TL;DR: Bought a "well-sorted" 1984 911 for $51K without a PPI. Post-purchase inspection revealed $44K in needed repairs including engine rebuild. Don't be me.
The Setup
I recently purchased a 1984 911 Carrera from a seller 3,000 miles away for $51,000. The seller had extensive documentation of maintenance over the years and described the car as "well-sorted and needing nothing." I was having difficulty finding a convenient independent shop near the seller to perform a pre-purchase inspection, and frankly, I got caught up in the excitement and convinced myself the documented maintenance history was enough.
I was dead wrong.
The Reality Check
I had Trafton Foreign Auto in Portland perform a post-purchase inspection immediately after taking delivery. Here's what they found:
The Big One:- Engine rebuild recommended: $29,640 - Oil leaking from cylinders, suspected broken lower head studs on cylinder #2, cylinder #6 gasket partially protruding, "triangle of death" leaks (PCV, oil pressure sender). The shop can't say for certain if the engine needs a full rebuild, but they're quoting for what they think to be the worst possible outcome and will know nothing further until they're able to actually pull and inspect the engine.
Everything Else That's Wrong:- Transmission: Shift coupler bushings shot ($585)
- Transmission mounts worn allowing 1/2" vertical play ($617)
- Front & rear shocks leaking, bushings cracked ($2,608)
- Control arms and ball joints completely worn ($2,724)
- All sway bar bushings and links need replacement ($735)
- Tie rod ends blown ($650)
- CV boots ready to split ($900)
- All brake rotors warped and scored, pads due ($2,357)
- Front and rear brake hoses cracking ($1,045)
- Tachometer needs internal repair ($200)
- Speedometer/odometer issues ($500)
- Various other smaller items
Total recommended repairs: $44,050.96
My Questions for the Community
Engine decision: Is it worth rebuilding a 1984 3.2L at this cost, or should I source a used engine?
Prioritization: If I can't do everything at once, what's the safest order to tackle these repairs?
Legal recourse: The seller clearly misrepresented the condition. Anyone had success pursuing sellers for significant misrepresentation like this?
Cut and run: At what point do you just accept the loss and move on?
The Lesson (Please Learn From My Stupidity)
GET A PPI. ALWAYS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
I don't care if:
- The seller has a binder full of receipts
- The car is 3,000 miles away
- You can't find a convenient shop
- The seller seems trustworthy
- You're "good at spotting problems"
- The photos look great
- You're excited and don't want to lose the deal
None of that matters. A 2-hour, $400 inspection could have saved me from this $44K nightmare.
If you can't arrange a proper PPI,
walk away from the deal. There will always be another car. I thought I was being reasonable by relying on maintenance records, but those records clearly didn't tell the whole story.
The seller either:
- Knew about these issues and lied
- Was completely oblivious to the condition of their own car
- Had been taking it to shops that weren't being honest about needed repairs
None of those scenarios end well for the buyer.
For Those Who've Been Here
If you've dealt with similar situations - major undisclosed issues after purchase - I'd love to hear how you handled it. Did you pursue the seller? Focus on the repairs? Cut your losses?
Right now I'm sitting on a car I paid $51K for that needs $44K in work to be roadworthy, and I'm kicking myself for the most expensive lesson I've ever learned.
Don't be me. Get the PPI.
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1984 911 Carrera, 123K miles, currently more of a very expensive paperweight than a sports car
