Hi all, I have been a lurker on this forum for years and wanted a Porsche ever since my Dad took me out in his first one when I was 5 years old. Finally I have arrived at the moment 30 years later where I am about to purchase my first car.

I have found a 2005 997 C2S Cabriolet manual with 35000 miles on the clock in Atlas Grey. It has a great option list and the external condition of the car is not too bad. There is a chip on the edge of the drivers door where someone clearly has opened the door into something else like a garage wall and couple of small scuffs on the bumpers which I think should polish out. The canvas roof has no visible marks and opens and closes without any problem. The interior of the car all black is suffering a little from shiny leather syndrome but from looking at detailing websites a good leather clean and nourishment should bring this back a good way to like new condition. The car price is 48995, which seems from what I can see about the going rate.

So onto the more important stuff and the area where I have my questions. The car has had one owner and has a very comprehensive service history and clean carfax. The car has just had a full service and the dealer says he will have it detailed and all the minor marks etc sorted out. The dealer who is not a Porsche dealer said Porsche have inspected the car and give it an all clear. I have secured the car with a 200 dollar refundable deposit.

What information do I need to get from the dealer before I touch this. I am worried about the RMS/LMS issue simply because I have seen 3 incidents of this first hand. When I was in Switzerland (now live in Boston) my boss got the coupe version of the car when it first was released and had the engine drop out on him. Porsche replaced it as it was a new car. Then it went again on him about 4 years later again Porsche replaced although because it was out of warranty he had to make a small contribution. The more scarey incident for me was a colleague who purchased almost the identical car I am looking at in black about two years ago and 2 weeks after he got it the engine dropped out and he had no warranty or cover . Incidentally my bosses car was tiptronic and my colleagues was a manual. The dealer would at least cover me for 90 days but needless to say I would be heart broken if my engine decided to drop out of the car while I owned it.

I have asked the dealer to enquiry into an extended warranty for me but looking through these forums it looks like this is going to cost me about 4500 USD for three years. Which my gut tells me is a worthwhile investment as paying have the value of the car to have an engine swap would not be an option for me. The other investment I think I should probably make is to have a IMS detector put into the car straight away to warn me if the bearing start to shred material into the oil so that if there is anything detected I can get it scheduled in to have the bearing replaced.

Should I also be asking the dealer to provide me with a report that shows if the car has ever been over revved or not and what in this report would lead to you just deciding to walk away? What other information do I need to check. Also I haven't taken the car out for a test drive yet as I had my family with me and so was not an option. What should I be listening/looking for my problem with test drives of Porsches is they always feel so much better than what I drive normally that noticing an issue is really difficult as I haven't really got a baseline to compare it too.

Thanks for all your help and time

 

Price seems a tad high for private party. Knowing original MSRP will help us determine a fair price.

What does this mean? Did you pay for a PPI or is this just someone's word the car is 'all clear?' I'd pay for a PPI from someone not 'related' to the car and get the car thoroughly checked out.

Add in an aftermarket warranty and the IMS guardian you're close to CPO prices. And in the $55k plus range I'd also consider looking at an 06 and newer, the IMS issues seem to be much more rare. I'll bet if you're patient you'll be able to find a CPO in that range.

Yes it's called a DME report. Search up on it. Anything in range 1-3 is fine. Over that could be fine too, but that is your call.

You wouldn't marry a girl after the first date would you? Same goes for cars. Slow down, go to the dealer and test drive a few. Get to know how the car feels and more importantly the various options. Figure out exactly what you want, then start looking in earnest. This deal is not such a great deal. There will be plenty of others. It's a big purchase take your time and don't rush it.

 

And if I were to make a super neurotic check list it would go something like this (in no particular order):

- tires matching (brand as well as N number) & tread left
- hard starts when warm (TSB on alternator cable and perhaps needs changed?)
- oil consumption? (these cars can burn oil, but it's good to know what you're getting)
- sooty left exhaust pipe? (normal, but could also mean AOS is going or scored cylinder in right bank)
- paint meter, signs of accidents
- DME scan, also check for error codes
- shifts smoothly
- service history
- coolant cap has the newest rev, old ones leaked
- battery in service date (these cars kill batteries, generally last 3-5 years)
- spoiler squeak? (pretty normal, little silicone can fix)
- check the alignment on a test drive, make sure wheel is straight and it doesn't pull
- bolster wear on driver seat as well as scuffs on door jam (tell how careful previous owner was getting in and out)
- hood or bumper too clean? These cars are rock chip magnets, depending a bit on mileage a super clean bumper could mean a respray which could mean a fender bender.
- smooth idle
- squeaks and rattles? (it's a sports car and a cab too, so it's bound to have them. Drive with the windows up and listen for them. Use it as a negotiating tool if you can)
- ac buttons peel
- curb rash

I'm sure there's more neurosis, but I'm drawing a blank. I'll fill in more as I remember.

