Theft recovery - need advice

Hey guys: My stolen C4S was found on Friday night - need some advice as I contemplate keeping the car, maybe buying it from the insurance company (as salvage)? I've been paid out by the insurance company, car apparently totaled though its still registered in my name, and I'm apparently still recorded as the legal owner (verified by the police). The car seems to be in reasonable shape, it was abandoned when it ran out of gas, so I assume the thief drove a few hundred miles around Seattle (less than a tank). I drove it home and it seems the same as when I lost it, some new scratches, ash all over the interior, curbed wheels but nothing absolutely terrible. I checked over the engine using Durametric and first off, I wanted some feedback on the results. For range 2, I have 3/3672.4h and total hours now 3753.2: So does this mean that 81 hours ago, there was a range 2 event? I don't think that the thief would have been able to put 81 hours on the car during its absence ... and I'm a pretty cautious driver so this is a weird result. Thoughts on buying the car back? My motivation is mostly all the work I've done on this car over the 4 year period I have owned it. Cheers, Michael

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I think (and I might be wrong, I can remember one other time I was wrong), that 3 "ignitions" in range 2 means 1 revolution (and at 7200 RPM, 1/7200th of a minute) of the engine. I consider this to be a non issue. If you can get the car back for a discount on what the Insurance Company gave you for it, I think you aren't taking to big of a risk. Pretend it is someone else's car and get a PPI done?

Whats Buy back amount? If car seems fine and you are ok with any negative emotions related to theft I say go for it. If insurance company made you whole, and you can pick up car for a reasonable price that is. Selling in future will be an issue.

All depends on the buy back price and if all check out mechanically. I bought back a 67 VW camper and was glad I did...Came out way ahead!

Silver: This is awesome news! I was just wondering yesterday if it had been found. I hope it works out to your satisfaction.

Thanks everyone. I'm waiting for a call back from the insurance company. I'll update this once I get a verdict on how much it will cost to keep.

Kind of a cool opportunity to get the car back cheap. After insurance gives you a $$ I'd lowball them back.

Regarding the ignitions on range 2, you are right. The ECU registered 3 ignitions on range 2 81 working hours ago (with the current millage and the total hours, you can estimate how many ago it happened) However, as strathconaman has mentioned, 3 ignitions in a 6 cylinder car is just what it takes one engine revolution. So I would not take it in deeper consideration.

It is evidence that the car was abused mechanically, and I would let the insurance know that. I'd buy it back if it were me, but just know that its value has been affected, so try to get the insurance to sell it back to you for as low an amount as possible.

If you decide to not keep the car... I'm interested, local, and have cash.

Is that the bridge over the lake Union North of Queen Anne hill on Aurora?

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I'll keep that in mind. Actually, you and I have been stalking the same 996's for years. I think you bought one at Chaplins that I was keen on :-)

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Yeah I think so, this is Lincoln Towing on Pasadena Pl NE, right near Ivars. These guys did a great job actually ... considering it was locked and they had to recover and move the car with a dolly somehow. Wheels are slightly scratched, but not awful. FYI, the car was found on the 2300 block of Fir Street in the Central District.

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That is where my old car came from! I sold it about a year and a half later and immediately regretted it, then bought a C2. I sold that one after owning it for about 9 months when my commute changed drastically. Now I'm on the hunt for another one!

Sorry to hear about that, I had the same thing happen to my first new car I ever bought in 2007. 2001 325ci. I took extremely good care of the car. I left my garage open and they came in and got the key. Car was gone for a month. Insurance company was trying to pay out the loss but I held out hope. They finally found the car. It had some damage to the driver's door, front bumper, curbed wheels, and some dents and scratches on the roof and hood. I kept the car and they sent me a check for the damages. I cleaned up the car and I still have it. The door, hood, and roof still have the dents but I cleaned up everything else. Funny, people still think my car is much newer than what it is. I still take care of it. If you decide to buy it back and sell it, I might be interested in buying it as well.

Glad to hear your Porsche was recovered, and apparently with only minor damage. Sounds like a good plan to repurchase the car from the insurance company and starting your ownership over again. As mentioned, don't accept their first buyback offer. Best of luck.

