Car inspection - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Looking to buy a boxster that I've seen/gone for a spin in,for around 5.5k/6k. Well serviced, FSH etc. Clean, well looked after. Spoke to current specialist who done a minor service, replaced as few bits, all good. One minor recommendation to replace the A/C condensors. Spoke to the sellers, (a very upmarket car company/dealer who don't sell crap). They said they do a very rigid check on all cars and carry out a service. Sold for 8k in late 2013. And would market it again for 7.5k. Both recommend that I get an independent inspection done. 180 pounds but not til next Wednesday. thoughts

Don't be shy

Get a look at the sample PPI done by the shop so that you know what you are getting in the inspection. Does it include a filter inspection? Compression test? Leakdown test? A good PPI isn't cheap. An example of a good one is here. http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site/PPI_%28PrePurchas... I had a PPI done on my second Boxster. As a result I knew what I'd want to spend to make the car come up to my standards. As a result, it was wonderfully reliable. You don't say the year, model or kms. You didn't comment on what tires, their age or tread depth. Did you feel them for cupping (irregularly worn treads)? Nor on the condition of the plastic window. Nor on the look of the brake disks and pads. So no comment on the price.

Sounds like a good solid car. you don't want too much mileage. me personally..i wouldn't dwell too much on tyres, pads etc. these are easily replaced. as long as the engine, gearbox are ok, no accident damage etc. Don't expect a NEW car for 6 or 7 K. If it's got FSH you can't go too far wrong. If you want virtually no risk... you'll have to go go down the boroscope / ims route. (costly)

2000 2.7 70k miles. Ext/Int immaculate and unmarked. FSH. New tyres all round. MOT last dec, no adv. New rads/coil packs. Was recommended to replace A/C condensors at last minor service. New plugs/oil changed. Everything pretty much standard. A/C, radio etc, has a CD changer in front boot..... I have ben recommended a well respected inspector for 180 pounds. 3 hrs work.

mikal83 said: 2000 2.7 70k miles. Ext/Int immaculate and unmarked. FSH. New tyres all round. MOT last dec, no adv. New rads/coil packs. Was recommended to replace A/C condensors at last minor service. New plugs/oil changed. Everything pretty much standard. A/C, radio etc, has a CD changer in front boot..... I have ben recommended a well respected inspector for 180 pounds. 3 hrs work. It's a value jusgment you have to make yourself. Personally I have bought 2 and had neither inspected, both from small time non specialist dealers. What else would you want inspected that you don't trust yourself to do? At that age and mileage there are several other things that might be under the radar for maintenance - clutch, waterpump, suspension arms/bushes and top mounts, trackrod ends and inners, exhaust fixings, exhaust condition, corroded hard brakes lines. Across 2 Boxsters I have changed all of this stuff (not the same on both cars) but try to buy at an appropriate price.

I realize that but am thinking yes its 180 quids but I will use his report as a bargaining tool for final offer.

On a £5.5k car how much do you realistically think the dealer is going to discount the car? If the car is otherwise sound and you can do the sorts of checks that will make you feel comfortable buying then £180 is probably not far off from what you will have bartered off anyway. The dealer's other option is to not accept your potential post-inspection offer and sell to another punter on this sunny easter weekend instead, leaving you £180 down. At that price level, minor things needing fixing or not then it's already a good deal if the car stacks up as you seem to think it does.

private not dealer

I don't think it makes much difference if private or dealer. The first post suggests the car is a dealer sale though. You could still be £180 down and have no car if you don't agree on a price. £180 buys a reasonable amount of parts eg front discs, pads, wear sensors and shims/fluid. Personally I wouldn't bother if I have an ok feel for the car from viewing and paperwork. I'd feel differently if it was an £80k car though. The other way to look at it is that if the inspection identified £200 worth of work for the £180 spent, how much is the seller going to discount? If the inspection identified £1000+ worth of work, is he going to discount that much to sell to you, or just suck it up and sell to somebody else? The other argument will be it's an old car and a buyer can't expect it to be 100% perfect, especially not at that price point. Only you can judge the nature of the seller though.

True. ( To your last comment) Thanks

it sounds good. what's the seller replacing it with? he might just want shut regardless of how good the cond. is. As i said previously... you buy a Porsche for 6/7K... you're not getting a minter!.... but the guy might be letting go of what IS a 'well looked after' car. because he has his next BABY in his sights.

zulash said: it sounds good. what's the seller replacing it with? he might just want shut regardless of how good the cond. is. As i said previously... you buy a Porsche for 6/7K... you're not getting a minter!.... but the guy might be letting go of what IS a 'well looked after' car. because he has his next BABY in his sights. He has a genuine reason for sale. I have spoken to the folks that sold the car and the garage that have done "some" work/MOT etc.

If you like it, driven it and are happy then what are you waiting for. Go buy it!!!