What to do?
 

Yesterday I drove a nice 98! On my drive home I made an offer of $8500 for it. IMS and clutch already done.62000 miles and Hardtop included. He accepted the offer and we were to take the car for a PPI today. He called this morning to say that his mechanic offered him $9500 for the car. But he will sell it to me if I match! :mad:
Meanwhile a 2000 S that I almost bought at $15000 is now being offered to me for $12000 by a motivated seller. But it has 93000 miles and the IMS has not been done.
For the Toronto market, both cars are very well priced. But which one would you experienced Porsche owners choose?

The first car the 98 should be yours but if it was me I would look elsewhere as he has gone back on his word. Don't be in a hurry to buy . There are lots of Boxsters out there.

Finding a car with a new IMS etc is comparatively rare. 98k miles(or kilometres?) on a Boxster if it is miles is quite high and you should ask to see maintenance/repair records.
There is lots of stuff that can go wrong even if work has been done.

My car for example is a Box base 2001. Now 45 k miles. It needs about $1500+ of camshaft deviation work and while in there could easily replace IMS, RMS, clutch overhaul etc etc. So even lower mileage cars will need around $2k a year spent on them. As they say pay now or pay later....

I don't want to be pessimistic but that has been the reality for me. It is the most fun car I have ever had though.

Patience, knowledge etc are very important. Make sure all lites shine before starting engine. Especially CEL light.

Cheers, Guy

It has 93000 miles. 150 km. But it is kind of sounding like a used Boxster may be a crap shoot no matter what the milage. For $12000 I could by this one, put an IMS and a clutch in it for $3000 and still be below what most of the ones on the Toronto market are selling for. The seller has fallen on hard times and now needs the money.
What is the significance of all the lights on at start up?

jake might chime in on this but internet rumour is that if the ims hasnt failed by now then it most likely wont.

Which one feels "right" to you? I might lean towards the S, because, well, it's an S. But I like the miles better on the 98. I would have a hard time dealing with someone who reneged on a deal, but that's just me. Then of course, winter is coming, there will be more on the market as the driving season comes to an end in your area.

To ensure that the seller has not pulled the CEL light bulb so, buyers do not see it, think everything is good and then take it to inspection where it won't pass and could possibly cost a good chunk of change to have repaired... especially if it's related to a failing cat.

The lights should all light up because each symbol represents something. The dishonest owner might remove the bulb to the CEL symbol and then you could drive away thinking everything is fine. A few days later you could have a complete engine failure.

In the case of my Boxster it had a cel light on steady. The system has been reset and the light is out. I have been assured that the CEL will come on again if I keep driving it.
That is why I have trouble selling a car with this situation. I am honest to a fault and will get my Box professionally fixed.

In your case I can think of nothing worse than buying a Boxster and a week later you have an engine failure. Like I said knowledge is very important.
Cheers, Guy

I have found these cars to be very reliable. In addition, the S is definately worth the extra money. If I was in your position I would get the S and do the maintanance mayself. This way you know what has been done to the car and by who. Also I wouldn't buy anything from someone who goes back on their word like that. Just my .02.

No matter what, get a PPI done on it before you purchase from your own mechanic! If the IMS isn't done yet, make sure in the PPI you get them to pull the oil filter and inspect as well as pulling the sump plate and making sure there is no debris in there.

I bought my 2000 S back in dec of 13. It had 90k and some change. I went in knowing that it would need things done being the age and mileage. I am going to change the IMS when I do the clutch. The only "problem" with mine is an annoying rattle which sounds like it is coming from the exhaust. I would go for the S model.

Not much of a Man
 

The guy told you he would take your offer, IMHO he is not a honest person to try and get more money out of you. A deal is a deal....did you see paperwork that the IMS was replaced ? and if so call the shop and verify.

Dont walk away without letting him know that he is not a man of his word.

Dwight

I did tell him Dwight. And he was just trying to drive up the price. I decided not to match the price, and he called this evening and asked to renegotiate!! However I took the S for a test drive today, and it just felt right!!! So I'm going to arrange for a PPI next week.
Thanks for the help folks!! You guys are awesome!!

Sounds great! Good luck on the PPI!

He wants to negotiate? Unbelievable:rolleyes: Just to mess with him, I would tell him, ok, 25% less than the original $8500 "deal". Stick with the S:cheers:

No, don't do that! Just because he's dishonest doesn't mean you should be (treat people the way you want to be treated):rolleyes:. You did the right thing; you'll love the S.

I know, I wouldn't actually do that, it is just irritating when people don't keep their word. Speaks a lot to their character and now it makes the car questionable. It is really ridiculous that he wants to negotiate again. Sounds like either the other offer was never real or the mechanic backed out. Either way, time to move on from that car IMO.