 

Thanks for your reply. So the car is with a dealer called the highline group in Lowell MA. He said he can provide me with the Porsche inspection report. Will get this and post it up so people can take a look. He only has one 997 so if you fancy taking a look you can do a quick google search it comes straight up. He also said he is happy for me to have the car inspected or taken to CPO of my choice.

Car is very well optioned and about the only thing it has which I actually rather it didn't was the telephone module as this means it has an aerial on the front right side of the car which I don't particularly like the look off.

Colour is my personal favourite just love the car in this. Price is just the advertised price. I haven't tried talking to him on this matter for the moment as I am just interested in what financing he is able to offer. The numbers he believed he would be able to achieve looked pretty good.

Will get the DME report. I will probably leave it if it has any 4 or 5 ratings. As I said before would be gutted if I ended up with a lemon.

No you are right about the girl but when you are dealing with ones as attractive as this it is easy to get carried away . I mean if you met a girl as good looking as this that liked it when you drove her hard and insisted you drop her top I am not sure you wouldn't be happy to marry her straight away.

 

Great list, MattyF. Great one.

 

@plantagenet: I love the idea of you rolling up in your Cavalier to check out a Pcar. Is that a "thing" in Lowell? Probably instant cred when you visit Southie?

 

Thanks for the checklist will make sure I go through it when I go back to the car next weekend. Will also take a very long look at what else I can find in the area.

 

Yeah would be hard to get anyone to talk to me if I rolled up in the cavalier. Just to fill in the image its kinda of white except bumpers which are grey and then every single panel including the roof has some damage on it it is debadged though (they fell off). But all it has to do is get me to the T station and then sit in a carpark all day.

The golf is more my wifes car than mine. That's good fun to drive. Cavalier was my choice as it meant I could save more money for the porker fund. Its horrible but in some ways kinda of fun in other as it is the only car I have ever owned in my life that I don't care about.

 

Kudos on the color, as an Atlas owner it's my favorite as well. As for the price, good to know there is room to negotiate. Definitely do so. You're buying a awesome car, but try not to get emotional because you're also buying a story. And it's a story you're going to have to sell to the next owner. So let's make sure this story makes sense and has a happy ending.

How did the independent get this car and why does the independent have a PPI report from the dealer? Independents can get their cars from numerous sources, was this a dealer auction car that a p-dealer didn't think they could sell? Was it a trade in at a dealer that doesn't deal with high end cars? I want to make sure this story makes sense.

Car looks nice, and it's nicely optioned. Probably >$100k MSRP From the looks it has:
sport chrono
carrera s wheels
multi function steering wheel
comfort seats
nav
looks like full leather

things it doesn't have that you may want:
bose (not a biggy, bose kinds blows anyway)
pse (you can gundo hack and get the same sound)

 

Now now. No need to talk about Revere women in that tone.

Whoohoo. Go Yankees. :-)

 

if you havent seen the car in person, ask for pictures of the 3 biggest scratch inside the car and 3 biggest scratch outside the car.

those used car seller always say "the car is mint!"
I went to saw one of those "mint" car and the rear fender was bent, a radio buton was missing, 2 vent blades were removed, scratches inside everywhere.... yeah right... mint!

 

if you are planning to finance with the dealer at least look at penfed.org, the rate there is 1.49% and they are dead easy to work with.

too bad about the fender antenna. those are pretty nasty looking.

 

I think that is the radio antenna option. Telephone option doesn't have a rod antenna.
461 Rod Antenna
External antenna to improve AM reception.
Coupe: Mounted on roof above rear window.
Cabriolet: Mounted on right front
fender.

 

Thanks just applying now....

Address for anyone who is interested in checking them out is...

https://www.penfed.org/Auto-Loans-Overview/

I saw the car in person. I am the one that pointed out the chips and scratches and said I would want them all repaired. There are some scratches on the interior. They all looked like light finger nail scratches which I think will come out when the interior is properly cleaned and the leather is fed.

Can you have the aerial removed for the phone does anyone know or is there nothing you can do with the hole?

As to the History of the car I have the following information
Car was originally sold in Vermont on 04/23/2005. The owner then sold the car and it was offered for resale on 10/02/2012 with 31215 miles on the clock. It then seems to have been well used by the Dealer as the car is then offered for resale again on the 10/09/2012 at Allston MA but this time the car has 34902 miles on it. The car then goes to the Auto Auction MA on the 10/30/2012 with 34920 on the clock and is sold to the present dealer the next day. It has been offered for sale by current sales people since the 11/01/2012

That mileage in those 7 days when it first went to a dealer are high. Could be just ferrying the car around but it could also be an indication of someone who doesn't care about the car having some serious fun.

 

[QUOTE=plantagenet;3736001]Can you have the aerial removed for the phone does anyone know or is there nothing you can do with the hole?/QUOTE]Check with Eric at bumperplugs.com