by law the dealership has to have either the title or a copy of the title at the lot. Ask to see it! I would take it back if they can't show you the copy. Or report them to the DMV immediately.

-Dan

Then again, maybe they would have sent the title if I'd have sent the bill of sale signed before sending a check. Chalk it up to my inexperience in buying cars long distance.

I told them that I'd be reporting them to FL DMV tomorrow. Guess I'll be busy in the morning.

Well, at least it's a 930. So you have something really cool when it's sorted.

In your post I read the mech checked the oil with the engine warmed up. The question that comes to mind is; Did he warm it up and then shut it off to check the oil? If so, there is the answer to the overfill problem. I too as a novice fell prey to the "Gee I didn't know the engine had to be running when you check the oil" thing. Belched so much smoke folks thought we had elected a new pope! As for the title thing, all I can say is I wish you the best of luck.

I just spoke to my mechanic. He tells me he did warm it up and he did check the level while the engine was running. He told me that there are three hoses going to the airbox and that one of them is bad. It appears to be a vacuum line. He's replacing it and is going to test the car. He'll have a report for me mid afternoon today.

Now, this leads to another problem for Jenkin's Auto. In their internet add for the car they listed the major components of the car to be in "Excellent" condition. This included the AC, motor, electrics, tires etc. If in fact this is a motor problem then they will be held liable for lying on the internet about the condition of the car. After I mentioned to them yesterday my discontent with the false advertisement of the car they removed the add from their site. Too bad for them that I had already downloaded the add to my computer and burned a copy to CD for my records.

There are laws to protect consumers against false advertisement. Considering that this advertisement was based over a wired network it may constitute wire fraud. The commision of wire fruad is protected under the RICO act. I sure hope the people at Jenkin's have at least some sense. If not, then it'll be curtains for them. Some people just don't get it.

Sorry for the drama guys. I'm not one that takes being lied to very well. I'll keep you guys posted as to the outcome. They have 24 hours to reply in writing or it's on to my attorney. I'll let him deal with it.

Sorry to hear about your early ownership hassles.

Concerning the title, I would talk only with the owner of the dealership until the issue is resolved to your satisfaction.

Hang in there.

Damn, you southern guys are so mellow..up here in New Jersey we bring a baseball bat to the dealership and maybe tony and the the boys..good luck!

Sorry to hear about your troubles...how bad was that fire? Did it extend to the upper part of the engine (where the fuel injection system is? I sure hope not. A few years back I had a beautiful 1993 VR6 Passat that burned to the ground due to a fuel leak, and had just dropped full coverage insurance. :( It goes without saying that all my cars have extinguishers in them now.

> internet add for the car they listed the major components of the car to be in "Excellent" condition. This included the AC, motor, electrics, tires etc. If in fact this is a motor problem then they will be held liable for lying on the internet about the condition of the car.

Most dealers don't know squat about these cars...as far as they knew the car ran and looked nice. They are not Porsche experts. And it probably is fine and just overfilled with oil. Did the mechanic drain the oil from BOTH the sump and the overflow tank?

The buyer should take all responsibility for having the car inspected by a professional mechanic. So drop the "they will be held liable" rhetoric. The title issue is another matter, and worthy of a lawsuit if it doesn't pan out soon.

The lesson: never buy a Porsche, especially a complex one like a 930, without an inspection by an expert mechanic (PPI). You'll be fine...like you said, these things tend to work out.

I think that this is an OMEN. You are given signs that this 930 may not be for you. It is not a good sign. Go with your first intuition.

This is clearly a message that you need to find another 930.

Sorry. Any car that starts out like this, I will walk away from. Just my .02 cents.

Ihave purchased may used vehicles and other than a PPI, I also go with my gut feeling which has never failed me. If I feel good vibes when testing the car, I buy it. And they have always lasted and performed to my expectations.

I may be superstitious but that works for me.

Never bought a used Lemon in my life..(knocking on wood)

>Sorry. Any car that starts out like this, I will walk away from. Just my .02 cents.

Um...the mechanic overfilled the oil and it spewed out. This is not disaster. Get the oil level right and the car will be fine, no need to panic folks.

No title, not even a copy? hmmmmm.. pretty suspicious.

A fire in the engine bay, hmmmmm... a mechanic overfilling a 911 who himself has owned porsches..hmmmmm..

I'd walk away from it. the title issue is enough to make me question the dealers intent to defraud (maybe) hmmmmm..


there are other 930s out there.

False advertising is not rhetoric. It's against the law. That being said........

My mechanic contacted me this afternoon. Turns out that he in fact did overfill the car. I knew this was the case but he was very relunctant to admit it. After all he almost destroyed the car.

Here's why it caught fire. After he overfilled the oil and ran the car the oil ruined the air filter. He knew that I was going to replace the filter with a K&N filter and informed me that the original filter was too badly soaked with oil to be of any further use. I live 5 miles from the shop and figured it wouldn't be a problem so I agreed to take the car without an air filter.

Because there was no air filter the oil that was belching into the airbox was channeled directly over the right heat exchanger. Poof!

