1st Time Buyer

[wolfpackpilot]

OK Folks,

Not sure if this is the place to post on buying, but here goes.

Finally at 38 I have my piggy bank ready and I'm searching for my 1st Porsche. I've narrowed it down to a 95-96 993 Coupe or Cab.

Found a really nice (exterior) C4S from a high end Lambo/Ferrari dealer. Drove the car, seems nice, but they have no books or history on the car.

Questions:

Is it even worth doing a PPI with no info?

What are the gotcha's on the C4S?

How do I find a quality tech for a PPI?

What would be the cash benefit in % for buying a car with no maint. history? (5, 10, 20% off the asking price)

Any advice for a 1st time buyer would be great.


Thanks,


BV

[Bill Verburg]

I wouldn't let a lack of documentation stop me, but I would have a ppi and look it over carefully. The condition of the car should speak for itself, no leaks, no dangling pieces, everything works, the wear patterns are all consistent, no noises, etc.

the big almost universal complaints w/ '96 up is CEL caused by SAI. This is a potentially very expensive thing to deal w/ and very frustrating because it is regulatory in nature, mandated by various states for registration but almost totally irrelevant to the performance of the car.

[AFJuvat]

95 & 96 didn't have too many severe issues (severe is defined as costing over $1500 to fix)

Air conditioning evaporator
steering racks tend to go at a rather early age (50K miles or so)
Rust around the front and rear windows.
door stop (if the door clicks when you open it, the stop is broken)
Leaking valve cover gaskets can be pricy to replace (labor intensive)


PPI: If there isn't a local independant porsche place to do a PPI, you can always take it to a dealer. They are used to doing PPIs on cars.

Get the PPI, and use that to negotiate.

When were you in the wolfpack?

Audentes Fortuna Juvat.

AFJ

[aigel]

There is no excuse for no records on such a new car. I would refuse to buy a car that's less than 10 years old with no records.

I would never buy from a dealer. They make money on you and the seller with no value added. Unless you need the dealer's financing, I would buy from a private party.

I recommend you search the local PCA ads and the PCA ads close to you. There seems to be quite a few people that held out for the 997 and are now selling their 993s.

I would also stay away from the 4 wheel drive. I have driven the C4S in an autocross and I was not impressed with the handling of the 4wd and to me it only adds weight and more things to break.

Not sure if I like the wide body (unless it is a turbo), at least for me the huge premium it demands was not worth it. I found a narrow 97 with big red upgrade and it was a much better value.

Cheers, George

[wolfpackpilot]

Thanks for the info!

AFJ, you were right about the evaporator. The one I was looking at needed a new one. I passed on the C4S, and Im still looking. As for the Wolfpack... it was my college mascot, the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University.

This is a great website and Im glad I found it "BEFORE" I buy my auto.

[aigel]

Glad you passed on the 4x4. NC is not as loaded with Porsches as the West Coast is, but you should find something suitable in ample time if you do a serious search. Include online places like cars.com and autotrader where many private parties advertise. A few hundred mile radius will also help to get the numbers up. At any rate, do not buy long distance, unless you have a chance to see the car in person.

George