Same here.
I was looking extensively for C4 or C4S just because I live in Boston and for sure will drive my car on snow from time to time over the years.

But I was not able to find anything at all with CPO not to mention if it could be reasonably priced. Well, I guess, it`s just my lack of luck.

 

I've been looking for several weeks and test drove an 05 CS in NJ this past weekend. I plan on expanding my search area beyond 200 mi (which covers a lots of space to begin with) but my only hiccup with this equation is my need to trade in the 06 Z06 I'm currently driving. I don't have the patience to visit dealerships and having them quote me a ridiculous figure on the trade-in. Any ideas on how to address this? Yeah, I could sell it (easily for what I’ve been quoted) but then I’d have to pay sales tax on all cash deal. This savings is critical to my purchase decision; however, I don’t feel the benefit should accrue to the dealer. Its not like they’re giving me the tax break.

 

There is a dichotomy in the used porsche market now. The lower end (05 - 07 C2S & C4S) is strengthening, especially for CPO cars. While the upper end (07+ Turbos) is weakening and continues to do so. At some point, the two will come too close together, and they'll either stabilize or fall (especially once the summer season is over and all the 2010 cars arrive).

I've had two cars sold out from underneath me in the last two weeks... one just this morning. Good used C2S are now very hard to find.

 

Feel like I got lucky with mine. I saw the market really dry up once the price went below 60k. If you can write the check over 60k, there really is some value in very nice '07's and even '08's. In the 60's you get into the problem of finding financing for a used car, which can be very difficult in today's market. In the 50's, obviously more people can pay cash. You need totally sterling credit to get a used car loan today, I imagine.
Someone else commented on trade ins. I have no shame in admitting my story. For my mint '03 M3 I was offered a whopping $17k by a P dealer. I sold the car to a pp WITHOUT even listing it on Autotrader (M3 forum) for $24k. Clearly, nobody wants to be long cars. The tax benefit will not make up for the difference. Selling a car privately can take time in today's market though.

 

Someone else commented on trade ins. I have no shame in admitting my story. For my mint '03 M3 I was offered a whopping $17k by a P dealer. I sold the car to a pp WITHOUT even listing it on Autotrader (M3 forum) for $24k. Clearly, nobody wants to be long cars. The tax benefit will not make up for the difference. Selling a car privately can take time in today's market though.[/quote]

$17K for a mint 03 M3? Comparatively speaking, that's worse than the offer on my Z06. In fact, in July 08, I traded in my 01 M3 w/60K mi for exactly $17K towards the $50K purchase of my Z06 - a deal I considered fair for both parties at that time (BTW, I tried selling my M3 on the M3 Forum as well). I may just try a PP sale. It will be easier to deal w/1 variable rather than 2. It will also free me up to do a PP purchase on the 911. My future course of action w/stealerships is to not even bother driving any vehicle on their lot until they quote me the trade in $ on my Z. It's still a interesting and fun learning experience and its great to get feedback from current owners.

 

Right, trade in value off by a full 40%. I was still in the market for a car and went back to laugh at them after I sold it. (I enjoyed driving all of their cars to get a feel for them even though I had little intention of giving them my money). $1.2k in tax money didn't exactly make up for the difference. But the reality is that they would just wholesale the car - and have no intention of taking a loss on that trade. People in Greenwich CT still have a hard time coming to grips with recession.

 

Think its an NE thing? I understood that they probably wouldn't put the car on their lot but even if they did, I don't think they'd be taking a loss. I felt like I needed to remind the guy that he's a "sales" man - carrying inventory at X % a month is not your gig. Wonder if they realize that at $50K+ you're no longer dealing w/ppl that "have to have it" - or maybe its all relative. In any event, I'm prepared to wait it out until next year. Amortize the my loss on the Z and I'll probably looking at 07's and 08's instead of 05's and 06's. Again, not sour grapes, just observations.

 

I think board members all over the country report pretty much the same thing. Larry had pushed me in one important direction - to change my search to include cars over $60k. Seems that there is a real hard stop of people wanting to get a car only if it has a 5 handle in the price. I needed to realize that there are probably a number of cars listed in the 60s that would sell in the 50's. It was really a sweet spot for value. Actually, I would say if you have the wallet, 65k probably buys you the absolute most car for the money.

 

So.. I just picked up an 3,200 mile Certified 07 C2S Tip, Basalt Black, & Tan

Main Options are:
Nav, phone, pwr comfort seats, full leather interior, supple leather, Makasaar package, auto dim mirrors, sport design wheels, steering wheel controls, 6 cd, and more.

I know you all dislike the Tip, but I really don't mind it. I am an older guy and I don't feel like shifting anymore.

Paid 64K. I think I paid 5K too much but the car is just showroom new and I have not been able to find any other car as nice for the money. I think the pricing on the really nice pre-owned cars has stabilized.

Could have also bought an ugly loaded 08 for the same price with a little more mileage but it wasn't nearly as nice a car.

Comments & thoughts?

 

Hey, if you really like it, it's worth every penny. Sometimes it's just not worth waiting around and losing the car you really want. While the tip cars are not so prized, the C2S tip cars are also not that common. With new car like miles, it is hard to price. As you suggest, you might have found something for less, but full leather is not so easy to find and it sounds like a great car. Post some pics!

 

You did fine. Your car has low miles and some pricey options with full leather and makassar pkg. Plus its CPO. Besides what we think is irrelevant at this point anyway... all that matters is that you are happy.

 

Exactly. I didn't get the best deal on my car either but I am very happy with what I got. In the end it's just money, and it's much better spent on a fun car than sitting in the bank depreciating.

 

Hey Guy, just out of curiosity do you all think that the C2S with the Tip is as fast as a C2 with a 6 speed?

I will post some picts in the next couple of days.

 

On the street, yes. On the track, no. The tip is heavier and shifts slower than a manual. I need to be careful because I believe the tip turbo is actually faster than the manual. On the street if you're tired of shifting and you deal with traffic, the tip is the difference between misery and pleasure! For me, the chance to dump my SMG BMW and get back to double clutch downshifting and revving the sweet engine at stoplights was worth all the money in my account!

 

That sounds like a great price on the '02 C2S. Won't hold the tip against you.

Seems like this market is in tune with markets for just about any other asset - coming and going with general sentiment about economic fortunes. February or March was a license to steal, then prices firmed as people began to feel better about recovery. Now that those feeling are starting to roll over, so perhaps the market for p-cars will soften