Buying a 996 at long distance? Without seeing it in person?

Hi - What are your thoughts about buying a car "long distance"? ie, I'm in Florida, and if I find a 996 I like in California... would buying it based on pictures, video of the car, etc, be a bad idea? (also, opinions on shipping the car instead of flying somewhere and driving it back?) Thanks!

Once you find the car you are interested in, make a post here and ask a local RLer to check it out for you in person. A great bunch here, and there's someone almost anywhere you can imagine.

Oh sure Cuda... then that member can poach my perfect car when they go see it for me (kidding...)

Also, do NOT buy a car just based on pictures or seller's description. If the car passes a basic inspection, you should then arrange for a "proper" ppi inspection. Again, if it gets to that point, ask around here, and someone can recommend a shop near where the car is located.

Have it inspected and get their 2nd opinion and then fly out! Nothing like a road trip to bond with a new friend!

Agreed. See it in person before you buy. If it's your first Porsche you will always remember that road trip!

I did the same thing a few months ago, bought the car sight unseen did a ppi before, still kind of got burned.

I'm in PA. and did end up buying a CA car without seeing/driving it in person, although that wasn't the original plan. Still bummed that my plan to fly out with a cashiers check in hand so that if it all checked out I could drive it home fell through at the last minute because of a haughty boss. I have had the car close to 3 years now and I don't regret the purchase one bit. Started with seller provided photo's and running a car fax on my dime. Multiple phone calls to dig up as many details as I could, down to the scratches on the underside of the exhaust tips. Then sent a certified check for $10k as a good faith deposit with the seller's written agreement that should I decide to not purchase the car it would be refunded. Then had several discussions about the history of the car with the servicing dealer in CA. Then had them do a PPI - took a gamble and allowed the servicing dealer to act as the broker. Had a wire transfer set up and when the dealer confirmed title was in hand I initiated the transfer and then upon receipt of the transfer the seller released the car and the dealer faxed me the paperwork of the seller's release. It also helped that the car came with a true bumper to bumper 3rd party warranty good for a year or 20k miles that the seller transferred to me with the purchase of the car. Got lucky and found one spot on a closed carrier transport and had the car in about ten days. Transporter was a great company, although they have since voluntarily ceased operations. Transport company did their own inspection and written report when they picked up the car - probably more thorough than a PPI - LOL. There were no surprises as everything the carrier noted had been disclosed by the seller - except for the fact that the exterior was dusty when the carrier picked the car up. Imagine that - dust on a used car - some nerve. So in this case my decision to take a risk that I had always said I would NEVER take - buy a car sight unseen? - not ever going to happen - happened, and I am still very happy with the decision. Not suggesting you do the same - just sharing my experience. Also from this experience I learned that no matter how careful and thorough you think you are, crap does happen. Bought the car with 23k miles on the clock and the engine took a dump at 37k miles - after the extended warranty had expired. Luckily Porsche took care of it and that's a whole different tale. Happy hunting.

I bought mine sight unseen and shipped it across the country (Washington State to Savannah). I had no issues. I had photos, repair history, CarFax and spoke to the owner a length. Once I felt like this was the one, I had a PPI done on the car by an indie that was familiar with the car. They were excellent and called me and e-mailed me pics during the inspection. I also received a complete inspection report. The key in my mind, is make sure that you get a PPI done from someone who is very thorough.

I've bought and sold several cars this way. Not that big of a deal in the internet age.

I picked my 996 that way, talked for about 2 weeks with the seller, had tons of photos sent, agreed on a price. Went to my CU and got a check made out to the seller; flew out next day, only thing that wasn't as described and I couldn't notice in the photos was a small chip in the headlight washer surround. Test drove it, looked at records, signed the title and finished the deal. Drove her back about 500 miles (stopped 60 miles west of home to visit the lady friend) then finished (so all in about 620 miles to get her home). No issues just slightly over 2 tanks of gas. A few 100+ sprints in the tunnels on the Pa turnpike (drove through the night so 10pm-2am-ie very little traffic)

I did pretty much the stupidest thing you can do, but it's worked out for me. I essentially bought the car sight unseen, without a PPI. Now, I didn't technically buy it without seeing it - but I did buy a one way plane ticket up to Canada with all my import paperwork and a verbal agreement to buy the car, as well as a $2000 deposit down. I had talked with the PO extensively, got the full maintenance history, checked all the records - everything matched up. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but the guy had a garage of other equally nice non-P-cars, and it was clear he wasn't some guy trying to offload a bad car - was just moving on to other things. Also, he was running for mayor of his town, and he had to keep up a good reputation. I got there, did my own "PPI" - no lift accessible, but knew certain things to look for. Had a Durametric, so was able to get into the computer and check for things. Anyways - was it risky? You betcha - I was essentially putting the liability on myself for identifying potential problems. But it worked out.

