noob asking for opinions/inputs about price: finally ready to buy my 1st Porsche

After reading/researching on/off for months since joining in 07 (and dreaming of owning one), I am finally now in a position to GIT R DONE: a MY02 996, arctic silver on metropol blue listed for $29,950. A few details about the car: cab, tip, 60K miles with options (heated seats, bose stereo, NAV, 19-in MonoForged rims with like new tires and a full TechArt Aerokit with rear wing). Pic below sent by seller. No RMS, IMS, AOS issues to date. Clean CARFAX (AZ/CA car with 2-3 owners, sold twice as CPO). Will have access to dealer service history and intend to have a PPI done. This is a PP sale with seller (tmanager of a shop that specializes in work for Pcars and other exotics). Any and all input/comments/feedback on the car/price is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays to all. UPDATE: Deal done for $29K with freebies (shop version of Fister D, airbox mod with K&N filter, service credits and more). Will post lots of pics and noobie rider report when I drive the car home very soon.

sounds about right! just get a PPI and be on your way, nice thing is since it has original clutch, in about 20-25k you can replace clutch and also do ims, aos and rms as preventitive maintanance all together

Sounds like a winner with many options and good service history. I am not sure about the price now, however, tip is hard sell and should take into pricing

Looks like someone is about to become and owner. Sounds like you are taking the rights steps. Anticipatory congratulations and pix will be mandatory in here or you will be flamed...this crowd can be ruthless when it comes to pix. Good luck!

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a clutch with a tip??????.........

seems a bit steep for a 02 Tip cab but if it is "the car you want" then the price is not bad.

I think this car should be in the mid $20ks IMO. Its a TIP Tranny Regardless of what I say or anyone if this is the car GO FOR IT!!! GL

Thanks for the inputs, guys. My research did point to $26K (low) to $29-$30K (high). Cars I have seen listed in the $20-$26K range either have very high miles or are not as well-optioned. Seller gave me the options list and it is fully "hard-loaded" (only option missing was NAV but now has an a/m Clarion unit). I happen to like the aerokit/spoiler and rims. BTW, car also has PSM. Seller said he will flex a bit on price and will give me a $1000 store credit for parts/labor (same as cash)...even hinted at throwing in an exhaust for free. Will be looking the car over tomorrow, wish me luck. P.S. Country: I do not want to tick off the pics ***** so yes, pics will be promptly posted

For that price, I'd look at the following.. Looks to be fully maintained... http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/2739655355.html

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Kromdom. I too spend a year searching for my car. When it was priced on the low-end I noticed it was always for a good reason - i.e. the car was described in "great condition" but rated a "fair" or "poor" in my eyes and with crappy options. When a car was priced a little on the high end, they needed very little work and were almost always cosmetically good, with the nice options. In the end, those cars were the first to sell. A P car buyer in that price range is less sensitive to the +/1 $1 - $2K - at least I was. I missed about 3 great cars because I hesistated a little longer than I should - so the next car that I wanted with the right options and color - I bought it without haggling. Some people said to me I paid $1K or $2K too much. Baloney. It's your car, your money, you should buy it if you love it. PS: The price you quoted seems about right for a well optioned car. RE: Tiptronic - frankly I find city buyers prefer the Tip so no discounts for Tip...

krom, like I told you in the pm; negotiate a good deal. Enjoy the car, bond with it, don't go all mod-crazy, because IMO, a C2 Cab Tip can get a bit too easy and you WILL get the itch to upgrade; whether it be a C4S, Turbo, or 997 series. AND, you will pry catch the fever for a 6sp. I did. Good luck in your Pcar purchase.

Good luck on the 02' cab, post pics if/when you have them. If you like the Porsche and the PPI is good, then negotiate your best price and enjoy the Porsche ownership. GL

mikes_99 6: thanks for the link but left out coupes/manual in my search (easier to make the wife say YES to buying another toy) roadsession : sounds like we think alike, appreciate your points. 2K3TTMIA (ED ): got your PMs and thanks for the tips. Barn996 : I happen to be a "pic *****" myself so will surely/gladly post pics Again, thanks all for your comments and well wishes.

