question about PPI - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

jmc777 · 05-09-2009, 06:40 PM

Greetings

I test drove a new boxster the other night and I'm sold. What a phenomenal car. I'm looking at a 2006 or maybe 2007. My question is this... If you purchase a newer model that still has factory warranty remaining and is certified, is a PPI by a third party still advisable? Or is this just going to irritate the dealer? ( I'm not above irritating the dealer. I just don't want to do it if it isn't necessary. )

Thanks.

TRawls · 05-10-2009, 01:05 AM

. . .when I purchased a CPO recently. . . what's the point? The dealer does as complete an inspection as is reasonable and then stands behind it with a warranty.

I did, however, verify ALL actions that the dealer took to certify the car (oil change, filters, tires, etc.). The thing that I found interesting, and a sign of the times, was that while usually CPO means $1,500 added to the price, I still bought the car below book value (it's a great time to be a buyer!).

Best of luck!

TRawls

Lil bastard · 05-10-2009, 06:48 AM

To answer your question with a question:

Would you buy a car you know to be troublesome just because it has a warranty? Do you want to repeatedly schedule a service appointment, shuffle your personal schedule and take it in?

A PPI isn't a guarantee that you won't have issues. What a PPI does is spot some very specific things before the car is yours... and your problem. A factory warranty is not a CPO and isn't all-inclusive.

My recommendation is to do everything you can to insure the used car you're buying has been properly manufactured, maintained and serviced before you buy it. This is what a PPI can do for you. It can also point out needed service items which you can use to better negotiate the price. If you can afford a late model Boxster, you can afford a PPI. Or are you so rich that you can afford not to have a PPI done?

Brucelee · 05-10-2009, 08:27 AM

Interesting question. For a CPO car, the PPI is a maybe in my book. I would still run a car fax to see if the title is nice.

The main advantage of a PPI in a CPO car is to find body damage. Yes, the dealer should do that but he doesn't work for you.

ON a non CPO car, to me, this is an automatic.

I am risk-adverse and used to do it for all the Porsche's I bought for resale.