PPI Saved My Life

Hi all, just had a PPI done on a lovely '99 996. Car is metallic black with only 67k, full leather, immaculate interior and babied for much of its' life (mechanic's word). Spotted it at a dealer in Santa Monica and it test drove well. First thought it'd need a clutch in the next 20k or so miles but turns out it's had one a few thousand miles ago, and the RMS. PPI revealed leaking oil separator, and worn sway bars, neither of which I'd have spotted. AOS can be a reasonable cost and nice now to be able to factor that into the asking price. $11k was quoted (due to mechanic saying he could hear a whine - which I'll be frank I couldn't hear) but I think this is exaggerated. +1 for PPI is on these cars is all. All the best

Save your life?!?! Besides the transmission, the rest are consumable items. The seperator gets changes when the clutch would so since you knew the clutch was almost gone, the other is not a big deal. The swaybar bushings are not a big deal either. What was the breakdown of the estimate?

Worn sway bars? Do they mean the bushings? The only thing big on the list is the differential. Replacement of the AOS is pretty routine. I am not sure where the $11K estimate is coming from. IMHO.

Having to pay a GRAND TOTAL of $31k for a 67k mile 911, FULLY sorted (since its post PPI total repair) is DEFINITELY akin to death! LOL! How much do people really expect a 911 should be? $14k with no mileage and factory new? Why would a 99 with 67k miles that needs NOTHING only be $20k? Oh right... according to forum logic, and the general trend of buyers for the 996, a perfectly sorted 67k mile TURBO goes for $25k all day long so I guess that 99, with a spotless PPI, would be tops $14k

Sounds like it just needed some work.

Who ever did the PPI is getting ready to bend you over. Just sayin'. Get a 2nd opinion.

Whats a PPI?

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For you it's a Penile Penetration Inspection.......I kid.....nice job on the tranny removal.

"I saw this car I wanted, but then I decided if I bought it I'd dump $10K in preventive maintenance into it, so I didn't want it any more."

Man you guys are tough! That said PPI's are for girls.

While I'm new to the board, I'm not new to buying used cars and you need to utilized the PPI as a tool, just like your Carfax, etc. You also need to find a new mechanic, I can't see how the work cited would add up to that. Use the information you have to possibly negotiate the deal down, but your expectation to find a perfect specimen is unreasonable at that price point. Also, don't assume the person doing the PPI is perfect, they can easily misdiagnose. I sold a Saab one time that the dealer checked out and blew my deal. I kept it drove it for about another 40K on the transmission he said was shot, but he did miss that the car was obviously clipped.

I can source, ship, and have a slightly used replacement engine installed for 11k. The cost quoted to you is, quite frankly, bulls**t. That is, unless there's something else not being mentioned.

I'm with everyone else... Unless that transmission whine is horrific, I'd say it doesn't sound too bad overall. When I was buying, I told myself "Only buy one if it has history of IMS being replaced/ upgraded" to avoid the hassle. But I eventually realized that was pretty unreasonable, especially in a bubble like Hawaii (I'd be waiting for years)... In very few instances will you find a car that just had a rediculous amount of preventative maintainencne like that done. If it was done recently then why wouldn't the owner just keep the car!? Makes no sense replacing high dollar items like that right before selling... When buying a used car, (at least with my knowledge of BMW's and P-Cars) it's always smart to do quite a bit of preventative maintenance off the bat, if no records of It being done. I've always tried to buy from honest people, when I check out a car I'm very thorough... And if I find multiple things wrong that they don't mention by the time I leave It'll steer me away. I just sold my E36 M3 not long ago, ended up selling it for above asking price because When showing the buyer the car, I literally did an entire walk through with him, and talked about the car for at least 1-2 hours. He had the warm and fuzzy, + all the records, and put an offer higher than the first guy who was waiting for pay day. One exception to that was an E46 M3 I bought about 4 years ago. Had 90k miles, previous owner just replaced clutch, rotors/ pads, new differential, all new suspension, and a bunch of other bits and pieces less than a year prior. People who are expecting to pay under or even around $20k for a used 996, no matter the miles that has not one tiny thing wrong with it, needs absolutely nothing, and has all the latest upgrades and preventative maintenance's done is dreaming or hoping to be VERY lucky. OP: I may take that transmission thing with a grain of salt. Heck, one of my previous 944's had a little transmission "whine" that was noticeable but not annoying by any means. Had that car for years, and put ~50k miles on it. It never got worse, or turned into anything. I was the only one that even noticed it... Unless I'd point it out. Edit: Also, how the hell would you know it "would need a clutch within 20k miles" my experience is either the clutch works, or it's starting to slip. Did you expect the dealership or PO to really throw a brand new clutch, IMS bearing etc right before selling? I wouldn't do another PPI at this place again.