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This!!

I purchased mine from pics and info in NC. I live in PA went with a Bank Ck all was ok drove it home. Great Trip.

I'm in Virginia and bought my car in Chicago. The seller provided photos and service history; then I cold-called a PCA-Chitown officer who pointed me at a PPI shop. I sent a deposit pending the PPI results and my own test drive. The next week, I flew out and confirmed what seller, records, and PPI were telling me. I had way more fun--- WAY more fun-- driving my "new" 911 from Chicago to Alexandria, than I would have had paying a reputable shipper and w a i t i n g at home for the car. What else are you going to do, let someone else buy YOUR Carrera because it's available in the wrong state? Research, search, find. Verify, buy, Drive. Enjoy!

I have bought 4 of my 996's this way. Always PPI and have a Rlister look it over. I have looked over 6 cars here in CO for other members. Renn is so above any other board (regardless of brand) with regards to its members integrity. Heck I trust a rennlist member morethan some mechanics Just my .02

+1 on all of this. Get a Renn-member to help you in the local area. Gather as much info as possible, interview the seller etc, PPI, and then go get your car. Nothing like a great road trip in a P-car. I was living in Georgia at the time I bought my car in PA. twas a great road trip I'll always remember. Cheers and post up when you get your car, road trip photos and all.

The general rennlist responses to buying a Porsche over the phone or internet point toward mixed experiences, at best. IMHO-mail order brides seldom prove to be good wives. relinuca

I bought mine on eBay from a dealer in Tennessee, and then drove it back to Los Angeles. I've done the same with two motorcycles (one on Denver, another in Missouri) that were ridden back home. Fly out, drive / ride back. No regrets with any of them. It's been my experience that most sellers are honest, and make a fair representation of the items on offer. I have a well-developed slimeball radar.

I bought mine this past January sight unseen from a Porsche dealer in Chicago and had it shipped to me in PA. The dealer took advantage of me with some work they claimed was done but wasn't. However it wasn't something a PPI would have found or another Rennlister would have found. Given that I was searching for a millennium edition, I still would do it again. I love the car.

I bought mine in California, used the check list form here and had my brother test drive it. Didn't do the PPI and I guess I lucked out as I have put 25k on since I bought it with no major issues. I had mine shipped as it came with a hard top and it didn't seem right to drive a cab 1/2 way across the country with a top on it. I have to say the car has been way more reliable than I expected. Loving every day I get to drive it, which is limited here in Wisconsin.

Zenki - which shipper did you use?

I used Auto Transport and they quote it out. I ended up using Cosmos Auto Inc. It took about a week once they picked it up and they delivered it right to my house. I let my brother drive it for a week for for helping me out, so it was about 2 weeks before I got. Three years ago it cost $690.00

I used Reliable Carriers when mine was shipped from Minnesota to NorCal. They were exceptionally good, used an enclosed and climate controlled trailier (it was winter). Driver kept in touch, easy to work with. Perfect experience. But double (or more) the cost of a good open trailer which I used to ship mine back and forth to Flat6 in Georgia. No issues with those either, and less than half the cost of enclosed.

I have purchased several out of state cars and it can work out great. There are always risks associated with a purchase that you dont physically lay eyes on, so if possible, go see/touch/feel/listen to the car. When I was doing my search for a C4S, there were low mile and high mile, cheap price and high priced cars available. Once you see enough cars, the mileage and price doesnt always go hand in hand, so dont get caught up in the great deal. Sometimes paying more for the better maintained car with higher miles is the right way to go.

I'm in Florida and bought mine in CT. PPI and did IMS while still in ct before it was shipped.

Get a PPI before you buy, unless you have money to burn. But, if you have money to burn then why not fly out to sunny California for a weekend and test drive it yourself?

in case some are not tracking OP's many threads, he pulled the trigger on the car in this thread: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...se-a-lien.html