PPI results - help decide what to do

[MonkeyBoy]

I had a PPI done on a triple black 96 C4 cab with 16K miles. Factory options include:

159 Motor Sound Pkg
373 Left Sport Seat w/ Power Height Adjuster
374 Right Sport Seat w/ Power Height Adjuster
408 18" Technology Design Wheels [1996]
C02 Equipped with catalytic converter
X76 Flared Rocker Panels
Y06 Shift Lever/Brake Handle-Aluminum
Y29 Aluminum/Chrome Pkg (instruments, tailpipe, door sill)
M6B Porsche Floor Mats
419 storage compartment in place of rear seats
498 badge delete (badge was added later)
445 Wheel Rim Caps with Porsche Crest


The dealer was asking $44K and I put a deposit down at the agreed up $41.5K subject to a PPI. I just got the results and I'm not sure

a) how much I should lower my offer
b) whether I should try to lower my offer and go for it if they refuse
c) walk and keep looking.

Here are the results:

Cosmetically, the car looks like a 16K mile car should - very clean. There are some scrapes under the front valence from bottoming out that are visible only when under the car.

One of the fenders was bolted on slightly crooked, but there was no indication of any accident and the paint seems to match perfectly - may have been removed and reinstalled for some other reason.

There are some wear marks on the top. There is a little puckering at the top of the rear window, but it doesn't seem like there is a gap where air could get through.

The support struts (shocks) for trunk and engine compartment need to be replaced.

Front tires have some dry rot, rear tires are a bit worn on inside and have some rot (both original).

New battery, but wrong one (AC Delco)

No Wheel lock key to be found

No manual

Creak in dash when braking hard

Brake calipers painted red (not big reds) and red paint is peeling off

Remote radar detector installed, brand unknown

boot (tonneau) cover sealed, unused

After market stereo, several amps in trunk

Electric modules in each of the door pockets. Possibly crossovers for aftermarket stereo, possibly for door locks

Clicking heard for first few minutes after cold start seemingly from door locks - sounds like the doors are trying to unlock but are already unlocked - possibly related to these modules but unsure.

Of these issues, I'm most concerned with the top, tires, the clicking, and these unidentifed door modules. Any advice for the next step? I can post a bunch of pictures if that helps.

[RickM]

The fender and dash creak would bother me the most.

Can you have a top-shelf body shop do a PPI as well?

[MonkeyBoy]

I probably can - are there any non-body repairs that necessitate the removal of a fender?

[RickM]

Perhaps an oil cooler...if located there for the year. Which side?

This is were records would be nice or a call to where the car was serviced. A Carfax can't hurt either.

[RickM]

BTW, sounds like a nice car.

[BGCarrera32]

After market stereo, several amps in trunk

I smell the smell of something that smells smelly here...

c) walk and keep looking.

Ta Da...

Even makes me think the mileage may not be accurate, especially for a 96...

And its a C4 which means slightly higher costs *IF* there are some hidden extras in there for you.
I don't know what you paid for your PPI, but don't consider it wasted money if you keep looking. $41.5k is A LOT of money...

Best of luck-
BG

[nostatic]

is it a Porsche dealer, or some independent corner lot place?

The windshield creak is well known for coupes...never heard of it for cabs. For some reason it doesn't feel like a good car to me, but I'm a cynic. Cheezy caliper paint and a bunch of (possibly incorrectly installed) stereo stuff are a red flag to me.

Who did the PPI? What are the compression numbers? Leakdown? All the stuff you list should be evident on a good looking over by you so what did the shop actually do?

[Thomas Owen]

Stereos, batteries, hood shocks can all be replaced. What would bother me is the fender issue and the possiblity of an accident. That could come back to haunt you.
Good luck, and be careful.

[RickM]

Mileage kinda goes with the tire dry rot. So that wouldn't alarm me too much. However, without looking at the car in person it's impossible to judge.

[MonkeyBoy]

It was the right front fender that was reinstalled. The PPI was done by Becker Automotive in Naperville, IL, who came highly recommended. I'm purchasing this long distance so I didn't actually see the car. I didn't have them do a leak down or compression test. They felt that the dash creak could have been the result of the aftermarket stereo installation. Regarding C4 maintenance expenses, I'll be driving this in the snow so I'm set on a C4. The carfax came back clean.

[MonkeyBoy]

Forgot to mention, it had the 15K service done, but I know that's a cheap one.

[BGCarrera32]

I guess my bias comes from my own experience of finding mystery wires and a rats nest of alarm garbage installed either by a teenager or a total idiot under the foot board of my Carrera. You can burn hours and hours removing and chasing down problems even if you are half way decent with electronics (I am). The replaced battery indicates to me it either sat a lot or had the stereo played to death, and the AC Delco part says the owner was unwilling to keep it original and shell out for the *right* battery. Originality in my '84 Carrera is one thing, but a '96 with 16k mi isn't that old.

The mystery modules can leave holes in expensive door panels, redoing the paint correctly on the calipers if you are anal about it would warrant removing them.

Obviously no vehicle is perfect, it really depends on what you want to do with this car.

[chrisp]

I would personally walk away if I saw painted calipers and "several amps in the trunk". Also does the worn inside edge of the rear tires indicate a lowering w/o an alignment? Are the tires the same as what the factory shipped it with? If they have been replaced and these are worn it could be an abused car. Not all people with Red calipers and amps abuse their cars but, to me, it would be cause for concern.

Good luck.

[RickM]

MB,

Any records or know where the car was serviced? How many owners?....can they contact him/her for an explanation?

[Beethoven]

The one thing that would worry me is painting the brakes. Why would anybody do that? Either because they want to show off (best case, somehow goes with the stereo stuff), or to deceive.

[RickM]

Time for a Local Pelican to mosey on by....

[MonkeyBoy]

Originally posted by BGCarrera32

Obviously no vehicle is perfect, it really depends on what you want to do with this car.

That's a good point. I don't care about originality. I don't want too many headaches, but I'm good with car electronics so I can probably sort out that issue myself. I'm also not necessarily in the market for such a low mileage car. I've been looking at some with 60K for about $5K less with fewer options that probably had some issues that would need immediate attention. This one popped on the market and I figured perhaps the $5K delta would make sense from a reliability standpoint. Particularly, I heard that if you drive pretty hard the CEL issue doesn't pop up, and this car has such low mileage that perhaps there hasn't been much carbon build up yet, and I know that I'll drive it pretty hard. If I buy a 60K 96-98 993, I'd probably be a little more nervous about that issue.

[RickM]

Quote: "Why would anybody do that?"

I think quite a few people do this...

[MonkeyBoy]

Originally posted by chrisp
Also does the worn inside edge of the rear tires indicate a lowering w/o an alignment? Are the tires the same as what the factory shipped it with? If they have been replaced and these are worn it could be an abused car.

Car was not lowered. The shop told me that the wear was pretty typical and that the car could have used an alignment. The tires are factory originals.

[stealthn]

Yes I'd keep looking...you'll want to put money into a car even if it's "mint" so to add all the headaches of what the PO did can/will cost you more in the long run.
I think the fender and creak would leave me wondering if the cars been in an accident. The door click would lead me to beleive the PO butchered the wiring to fit those "amps".
Get the best stock or slightly modified example you can find for the money as that's alot of money to part with.

My two cents (CDN)