Writing this post with some major diappointment as it seems the private purchase I have been working on for nearly 2 months now may fall through...

Here is the quick recap. I found a 2006 C4S for sale almost by accident, it was not well pubicized, in fact after 2 days the owner took the add off a small msg board as he got innundated with calls and just didn't have the time to answer the littany of questions. I was the only one staying persistent, and since then have been the only buyer he has considered.

I have spent considerable amount of time researching this particular car, and the last assurance needed was a PPI that gone done yesterday after much delay (again due to his level of preocupation - if this were up to me sale would have been weeks ago). What seemed to be remote fears came to fruition - the inquisitive dealer asked why he is performing a PPI andsubsequently how much is the seller looking to get. We had already agreed on the price for low 70s. Car is fine and needs nothing other than 2 new rear tires, for which the seller agreed to make an allowance/deduction. So basically we agreed on a price of very low 70s pending a clean PPI.

Now the seller is coming back saying the dealer is offering him more than his initial asking price (i.e. before the tire allowance), and in turn is asking me to beat the dealer's price given that it is "more of a hassle for him to sell it to a private party than be done with it in an hour at the dealership and walk with a check in hand". For wheatever reason, the seller is making the private sale more bureaucratic than it needs to be, wanting to go through his lawyer, place the title in escrow, and laywer releases it after receiving the funds...

As can be expected, I am feeling sour, and even if his higher asking price is still a good deal, I am inclined to walk away. Partly psychological of course, but partially because I don't want to deal with someone that essentially may prove to have wasted my time and flaked out ultimately. Problem is, nothing that I see around here (or on Ebay/Autotrader, etc.) is comparable in pricing. In fact, if this sale doesn't go through, I may not buy a used 997, but rather wait for the facelift, or perhaps add to my budget and in a year's time consider a GT3 or TT...

He may be using a poker style bluff, but I doubt it, as I have seen he wants to get rid of the car with as little effort as possible. If he loses me, he will have to go over the entire process again, and I don't see him wanting to risk that for a G or so. The several dealers I have visited and asked for pricing orientation have indicated that they would be willing to buy this car in case I decide to walk away from the sale, and I can easily see them making a few Gs given where dealer prices are these days (granted these are Ask prices, not clearing levels).

What would you guys do in my position?

The details of the car are as follows:
2006 997 C4S
Two-owner car (first owner sold it to the dealership only after 1K miles)
8,900 miles
Black on Black
Certified with the full 6-yr 100K mile coverage
Options:
• Sport Chrono Package Plus
• Bose High End Sound Package
• Remote 6 CD-Changer
• Power Seat Package
• Heated Seats
• Self Dimming Mirrors
• Rear Window Wiper
• 19’’ Carrera Classic Wheels
• Wheel Caps with Colored Crest
• Black Mats with Porsche Lettering
• Thicker 3 spoke steering wheel
• Instrument Dials in Black
• Porsche Sport Exhaust
• Sport Shifter
• 3M clear bra

 

I think I would forget it at this point. He'll find some reason to get out of your deal so he can sell it to a dealer. I've seen similar situations and neither you or he will be completely satisfied if you try to force this deal through.

 

I would do two things:
1) Walk from the car. Life is too short to deal with bull**** and frankly why reward inappropriate behaviour. You've become emotionally attached to this transaction and the price you'd previously negotiated but you need to step away from that. There are other fish in the pond.
2) Call the general manager of the Porsche dealer you had the car PPI'd at and let him know that not only will you not be returning to that dealership for any kind of work but that you'll be sure and tell all of your fellow P car enthusiasts what an unscrupulous dealer they are. The dealer was 100% out of line by making an offer to the seller on a car that was brought in for a PPI. 100% and there's no two ways around that.

Good luck.

 

I would be livid. I just can't believe any upstanding dealer would do something like that.

