Dealer odometer rollback input

[Plecostomus]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

curious - what was the wrong price? higher-lower?

Hi B, here was the previous email:

Kurt,
We would welcome a PPI on this car.* We had a complete inspection at the best independent Porsche shop in town and spent about $2500 on it, so it is totally ready to go.* We also just installed new tires.* It takes at least $23,500 to buy the car.* Cosmetically on a scale of*1-10, I would call this car about a 9.* Please let me know if I can be of assistance.* There is also a local customer that is interested in the car, so it may not make it to the end of the listing.* You can call me if you would like to proceed.

[5String43]

For what it's worth, my car had been sitting for 11 years when I bought it. So that does happen. Mind you, I've spent a ton of money on the damned thing....

[brads911sc]

I cant recall when... a couple years ago there were 3-4 of us who looked at ebay cars over a 4-5 week period... it was amazing how many low mileage cars didnt even have the period correct Speedo. I wouldnt trust any 30 year old car with under 75k miles unless it had extensive documentation proving the mileage. Buyer beware.

[steve911T]

Pleco, sure you know this but you could also buy a great Carrera 3.2 G50 for that price. Steve

[Plecostomus]

Thanks again, Gents. I'm going to call the mechanic and see what he thinks about the car's general appearnce/wear. Thanks again

[Plecostomus]

Just spoke with the mechanic and, although nice, he could never give me a solid, resounding answer on anything. There was a general hesitancy in everything he explained as if he was being interrogated. I feel that the dealer briefed him to prep for my call That's enough for me!

[Kidasters]

In general - I wouldn't believe the mileage. It's too easy on these cars to either disconnect the speedo or roll it back yourself. I know a guy that drove a 993 turbo to Houston from New Orleans before Katrina with the speedo disconnected, because he didn't "want the mileage" on the car.

When I bought my Targa, the speedo was broken and said 136000. The PO had died, so who knows how long it was like that. I found some reciepts with 132000 on them, so it couldn't have been too long. Then again, NH Speedo is resetting mine to 000000. Why not? My car and I'm renewing it, so might as well start over.

Now - the mechanic, that's a convincer. If you've gotta have that one, find another mechanic and do an independent PPI. Otherwise - walk away.

Ken

[Grady Clay]

That is exactly why you take a car to a mechanic that is unfamiliar with the car and YOU pay him to represent YOUR interests, not the dealer’s.
This guy wants to do more work for the dealer, not you.
Find someone else for a PPI.

Ask the dealer to let you take the car somewhere else.
Ask for the receipts and descriptions of the wonk done.
Ask if there were any issues not completely repaired.

Ask flat-out: “Has this car ever been damaged?”
The only acceptable is an unequivocal “No.”

Is there a warranty? “Show me.”

Best,
Grady

[Staylo]

$23k for an SC is $10k too much, especially with dubious history.

It seems you are committed to making this as difficult as possible. If I may offer some some helpful advice, start looking in California, and stop looking at dealers.

[Plecostomus]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

That is exactly why you take a car to a mechanic that is unfamiliar with the car and YOU pay him to represent YOUR interests, not the dealer’s.
This guy wants to do more work for the dealer, not you.
Find someone else for a PPI.

Ask the dealer to let you take the car somewhere else.
Ask for the receipts and descriptions of the wonk done.
Ask if there were any issues not completely repaired.

Ask flat-out: “Has this car ever been damaged?”
The only acceptable is an unequivocal “No.”

Is there a warranty? “Show me.”

Best,
Grady

Thank you again, Grady. I appreciate it. I will keep this advice for the next one... Its time to let this one go, I'm afraid. The dealer told me it would be a bad idea to talk with the widow about this car since she is devastated from her husband's death. Also, I can't imagine the car sitting for 12 yrs undriven by its owner!

Regards,
Kurt

[Plecostomus]

Originally Posted by Staylo

$23k for an SC is $10k too much, especially with dubious history.

It seems you are committed to making this as difficult as possible. If I may offer some some helpful advice, start looking in California, and stop looking at dealers.

