Do unique factory options make a Porsche harder to sell?

billh1963 · billh1963's Garage

I'm finally (after a couple months of looking) narrowing my search to 993's. I have located a unique 993 painted an odd color blue with custom cloth (factory option) instead of leather. I understand this was typical for European options although this is a US VIN car. Will this make the car more valuable, less valuable, or make no difference? The car has a number of other options (all factory).
What is the long term resale prognosis for this car? Should I look for a "standard" car? To answer your questions...Yes, I really like the car. But, not enough to pay extra nor take a risk of not being able to sell it later. Your opinions, please?

yelcab1 · 11-02-2002, 05:19 PM

Gee

You answered your own question when you said: "really like it but not enough to pay for it."

The special unique equipment will always be worth more to the owner (seller) than it is to the potential owner (buyer). You proved the point.

john_colasante · 11-02-2002, 06:00 PM

Strange yet original options are fun and definately have appeal to a very small subset of buyers (like me and I bet others on this board). However these things will make the car harder to sell to the mainstream because most people shopping for a 993 want a black/red/silver exterior with black/tan interior with original aerokit, 18" wheels and sport seats.

masraum · 11-02-2002, 06:04 PM

A car with cloth instead of leather should actually be cheaper than one with leather (even tho' not everyone prefers leather). Unless it's a really off the wall color of blue that most people don't/won't like it shouldn't really increase or decrease the value of the car.

makaio · 11-02-2002, 06:36 PM

Yes, if it has been treated to the bright green leather treatment

. Like that e-bay car we poked fun of.

NO, if it's something like sunroof-deleate

Or another one I thought of was that pink (inside and out) 993 that someone posted about. That would have to be a smokin' deal for me to buy it

. That would be another hard one to sell IMHO.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Yes. Any time a car's color or equipment eliminates 99% of potential buyers, it will make it harder to sell. Now that doesn't mean that there isn't someone out there who will just love it, (after all, someone ordered it like that), and for cars that do not plan on being sold EVER, like a lot on this board, it's irrelevant, but you have answered your own question with resale comment.

When that car was new, the number of people who did not want leather in an $80,000 car in the U.S. could be counted on your nuts.