Talked to the dealer today and got some answers on my title. They say that the bank has the title because there was a lien on the car from the previous owner. Apparently they dropped the ball and never took care of it. I was assured the title would be in my hand within a week. No more than 60 days is what Fl law says. I'll have to wait and see. They're sending me a temp tag so that I can at least drive the car.

I don't think this car is a bad omen. That kind of thinking doesn't work for me. The bottom line is that the oil was overfilled and the dealer is scrambling to get me a title. No major deal unless they are lying to me. Then it becomes a big deal.

I've got a 600 SS Kawasaki that was customized for over a year. If anything were a bad omen in my garage it would be that thing. But I got through it after a year of demanding what I paid for through several vendors. I know the ropes when it comes to dealing with cheats and liars. That's all this scenario is. A little pressure in the right spots goes a long way to resolving problems such as these.

Dear Thunder
I am surprised and saddened to hear of your problems. I saw the car before you purchased it. I even ran it for about 15-20 mins and thought it sounded reallly smooth!. Oil level looked okay with clean oil and no major drips. No smoke from start up and settled to a perfect idle. No valve noise and smooth when I pumped the thottle- no popping or missfiring!.
No oil evident!. I did not get to drive it as they said they would only do that after a serious offer and deposit.
I would never get another 911 without PPI as I got stung on my 1st 86ragtop.
I even PPI'd my current targa when buying from a friend!!

I know hindsight is a wonderfull thing! - sorry not much help!
However I would be surprised if there is much wrong with the car.

The people at the Jenkins car lot seemed like a dodgey bunch I must admit- but the same can be said of a lot of sports car salesmen?
I did look in the glove box and there were 2 New Jersey registration cards from an Italian surname- woman. Cannot remember name. Also there were the new jersey tag plates in the trunk. They said it was owned by a friend of their and they were selling it as a favour- however when I mentioned the registered owners name he looked blank!!! ?

The car looked okay but had been tarted up a bit as some car lot salesmen do to their cars i.e. black sticky crap over the side walls to make tires look new! and oil/vaseline on the ****s not to feed the anodizing but to hide the sanded rims!.

However stuff like that is fixable with some TLC.
I do not think you bought a 'dog' - it just needs some tiem and or money spent on it- which would have turned up in a PPI- sorry but true!

Hope the title sorts itself out
PS - I would not threaten these guys as they looked pretty ugly!
Ben

One more thing, the A/C did not work but like a lot of old porsches it may just need a charge. All of the fans sounded quiet and worked!.
The elect windows did NOT work- hope thats and easy one!
The doors opened and closed easily and the bodywork in general seemed 'straight'.
Don't fall 'out of love' with your car and hope all is fixed soon!
Rgds Ben

Thunder, I took a gal out on a first date to see "Falcon and theSnowman", went to seafood afterwards and 15 minutes into the ride home she was feeling sick and I pulled over and had to help her out of the car. She threw up all over my new leather jacket and on May 25,2005 we celebrated our 20th anniversary together.( I wonder if I was wearing too much cologne that night?) True story and don't sweat it.

You guys are so right. Ben..the A/C needs more than a charge. had that done but a true R134 conversion is on the list. I'm going to do it myself. Are there any problems with the car bursting into flames if I install the AC wrong. ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! Sorry fellas I had to. he he he. Got to keep my sense of humor about all of this.

As far as those guys a Jenkins being shifty. I don't doubt it one bit. They are salesmen. As far as threats towards them are concerned, I'm not intimidated by anyone. They can be a bunch of goons for all I care. Bottom line is that the book of law is much stronger than any man I have ever met. You just have to learn how hard to throw it that's all. Right now I'd say they don't like the way the cover on it feels much less wanting to see what's inside of it. They know damned well I'll open that book if they lie to me. As I mentioned above. I spoke with the salesman today. He was a stuttering and nervous man today I can assure you of that.

I like the car. I have no problem fixing it. But to be lied to really gets to me. I don't treat others that way and refuse to be treated that way.

In 1995 I bought my first Porsche, an 84 from a non Porsche shop and the car was on consignment. All of this was pre-Pelican, Rennlist etc. I do go back to Porschephiles though. The out of town, "noncar guy" owner would not let me take the car for a PPI. But I could bring anyone to look at drive it. No lift etc. available. The Porsce owner/ mechanic that looked at it for me couldn't find "anything scary."
I bought the car, put on 100 miles and the clutch went. I still have the car and probably always will. The moral though is if they won't let you drive the car, have a PPI, then walk. There is this perception by non-Porsche car dealers that they have look but don't touch diamonds for sale.
regards,
Steve

Watch out, there maybe a lien on the car. Ask for the bank name and give them a call. They won't release the title until the lien is paid off.
If that is the case is the responsability of the seller to pay off the lien and get you that title.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks PorscheG. I'm on them like white on rice. I think I'll take your advice and contact the bank. That's something I hadn't thought of. I really appreciate all of the help.

what's worse, oil in the air box or carbon canister fragments?