In case, OP posted a pic in first post ^^

I don't think the car as optioned and presented is over-priced. If the seller comes down a bit and the PPI checks out I think you have a winner... Assuming you really want a tiptronic. If you are settling for the tip as part of this specific deal then my advice would be to wait and find an '02 with manual. Nothing wrong with tiptronic, but it hurts resale and you loose part of the driving experience. The newer manumatics like PDK offer real performance advantages, tip is just convenient in traffic.

are the body bits listed on the build sheet...hard to tell from that pic but the rear bumper looks like it has the MKI aero wings...front bumper looks like an MKII Aero .. looks really clean...more pics! I think the price is OK...maybe a tad high

No-one, NO ONE on this board would pay more then $5k for that car unless the seller includes 10lbs of 24 carat gold!! I think it is a nice car and when you get one that both you and your wife can enjoy it is a plus. She may even want to take it over when you buy your GT2/Turbo/GT3 in a couple of years.

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Car passed PPI which verified what seller disclosed: right rear window needs a new motor (to be repaired by his shop at his expense). I forgot to copy the options on the sticker under the hood but car is fully "hard-loaded", only factory option it did not get was NAV (car now has a Clarion). Will post the option codes later when i get them. Other bits the car had that seller forgot to mention in his ad: sport seats, hard-wired aftermarket radar detector (looks like an Escort or K40) and clear bra. Seller is also doing exhaust (their shop's version of Fister D) and airbox mod for free. And he will also program every "courtesy" feature on the car for free. And $1000 off listed price. Getting a TIP was a concession for my wife who does not drive a manual If you did not point those out, I would have never known...yup, that is how much of a noob I am. Not sure if aerokit was done at factory or after (car had 2-3 previous owners). And YES you are correct, the car is VERY CLEAN in/out and under. BTW, in addition to goodies seller is throwing in, he is also giving me "service credits" at the shop that he manages (The Speed Gallery in Studio City, CA). IMHO, $29K for the car with its options (factory and a/m), the shape it is in and the "freebies" is NOT a steal but a deal I can live with. I did look at other cars in the mid-$20K range but none of them came close to this one. Those that did were listed for much more than $30K This will be my first and probably ONLY P-car but I can always dream Again, thanks for all that chimed in. Pics to follow soon.

Search bay area craigslist - you'll see plenty of cabs for mid 20's ... which means that is starting point for negotiation .... I'd use that in your negotiations ....

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If you go with the TIP and do track days or lots of spirited back-road driving (yes, you can), you need to bump-up the trans-flush yearly. Do some online searches for drivers who track their TIP cars to learn the little secrets to getting the most performance out of it. I have met several racers who actually race their TIP car and do quite well. Drive it like you stole it and it will reveal itself to be an awesome car.

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I do 3 to 4 DE's a year and maybe 2 AutoX on my Tip. I regularly outrun people in manuals and Tips alike .... But I'm not going to turn this into a Tip vs Manual thread. Yes I do change my transmission fluid every 20K miles.

Found this while waiting for dinner: http://trackpedia.com/wiki/Driving_P..._at_track_days

Krom...sounds right for Cali. FYI, I was not looking for a 6-spd since my P car would be my daily driver and having a manual trans meant no multi-tasking while driving. Well, fell in love with a 996 with a 6-spd and I am SOOOO happy I pulled the trigger. It had been years since I drove a stick and IMO, it definitely makes owning a 996 more fun! Enjoy, and don't worry if you "overpay" by a liitle bit. Most people will see you drive that beauty and assume you paid far more!

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I did search almost all of CA but the cars with options/features I was looking for in the shape I want were in the $28-$30K range. Cannot DISAGREE with you Good to know but car will PROBABLY not see a track (yeah, right) And I already have this to feed the need for speed

Good luck! It is cool that your wife is interested in driving. On nice days we fight over the keys.