$11k in maintenance is a lot, no matter what the car. Good move getting the PPI

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None of us are arguing that. It's the fact that almost the entirety of that sum is preventative maintenance if the clutch isn't showing signs of slipping. Besides AOS, and some bushings the car could be fine.

Yeah .. Aos should be less than 1k and bushings less than $200 to replace. Clutch is consumable. Not sure about diff but $11k is very exaggerated. If poi had said 3k you could have used that to negotiate the price down at least by 1/2 that amount. Did you ask this forum for ppi recommendation or who did that ?

Reputable shop did the PPI.

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Was the PPI shop also selling 996s and please post the price breakdown of those repair estimates?

Why would he bother posting a breakdown? He got an estimate, it was a bucket of cold water reality poured down his back. Whether it's a pristine high mileage 2008 or a great looking lower mileage 1999, or a 1982 928, unless you are a well versed home mechanic or have an indie you can trust, a Porsche is expensive to have worked on, regardless of the purchase price. Always have been. Everyone that posted here "knows" there are less expensive routes possible, or has done them. This guy saw an attractive price, dipped his toe in and found out thats just the beginning. He hasn't even begun to figure the added costs of mods.... Saying the PPI saved his life was a ridiculous exaggeration, as he obviously just needed a reality check.

All the parts you listed are readily available. I quickly priced everything, swaybar bushings, drop links, LN IMS kit, clutch with new dual mass flywheel (maybe not even needed) and AOS come to $2500. Were they including a transmission rebuild in that 10-11K?? I would hope so. Otherwise the shop is planning a vacation on your dime! Did you hear the transmission whine on the test drive? Could just need a fluid change. A clean 67K mile 1999 with full leather is a deal for under $20K. Monitor the oil leak from the AOS, change the transmission fluid, fix anything loose on the swaybars and drive it. When the clutch needs to be done, do the IMS and AOS at the same time. I would use the PPI for a negotiating tool and go for it!

Hey Iceman, the PPI is for information and bargaining as others have said. Make a counter offer if you want. Do some or all of the repairs yourself and you might have a nice 996. If you have no mechanical ablility, I wouldnt even be looking at a 1999 used car and certainly not a 996. JMHO.

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or the person doing the PPI is looking to purchase the car himself....

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Or they eyed him for a sucker and thought he'll get all that labor done.

Iceman - don't let the guys on this forum ruin your day. Your core message was that you dodged a bullet on a car that looked perfect, but needed some work. So, you are at a crossroad, dude: get a second opinion PPI, walk away from the car or use the PPI report to negotiate the price (hard). Either way, let us know what you decide and you are always welcome to post thoughts on your next potential purchase.

Hey Iceman, I know Goose is deceased (RIP) but maybe some of your other bro's can help you repair it? Maverick, Slider, Etc.?

That's good, who wants to buy a car thinking everything is ok then to later find out it needs another $5K- $10k of work. That money can now go to mods.

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If the price is right, I do. PPI is a good tool to negotiate and not just walk away. This PPI didn't have anything alarming. At least not to me.

Hi guys, I've got a thick skin but thanks for the comments. I'll keep you posted. I'm still in negotiations...

You can find a fully sorted '99 for under $20k. I paid $17,700 for mine with 77,400 miles. I found it right here on the Rennlist classifieds. Car passed PPI no problem - only new tires were recommended and I need a front bumper respray.

Exactly! That's my opinion too.

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This is definitely not the trend. There is another recent thread that generally comes to this same conclusion (the caveat being the lucky ones). Iceman, you can definitely wait for a deal such as the above, but it might be quite some time (several months -> years) before one pops up again that is not just sorted, but still available by the time you find it, and local to boot. It also depends on what you consider sorted; for some this is nothing less than ALL maintenance records and then some; for others, it's as long as it has no glaring flaws.