Buying sight unseen- would you risk it?

[Tremelune]

I purchased an E30 M3 from a former BMW driving instructor. I had it inspected by a great shop in the area. It was a great car and a good buy.

I purchased a 2006 Cayman S sight-unseen after having it inspected by a good local shop for a few hundred bucks. Great car, good buy.

I bought my "dream" '89 widebody backdate 911 coupe on BaT after reading a lot about the seller and deciding to trust him. Upon delivery I found it had been smashed in the front and poorly repaired. I lost like $25k on that car when all was said and done. I can still taste that one.

That was too much of a lesson for me...When I buy, I drive it myself or I have a good shop scrutinize it. If neither is possible for some reason, I'm out.

[Macroni]

Yes bought two early 911s sight unseen. Both needed more work than anticipated, thankfully there really is nothing on a Porsche that can not be refreshed or restored to new.

From Pelican:


After Restoration:



From Pelican:


After sorting:

[kltarga72]

Yes, relied on professional PPI. Car was described perfectly.

[rw229]

I have closed deals from afar, pending personal inspection and picked them up in person. BAT is a giant used car lot in the sky. I have seen some really nice, honest cars and some artistic presentations of crap.

[BLACK3.2]

I bought my 964 sight unseen, but with a PPI. The car turned out better than expected s far as drivetrain and engine. The interior was not as nice as the pictures let on, but I was planning an RS interior anyway.

[crb07]

Purchased my 89 turbo from the other side of the country with a PPI. I was happy with sale.

Purchased my 87 turbo unseen as well. This car was in pieces. No PPI. The seller was not sure what parts he had, everything was in boxes and a few crates. He had a lot of parts he did not tell me about.

PPI every time.

[voitureltd]

Good to see that 27.12 percent still only buy " No way without seeing it first " as that is the only way I do business for the last decades. Learned this is the best way in many cases to get what it should be worth and get the right buyer for what it really is.
Last realization was a rare color 78 930 ( see photos ) a doc wanted but after the price was set he decided that his surgery schedule would not allow it so I cancelled the deal. I referred him to a friend who had a near perfect similar color 79 930. After he got the car shipped to him he complained about a small touch up ( which may have happened in transit when new ) as the original owner had no idea and the buyer demanded a partial refund as not perfect original paint everywhere. Had he come to inspect in person and noticed it my friend would not have had to deal with the trauma. lesson learned.
BTW I still have my unrestored recent PCA show winning radio delete 1978 Mocha black 930 and it is worth much more now than then, additionally I have enjoyed using it in the meantime.

[Kansas]

[QUOTE=voitureltd;11158092]Good to see that 27.12 percent still only buy " No way without seeing it first " as that is the only way I do business for the last decades. Learned this is the best way in many cases to get what it should be worth and get the right buyer for what it really is.
Last realization was a rare color 78 930 ( see photos ) a doc wanted but after the price was set he decided that his surgery schedule would not allow it so I cancelled the deal. I referred him to a friend who had a near perfect similar color 79 930. After he got the car shipped to him he complained about a small touch up ( which must have happened in transit when new ) as the original owner had no idea and the buyer demanded a partial refund as not perfect original paint everywhere. Had he come to inspect in person and noticed it my friend would not have had to deal with the trauma. lesson learned.
BTW I still have my unrestored recent PCA show winning radio delete 1978 Mocha black 930 and it is worth much more now than then, additionally I have enjoyed using it in the meantime.

This is such an "old school" way of buying classic 911s. It doesn't have to be this way. Who in the heck has time to drive or fly hours on end to check out a car in person? The internet has made it a much smaller and simplified world for reliably vetting a car. Because of the many Porsche forums and PCA, I have made dozens of connections with people throughout the country that I trust to put eyeballs on a car. If the car passes the initial snuff, then I next seek out a reliable third party shop to do a PPI. And again, the shop I choose is based on reliable recommendations by connections I have in that area. It's not too complicated. I live in Kansas, so there is really and rarely nothing within a 4 hour drive that I can inspect myself. I've bought and also sold(sight unseen) five classic 911s using this vetting process. Absolutely no regrets.

[911heaven]

This is such an "old school" way of buying classic 911s. It doesn't have to be this way. Who in the heck has time to drive or fly hours on end to check out a car in person? The internet has made it a much smaller and simplified world for reliably vetting a car. Because of the many Porsche forums and PCA, I have made dozens of connections with people throughout the country that I trust to put eyeballs on a car. If the car passes the initial snuff, then I next seek out a reliable third party shop to do a PPI. And again, the shop I choose is based on reliable recommendations by connections I have in that area. It's not too complicated. I live in Kansas, so there is really and rarely nothing within a 4 hour drive that I can inspect myself. I've bought and also sold(sight unseen) five classic 911s using this vetting process. Absolutely no regrets.[/QUOTE]


The only 73RS I ever bought was entirely sight unseen and in early 2000s that was my only option. It took some balls but it worked out well. I was on a trip home to US when my broker friend called me on the car from Japan. I kept telling him to look at the VIN on the windscreen post, not knowing then that there wasn't one there as he kept saying over the phone. He affirmed over again that it was original so I just pulled the trigger then and there. No guts no glory, car #101.

[voitureltd]

Actually I have bought many sight unseen over the last 4 decades. Almost always I have asked and gotten the right answers, photos and records to make a decision. Selling in person ( I only plan to sell one of my 930's a year for around 8 years anyway ) for me is easier than getting one ready for photo shoot ( cleaning the underside etc ) even if I can decide which one.

I have many wasted buying trips in the past but still enjoyed some of them.

You're right, it is old school way, but that is the way it use to be and the way I like best. Summer time is really nice here especially with Road America nearby for a personal look, drive etc. No way to test drive with weather as it is at least half the year anyway.