Taking The Plunge!

Hey everyone, I've been a rennslister for a long while b/c I have a beautiful Cayenne Pig I love driving Well my wife decided she wanted it so I am in the market. After selling a beloved supercar and my wife's old Beemer I'm chompin' at the bit for a 996 Turbo. I've located one and we have come to terms on the price but it is 2000 miles away. It is just not practical for me to fly out and examine it even though I would like to. I have talked with a shop that will do a PPI that includes a test drive and I'm hoping an over rev report. Beyond that I'm not sure what else I can do. I've read a ton and I see there are multiple camps of people who buy site unseen with nothing, vs site unseen with PPI, vs people that have to touch, taste, smell and lick it or they won't consider it. Obviously I'd love to be in the last camp but it is not feasible for me at this time. Beyond something really obvious I'm not sure putting your hands on it matters so much vs an experienced tech putting their hands on it. A previous PPI was done to the car (so I've been told) b/c there is another interested party. I was told the results were excellent except for it needing a battery and window issues related to that said battery which have been corrected. I don't trust that report which is why I'm going to do my own. So what have some of you done, I'd love to hear how those of you who bought long distance did it and what camp you were in and why. Does my plan seem decent with have the shop do a test drive and ppi with over rev report? Would you spring more for a compression test, why or why not? Anything I missed? Thanks!

Maybe see if there are any PCA members that can go there and give you a first hand look? Pay him some money and have him take high resolution pictures and videos?

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Hi Stan. That is good advice, my only issue with that is I did that once a few years ago on a different car. A "nice guy" from the forum that was going to help me out, he bought the car out from under me lol. I know that is probably a rare case of someone being a complete $hithead but it is a true story lol. If I new someone out there I would love to do that though.

Any comments will be anecdotal. I bought mine sight unseen after I spoke with the owner who was an avid Porsche enthusiast and I felt comfortable with the sale. You should post over on the 996tt forum, the motor is an entirely different beast than the n/a M96 motor. With that being said, there are more persnickety types over there. Basically do what makes you feel comfy to send 40+ thousand bones to someone for a car that you cannot see until after the deal is done and over with.

^^In the vein of RngTrtl's experience, if you can find a car or enthusiast that people vouch for, it can do a lot to improve odds of a good outcome & ease the stress. I'm much more interested in condition & records than the exact spec from the factory. The latter is nice, but the former will ultimately dictate the success or failure of the purchase. If you're patient enough, you can get both.

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Where is "Out there?" Where are you?

Hey guys. So I've located the car and after explaining to the dealer my issue with wanting to be there but not being able to he came up with a wonderful solution. I've actually never seen someone go this far beyond for a potential customer. He came in early and put the car up on a lift and basically did a complete walk through ppi type inspection on the car with me for two hours over an HD video conference call. Then on that same call he took me for a drive with him virtually. It was so odd b/c it was like I was standing right next to him the whole time. I would ask questions, or ask to see something closer and he was right on it, it was pretty amazing. He then sent me all the paper work I requested, which consisted of a PPI type safety inspection they did on the vehicle and everything they found and corrected. Also at my request he sent me an over rev report right on the spot taken an hour after I asked him to do it. Short of flying out there and driving the car I don't think there is much else I can do. I've spent over an hour under this car virtually and the rev report showed only 1016 ignitions in range 1 (2.9 seconds if my math is right for a 996 TT?), and 0 in range 2. While I hate that the car has ever been to redline I doubt any one of these cars hasn't honestly, at least a few times in its life. I'm assuming 1016 cycles in range 1 is totally fine???? I've decided to buy the car based on the hours this guy has spent with me on the car over HD conference calls. It is crazy to me how wonderful this technology is, and while I wish I was there it is the next closest thing. It bothers me slightly that I have not driven it, except virtually as a passenger on video that is, but he gave me a blow by blow of how tight everything was, and any sounds he heard etc. all in real time. He even popped the engine lid when we came back from the test drive and gave it a good smell test b/c I asked him to (no sign of fluid leaks, smells, etc.). I would never buy from a dealer and that is why this car is different, they actually have this car on consignment from a private owner. They actually run a high end performance, modification shop for Porsche and other vehicles. He walked me around his shop and showed me 100K-200k plus 993, 997, 996's that are being modified, and even took me under an older Carrera to show how bad they can leak. He said the car I'm buying is totally dry. They are the ones that did the PPI, so I know it seems like a conflict of interest but we spent a long time talking about how this is not their car and they are being impartial just giving me the info like any other shop would, and he welcomed me to have anyone else look at the car if I wanted but seeing their facility and the hardware that was there, I feel most comfortable I think with them doing it, so....Honestly I've never been more comfortable with a guy I'm buying from, but I don't know, maybe I've got a false sense of security feeling like I've spent so much time virtually with the car through video chat. What clenched it for me was the over rev report at 1615 cycle in 1 and 0 in range two. I feel like the car has not been flogged and it shows on the tattle tale device. Would love anyone's thought on the process I used to come to the decision, and please if anyone disagrees with me on the over rev report let me know, thanks guys, hopefully I'll be a 996TT owner very soon (working out the particulars today). EDIT** Ugh I just realized this is in the wrong forum, I thought it was weird that there was no 996 turbo forum on the water cooled linked, then I just looked down and saw the turbo section DOH! Please moderators, move this to the right section, I think I would get more Reponses there, thanks!!!

Once again where is "Out there?" Where are you located? Who is the dealer?

Granted your in the wrong forum it's still a 996 Interesting that you've participated in a virtual inspection/opinion. Sounds like the car's been babied with the rev report. Read Moe Monney and Kris Murphys threads about range two downshift horrors. Five to two instead of four...ouch! Your range 1's aren't plentiful or damaging. Don't we all hit the rev limiter on occasion ? The bigger ticket Metzger issue is coolant pipe leakage. It's a motor out repair. Your virtual mechanic said it was dry but check for signs of dried coolant staining around the fittings. Spoiler rams and the steering rack are prone to fail. Any idea how old the water pump is. Exhaust tips sagging....replace the motor mounts. Good turbos super pricey or hard to find. Got me a great C4S instead.

Whats the mileage?

You have to do what you can, as much as you can, which you have done. Chalk one up for technology! The biggest issue I have seen with buying cars remotely if actually the aesthetics. Some folks have wildly differing opinions of the condition of the car, visually. I've seen folks say "minimal rock chips" and the entire hood is covered in holes. I've heard dealers and sellers say "excellent condition" and it's no where near that. Me, personally, I want to know where every single chip, scratch, discoloration, is, anywhere on the car. Others don't care so much, because - hey, it's a used car. Those same folks car a lot more about the the mechanical components of the car, and those are a lot less ambiguous - or at least they certainly should be. A leaking valve cover is simply a leaking valve cover, etc.