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mikefocke · 12-04-2010, 12:36 PM

is you arrange a price with the seller so he knows you are serious. You arrange with a very experienced Porsche mechanic to do the PPI and he at least tells you what he is going to do or, like Pedro, shows you the form he will use. You expect to pay for the PPI. The best thing is for the seller to deliver the car to the PPI mechanic's place of business. Then the seller and the buyer get briefed on the findings. If nothing unusual gets found, the deal is completed at the agreed upon price. If something major is detected, then both the seller and buyer get the same info and can negotiate from there.

Very similar in concept to a house inspection pre- purchase.

I bought one car without a PPI and one with. My mechanic had a several page form he used so we all knew what he was looking for. My seller was motivated (it was February and there was 6" of snow on the ground, best time to buy) so she was happy to deliver the car. Nothing serious came out in my PPI beyond needing a brake job and an alignment and tires but it could have. I had everything from compression figures to alignment specs.

My mechanic is no longer in business so I didn't mind sharing his form with Pedro when he was developing his.

The PPI depends on the experience of the mechanic. A good one will point out all the little stuff and, because he knows these cars so well, is so much better than the new owner just driving the car. Perfect, no. And no two mechanic's PPIs are exactly alike or cost the same. From memory, mine cost around $250-300.

Are they perfect? No. Catch everything? Not likely.

12-04-2010, 12:36 PM	#6
mikefocke Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sanford NC Posts: 2,573	The way a PPI often works is you arrange a price with the seller so he knows you are serious. You arrange with a very experienced Porsche mechanic to do the PPI and he at least tells you what he is going to do or, like Pedro, shows you the form he will use. You expect to pay for the PPI. The best thing is for the seller to deliver the car to the PPI mechanic's place of business. Then the seller and the buyer get briefed on the findings. If nothing unusual gets found, the deal is completed at the agreed upon price. If something major is detected, then both the seller and buyer get the same info and can negotiate from there. Very similar in concept to a house inspection pre- purchase. I bought one car without a PPI and one with. My mechanic had a several page form he used so we all knew what he was looking for. My seller was motivated (it was February and there was 6" of snow on the ground, best time to buy) so she was happy to deliver the car. Nothing serious came out in my PPI beyond needing a brake job and an alignment and tires but it could have. I had everything from compression figures to alignment specs. My mechanic is no longer in business so I didn't mind sharing his form with Pedro when he was developing his. The PPI depends on the experience of the mechanic. A good one will point out all the little stuff and, because he knows these cars so well, is so much better than the new owner just driving the car. Perfect, no. And no two mechanic's PPIs are exactly alike or cost the same. From memory, mine cost around $250-300. Are they perfect? No. Catch everything? Not likely.