Mobile Porsche PPIs from Dealership Techs

[fkosarek1]

Hi all!

My name is Frank, and I'm the founder of inspectX (http://www.inspect-x.com). We're a marketplace that connects buyers to modern and air-cooled Porsche techs for mobile pre-purchase inspections.

We go through a 200-point, two-hour inspection on every car, and each of our techs has 10+ years of experience working on Porsches.

If we can help with a PPI on any car, please feel free to reach out on our website.

Thanks!
Frank J. Kosarek
Founder, inspectX Technologies
frank@inspect-x.com
650-665-9217

[Black 993]

Moving this to marketplace discussion. Looks like a cool service.

[manbridge 74]

Dealership techs?

[SoCalSK8r]

Why would someone want a PPI that doesn't involve putting the car up on a lift? Are people really that lazy that they can't bring a car to a real shop these days?

[JMS935]

Originally Posted by SoCalSK8r

Why would someone want a PPI that doesn't involve putting the car up on a lift? Are people really that lazy that they can't bring a car to a real shop these days?

I was wondering the same thing. There are already PPI companies that travel to the car, I just sold a car where the buyer used one. This one was totally worthless, I watched it being performed. It amounted to no more than a basic cosmetic inspection followed by me driving the car with the inspector sitting in the passenger seat because ‘it’s too much risk’ for them to drive it themselves is what I was told. It was a total waste of money for the buyer.

I would never consider something like this at all. It’s hard enough getting a quality and thorough PPI from a fully capable shop even with all of the necessary tools at their disposal, asking for a tech to come to you is only asking for trouble. This sounds like a bad idea to me.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by JMS935

It was a total waste of money for the buyer.

I would never consider something like this at all. It’s hard enough getting a quality and thorough PPI from a fully capable shop even with all of the necessary tools at their disposal, asking for a tech to come to you is only asking for trouble. This sounds like a bad idea to me.

I cant tell you how many very good cars I have seen fail PPI's because of random "inspectors" that would see something they could not easily clarify so they immediately failed the car. Countless "paint flaws" that were not, mechanical changes misunderstood, correct options incorrectly identified. PPI's in general are only one persons opinion and should only be looked at in that light. Weighing them any more than that is a mistake.

[manbridge 74]

Yeah, I don’t think Porsche dealerships are going to be too happy if their guys are moonlighting work on the side either. Maybe he meant ex-techs...

[SalParadise]

My ideas:

1) Unless the techs are at least my age (47) and have been around these cars for at least 20 years, then they would be worthless in looking or inspecting any pre-1989 911.
2) No modern Porsche tech who works on 996/997 or whatever would really know what they were looking at.
3) A lot can be done with a jack and jackstands. You don't need a lift - and sometimes it's preferable not to in some instances. However, I don't know how far this tech would go.
4) A PPI takes time. A lot of time even if you know what you are looking at, it's hard. Sometimes it's a crapshoot. It also has a lot to do with someone's personality. A good car to someone is a bad car to someone else. I am hard on any potential purchase. In all my years, and 100s of aircooled 911s I have looked at, I have maybe seen 4 or 5 really good cars. You have to look at that many to know what you are doing.
5) This could work, but this business model needs some honing (no pun intended). I would start with asking "Who are these techs?" Someone with known abilities and who has a name for themselves is worth a lot more. I mean, if someone like John Walker was going to look at a 911 for me, I'd say he's worth all the money. He's known. Or Techweenie. Who are these "techs"?

[1979-930]

^^^ For #3. How many would even know the proper jack points?
I picture some tech that BS'd his way into the job jacking the car up in the wrong spot and crushing the pan.

[BLACK3.2]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

My ideas:

1) Unless the techs are at least my age (47) and have been around these cars for at least 20 years, then they would be worthless in looking or inspecting any pre-1989 911.
2) No modern Porsche tech who works on 996/997 or whatever would really know what they were looking at.
3) A lot can be done with a jack and jackstands. You don't need a lift - and sometimes it's preferable not to in some instances. However, I don't know how far this tech would go.
4) A PPI takes time. A lot of time even if you know what you are looking at, it's hard. Sometimes it's a crapshoot. It also has a lot to do with someone's personality. A good car to someone is a bad car to someone else. I am hard on any potential purchase. In all my years, and 100s of aircooled 911s I have looked at, I have maybe seen 4 or 5 really good cars. You have to look at that many to know what you are doing.
5) This could work, but this business model needs some honing (no pun intended). I would start with asking "Who are these techs?" Someone with known abilities and who has a name for themselves is worth a lot more. I mean, if someone like John Walker was going to look at a 911 for me, I'd say he's worth all the money. He's known. Or Techweenie. Who are these "techs"?

