Imports Unlimited

[THIP99]

Has anyone had any experience(s) with the following dealer buying or selling a 911?

Imports Unlimited
569 North Colony Street
Wallingford CT 06492 U.S.A.
Email sales@luxurycars.com
Voice: (203) 284-8989
www.luxurycars.com

Thanks -TOM

[THIP99]

This is why I am asking. '88 with 57k for $16,900...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=213121156&dealer_id=584248&car_year =1988&model=911&num_records=25&make3=&make2=&start _year=1987&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&certi fied=&fuel=&body_code=0&search_type=both&distance= 0&model3=&color3=&model2=&color2=&first_record=101 &make=POR&color=&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=pr iceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceD ESC&address=&advanced=&end_year=1988&pager.offset= 100&doors=&transmission=&max_price=30000&cardist=0 &LNX=ESTAFSRCHUSDTEXT

[GothingNC]

That is a nice car for the $$$

As always, If you are interested, I would have an independent shop perform a PPI to check for valve guide issue since it still has low mileage and rust since it's a NE car.

[porkee]

Tom,

Regardless of who the Dealer is, if you're serious, have a PPI done by a reputable wrench. If this is actual mileage (I'd do a Carfax 1st), then you need to make sure valve guides, head studs, etc., and body is clean and original.

Great price IMO if it checks out.

Good luck & let us know.

[THIP99]

I spoke with this dealer. This was a flood damaged car. All this dealer does is buy flood and theft salvage cars from insurance companies. Repairs them and resells them lower than market value.

[Monza_dh]

Wow, thats too bad, at least he told you!! That's the same car as mine, Diamond Blue Metalic Commerative Edition.

[THIP99]

He was very open with his business model. claimed he knows how to find the right cars and fix them with cheap(er) parts.

what are thoughts on water or theft damaged 911? worth the savings?

[racer]

Originally posted by THIP99
He was very open with his business model. claimed he knows how to find the right cars and fix them with cheap(er) parts.

what are thoughts on water or theft damaged 911? worth the savings?

Water? Run away. 911's and water don't mix

Salvage? Can be ok.

Really depends on what you want to do with the car. Turn it into a track/de/CR car? ok. A concours "investment" piece? - no.

You should expect to get hit by, maybe 25-30% or more in resale compared to a clean title car. Buy low. Sell low.

There was a reason his price was initially attractive. Now figure he's still making money on the deal. What was "his" cost.. $8-9K? $12k? $6k? Cheap enough that the insurance company wanted to write it off rather than fix properly.

[GothingNC]

That's a bummer

[calling911]

Galvanized.. should really be no issue.. the comment that Porsche's and water do not mix is interesting.. like as in how is a Porsche any different that any other car in a flood?

I would drill small holes in the unibody and blast in a rust stop product.. other than that you may have some electrical issues.. no I really dont see a problem at that price level for someone who works on their cars.. if you are the type that drops your car at the shop for a "tune up" you better run away from something like this.

Nothing can really be hidden except for the foam in the dash which might be moldy.. I'd look under the dash to see what she looks like.. other than that you can see everything and an engine test is not difficult.. inspect the oil for any foam whatsoever.. this engine should have been flushed with a water removing chem like alcohol.. Id change the oil every 500 miles for a few yrs...

This is tempting.. but not for the wussie Porsche owner.

[racer]

Galvanizing does not stop corrosion for ever. Porsche only warranted their cars for 10-12 years for rust protection. I have seen rust on SC's (Galvanized) so I am not sure that Carerras won't also show rust as they age. A Porsche is not unlike any other car exposed to flood waters, that's the point.

Also, we don't know if the car was flooded with Fresh Water or Salt Water or, "katrina" water. For how long was it "flooded" (a couple hours? A week?) At what level of water does an insurance company walk away? What about all the electrical connections/wires/computers - do we simply assume them to be in good shape? Lots of "gray area" with this one and there are plenty of other cars available.

[THIP99]

Dealer claimed it was fresh water from a storm in the DC area a couple months ago. I am not sure how long the water sat in the car for...

Once he told what happened to this car I was no longer interested. It is a shame it happened to a special edition car with low miles.

I agree there are always "plenty of other cars available" and my budget can afford a much nicer 911!

TOM

[calling911]

Originally posted by racer
Galvanizing does not stop corrosion for ever. Porsche only warranted their cars for 10-12 years for rust protection. I have seen rust on SC's (Galvanized) so I am not sure that Carerras won't also show rust as they age. A Porsche is not unlike any other car exposed to flood waters, that's the point.

Also, we don't know if the car was flooded with Fresh Water or Salt Water or, "katrina" water. For how long was it "flooded" (a couple hours? A week?) At what level of water does an insurance company walk away? What about all the electrical connections/wires/computers - do we simply assume them to be in good shape? Lots of "gray area" with this one and there are plenty of other cars available.

I stand by my post. If u are a scardy cat then this car is not for you.. you have some common sense its a great deal..

[seventythree]

Up until 10 years ago, my very good friend was in auto reconditioning business like the dealer mentioned in this thread. By the time he got out, he was a 20 year veteran in that line of work. In his opinion, best to worst cars were as follows:

1) Theft recovery
2) Wrecked
3) Fire damaged
4) Last, he had vowed not to ever buy a flooded car again!

To put a positive spin on this, I will let you in on what he considered to be the cream of the crop. If an stolen car is recovered with a big $ engine component missing, insurance companies almost always write it off. The reason being that if they pay to make the engine whole, afterward, further drive line damage could be discovered that would push them way over limit. Those cars are really nice for the end users because, anything mechanical can be properly fixed relatively easily. The same can not be said about gutted or wrecked cars.

I have owned and enjoyed my share of salvaged commuters in the past. So, I am not dismissing the idea off handedly. But I wouldn't buy a salvaged Porsche. They almost never seem to be a good value!