The adventures of a Porsche "matchmaker"

[techweenie]

I have people all over the world contacting me to locate or check out Porsches. I'm happy to help out -- sometimes for no charge; sometimes if I have to drive a lot, a nominal charge.

I chased a car found by an overseas buyer this last week, represented as a 'solid used car.'

What the seller failed to mention was that the car had been in a flood (maybe Sandy). Photos of the car had missed some telltale aspects of the car's history. Like the high water mark on the gauges.



Then there was the fact the ignition was so full of silt that the key would not go all the way in. Oh, and they hadn't mentioned the rear wheels were locked up. Oh, and there was also the smell... Who was the U-boat commander?

[brock911]

Solid used car eh... someone should be hung, in a public display or maybe the seller - advertiser didn't think anyone would notice? What the Fuch do people think or don't.

Mike

[carjmark]

Well it's lucky for them they hired you. It's amazing what all those years of experience coupled with keen powers of observation can uncover. All BS aside, I'm sure many a naive foreign buyer have ended up w/a piece of junk back in the homeland (or NJ) by not doing a little verification. Scary stuff.

[techweenie]

Ain't that the truth? Guy contacted me after seeing my excessive chatter here on Pelican. I was happy to have saved him money and tears. It was a bit of driving to catch up with the car, so I charged him $100.

Honestly, I think when prices rise on a certain type of car, people just jump in with crazy pricing on anything they can dig up. In the case of selling to an overseas buyer, it's usually 6-7 weeks before the car arrives, and there's no way to "unwind" the deal.

[mobius911]

Seems like a perfect match: overseas buyer, underseas seller...

[techweenie]

Rofl

[Sunroof]

So Tech, that does bring up the question of the final disposition of these flooded cars. Insurance write-offs? Salvage title? How could one find a super deal on one if only for parts, of which I would think many should be salvageable, especially if its fresh water intrusion versus salt water.

Bob
73.5T

[techweenie]

Well, I don't know much about it. I've heard the insurance companies auction them off. I think they all must have salvage titles, unless one slipped through the cracks.

As for super price, you're competing with the dismantlers who can turn a $5,000 car into $15,000 in parts sales (not without a lot of knowledge, labor and waiting...). And the dismantlers are competing with privateers working out of their back yards to put these cars back on the market.

For instance, I haven't seen a long hood salvage car become available for 10+ years. The local big dismantler says the same thing.

[vracer]

Don't forget. There are some states where you can "launder" the title, then re-title the car in just about any state, and the car, (or at least the paperwork) is as white as the driven snow.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by vracer

Don't forget. There are some states where you can "launder" the title, then re-title the car in just about any state, and the car, (or at least the paperwork) is as white as the driven snow.

Is that still true? I understood post-9/11 that most if not all states hooked into NCIC. VINs leave a trail of records.

I have heard that retitling is possible with older cars (pre 17-digit VIN) but have never looked into it. In any case, a 'salvage' title has no equivalent in many other countries. So once imported, a car is often put through a rigorous functionality and worthiness test before being licensed for road use. That certification supercedes the US title history -- or so I've been told. I have never bought or sold a salvage title car, myself.

[GothingNC]

Wow, that is scary !


I had a chat with the owner at DC Automotive a few weeks ago about salvage/parts cars and he said over the years it has been getting very competitive to get parts cars at a decent price from the insurance auctions since the the worldwide audience is much larger now.

He has been getting lots of requests for the Porsche's written off by Sandy for conversion to track cars.

[Six Gun]

Originally Posted by mobius911

seems like a perfect match: Overseas buyer, underseas seller...

lol

[grendiers]

Bought my '85 911 from a reputable shop in Arizona two years ago. Carfax said if originated in Florida, had been in an accident, and a new front clip welded on. P-car shop verified new part had been welded, back in the day. Couldn't tell where it was welded. However, the VIN in front was different than the rest! Leakdown was superb, no rust, runs straight down the highway, NOT a salvage title~! So, maybe that State mentioned before, was/is Florida?? PS, car was a bargain.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I was happy to have saved him money and tears. It was a bit of driving to catch up with the car, so I charged him $100.

That's some damn cheap pre-PPI money right there.

I'd have been very happy to pay $100 and be out from under that sales job.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by SilberUrS6

That's some damn cheap pre-PPI money right there.

I'd have been very happy to pay $100 and be out from under that sales job.

My first Porsche was a POS. I am partly motivated to keep anyone else from experiencing what I did. My car was a 5 year-old 912 and the entire outer periphery of the floor pan was gone, rockers 1/2 there and rear suspension support gone from bottom to the lower bolt. I've seen few cars as bad as that one since, and again, I wasn't on the alert because the car was 5 years old!

[vracer]

Originally Posted by techweenie

My first Porsche was a POS. I am partly motivated to keep anyone else from experiencing what I did. My car was a 5 year-old 912 and the entire outer periphery of the floor pan was gone, rockers 1/2 there and rear suspension support gone from bottom to the lower bolt. I've seen few cars as bad as that one since, and again, I wasn't on the alert because the car was 5 years old!

Sounds like my "training wife". No, not really, but I certainly did learn a lot about what to look for in a "keeper".

[techweenie]

Well I hope your training wife was more than 5 years old.

I have a similar experience. Called it my 'starter marriage.'

[dporsche74]

haha My first 911 was a 69T nice paint ran good.. as soon as I tried to jack it up
the whole bottom was rust and bondo . pans rockers torsions . not much left either..
it was parts started this addiction ...lol

Are Sandy cars making it to LA now?