 

The seller could be bluffing, the dealer may have told the seller that this car was worth more money and is now trying to up the price. I would call the dealer and find out what they are doing with this car. It sounds like a nice car, butthere will always be another, especially when the 09's arrive.

Good Luck, this sounds like a crappy position to be in.

 

The overall behavior of the seller and the dealer is not exactly “ethical” but legal. So if you want the car and can still get a price you will be happy with then go for it.

You can save more and add to the budget (we all could!) and you just miss out on driving, that’s your call.

Buying a car is business – treat it like that!

 

Thanks for the opinions and support guys. The more I think about it, the more sour I feel and willing to just say F-it and move on!

I agree with you that this was totally inappropriate from the dealer to do that. And this is a Premier Porsche Dealer for 2006 and 2007! Surely with behavior like this you don't deserve to be in the top-25 dealers in the country. It makes me think that now I should perhaps speak not only to the manager, but to Porsche USA and report this unethical development.

What's also sad is that at the end of the day, the seller isn't getting all that much more from the dealer, considering I will not reimburse him for the PPI he did should he sell to the dealer (that's the one thing we both see eye to eye)... What I forgot to mention is that the dealer also serviced the car (oil and fluid flush, wipers, etc.), which is the only thing that can make me rationalize increasing my offer (by the $600 or so cost of the service), but thinking twice if I should go that route...

 

That was an ahole move on the part of the seller to even come back with this stupid idea of his...was even more floored to hear that the dealer would pull such a stunt. Bottom line is...all dealers are snakes...they can never be trusted! The stigma just keeps on getting worse for them.

good luck man...it is a good price but I would not deal with bs anymore. You can offer him a final number and then walk away and tell him to go F himself.

There are definitely many more out there...=)

 

Sorry to hear about that. I would just hold out. If the deal was meant to go through he will call you and sell you the car for the original price you settled on. I wouldn't think the dealer would want to buy the car from him since the market for car buying is soft at the moment and they may have a difficult time moving it. He probably just caught wind that he could get more for it and is using that to try to squeeze you to pay more for the car. I wish you luck.

 

I wouldn't buy it. Sounds shady and you'll probably have more problems with the transaction even if you do decide to meet his asking price. Consider it a blessing that you don't have to deal with this guy

 

..you really do not know the nature of the conversation. It could be as simple as "great car you really are selling cheap"...to perhaps really buying the car. I would not bother with it....and I would not blame the dealer since the seller could simply be lying.\abe

 

Forget it. If he doesn't have the integrity to stick to the deal, who knows what other nonsense he'll pull. You'll find another car.

 

Final update, albeit a disappointing one... After close to a three-month exchange and significant time, effort, and energy invested on my end, the seller decided to go with the dealer offer, which only brought him an extra $300. That's right folks, dealer offered $500 over what was agreed between me and the seller (which was simply contingent on the car passing a clean PPI which it did), and if you count the $200 cost of the PPI I would have reimbursed the seller (which of course the dealer didn't), he decided that the time we spent on this is worth nothing. On a 70K+ car $300 is a mere...0.4% Tells you a lot about the seller, no need to comment further on that...

What I would like to get your thoughts on is whether this whole development warrants me writing a detailed letter to Porsche USA. To recap, the dealer offered $500 above what was agreed with seller AFTER performing the PPI and ONCE told by the seller what our deal entailed. As alleged by the seller, it is the dealer that approached him on this. Keep in mind this is one of only 25 Premier dealers in the country. Surely this unethical behaivior does not warrant them carrying such moniker...

Thoughts?

 

WALK. Just on principle.

 

My past experience leads me to believe that most dealers are slippery to one degree or another. If called to the carpet you will hear nothing but support from Porsche NA. I think writing the letter will help get your frustrations articulated and perhaps your will feel better, but as for anything meaningful happening to the dealer as a result…. Can’t see it.

Best to follow the tried and true, post the dealers business and the name of the manager you dealt with and let the 6speeder network invoke the tried and true boycott.