Buying a boxster - Walk me through the PPI process

[beater986]

The problem with a PPI is that it takes away your ability to act quickly in order to lock in a great deal. Most underpriced vehicles on craigslist sell the same or following day they are listed. In order to be the first one to capitalize on this, you generally have to be the first on there in cash.

Usually the money saved is exceeds the worst-case-scenario-repair.

Of course, YMMV

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by beater986

The problem with a PPI is that it takes away your ability to act quickly in order to lock in a great deal. Most underpriced vehicles on craigslist sell the same or following day they are listed. In order to be the first one to capitalize on this, you generally have to be the first on there in cash.

Usually the money saved is exceeds the worst-case-scenario-repair.

Of course, YMMV

+1

I found my 98 on Craigslist 3 hours after it was posted. I drove it home 3 hours after that.

[34dean]

Great stuff guys. Ty!
I’m going to broach the subject with the owner if we strike a deal. I’d prefer it to be done but understand he needs to be comfortable with it as well. The deal I have in place is a really good one and I don’t want to lose it. Also considering flying down there but that adds $600. Already factoring in $$$ to have it transported back to CT.

[maytag]

my opinion? (since you asked for opinions, haha)

I can't understand why anyone would pay for a PPI on a 20-yr-old car worth $6k. it makes no sense to me.

talk to the owner, see what he knows. See if you think you can trust him. Ask him to facetime with ya and show you everything marginal on the car, first making sure he knows you don't expect the car to be perfect.

Be trustworthy, and you'll find most people are the same. rarely has this proved to be untrue for me. (though yes, it has happened that someone took advantage of me. On this forum, no less!)

I've bought a lot of cars & Motorcycles in my day (I think the latest acquisition is # 78?) and I still have yet to ever ask for a PPI, or to see a service-history on a car.

If I were selling a $6k car and someone asked me to send it for a PPI, I'd probably have a laugh at their expense. Sure, I'd do it if they paid for it, I guess. But they're going to learn a hell of a lot more from talking to me about the car than they will from some poor schmuck who you're paying $300 to nit-pick at a 20-yr-old car worth $6k. (see the theme here?)

But that's just my $0.02. And it's probably only worth half that. haha. :dance:

[Qingdao]

Originally Posted by maytag

my opinion? (since you asked for opinions, haha)

I can't understand why anyone would pay for a PPI on a 20-yr-old car worth $6k. it makes no sense to me.

talk to the owner, see what he knows. See if you think you can trust him. Ask him to facetime with ya and show you everything marginal on the car, first making sure he knows you don't expect the car to be perfect.

Be trustworthy, and you'll find most people are the same. rarely has this proved to be untrue for me. (though yes, it has happened that someone took advantage of me. On this forum, no less!)

I've bought a lot of cars & Motorcycles in my day (I think the latest acquisition is # 78?) and I still have yet to ever ask for a PPI, or to see a service-history on a car.

If I were selling a $6k car and someone asked me to send it for a PPI, I'd probably have a laugh at their expense. Sure, I'd do it if they paid for it, I guess. But they're going to learn a hell of a lot more from talking to me about the car than they will from some poor schmuck who you're paying $300 to nit-pick at a 20-yr-old car worth $6k. (see the theme here?)

But that's just my $0.02. And it's probably only worth half that. haha. :dance:

I agree, I guess I'd draw the line at a $40 000 used car. Can't imagine what car I'd get into used at 40k.


Most (I mean all) shops are for profit businesses. Other than keeping a good reputation as a reliable shop, what profit will they see in diagnosing a bunch of stuff with a car that has 0 possibility of buying ANYTHING? No motivation their. So from a business perspective they are going to do a subpar job. Not because the shop is crooked or evil, but rather the business world is motivated by incentive and there is none here.

[maytag]

Originally Posted by Qingdao

I agree, I guess I'd draw the line at a $40 000 used car. Can't imagine what car I'd get into used at 40k.

I've purchased (3) used cars over that mark (including the.... ahem.... F-car ;-) ) and still did not ask for a ppi.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[78F350]

Getting a PPI really depends on who you are and your expectations of the car. Maytag and I like to buy things hoping that we can find some work to do to make them better. ...then Maytag will break it again anyway just to have more fun. Many people don't have the desire to find these special gifts. They buy a car and want it to work as it was designed, or at least know what needs to be fixed before the buy the car.

[TeamOxford]

Heed what joliver3 and thstone advise. I would at least insist on an oil filter removal to check for debris. And a camshaft deviation analysis. These are two simple procedures that any accomplished shop can perform.

Originally Posted by beater986

Usually the money saved is exceeds the worst-case-scenario-repair.

This is utter nonsense. How would you like to skip the PPI and find metal filings in your oil filter at the first oil change? You may as well write the car off after that.

Or discover that you need new timing chain tensioners because the camshaft deviations are out of spec? Hope your credit card limit is high.

Not trying to be an alarmist, but knowledge is power. Know what you're getting into BEFORE you buy.

Just sayin'........

TO

[34dean]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

Heed what joliver3 and thstone advise. I would at least insist on an oil filter removal to check for debris. And a camshaft deviation analysis. These are two simple procedures that any accomplished shop can perform.

This is utter nonsense. How would you like to skip the PPI and find metal filings in your oil filter at the first oil change? You may as well write the car off after that.

Or discover that you need new timing chain tensioners because the camshaft deviations are out of spec? Hope your credit card limit is high.

Not trying to be an alarmist, but knowledge is power. Know what you're getting into BEFORE you buy.

Just sayin'........

TO

Completely agreed. I have no issue maying $200 to have a car completely checked by a reputable shop if I have a deal in place and really want the car.

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by 34dean

Completely agreed. I have no issue maying $200 to have a car completely checked by a reputable shop if I have a deal in place and really want the car.

$200? Completely checked? You couldn't get a Honda "completely" checked for $200.

Nappenin.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by 34dean

Completely agreed. I have no issue maying $200 to have a car completely checked by a reputable shop if I have a deal in place and really want the car.

You had better be thinking in the $400-600 range.