Advice on a 3.2 purchase

[Kansas]

Hey guys, just came to tentative terms on a blue 86' 3.2 from Frazier Motorcars in Lebanon, Tennessee. Doing a PPI next week.

May I please have an honest assessment of the car looking at the pics and reading the description. It's got quite the service history and looks pretty clean. It's the blue 1986 coupe with 119,000.

Also, does anyone know anything about this dealer? It's got only one customer review. And the review is very bad.

Thanks in advance.

[pmax]

Car looks well kept. I wouldn't sweat the one bad review if you are doing the independent PPI.

You can't go wrong with these 3.2 Motronic engines.

Good luck.

[Kansas]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Btw, I'm kind of an idiot when it comes to engines...but what is a Motronic engine? Always heard the SC engines were more invincible than the 3.2s. Is that accurate?

[NYNick]

3.2's are preferred over 3.0 SC's. Do yourself a favor and pay an independent for a thorough PPI.

[Kansas]

Anyone know of a good shop in Nashville to do a PPI? The dealer recommended German Performance Options which has a guy that has been doing only P cars for the last 30 yrs. Probably his buddy... which worries me.

[pmax]

Using a seller recommended guy is never a good idea.

Motronic is the Bosch fuel injection system used on the 3.2. The SC's has the CIS injection system, also Bosch but an entirely different beast. Lots of info in the tech forum.

[350 SIX]

GPO is a good choice, they will do a good honest job. The only other option I trust is Wicky @ Renntag, he is always covered up busy, so GPO will be faster.

[Kansas]

But GPO is who the seller is recommending. Is that a good idea? Worried about that. GPO may be great, but I have a feeling that they may be joined at the hip.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by pmax

Using a seller recommended guy is never a good idea. .

Your blanket absolute statements are almost always wrong. Not every car dealer is a crook. The indy they recommended is well known and has a good reputation. Making the buyer fearful because you live in constant fear of being ripped off is a disservice.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Kansas

But GPO is who the seller is recommending. Is that a good idea? Worried about that. GPO may be great, but I have a feeling that they may be joined at the hip.

On what do you base your bad feeling?

[350 SIX]

Nashville has a tight Porsche community, GPO will not tarnish their reputation for a
small dealer to sell a car. I'm sure GPO already knows the car, if uncomfortable, call
Wicky. The dealer has a couple of nicer 911s for sale at the moment. He is more of
a hobby car dealer, than a turn and burn shop. (I don't think they move a lot of units)

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

On what do you base your bad feeling?

A dealer in California has strongly cautioned me against buying from Frazier as he got really screwed on a deal a few years ago. This dealer is not trying to sell me anything currently, so he doesn't have an agenda. Plus, I think that $44k for an 86' 3.2 is high retail, so I want to make sure I do my due diligence, and really get a good example.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Kansas

A dealer in California has strongly cautioned me against buying from Frazier as he got really screwed on a deal a few years ago. This dealer is not trying to sell me anything currently, so he doesn't have an agenda. Plus, I think that $44k for an 86' 3.2 is high retail, so I want to make sure I do my due diligence, and really get a good example.

What does any of that have to do with GPO? You above said you believed that they were joined at the hip with Frazier. Where are you getting that? I still see no basis in fact for you to distrust the indy who would do the ppi. Maybe when the dealer AND the community are telling you that the PPI indy is a good shop you might want to listen to that advice. Well, except Max. You listen to Max and you'll end up with paranoia paralysis.

[dwelle]

Originally Posted by Kansas

A dealer in California has strongly cautioned me against buying from Frazier as he got really screwed on a deal a few years ago. This dealer is not trying to sell me anything currently, so he doesn't have an agenda.

i wouldn't be so vested in this. dealers are competitors, don't be so sure about his lack of "agenda".

go to one of the two indies mentioned...

[69porsche]

Before any PPI is done...make sure you see the PPI list...some are better than others(very detailed) and some are very generic which gives no value to the buyer...ask for the PPI checklist prior ...if not I have a PPI checklist-pretty extensive....PM your email private email address and ask the mechanic if they can work around your list

[Matt Monson]

^this. Ask for what you want and don’t expect it to be under $500 to do it right.

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

What does any of that have to do with GPO? You above said you believed that they were joined at the hip with Frazier. Where are you getting that? I still see no basis in fact for you to distrust the indy who would do the ppi. Maybe when the dealer AND the community are telling you that the PPI indy is a good shop you might want to listen to that advice. Well, except Max. You listen to Max and you'll end up with paranoia paralysis.

You're right, I know nothing of the dealer's relationship with the indy. And I'm probably acting a little paranoid. I'll probably go with GPO. But I am not shelling out $500 for a PPI. There's too much service doc history for me to need that level of a PPI. Matt, I appreciate the advice, thank you.

[69porsche]

If you are that interested in this car and you may want to purchase it...$500 is small change to compared to what it may tell you and may not tell you about this car. if think a PPI expensive just wait till you start doing Porsche maintenance...maybe you should look at other vehicles...Porsche's are not cheap...the most expensive part will be to properly maintain them as intended. Welcome to the Porsche 911 world!

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by 69porsche

If you are that interested in this car and you may want to purchase it...$500 is small change to compared to what it may tell you and may not tell you about this car. if think a PPI expensive just wait till you start doing Porsche maintenance...maybe you should look at other vehicles...Porsche's are not cheap...the most expensive part will be to properly maintain them as intended. Welcome to the Porsche 911 world!

Yeah, I've owned and maintained 2 other porches. This isn't my first rodeo.

[350 SIX]

I'll do the $200 PPI you want for free, I'm local. But if you want compression and
leakdown #s expect to pay. $500 is a small expense on a $44k car.