996 C4S Cab at Cridfords Porsche Specialist

I have taken a fancy to a Basalt Black C4S Cab at Cridfords - £28995. http://www.cridfords.co.uk/ Has anyone ever had dealing or experience with Cridfords? Is this a reasonable price? It seems to have all the necessary toys, with the exception of PCM - that doesn't bother me as I suspect it is not do good.

It HAS got a sports exhaust so all-in-all given age and lowish miles I'd say the price from that sort of dealer is just about right. The C4S market is strong at the moment but the season is wrong for selling a Cab'.

After the TT, they are the best looking 996 by far. I realise it isn't cabrio season but with a hard top who cares! Not sure if it is the poor photographs but the Cridfords C4S doesn't seem to have a deep shine and lustre that I have seen on other Basalt cars. My other 'problem' is that £29K is the lower end of 997 C2/C2S coupe territory..... I really fancy a cab, but the 997 is a newer car and is tempting.

What about this one http://www.portiacraft.com/cardetail.asp?make=04_Porsche_996&id=1540

Nice, but it is too expensive and it isn't a cab.

You have pm. Peter. Agree portiacraft seems punchy for a coup.

Yes but 997s at this price are going to be higher mileage and as you say will be coupes.

With any such purchase make sure you get a proper 'independent' PPI done before buying.

Go somewhere else :judge:

Ooops ! Should read your original post more carefully :?

I take it that this is not an unqualified recommendation for this particular trader? I have to say I do like this C4S and am trying to seeing if I can get some finance in place before I travel to see it, in order to potentially make an offer. I have asked the usual questions regarding condition etc, it is having a 48K service before sale, the previous 3 services have been at OPC Solihull - it will be getting new front discs and pads and has two new rear tyres. I did ask if there was any evidence of RMS replacement and if the rads had been changed. He said not but all would be covered by their 'very comprehensive' warranty (heard that before!). Are there any other obvious pitfalls to be wary of? So the way forward would be a PPI at an OPC (111 point check?), using the results to haggle on the price, how much does an OPC charge for this service? Is this a comprehensive vehicle check which would throw up potential issues? At what point could I buy an OPC warranty? Hartech is close to me, I wonder if their Lifetime warranty would be a better bet.

With regards to PPI, I would use an independent specialist as opposed to an OPC 111 point inspection. The 11 pointer won't b ascomprehensive. You could ask them to take the car to local porsche specialist for the check who will be able to put it on a ramp for a proper check and run th diagnostics on it. Should only cost you 1-2 hours of labour

From what I have rear the Hartech warranty is pretty comprehensive and and better value than the OPC. Mine still has the OPC but the poor chap I bought it from was hit pretty hard for the privellidge. Had to replace a battery as non Porsche branded Bosch. and a couple of other little bits to qualify, none that any mechanic would suggest are necessary. Have heard many a horror story of OPC fighting claims on the warranty because you had the smallest deviation from the manufactuerers spec. Definitely advise a specialist PPI, no seller trade or private will object if they have nothing to hide.

Is there any way of getting the full spec of the C4S Cab from the Reg number? VU04HWE?

not sure GT 4 or Richard H are two of the most knowledgeable I have come across on here for such but if you can get the vin then there is a company in the US which will provide the complete original spec as sold. Quite an eye opener but you need one of the option decoders unless your german is far better than mine!! :? http://www.suncoastparts.com/category/VINDECODER.html