May I ask how did they stole the car? I mean, how did they open the doors and eliminate the alarm. Maybe that could help us for take some additional cautions Thanks in advance

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Apparently house was broken into and the keys were in the kitchen. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...seattle-2.html

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They grabbed his keys from inside his house. I always worry when my wife forgets and leaves her keys at home when we go somewhere. Maybe I should swap her a key with the key I have without the sensor pill since she has only driven my car once in the last 12 months. That way they could get inside and take the V1 and dashcam, but wouldn't be able to take the entire car. Hmmm...

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Darn DBJoe996, that's the second post today that you barely beat me to an answer! You need to learn to type slower! At least this one I was closer, so I'm either typing faster or you're slowing down a bit.

Hello, here is a way to value the car for the buy back, I presume that it will say salvage on Title which is normal for stolen and recovery, it may say stolen and recovery depends on state.So as another member has said it is worth less money with a "branded title". At this stage you just want to buy it back, at a good price,repair the cosmetic damage and drive it. In the future you may want to sell it, so it is important that you have the full story, with photos, bills etc. Dont forget there are two pictures you have to paint, one for your satisfaction so you are happy with the deal, the other is to the insurance company so you can buy it back at the lowest price. For You 1. You have all the records of service etc before the car was stolen. 2. Document with photos all the damage etc done during its non authorized drive around town. 3. Know how much you can get repairs done to bring the car back to where you want it. The story for the Insurance company and I have worked with them before and they will try to get max out of it. 1. Ask them how much they want to buy back and what are they basing there assumptions on. 2. Make sure you have slightly over budgeted quotes on wheels,one may be bent or cracked, paint restoration, interior damage to seat, carpets out to get ride of smells etc, maybe brakes are "warped, bad pads etc 3. Use that Durametric report, saying maybe engine needs to be dropped and looked at? Possible IMS issues 4. Dont go silly but make sure all quotes are top end. Here is the tricky part with the Insurance comapny. If car is worth $20K with mileage and condition, I would not pay any more than the following formula. Take 30% of that which now makes it $14K with "branded title" Then deduct below - Wheels restored $1000 - New Tires due to being scrubbed $1000 - Alignment due to curbing $150 - Make sure no suspension damage $500 - Total paint restoration and paint touch up $1500 - Interior repair and clean up $1000 - Now the tricky part, drop engine , do some repairs $1500 So the total is around $6750 so try and buy for around $7500. If the above actual repairs are only $3000 then you may go to $10K for the car How long have you been with Insurance company, do you have a good relationship with them, try and see what they are thinking, they sometimes just want to get of the books asap and keep your business for the future. Bets of luck hope this helps. John

If you can negotiate a good buyback price, definitely buy it. Make sure you account for diminished value. I too would be interested in buying the car if you decide you don't want it since I am local as well....However, unless you bought another car, seems like this may be an opportunity for you. Additionally, You could contact Norspec and see what they would pay and just flip it to make a couple of grand real fast. You have tons of options.

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I bought my 996 from Chaplains, interesting to hear about others doing the same. Are you a PNWR member? There have been some articles in the last few Spiels about accidents and diminished value, not sure if any of that will be helpful in dealing with a theft recovery.

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Congratulations on the recovery Michael. Did you get things worked out with the insurance agency? If this was my car, I'd fight hard to get it back and get the minor damage repaired. Regarding the 3 over-revs in Range 2, that's nothing. I wouldn't worry about it. The overrev sensors in these cars are very sensitive and 3 overrevs should NOT damage the motor. The moron probably missed a few 1 and 2nd gear shifts, but the car has a limiter to protect the motor. If it gets too high, it cuts fuel. But you still get the over-rev recorded in the ECU as I understand it. Can you imagine how many over-revs people have that track their 996 cars? More than most people realize. Now regarding the 81 hours when the over-rev happened. That is a lot of time in the car. Did you check the mileage. How many miles did the thief drive the car? Could the over-revs have happened during past ownership?