I need help- Buy a SC with no PPI?

therotman · 08-19-2005, 07:56 PM

I just found this for sale and and contemplating buying it but the auction ends before I would have a chance to have a PPI performed(Monday at noon). I drove it and it drove very nice and smooth- everything seems to work and it was supposedly just maintained by a Porsche shop in the SF bay area. The paint looks like it has not seen too much sun, but it has way more than it's fair share of scratches(they are everywhere). The headliner needs to be replaced as well but other than needing paint at some point it seemed to be a great car.

Please provide me with feedback on what you would do.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4569018582&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

rrpjr · 08-19-2005, 08:24 PM

What SoCal said. There really should be no such thing as "no chance" to confirm at least the basic soundness of a $10,000 purchase.

hermzz911 · hermzz911's Garage

Like SoCal said, I wouldn't.

With close to 150K miles, you need to know the quality of the engine. Any maintenance history available for review? Can you get the name of the SF Porsche shop and talk to them?

Only other avenue might be if someone on the board knows of this car.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

the auction ends in 2 days and there have been zero bids. You drove the car so you must live close by. Why not tell the guy you'll buy it as long as it passes a PPI? It won't cost him anything. Seems to me your in the power seat. He has no bids and a buy it now at the opening price.

It's a great color. It may be good for 50,000 miles before it costs you another $10,000.
High mileage cars will need suspensions, engines and paint. Plus the million little things that go wrong. Other than that, these things run forever! And our lives are so short...

ubiquity0 · 08-19-2005, 09:36 PM

This car has been on the market a 'healthy' amount of time for $9950. I don't think you should feel pressured into rushing into a purchase without due diligence in the next 2 days.

jfw834 · jfw834's Garage

i concur with the rest of the folks here.....while it may be a great little SC, you have to run the tests or who knows what it might cost you.

am I seeing things or does that look like an 83 SC that was for sale last year at GAF in ventura? i looked at a pic i have of it and it is damn near the twin or the same car that was there. they were asking $18k for it last year....i remember it cause it was so absurdly overpriced. can't remember the milage though.....thought it was less than 150k. I DO remember that there were about 3000 paint chips that were touched up with badly matching paint.......thought that was not a good sign as well.

if you like the car, it drove well, tell the guy you will by it subject to a clean PPI. if he won't agree to the PPI, tell him to get lost.

pa911 · 08-19-2005, 09:58 PM

It appears to be a decent car,but from your location I think you could find something better for that price.alot depends on your mechanical skills if you have to pay someone to do the all the work on it I would pass.I bought one without a ppi I consider myself very lucky nothing major,just lots of minor problems that would of cost a small fortune if I had to pay someone else to repair it.PASS ON THIS ONE.unless you get the PPI.

therotman · 08-19-2005, 11:10 PM

The seller seems very straight forward and a good guy- he just bought the car from the side of a road in the bay area, and had it trailered down here to sell(i'm guessing it was a few grand cheaper up there). He is a car guy, albeit not a porsche guy, who i think just saw a good deal. He's only had it a few weeks, but supposedly the previous owner had it for almost 30 years.

He is willing to let me perform a PPI, but if you look on e-bay he already has one bid for the amount he is looking for. I may try to get one of the shops in my area to do the PPI first thing monday morning before the auction ends, but it ends around noon -I'm going to call tomorrow morning to see if anyone can do it.

The car really drives great- much better then the 89 I just drove- I just wish I found this one earlier in the week to give me time for the PPI.

Thanks for all the input- I was really pretty set on it until now.

I try not to care about it, but I love this color

FOr some reason I did not ask to see any record of where it was serviced or what was done (he said it had carrera tensioners and a pop off valve) I'll ask tomorrow.

aigel · aigel's Garage

What everyone else said. I have seen this car around for sale for at least 6 months. It is too expensive with the paint being bad like that and higher miles. I can even SEE the bad paint in the pictures. My paint isn't flawless, but I have yet to see it show in pictures. There should be no hurry. Wait for the end of the auction and come in with a lower offer in person. Then do a PPI and take it from there. There is tons of 10k SCs in the Bay Area and you can do better, IMHO.

George

therotman · 08-19-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jfw834

am I seeing things or does that look like an 83 SC that was for sale last year at GAF in ventura? i looked at a pic i have of it and it is damn near the twin or the same car that was there. they were asking $18k for it last year....i remember it cause it was so absurdly overpriced. can't remember the milage though.....thought it was less than 150k. I DO remember that there were about 3000 paint chips that were touched up with badly matching paint.......thought that was not a good sign as well.

It's not the same car. This has 50,000 scratches, but it has never been touched up anywhere. It also only had one dent that I could even find. The paint is in great condition, except where it has been scratched completely off

aigel · aigel's Garage

Sounds like you'd want to paint it sooner than later. Paint should be on the order of 5k. The old story of every 911 being a 20k car!

