Dealer asking $45k for it. It's a Base 997 C4S with heated seats, no other options. Black on Black. Looked up history and there's no accident records and title is clean. I'm new to Porsche and I love the look of the 997. Is this a good buy?

 

I would wait for a lower mile 997. Is it a good buy? Kinda, given that its the 4 wheels drive S version, but you can get an '09 911 (non-s) with less than half those miles around that price with a lot more options around that price point, unless you are set on a AWD Carrera S.
Is it PDK or manual? If it's PDK and doesn't have sport chrono, then I would definitely pass (probably would be my first question).
To reiterate, I would wait for a lower mileage 997. Good luck

 

I would suspect that there are lower mileage 997s out there. For example, my 2007 997S has less than 13K miles. It is third in rotation to be driven, and is a fun, non-commuter car. That said, it is driven 3-4 times a month and gets regular exercise/maintenance. I can't be the only one in this situation. A 93K 2010 has definitely been WELL used. I would shop further.

 

Show me a nicely optioned 09 C2S or C4S with 40k miles for around that price and I will flip those cars all day long. Or by "around" do you mean $60k?

I'm not sure a 90k+ mile car is for me, but to the OP, the 09 cars are very reliable. That said, repairs can still get expensive. Even decent tires and an alignment will set you back close to $2k. You're looking for a deal, but make sure you can stomach the costs of ownership. I would also look closely at the condition of the car. It may be a little long in the tooth inside and out. Also make sure it has all the maintenance records.

There are also a few magic mileage numbers in peoples minds and once a car crosses 100k the price may drop. So factor that into your negotiations.

 

Could be all Highway miles. Just might be barely broken in!
How does the wear on the rest of the car look. Seats, body, pedals
Long highway miles are very easy on a car's engine. If on smooth interstate roads not very hard on the running gear either. Even the transmission doesn't shift much.
You need more info to make a good decision.

 

Get a PPI....I wouldn't be too afraid of a high mileage car......someone drove it like they should be driven at least!!. They aren't meant to be garage queens only driven 1-2x/mth or so....what a waste!! Check it out like any other car you would purchase and make your best decision

 

I doubt there are many 09 C4S with 45k miles for 45k

However I do agree, this is cheap, but the cost of ownership is no different for a car with 45 or 90k miles.
The 93k car has had a lot more tear and wear.
Does it have a full service history? What all has been replaced?

 

Those are obviously highway miles. Which is a good thing. Means no stop and go, no lugging etc. etc.

 

It's basic, manual tranny with heated seats. Looks very clean with minimal wear like it's mostly highway miles. I didn't do a PPI yet so that would help. Dealer said he doesn't have records.

 

I will apologize for my lack of specificity; I typed a quick response to the question...
There are definitely not '09 C2S or C4S 911s available at exactly $45,000, but I never said that (although I realize that was misleading), in that I was referring generally to any 997.2 911 (including the C2). Considering it was OPs first Porsche, I didn't necessarily think a 4S would be his only option, and the mere fact that at that price point he was asking for advice, I unfortunately assumed he was just looking for a 997.2.
My '09 loaded C2 with PDK, sport chrono plus, pasm, turbo wheels, new tires, etc. wasn't "that" much more and it had 40k miles (although I watched the market and waited for a car to fit my criteria to get a good deal). Considering the majority/usual "low mileage" 911s that are out there, I was merely making a point to wait, if anything, for a lower mileage 911 and still be around that price point. Obviously, the higher up you go in the trim level and year the further you get from the price point. But if you want a 997.2 911 around $45k they are out there.

 

All depends on your stomach for repairs and maintenance. ANY car, even the most reliable will have things break with that many miles. Wouldn't be uncommon to need a valve job. Manual car could easily need a clutch, even if driven perfectly ($2k plus). Brakes and tires are easy. Water pump? Starter? Alternator? These can easily go away at 60k+. Suspension components like shocks are "probably" worn out. All of these things could be waiting for your to replace. Air conditioning. Radiator issues. Not a lot of DFI engines around with that kind of mileage - valve job could be typical with that much mileage, but we don't really know.

Definitely as mentioned, once mileage crosses 100k, the value will drop like a stone. Not that it isn't reasonable already though. It will just further limit the potential buyer. Car will head towards scrap value.

If one thinks about it as short term ownership, the car will be difficult to flip as the buyers are very limited for all the reasons above. Good luck, but I wouldn't recommend it. At that price point, 997.1's, base Carrera's with low miles are much better bets.

 

Thank you everyone for their advices.

 

That is a great deal. I would trade my car on that in a heart beat

 

Hopefully onefastman1 is kidding. As others have said, $45K gives you a lower entrance point into 911 ownership, but the potential maintenance costs will quickly outweigh your initial savings. No vehicle, other than a diesel semi, is "just getting broken in" at 93K miles. They are just passing middle age, and that is premature for a 2009 model year car.

 

Things I would want to know if I were looking at this car:
How long has dealer had car for sale? I think you could bargain for another 1-2K off the dealer "asking" price. Where did dealer get the car? Was it a traded for another Porsche? My first Porsche was used 05 997S. I found previous owners information in the glove box. I am sure that was an oversight by the dealer, but boy it became a huge selling point to me after being able to talk to previous owner. You said dealer has no records. If car was service at a Porsche dealer there should be records to be found with running the VIN through any Porsche dealers system.
Car Fax - No accidents? one owner?
++Definitely a PPI.
Condition of interior especially the drivers seat. High miles like this on a 3 year old car sounds like a commuter car which can be a good thing as long at it was properly maintained. A thorough PPI will verify type of driving the car has experienced.
How is the paint? Cars with high miles will tend to have a lot of rock chips up front especially if they are highway miles. I had to have my front bumper resprayed on my 08 335i after 90K. Well didn't have to, but it looked awful.
I have found there is nothing like owning and driving a Porsche. If all of these things pass without red flags and you are "in love" with this car. I would not let the mileage deter me from buying it. A well cared for DFI engine should serve you and its next owner well. You would have an advantage over a lot of people on this forum who worry about putting too many miles on their garage queens. These cars should be driven and this one has. Dig a little and get some questions answered. I hope it all checks out and I get to read about you bringing it home with pictures!

Oh yeah, make sure the tires are in good shape or negotiate a new set in on the deal! Good luck!