Reminder: PrePurchase Inspection is a must!!!

[Wayne 962]

Just a reminder to everyone that when you're dealing with older Porsches, a pre-purchase inspection is a must. Unless you're buying the car for pennies on the dollar, the added cost of an inspection is a very good insurance policy.

I had Tony Callas and Grant from Callas Rennsport look at a car I'm considering purchasing. Although I often do my own inspections myself, I am not super-familiar with this particular car, and wanted to make sure I had another two pairs of eyes looking the thing over. One thing about Tony & PPIs at Callas Rennsport - most cars don't "pass" their prepurchase inspection - Tony & crew are infamous for their meticulous attention to detail. I know firsthand that it's easy to fall in love with a car and get too close to it without having an external, unbiased perspective.

Tony's PPIs are not cheap - they run up to $500 depending upon what you want looked at, but they are the end-all in inspections. If your potential future-911 passes Tony's tests, then you can be assured that you will have a good chance of having no surprises in the near future. As I've said in the past, I really recommend Callas Rennsport, as their attention to detail (particularly on the PPIs) closely matches what I've talked about in my books and tech articles here at Pelican.

If you do decide to take a car to Tony (located in south Los Angeles / Torrance), then I suggest that you look the car over very carefully yourself - you want to make sure the car looks perfect prior to bringing it in. Also, Tony won't go too far if the car is a lemon or a wreck - he'll call you up and let you know right away, so you don't waste any time / money on the loser car (that happened with a 5-Series I was looking to buy for my wife a few years ago).

Good news, the car I was looking at today got good marks from Tony (not a perfect grade though), and it looks like it will be added to the stable in the future - more details on this later, I don't want to jinx the deal.

-Wayne

[the]

Agree on the value of a great PPI.

And by the looks of that little pic, it looks like your stable is back on the right track again!

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by the

Agree on the value of a great PPI.

And by the looks of that little pic, it looks like your stable is back on the right track again!

More info coming soon, I do not want to jinx it.

Edit: Whoops - too much information in the pic, it's been edited.

-Wayne

[nostatic]

tease...

[livi]

Not even a hint?

Good advice though. Really needs to be underlined. That is my first and foremost recommendation to anyone bying a car and I spent good money on a PPI for my Jeep. With my Carrera however I fell in love on the spot. Took the seller´s word for it being a good one and bought it the same day. Luckily turned out he was honest.

Friend of mine was looking at a very similar car that also looked very nice. He did however use his brain and had a PPI. Turned out it was a complete wallet braker in disguise.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by livi

Not even a hint?

I posted a small, fuzzy pic of us doing the inspection, and someone got clued in, so I had to remove the pic. We'll have to do a Mul run soon!

-Wayne

[Gogar]

It was the steering wheel for me.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Just wrote an article on the importance of _professional_ PPIs, not just done by "your buddy who has a Mustang" or, dare I say it, somebody who's in the PCA and volunteered to do one for you. You'll pay anywhere from $120 (cheap) to $350 (typical) and much more. Interviewed one inspector/assessor in Cali, Lance Coren, who said he once charged $16,000--yes, it was a rare Porsche--but I assume that included a huge amount of provenance and legitimacy research. Coren charges $450 for a basic PPI that involves no travel, and he is a Ferrari and Porsche specialist but does everything.

One inspector in Florida told me that nine out of 10 buyers decide _not_ to buy a car after he inspects it. He specializes in musclecars, in Florida, and I guess there's a lot of dreck in that area.

[the]

Originally Posted by Gogar

It was the steering wheel for me.

LOL, steering wheel, interior, roof, fender, etc.

All I can say is . . . looking good!

[911boost]

I agree, the PPI I got on my turbo was very thorough, and I went into the purchase knowing I was going to need to spend an additional $4k to make it right.

[cgarr]

Just like dating before marriage.. Make sure everything works

[livi]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Just like dating before marriage.. Make sure everything works

Some say I should have made sure of the opposite..but hey fertile and wealthy is not an all bad resume!

[dshepp806]

I, too, was in love with my car when shopping. If I only knew now what I didn't know then.....
Went with the P-wrench who serviced it for the PO's 9 years of ownership....that's with a rebuild (top/bottom) at mid 90K's......When I looked at the invoice for that work,..I nearly became sick (at the thought of ME being confronted with an $18K invoice,..yes, it included MANY other things on top of the rebuild,...) BUT STILL,....

I took the guys at their word (their reputations are well-standing, for sure) and felt like not batting an eye at the $22K asking price for this '89 Silver Anniversary Coupe,..considering what had been done ..I purchased the car at 113K miles.....I was quite lucky, I guess , that I was dealing with honest folks and got a great condition car with much, much life still left on it..... HOWEVER,..she had a cracked dash (I thought: no bigee). Later, I discover the cost of a replacement factory dash and wish I had of tried to negotiate the difference ($1,650, parts alone!) Now, the first "P" in PPI means "POST"..oh well,..I consider myself lucky,..now, about one year later into ownership, having LIVED with this car, making sure ALL is tended to, ALWAYS............................................ .......roll of the dice,..no boxcars here...luckily.

I'll not do it that way again (irregardless of successful gambling)...thanks to Pelican Newsgroup.....................I now know the difference.

Someone who maintains a board such as this will get EVERY LAST BIT OF MY BUSINESS, down to a frikin' screw....the information in this group is priceless,..the people are great, as well.

Please, keep it going!!!!!!


Best,

[Komenda Fan]

I fell in love with a car once, took it in for a PPI and it turned out to be a dog...best money I ever spent was getting the PPI done. Better yet, after I turned that car down, I found my dream car, and it was ten times the car for the same money. ALWAYS...GET...A...PPI. ALWAYS.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Just like dating before marriage.. Make sure everything works

Don't know if that analogy works. "Getting screwed first" isn't necessarily a good thing in this particular case.

Neither is "hand her over to your friend for a test drive to see how tight everything is".

[Zeke]

He heh, I have purchased two 911's sight unseen. I guess I live to be disappointed. But, that makes every discovery of a positive aspect a real smile producer. So far, I've had a lot of smiles and a great time, along with the certain to be disappointments.

I have to add that I didn't pay much for either one. Still, I don't recommend this style to anyone.

[Wayne 962]

Here's Tony Callas checking out the car yesterday:



Another nice shot:




-Wayne

[slodave]

Can I talk now??? Congratulations! Drive it in good health!

Your pic gave away too much

[slodave]

Wayne, repost the small pic, so others can see. Had you not shown the oil door, I doubt I would have recognized it. You are not the type to buy a '72 that has been upgraded to Carrera looks.

Dave

[Jack Olsen]

I'm not often speechless.

Wow.