George

therotman · 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aigel
Sounds like you'd want to paint it sooner than later. Paint should be on the order of 5k. The old story of every 911 being a 20k car!

George

I see paint as two years from now.........guess that brings me close very quickly the the $20k!

I am also having the carfax checked on it-

aigel · aigel's Garage

therotman:

I think the car may be a good buy, just not for 10k. 8k is more realistic. That's why it is still for sale! Most everyone is turned off by bad paint. It indicates a rough life overall.

My car had some paint problems when I bought it. I used it to negotiate the price down significantly. Fortunately it was fixed with some of my elbow grease and $300!

Now if you have scratches all over the car, a total repaint is in order.

My car still looks good - at least in pictures

Of course it is going for the 20k mark quickly, but that's rather due to track driving additction and related upgrades!

George

therotman · 08-19-2005, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aigel
therotman:

I think the car may be a good buy, just not for 10k. 8k is more realistic. That's why it is still for sale! Most everyone is turned off by bad paint. It indicates a rough life overall.

My car had some paint problems when I bought it. I used it to negotiate the price down significantly. Fortunately it was fixed with some of my elbow grease and $300! Now if you have scratches all over the car, a total repaint is in order.

My car still looks good - at least in pictures Of course it is going for the 20k mark quickly, but that's rather due to track driving additction and related upgrades!

George

Your car paint looks good.

The one I saw needs a re-paint. I clay bar and wax my other cars all the time, but this SC is a lost cause. I could live with it and would actually enjoy not worrying about rocks for a while, but it needs to be fixed. bad.

The engine and tranny on this SC seem great- that's why I really am considering it- guess I need a pro to look at it before I know for sure.

Damn you all for making me double think my irrationality (but really thank you, i think)

livi · 08-20-2005, 01:25 AM

therot,

The general advice is DON´T - without a PPI.

But I don´t think I am unique in terms of spending months of reading up on what to look for, being dead set on a PPI and then spot the car of your dreams. Afraid someone else will snap it away and eager beaver, you forget everything about precaution and just sign the paper right there.

I did just that. Came home, starting to wake up and thinking what the hell have I done ?? So stupid !!

Well, turns out I got lucky. Mine seems OK.

But, the general advice is...

Mike Kast · Mike Kast's Garage

The opening bid for the buy it now price isn't a real bid or the car would be sold. Or am I missing something?
I think that is just the way the seller set up the add.

I don't mean to be an arrogant dick but I am so...
After having a 911 for a year or so you get a feel for them. I don't know if I could tell if a head stud is broken or not.
I don't know if there is a power loss or not, but I test drove a different SC for someone in NY a couple of years ago. The car looked great, low mileage, beautiful paint... excellent to look at, priced right.
When I drove it felt like a dog. I don't know why, but it felt like a dog.
If I hadn't had mine for a year or so I wouldn't have been able to feel any difference. It was like a beautiful but sexually repressed woman. It seemed like more work than it's worth.
Since I bought my car prices have come down about 30%. Take your time. If your like me, and I hope for your sake your not, you will have the car you choose for a long time. Choose wisely.

Nine9six · Nine9six's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Kast
High mileage cars will need..., engines and paint. Plus the million little things that go wrong.

I disagree with this statement. I think the SC engines are basically bullet proof, once properly sorted. (cam tensioners, check for broken studs, valve guide wear)

I would however, insist on a PPI, prior to consumating the purchase.

At the minimum, a leakdown and compression check across all 6 cylinders. Also check brakes, CV joints, suspension components, horn, lights, blinkers, stop lights, etc...

A fair price should be established from what you discover from the PPI. The asking price is not bad if all elements from the PPI are in satisfactory condition.

Issues that are identified as needing to be fixed, would be negotiation points on the price.

therotman · 08-20-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Kast
The opening bid for the buy it now price isn't a real bid or the car would be sold. Or am I missing something?
I think that is just the way the seller set up the add.

The seller did not set any buy it now price- he started the bidding at $9950 and someone bid the minnimum.

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Kast
But I don´t think I am unique in terms of spending months of reading up on what to look for, being dead set on a PPI and then spot the car of your dreams. Afraid someone else will snap it away and eager beaver, you forget everything about precaution and just sign the paper right there.

I've been looking for a couple of months, but I did changed what model I have been looking at. This is only the 2nd car I have driven.

After all the feedback I'm going to tell the guy to contact me if the e-bay bidder falls through. That way I can get it checked out and re-think if it's a good price with such poor condition paint.

anthony · 08-20-2005, 10:03 AM

At $9950, it's not a good deal at all IMO. FWIW, I bought my 84K mile car with excellent paint and a good interior for not much more. Keep looking and don't buy any 911 without a PPI.

mede8er · mede8er's Garage

How experienced of a wrench are you?

How sensitive is your butt.....

What I'm getting at is I've bought a few cars just from test driving and 'feeling' the cars performance by the seat of my pants.....

You seemed pretty pleased with the cars responsiveness....