Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-01-2015, 02:36 PM   #1
Registered User
 
Laflamme02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 35
PPI necessary when buying from a Porsche dealership?

I'm zeroing in on my first Porsche buying experience!
I hope Porsche ownership is as enjoyable as Porsche researching has been.

I located the car I'm interested in at a Porsche dealership. This has me wondering if I need to have a third-party independent local guy do a PPI or if the sales and service department at the dealership are sufficiently divorced from each other that I can believe the PPI conducted by the service department of the same dealership I buy from.

Once I review all of the service history that the sales person emails over to me I will have to fly out to see the car in hopes of being able to buy it and drive it back. So adding in finding a local indie shop to perform the PPI The same day I'm there adds a level of difficulty.

What would you all do? I've grown to really expect everyone's opinions here.

__________________
2004 S 550 Spyder. Manual. Brown interior.
Laflamme02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 03:01 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Unless they are going give you one of their pre owned warrantees, yes, a PPI is necessary.
__________________
Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
JFP in PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 03:07 PM   #3
Certified Boxster Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
Hah! Rule #1: Never, ever trust anyone selling a used car. Period.
__________________
1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
thstone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 03:37 PM   #4
Registered User
 
Perfectlap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
You should look at this way, without the PPI you don't really know what the car is actually worth. Once you have the PPI in hand you can start creating a budget for what x,y and z will likely cost you if you decide to keep the car for a while. You also need to put down on paper the likely repairs that are common to this car that don't show up on the PPI.
For instance my car went in for a full diagnostic at the 65K mile mark. The dealer service dept rep came back with an extensive list of things that would be right around the corner including but not limited to clutch, shocks, brakes, coil packs. Not long after other things let go without warning, all things that are very common to this car once mileage gets up there. If you buy one of these cars without a PPI you better one of the following:
a credit card with a high limit, $5K in cash under your mattress or a garage, a full set of tools and lots of free weekend time... or depending on the mileage and wear, all of the above.
Or bite the bullet, dig deeper into your wallet and buy a car with low miles and lots of pampering.
__________________
GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW

Last edited by Perfectlap; 03-01-2015 at 03:40 PM.
Perfectlap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2015, 04:16 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: florida
Posts: 487
My car was purchased from a dealership that is considered to be the premier dealership in the country. Used S 02 88k miles,zero service records, zero knowledge of p cars. I asked the salesman, who was fired since then(no knowledge) If I needed a ppi and if I was buying from anywhere else I would bring it to them. He said and showed me the 110 point safety inspection they did. Then he showed a new invoice for repairs they did to prepare for sale. Tires, brakes, rotor, resurface cam covers for like 3400 bucks. I did not get a PPI.......huge mistake 5500 dolars within 60 days. Find someone who knows these cars and let them test drive get 2 ppi .....whatever it takes. April is 4 years with my car. 15,000 in repairs both mechanical and cosmetic. About 1000 a year above average expendature. I have been doing most repairs for about a year know after the IMS repair at 95000 miles now at 121,000. The only thing I regret is no PPI. I would have bought the car for a lot less or not at all.The salesman said I wont be back for a year or 10000 miles for oil. How much for a oil change I ask? 300 he says. Maybe CPO is the way to go if you dont take care of your machines. I take care of all my motors for general maintenance so it is not to much more work for me and it is fun as you will learn from this forum. No time, desire, tools, garage or money, maybe some other type car is for you.
nicecar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2015, 05:04 AM   #6
X GI
 
SJEFFB986's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Pa
Posts: 80
My 2 cents-

Either get a PPI done by an independent Porsche mechanic/specialist $100-200+/-.
Or...get a decent warranty from the dealership.

I bought my 99 Porsche with high miles sight-unseen (ebay) it was dirt cheap.., no PPI and later took it to an Indie specialist after the fact. Passed with mostly flying colors so I was fortunate.

Take my advice though and don't take a chance!

Drive it, shift it, listen to it, look at it as best you can...and you'll know if it's good or not!
__________________
Daily Drivers:
2013 Passat SE
2001 RX300
1999 Boxster
SJEFFB986 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-03-2015, 09:58 PM   #7
Registered User
 
b55er's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 42
I would tend to agree with getting an independent PPI.

Except.. I didn't.

In 2011, I purachased my 986 base with 21,800 miles on it.

The car was in like-new condition and had looked like it had never been used. The hardtop roof was never taken off and the old plastic protector film was still on the rear window from new. The roof fabric was extremely stiff. The leather was perfect. Flawless paintwork, etc.

I would have been very weary but..this is why I didn't get a PPI.

As a selling point, dealer stated they replaced the engine at 20k miles. The dealer would not print out the repair records for me (privacy), but sat me in front of the service computer and let me browse all service records of the vehicle. The car was purchased and serviced there by one owner. The engine replacement was $18,000 and paid for under goodwill in 2007. Full stamped service history book was included with engine replaced stamped. Carfax pretty much matched the dealer records I viewed.

Several days after taking delivery, I needed a quick adjustment on the convertible. One of their master tech's came up to me to tell me he did the engine swap. He said the engine failure was due to a slipped cylinder sleeve and full crate motor was installed with all new drive accessories (ac, ps, etc).

I felt really good about going into the deal and had a great like-new 986 buying experience from the dealer. As it should be, but often isn't.

Today, I have a good relationship with the dealer and my independent says it's the cleanest 986 he's seen.

I did pay top dollar for the car and bought it as-is. It was worth it. No surprises since owing it in the last 4 years. I didn't feel any need for a PPI with an engine with 2,000 miles on it. I rolled the dice and did really well. Next time, I'll get a PPI. Now let me tell you about that 1992 Audi 100s I bought without a PPI .... :-(

Last edited by b55er; 03-03-2015 at 10:13 PM.
b55er is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2015, 06:43 AM   #8
Registered User
 
ppbon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 529
Completely agree with JFP ...

... the only times you don't need a PPI when purchasing a pre-owned Porsche are:
1.- If the car is still under factory warranty
2.- If you're purchasing a CPO's Porsche (with extended warranty)
I have seen horrors when doing PPIs that normally would not get caught by the buyer.
Good luck.
Happy Porsche'ing,
Pedro

Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA View Post
Unless they are going give you one of their pre owned warrantees, yes, a PPI is necessary.
__________________
Racecar spelled backwards is: Racecar!
ppbon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2015, 07:07 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Perfectlap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 8,709
OP, read this. It even tells you how to do the test drive. For instance, if the owner starts driving the car, and you get in the driver's seat after, shut the car down and start it up again.

Pelican Technical Article: Prepurchase Inspection
__________________
GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red
GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11
Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker
BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND
IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW
Perfectlap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2015, 04:01 PM   #10
Registered User
 
Laflamme02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 35
Thank you everyone, especially Perfectlap. I've read and bookmarked that article for future reference.
I've certainly been persuaded to get a PPI for this 2004 S 550 Spyder I'm interested in. I called around and found the closest local Porsche Indy shop.
Now, if only the sales rep would return my email...

__________________
2004 S 550 Spyder. Manual. Brown interior.
Laflamme02 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page