Many member recommend getting a PPI before buying an used 911.

If the car is located a distance away from you, how do you go about finding a trustworthy PPI inspector in an area you are not familiar with. Can you trust the local dealer, or will they even do a PPI on a car that will be shipped away?

Pending the findings of a PPI, can you use any negative results as a bargaining chip to reduce the price of the car?

 

if you know the area, ask on here and someone will recommend a place to do the PPI I'm sure. Of coarse you can use the findings to negotiate or as a reason to walk away. Make sure to get a DME scan and Paint Scan. I had mine done at a local Porsche dealer and didn't think twice about it. They'll charge you about $300 and give you a list of things of concern. Carfax is also helpful. Obviously someone could be dubious enough to hide things but it will give let you know how may people owned the car. Did it sit for awhile and then get bounced around the country (auction) and hopefully tell you if it was in a wreck at some point.

 

What is a DME scan? Is that the measurement of over rev's? Is a software related study that only dealers can perform?

I found in exotic cars, Car Fax is not always accurate. Many owners have high deductibles on the insurance policies and those owners simply pay out of pocket for repairs under $10K. Those type of repairs go undetected on Car Fax.

 

I live in Oregon and bought my car from a private party in San Jose. Arranged for the seller to drop the car off at Stevens Creek Porsche who performed the PPI (I paid for it of course). I was never concerned about the local Porsche dealerships service department doing the PPI as I don't think they would have any bias one way or another in the matter.

 

Well, carfax isn't perfect but worth getting regardless. There's always a chance that something won't show up and for that all you can do is hope the ppi reveals something.

 

If you hire a private party to do the inspection, be certain they have no ties to the seller organization. The universe of qualified surveyors isn't that large. And like real estate appraisors, a poor report can cost them business referrals.

 

Find someone on a car forum that lives in the area you're looking in. They should be able to make a solid suggestion.

 

I bought my car long distance, had it test driven by a few fellow P-driver buddies, and had an inspection done at an indy shop. Most indy shops hate the dealers, but love their excess business. At the inspection, a few minor items surfaced and I used these to negotiate down the price a little more.

If you do pull the trigger on a car that is out of state...ask a fellow 6-speeder to help you out. Lots of guys in here are bums with too much extra time on our hands. We love to test drive and visit mechanics.

 

I'll admit I fit into your category of "Bums" and I love it!

If a PPI revealed a serious defect, you would just walk away from the purchase, but if the PPI shows minor, niggling problems, which we all live with, you could use those findings to reduce the price on the premise that it would cost that much to fix those annoyances.

 

^^^^^^^^

And if the car was still under warranty, you could get those "niggling problems" fixed under warranty.

 

of course a ppi check will allow you to bargain if any problems arise, i didnt do it when i bought mine, but it is a very good idea, will give you peace of mind, and make you aware of any issues with the car, in short it puts you fully in the picture and enables you to make informed decisions and to bargain with the vendor!

 

I bought my 997S from a very rural town in PA - like population less than 20k. The nearest dealership was about 100 miles away, so I just took a risk flew out there, and bought the car outright but with an agreement with the seller if they found anything that we would work through it. Risky given the car had just run out of warranty, but the inspection passed with flying colors!

 

You are far more trusting than I could've been.