Buying a Car

[dhopkins]

Given the recent thread in this forum about Selling a Car I thought I would ask the opposite question. How to go about Buying a Car. Anybody have tips about how to go about buying a car?
One thing I realized recently is that its not enough to get a PPI. Its also important to inspect the car in person and to drive it (recently I drove an early car which seems to be in good condition but I hated the way it drove. It handled like a very heavy car for some unknow reason). Also the need to get an opinion from someone more experienced than me on whether the price is fair ( unfortunately none of the mechanics doing PPIs having been willing to say what they thought the car was worth).

Do have any hard won tips on how to buy?

[blucille]

I agree, you really want to drive the car and inspect it for yourself before the deal is completed. A thorough PPI should not be about what the car is worth, more about what the car needs, and to verify any recent work was done to some level of competence. In addition, you should expect the PPI will not find out everything, and be prepared for that. If you want to know what the car is worth, have an independent appraisal done, by someone who knows these cars....of course, we will all give you our opinions, too.

if spending any decent amount of money, you want to do your due diligence on the service and ownership histories of the car, accept no excuses, this really is your only way to know that the car is exactly what the seller is saying it is.

for me, as long as you aren't looking for an entry-level car, I'd start by looking here, or maybe on pelican, as a way of knowing the seller is part of the community. I'm also a fan of buying west coast cars, as the cost of shipping is always less than the cost of the requisite rust repairs if you decide on a local (not west coast) car.

I'm not a fan of buying from typical classic car dealers, I've done it, but always felt I overpaid. There are good dealers (a few) and (many) not so good ones....I suppose there are many exceptions to this one, but more of a do-it-yourselfer, I've preferred to buy privately.

hope this helps, it seems like common sense, but I guess I've been through enough different kinds of transactions, both buying and selling to/from dealers, privately, brokers, overseas....maybe something I said will be of value



Lewis

[JasonF]

Nothing can manage your expectations better than seeing and driving the car personally. I sold my 993 to a guy cross-country over the phone and I urged him to have someone familiar with these cars check it out ON TOP of an independent PPI (on Rennlist this is called a "Rennfax" and done all the time).

My hard won tip doesn't have to do with cars, but horses. My wife and daughter both own, ride and show horses and the process is eerily similar.

1. Spend as much time with the horse (oops, I mean car) as possible
2. Drive it in every manner imaginable
3. Review sales history threads here and on Pelican (what's the trend, is there a huge bid/ask spread, how unique is the car?)
4. Control your emotions. It may be the only Leaf Green 911S that's been for sale in the past 10 years and it's your "Holy Grail" car, but the second you cross the line from interested to emotionally committed you are screwed. Objectivity goes out the window, and you will rationalize-away any negative item that comes up during the PPI.

[Ghost Chaser]

it's good advice to look here. i've seen some great cars from fellow members come up for sale in the past few months.

also, try looking in your own back yard. stop by the local porsche garages and tell them what you're looking for. often porsche mechanics have clients who decide to sell their cars and they are the first to find out about it. i got my 2.4S that way.

you might also want to talk to as many people in your neighborhood, friends, colleagues, etc. you never know who has a cousin, aunt or granny right around the corner from you who has a car that's been sitting for years... i got my 2.2T that way. that one was sitting for 24 years.

i've also put up ads at the local supermarket and have gotten many bites (but alas, never the exact car I'm looking for), but you never know who might call, it only takes one good one and you're set.

lastly, if you go the route of buying off the internet, "buy the seller" as they say. due diligence on the seller comes first, then a solid PPI and you should be OK. good luck with the hunt!

my .02

[Eminence Gris]

Porsches are not commodities, so I recommend approaching the marketplace with some flexibility in terms of color, some equipment, miles, etc.

I've bought about 50 Porsches for myself over the years and brokered another dozen or so. Buying a distant car is somewhat riskier, but I generally hold a little more in reserve against unseen troubles, and usually get a disinterested third party to see the car. A distant PPI is not always ideal, since a mechanic in the local market may want the seller's future business and knows you're a one shot deal.

If the distant car is over $15K or so, it'll pay you to get on a plane.

As rightly pointed out in your initial post, the car has to feel right to you, and nobody else can make that judgement reliably.

In buying a distant car, you must be offering an advantage over local buyers to secure the deal, whether it's all cash, or full asking price, or whatever. Otherwise you could lose it.

Local cars are far easier, but if you can, take a disinterested friend along to help you manage the emotion.

IMO the number one thing to look for in a 911 that 'feels right' to you is a straight, dry chassis. Everything else can be dealt with. If you or your friends don't know 911 chassis well, it will pay you to get to a specialist body shop and have them get it on a hoist and look it over.

[Bobby Smith]

" I'm also a fan of buying west coast cars, as the cost of shipping is always less than the cost of the requisite rust repairs if you decide on a local (not west coast) car."

Believe it or not, there are many rust free cars that are NOT on the west coast. And...there are cars on the west coast that have rust.

[72targa]

I like this...

http://www.pelicanparts.com/911/tech...uthrie_faq.htm

[Mike Baum]

Also, lots of good information from the pros on this board has been collected in this thread, that goes beyond PPI: http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...&highlight=ppi

This one also had great info on the exact same topic: http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...=buying+advice

Maybe this topic again is "off topic" for this section as it does not relate to a specific car for sale and might be better suited for the general forum or tech session?

[Macroni]

Don,

I believe in the buddy system.

Develop a friend steeped in the early P car culture and use him as a resource to balance your passionate view. I am astonished at the generosity of this community when it comes to assisting fellow enthusiasts. I have been involved in three specific transactions as an advisor and frankly speaking I wish I had "me" when I made my purchases.

Luke

[LPMM]

I believe in the buddy system.

Develop a friend steeped in the early P car culture and use him as a resource to balance your passionate view. I am astonished at the generosity of this community when it comes to assisting fellow enthusiasts. I have been involved in three specific transactions as an advisor and frankly speaking I wish I had "me" when I made my purchases.

This probably the best help one can get, I was sent here by a fellow Pelican member when I stumbled on a post to find out he is from my area and I told him what I was looking for. He also offered to help me look at any potential vehicle since I am still trying to learn. On another board, we had a spreadsheet that would list the members and their location so that we could get in touch with one another, either for that purpose or for simply meeting local folks.

I have been looking for a couple of cars for quite a while now and I do agree about driving/feeling/touching the car, but for those of you who have bought vehicles long distance, how did you go about it to ensure you were not wasting your time on a pile?