He fishing! I doubt he has another offer. Just let him know your interested at 8500, he has your number. I'd bet he calls back after the weekend.

he has a lot of time and energy invested into the other car at this point. i'd say the 98 is only of interest to him at 8k.

Your word is your Bond
 

Back in the early 90's until about 2003 I was in the professional photo finishing business, I sold Paper and Chemistry and Capital Equipment. MY sales were at the top 5% and I learned a lesson early on...always be sure of your numbers. I had a about 3 deals go way into the red because I had given my word on deals and I stood by them even if it meant I lost money...I think everyone should be that way. I am not patting myself on the back by any means...I just think folks should be as good as their word

You want the S anyway. Good that he stalled like that.

Don't trust anyone if they can't keep their word. He is dishonest, period. Stick with the S.

The seller is indeed a hard biatch negotiator but to go as far as saying he is dishonest, no one really cares... we just want his damn car lol

Stupid question (I could use google, just lazy); do you guys have third parties (eg. a legal entity) that will "list" private/second hand vehicles on their website and offer, as added value, a PPI or inspection of any sort? 3 months warranty type deal?

Asking this because here in China it is the norm. Nobody, simply nobody, will buy a car from a private owner (never heard, unless its familly). All second hand cars are sold by third parties running these million-hits-per day Car for Sale websites. Process for the seller is simple:

1. Call that x website hotline, take an appointment
2. Rep shows up your place, do a visual PPI, take pics
3. Agree on a reserve price (final price is at third party discretion)
4. Send the car for mechanical PPI (if pass, 3 months warranty is added to the vehicle)
5. List the car on their website
6. Off it goes

Seller is totally released from his vehicle at that stage. Anything happening afterward it is that website dudes to deal with lol

I thought that was brilliant! Anyone doing the same in the USA?

Not to my knowledge, at least not in So Cal. Its a great idea. Protects both the buyer and seller

Hmmmm mabe a new business plan is in order
I'll cut you in for a point or two for the idea

Started 10 years ago here... sthg like that. Yep great business start-up that can go viral in no time for a serious US investor. You welcome lol

¡¾¶þÊÖ³µ_¶þÊÖ³µ½»Ò×Êг¡_¶þÊÖ³µ½»Ò×Íø¡¿ - 51Æû³µÍø
^ the biggest here, literally millions of cars for sale. There are some 3-4 other competitors of course (all the same product really).

Google Translate

Fred, what does it cost the seller to "list" their vehicle on this type of deal??
Is it a fixed cost or a % of selling price?
What happens if you want to sell a POS and it fails the PPI?

Steve - its' "free" mate. That what makes it all a monopoly (game changer!)

Fixed cost (agreed reserved) or auction style. Both ways are available.

POS does not get a 3months warranty. Sold as-is. In most case the seller have no choice but to make the potential buyer aware of any rusty bolts. Mind you... you'd be surprised, maybe buyers buys these POS cars, fixed them up, and resell using the same channel for a thou more (many car traders does that all day long).

These car websites are so big now (as big as insurance co) they even offer full financing on second-hand cars, 3 months warranty, other added services, etc.

Its brilliant. NOBODY buys car from private sellers anymore - ever lol

Works!

Just quickly checked with one of my contact here who is involved in that second-hand car trade industry.

The "ONLY ONE" in the states who is offering similar tactics is Manheim. My contact here is also telling me that this company already worth/quoted by investors @ 10billions USD.

Any entrepreneur here, you got to write this business plan quick. Still plenty of room for another one in this industry I'm pretty sure ;)

AU seems to be untouched as well ;) Nobody doing this there he confirmed.

HOW TO GET RICH QUICK DOING WHAT YOU LIKE MOST, play with cars ;) lol

I believe that Manheim is wholesale only auctions and you need to be a licensed dealer. I think they do some public auctions as well for some large sellers, mostly repos, but that still is very different from what you are describing in China

Totally different in a sense yes I agree, but still the idea is pretty similar. Look-up how much this Co worth for some profitability indications ;)

Regardless, looks like there is room for similar-a-la-Chinese business(es) for North-America. Target customers would be you and I (individuals). You get rich (billionaire) in less that 10 years.

Works here, those who run those websites have total monopoly on the second-hand car market. So long to the small car trader shops (and crooks)... those are all gone and died 5~7 years ago.

The 2000 S is a dual row IMS, right?

If so, failure rate is low so that is a plus.

So I went to see the car this morning, and when I turn the key, the Check light does not come on? Seller says that he never noticed that before!! Should I now be running for the hills?

Sounds like it. If you have a cheap code scanner, you can plug it into the OBDII port and see if it has any error codes.