Inspect and lose the car or don't inspect and get a dog????

[RickS]

The only piece missing is the buyer's ability to economically overcome such nits as a bad motor, tranny, or fried electrical system. A person of modest means spending a goodly amount on a car sight unseen, whom doesn't have an extra $10K in reserve can be really skrewed.

The assumption that everyone on this board is fairly well off and can easily resurrect a basket case is false. With that in mind, those of limited or modest means should ALWAYS get a PPI or perhaps have to suffer with the consequences. Those with major bucks have the luxury of skipping them.

[execmalibu]

Rick,

Most people have no idea what a fresh 911 runs like!
That being said I agree that if the engine is totally shot and wont run or knocks then that is a totally different situation.

But in most cases the engines on old Porsches are just a little tired or the trans has to be shifted slowly into 2nd.

If the compression was down or the engine burned a little extra oil the car could still be driven and enjoyed for a very long time.

Years ago I had 1972 "S" and bought a fresh "RS" engine. I offered the used "S" engine for sale. A very experienced Porsche collector wanted the "S" engine and while the engine was still in the car we went for a very aggressive test drive often shifting at Redline.

A fews weeks after he bought the engine he decided to freshen it up and when disassembled he discovered that a barrel was cracked from top to bottom!

We were both amazed at how well the engine ran with absolutely no indication that the barrel was cracked. There were no unusual sounds, smoke or other problems of any type. Had I not scored the RS engine I would have kept driving the car with the "S" engine.

So if experienced Porsche owners missed a serious mechanical flaw a neebie would have driven and loved the car for a very long time...

[Mjenko]

So here is a question... Two years ago I bought a 1973 911E on ebay from Jack Molinier. On the phone Jack sounded like a decent sort, the car seemed to fit my bill and I pulled the trigger on the car at the Buy It Now price. As some of you know this was just a disaster for me, the car was wholly misrepresented and in fact not even drivable.

Goldchains911 on the Pelican board sent me this message at the time:
DORK do a little leg work before buying
what kind of dork buys a car without putting his hands on it first?
I buy cars from long distances all the time but I inspect first and then beat them down if not well represented. take your lumps because you ****ed up by not having a ppi or inspecting yourself you don't seem to know the cars but have some money to throw around do a little research before you cry fowl

And of course he is right in that I should have inspected the car.

So here it is years later and I see another car on ebay being sold by a guy in Arizona. I give the guy, Mitch, a call and explain that I'm interested in his car but given past experience need to get it inspected. He understands, but you know how it is in terms of peoples time and selling cars so as the car is in storage and not currently insured I am having to get a tow truck to take it over to Becks for the inspection.

Mitch called me last night to say he sold it at BIN to someone else who didn't need to inspect the car. So are there any answers here? If you wait and make the seller go through the hassel of an inspection it seems you will loose out on a decently priced car, if you don't get inspected you are playing Russian roulette. I am not writing this to blame Mitch or anything, it's understandable that he sold the car, I just don't see decently priced cars sitting around though...(unless they are purple.)

Here is the car I am talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Yes unfortunately I was scammed by this same guy , Jack Molinier . Guy is a Fraud and Scammer.
Bought a 911 1973 from him , he told me 3 times car has NO rust and was original .
When car was delivered , the whole underbody and chassis was riddled with Rust . Be ware of Jack Molinier