live. I've been planning on checking it out, but I just moved to town so I'm still busy unpacking.

Thought it would be a great (convenient) place to service my cars but now I'm worried.

Edit: Nevermind, I just did a search and the place looks like bad news.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I know that place. Been there a few times - actually they do get some halfway decent cars in there occasionally but you have to look.

There's actually a pretty well-priced 968 there (or at least there was a month or two ago). Deal-breaker for me was there was a ding in the roof and it was a hardtop (want a convertable or targa).

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by thamlin000
If that is the place I'm thinking of, it's less than a block from where I live. I've been planning on checking it out, but I just moved to town so I'm still busy unpacking.

Thought it would be a great (convenient) place to service my cars but now I'm worried.

Edit: Nevermind, I just did a search and the place looks like bad news.

Actually, I don't think that place on Lincoln does restorations. Just general car lot stuff like detailing and the occasional paint job. I've looked at cars there for friends shopping, and every one I've seen has had a "story."