You've only got a couple years on me, but I completely disagree with your comment on age. I know some very intelligent, hard working young mechs who I'd trust working on any car, regardless of marque. By contrast, I've met plenty of arrogant and irresponsible older marque specialists.

For my 911, a bright young non specialist mechanic recently diagnosed and fixed a faulty suspension installation as a knocking noise that three older, experienced (and nationally renowned) air cooled techs had explained away as characteristic G50 rattle.

I guess I'm just disagreeing with your blanket statement on youth.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by BLACK3.2

You've only got a couple years on me, but I completely disagree with your comment on age. I know some very intelligent, hard working young mechs who I'd trust working on any car, regardless of marque. By contrast, I've met plenty of arrogant and irresponsible older marque specialists.

For my 911, a bright young non specialist mechanic recently diagnosed and fixed a faulty suspension installation as a knocking noise that three older, experienced (and nationally renowned) air cooled techs had explained away as characteristic G50 rattle.

I guess I'm just disagreeing with your blanket statement on youth.

I can see this. I could see arrogance getting in the way of good judgement in this case, with "heck, I'm this old and I know everything" attitude.

I am the first to agree that age does not necessarily bring wisdom.

I believe I should have said that most young techs (in this case, maybe in their 20s) may not know what is going on with older cars (especially if they work at a current dealership which sells the latest aircooled variants).

I know some as well. Learning curves are different, but just because you are a Porsche Tech (whatever that means) doesn't mean you know the game no matter what the age.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by 1979-930

^^^ For #3. How many would even know the proper jack points?
I picture some tech that BS'd his way into the job jacking the car up in the wrong spot and crushing the pan.

This is an interesting question.

When I started working at a known Ferrari importer in Connecticut when I was 17, we were also bringing in many Lamborghinis, Mercedes, and Porsches (for EPA/DOT work).

There were a couple of incidents which involved cars, a Lamborghini comes to mind, where the person did not know or research where the jack points were. A frame was damaged on the lift.

I come from a school where you have to know where to jack. I was taught this by an employee who worked for Luigi Chinetti on both showroom cars - and racing cars. On 911s I have owned, the oil lines from front to back have been crushed, the rear engine sump plate bent, etc for people who did not know - or probably just did not care.

You can certainly do a lot with a proper jack and stands. Most Italian mechanics I know prefer it. But at the end of the day, you have to know how to use them.

Most people don't know jack.

[BLACK3.2]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

I can see this. I could see arrogance getting in the way of good judgement in this case, with "heck, I'm this old and I know everything" attitude.

I am the first to agree that age does not necessarily bring wisdom.

I believe I should have said that most young techs (in this case, maybe in their 20s) may not know what is going on with older cars (especially if they work at a current dealership which sells the latest aircooled variants).

I know some as well. Learning curves are different, but just because you are a Porsche Tech (whatever that means) doesn't mean you know the game no matter what the age.

Well said, my friend!

[SalParadise]

...and my last comment on this is that the OP sarek should have gotten involved with this site before plugging himself for free with just one posting. He could probably get many referrals from this site and more if he got involved with the scene he supposedly represents...I don't see it on one post.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

. . .
I come from a school where you have to know where to jack. . . .

???

!!!




Soooo nasty, Sal! My kinda' peoples!!!

[timchar]

If you purchase the car they charge 5% of purchase price. So 2K on a 40K car, seems a bit much...
The concept will never fly with the majority of enthusiasts here. Tim

[groovydude]

Originally Posted by timchar

If you purchase the car they charge 5% of purchase price. So 2K on a 40K car, seems a bit much...
The concept will never fly with the majority of enthusiasts here. Tim

$2K for a PPI? I hope they have some sort of magic x-ray machine that can see inside engines, or they have a way to channel Ferry's ghost. Or at least they guarantee that they cover the cost should the car ever need work from something they didn't catch! Lol.

No PPI is worth that much.