It seems the only ppl these days with near-minty stock black SC's are dealerships! Thanks tho'

Kurt

[johnsjmc]

I bought a 95 993 C2 coupe silver on black 100,000 mi. Burns no oil ,has several upgrades and will need a clutch before long. Less than 20K a yr ago. $23 for an SC is way too much. I,ve owned 3 SCs and wouldn,t look at them over $12-15. I recently sold a very nice SC with a 3.6 etc etc etc. for $17

[Plecostomus]

Originally Posted by steve911T

Pleco, sure you know this but you could also buy a great Carrera 3.2 G50 for that price. Steve

Hi Steve. Thanks for your suggestion. I'm stuck on the sc for a number of specific reasoms!

[Plecostomus]

Originally Posted by johnsjmc

I bought a 95 993 C2 coupe silver on black 100,000 mi. Burns no oil ,has several upgrades and will need a clutch before long. Less than 20K a yr ago. $23 for an SC is way too much. I,ve owned 3 SCs and wouldn,t look at them over $12-15. I recently sold a very nice SC with a 3.6 etc etc etc. for $17

Yes, but I'm a bit of a nut, John!

[Por_sha911]

I'm wondering if this dealer was in TX by chance?

[BKC]

FWIW, the Carfax on my BMW, which I've owned for 5 years, shows an accident two years ago in New York. Moral of story is that Carfax is, in my opinion, unreliable and may shed poor light on undeserving cars. Attempts to remove the erroneous info from the report have been unsuccessful.

[yelcab1]

If I were serious about the car, I would inspect the car for what it is today and buy it based on its present condition. I don't buy cars to preserve them so I don't care much about mileage. But, if you were looking for a true low miles car and this is a sticky point for you (as it will be for other future buyers), then walk away. There are many SC's to choose from.

[island911]

Originally Posted by Plecostomus

Thanks Gents. I just got an email from the dealer, below. The car presents very nicely and has little wear in the seats. All stock. Really what I've been looking for..



Kurt,
We have a lot of problems with the state emissions stations putting the wrong mileage on the inspection reports.** It probably had 53k at the last inspection in 1999.* If you noticed, there were no more inspections after that time.* The owner died and the car set for a long time and we bought it from the widow.* We just spent about $2500 on it at the local P&A to get it in top mechanical shape.* We also just installed new tires.** It is an incredibly nice car.** I will be in the office Saturday from 10 until 4pm and I would love to show it to you. * I got the price wrong.* It is $23k.

fwiw, I had a similar issue with the emissions stations. ...I told the guy the mileage; 100,028 ("one hundred thousand and twenty eight"). . . only to find out later that he typed in 128,000.

I expect that Carfax will pass-on that mistake, and give my SC's "Carfax" history a black-eye.

Anyway, mileage really is a diminishing issue, in the context of time. Sure it helps tell the story -in this case, check the fuel tank for a band of rust- but after a few years (decades?) it's all about condition. ..and the miles on the clock are just a small part of the story.

[175K911]

Originally Posted by Plecostomus

Thank you again, Grady. I appreciate it. I will keep this advice for the next one... Its time to let this one go, I'm afraid. The dealer told me it would be a bad idea to talk with the widow about this car since she is devastated from her husband's death. Also, I can't imagine the car sitting for 12 yrs undriven by its owner!

Regards,
Kurt

I'm sorry but this story just gets more fishy all the time.

In a previous email the dealer says "The owner died and the car set for a long time and we bought it from the widow"

Now he says "it would be a bad idea to talk with the widow about this car since she is devastated from her husband's death". Did he die 12 years ago and she's still grieving, or did he just die. Or is it all just a big fabricated story.

As others have said, $23,000 is way too much for any SC with a 12 year gap in it's history. That's even top $$ for a nice 84-89 Carrera. Heck I've seen nice 964's for that price. I know of 2 996's with 60k miles for that price.

[Plecostomus]

Thank you fellas very much. It is fishy whats going on, but Ive emailed the dealer and told him when he's ready to deal to email me. I will get a strong ppi done should we ever get there.

As for the three other "mint" low mile cars I'm eyeing, these guys all expect $25 to 29k for their cars. And were only talking 50-60k miles range...these mileages may be fraudulent as well! :0

Not whining, btw....just ready to buy!!