Fess Up: Did you get a PPI before buying?

[diabolical]

Where's the 'Yes, I got a PPI but the shop that did it were MORONS and missed all kinds of ****!'? Cast my vote for that one please.

[don911]

no, bought it from a grainy autotrader photo. Talked to the owner about the car, sent him a money order, and had the car shipped. Saw it for the first time coming off a trailer in a parking lot. Luckily the car was as described.

[nilknarf]

No PPI for me, but I got the car for a great price knowing for the most part what it would be needing- if there's a next owner for my car (how's that for optimism?), I won't hesitate permitting a PPI for a moment. So far, no huge surprises. Had I paid top-dollar for the car I probably would have gotten one.

Curt

[deathbyspoon]

No, and I wish i did. I wouldn't have bought my car...or if i did, I would've offered him half his asking price. If I'd paid another $8-10K for a cleaner example with a PPI, it would've saved me the headache and $30k+ in resto-modding that my "deal of the century" has turned into.

[bornrich]

On my 81 911 SC I did not and got lucky. The car was solid and I did do my limited personal inspection at the time. But then I also didn't have a lot of experience with 911's at the time. I kept the car for 11 years with minimal issues.
When I bought my 99 996, I had the PPI done and found some issues that I negotiated the price down with. Well worth it.

[dcjones56]

Nope, didn't get a PPI on Imogene since the car had a full engine rebuild and clutch, over $17,000 of receipts came with the car detailing the work done. Mr. Howard Freeman personally drove the car to my neck of the woods and allowed me to test drive her on familiar roads. Also, my buddy test drove the car, he also owns a 1982 SC, and he loved her as well. When I worked the deal out with our Fellow Pelican and heard that Mr. Freeman had done the work, this was before I had seen her in person, in my mind I had already committed to buying the car. I knew she was the one for me. Mr. Freeman's good reputation preceded him and helped sell the car. The Porsche community is so small that a mechanic's reputation always precedes them. But I have had PPIs on cars I didn't buy and was glad I wasted that money. Life is crazy like that.

[techweenie]

I've had Porsches since 1971. Last PPI I got was in 1975. It was way off, in reporting non-existent issues and missing some that were significant. Since then, I've used the 'Butt Gauge.' It's generally worked out well.

[Deschodt]

While I do understand the logic of the PPI, I can't say they have been good to me...

I've bought probably 14-15 P-cars in the last 20y. I've used a PPI only twice...
The first once failed to spot that the car was made of 2 spliced vehicles with no less than 3 VINs on it. The second was the other way around, reported the car has a major oil leak while it turned out to be a minor O ring thing...

I Did get burned a bit on one car I knew I should have PPI'ed, but it's a wash in the end... So far Me 14 - PPI 1... I do my own PPIs now, my strike rate is much better than theirs...

[5495bb]

No PPI for me. I'm pretty skeptical after seeing a few in action. Just made sure the receipts were all there and I got a great '87 for a reasonable price.

[ronster]

Didn't know squat about Porsches except I wanted one. When my '99 Box hit 6K rpm, on the test drive with the top down, and I heard that exhaust note it was all over. Now, at 104K mi. I still smile every time I drive her and she still runs like new.

[65_lincoln]

No, although I spoke to the mechanic who had worked on it most recently, and he assured me that it was in good shape. I was probably lucky and have had very few issues arise in the six years since. However, I have learned enough here to have gotten one for the BMW 540i that I recently bought, and was darn glad that I did.

[quattrorunner]

Not me, on either recent purchase but they were both cheep and the last one didn't even need to run well anyway. Talked to owners at length both times and used the force to help me make my decision. Both times worked out well. Both cars were better than I thought they would be.
When I was younger, 20 years ago, I bought a 72 with two PPI's basicly and got kinda screwed. I make my own decisions with my own brain because I like to take all the blame and don't like to have ill feelings toward someone I pay for their knowledge. And, I feel like I'm smarter than everyone anyway

[lsf911]

I did not get a PPI. It was very risky on my part but I got a good feeling about the car and the previous owner (owned it for 27 years, car is an 83). I did speak to the mechanic and got some information from him too.
I have had the car for 7 months now and have been very happy with it. There has been a couple of surprises but nothing big.

[chicago_82sc]

No on my 1982 SC - should have. I spent a fair amount sorting things out. Might have caught the hack job top end done on the right side.
Yes, on my 1997 933S. Learned my lesson. It was also a significantly more expensive purchase.

[foxpaws]

Yes on this 'round' of Porsche purchase. Looked at a lot of cars, most didn't make it to the discuss the PPI part, three did. One the owner backed out the day I was picking it up for the PPI stating 'I sold it to someone else' (however weeks later the car was still for sale), one made it to the lift where I work (sort of a pre-PPI) and never made it to my mechanic, it was hurtin' and we noticed a bit of frame damage. Welpe passed with flying colors on the lift at work, was transferred to my mechanic who stated he was going to buy it if I didn't...

2 years later (knock on wood) - oil changes and a valve adjustment... period. Not a drop of oil ever on the ground, starts without fail, Welpe is a joy to drive and own. I would recommend it if you aren't going to be really tackling the job on your own, and don't have access to a lift. Even though I have access to a lift and ASE mechanics - I still am glad I went that extra mile and buck... I have never been happier with a car purchase.

[diverdan]

Once in 1995 on a 928 which I still own. Another 928 was recommended by a dealer workshop manager, and one 911 was recommended by the same workshop manager who had moved to an independent shop. Usually the mechanics who maintained the cars were helpful and sometimes I just jumped and handed over the cash. Nice cars usuallymake the best deals. So the answer is mostly "no."

Dan

[Joeaksa]

Yes and no in my case. Was an active aircraft mechanic at the time and went over the car with a fine tooth comb. Found a couple of minor issues and talked the guy down by $1800 over them.

Drove the car 800 miles home and loved it. That was 14 years ago and doubt that I will ever sell it.

[landrover88]

Wow

In my case knew the seller and price was 2500 lower than i was going to offer.

The fellow just bought a M cab and a 2008 porsche cab.

Guess this old horse of mine was out the door.

[Wiese]

I did not do a PPI on either of my P-cars, but a thorough personal inspection and review of the documentation. I am happy to say that it worked out for me and I had found most of the issues myself which helped me negotiate the price down quite a bit in both cases.

I have also found from talking to others that PPIs can overlook large issues and over report small ones. Also, I find that you need to do a long test drive in various traffic situations (city, highway, backroad) - it will tell you a lot.

[tt475197]

Bought my car via a WTB ad. Looked at six cars, tried to haggle the price on the first one I viewed for almost a year since it was an all original, two owner car with very low mileage. Eventually capitulated and agreed to buy the car at the requested price provided that the PPI was OK.

During the PPI at the Porsche Center the mechanic said "If you don't buy it, I will!". That closed the deal.