Let's Play: Guess How Much

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

Everyone please weigh in: How do you buy a car on the opposite coast unseen and protect yourself from receiving a car with a blemish or some other point you would have otherwise negotiated about?

Unless you know someone over there who can look the car over, I don't know how you'd do it. You can fly out and look it over and drive it home

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Unless you know someone over there who can look the car over, I don't know how you'd do it. You can fly out and look it over and drive it home

I might be genuinely interested in a car in Santa Monica, may need a member to fine comb it.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

I might be genuinely interested in a car in Santa Monica, may need a member to fine comb it.

Santa Monica, there are worse places to visit and pick up a Porsche.

[vitaminC]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

Everyone please weigh in: How do you buy a car on the opposite coast unseen and protect yourself from receiving a car with a blemish or some other point you would have otherwise negotiated about?

If you're spending up to 90k on a car, a round trip ticket to see it in person first seems like small change and a really good idea.

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by vitaminC

If you're spending up to 90k on a car, a round trip ticket to see it in person first seems like small change and a really good idea.

Very true but it will never be me spending 90K, the guy said a newsperson was interested, he's listed it above msrp, she can have it..

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

Everyone please weigh in: How do you buy a car on the opposite coast unseen and protect yourself from receiving a car with a blemish or some other point you would have otherwise negotiated about?

I have bought a few cars sight unseen (from eBay) and the best way to do this is to hire a local company to do the PPI on site and then email you the report. The company will typically do a full visual inspection, check for engine error codes, perform a test drive, and provide lots of pictures. You can also talk to the inspector to get his impressions of the car and answer any particular questions that the report may not have addressed. The cost is around $250-$400.

Then you can use the report to decide whether to buy or not. I have decided not to buy several cars once I got the report. You can also use the report in your negotiations to justify why you're offering a lower price.

[Ghostrider 310]

Thanks Stone, that's a great suggestion. The used cars I have seen are all adorned with expensive adds I don't want, such as nav. As such, the dealers want more than a new car with less mods. Since interest rates are sometimes better on new cars there may be savings there as well. I might just order one from the local dealer, then I will always have a spot there for service.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by thstone

I have bought a few cars sight unseen (from eBay) and the best way to do this is to hire a local company to do the PPI on site and then email you the report. The company will typically do a full visual inspection, check for engine error codes, perform a test drive, and provide lots of pictures. You can also talk to the inspector to get his impressions of the car and answer any particular questions that the report may not have addressed. The cost is around $250-$400.

Then you can use the report to decide whether to buy or not. I have decided not to buy several cars once I got the report. You can also use the report in your negotiations to justify why you're offering a lower price.

How did you pay for the cars and transfer title?

[Burg Boxster]

Depends on how anal you might be but in a nutshell... You don't! You fly out and inspect it personally or you'll kick yourself for not having done so when it arrives w/ something you're disappointed in. Even if you have someone you really trust (who is also a car guy to your same degree) do it for you, they must be as anal as you. And must be someone you really really really really really trust. Even then, be prepared to face some disappointments and not hold it against your appointee.

Plus, after putting in the effort to get there, you'll negotiate harder by being overly critical and a bit cranky (which is a good thing in this case)

Good luck

[fivepointnine]

you could get 2 355's for that price!

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by fivepointnine

you could get 2 355's for that price!

Actually, 355's have climbed price . In some cases, a pristine one will encroach upon 360 prices .

[fivepointnine]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

Actually, 355's have climbed price . In some cases, a pristine one will encroach upon 360 prices .

several on craigslist around here for low to mid 40's.....why are their prices climbing? The performance on those is nowhere near the new Ferrari's.......

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by fivepointnine

several on craigslist around here for low to mid 40's.....why are their prices climbing? The performance on those is nowhere near the new Ferrari's.......

With the Ferraris, it's about age, significance and rarity, not performance.

[Ghostrider 310]

355 is said to be more expensive to maintain than than it's newer replacement, according to net searches anyway.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by fivepointnine

several on craigslist around here for low to mid 40's.....why are their prices climbing? The performance on those is nowhere near the new Ferrari's.......

Come on Craigslist ! Consider the source . Check out a reputable site like the The DuPont Registry, and you'll see well maintained coupes fetching into the 70k plus range, and spiders upwards of 100k .

[fivepointnine]

go all out and buy a old testarossa not really usable but you sure will get noticed lol

[Ghostrider 310]

You're stuck too far in your own fantasy then guy because I've read over the years about the "mods", no revelations there my friend. When you stuff a bigger motor in it let me know, till then I'll assume my new ride will smoke it out of the box with 320 on tap @ 7200 and seven speeds that can be grabbed faster than you can think about.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

You're stuck too far in your own fantasy then guy because I've read over the years about the "mods", no revelations there my friend. When you stuff a bigger motor in it let me know, till then I'll assume my new ride will smoke it out of the box with 320 on tap @ 7200 and seven speeds that can be grabbed faster than you can think about.

I'm sure that the new Spyder in it's stock form is a great vehicle, and perhaps the most performance oriented boxster to date . Moreover, despite it's "bikini" top, I'm sure that it's refined enough to satisfy you and any soccer mom out there. However, for any serious minded "tuner" or track enthusiast, the first things to go on this vehicle would be the wheels, suspension, cat back exhaust, headers, cats , ecu re-map ect.. When you or anyone else has accomplished this, you can keep your crack, I'll bring the cigars, scotch and fair ladies .

[jacabean]

i must agree , these old boxsters are limited , no matter how much modification is done . don't get me wrong i love my Boxster but when i take my jap crap evo X for a spin it is clear in every category (except build quality) that it will whip the old 986 S . the evo X lightly tuned will most likely tool a Boxster Spyder as well and for a fraction of the cost.
I do understand where Johnny D. is coming from when he says that the ferrari is on another level because it is.

[Ghostrider 310]

My last word on it JD, what you are proposing is that the newest technology from Porsche is easily beaten in performance by simple mods as the ones you describe performed on their older cars, what can I say except I disagree. If you had done some serious engine mods the kind that require dis assembly then I might, might buy your claim. But the "cards in the spokes" tweaks you are talking about, to say two pro drivers one in a spyder and one in the JD prepared race car, to say your car would win is nothing short of delusional.


It won't matter anyhow, I now know why the prices are skyrocketing, no more new spyders so what's left is going to be too much, looks like I'm S shopping now.