Considering 996, need info please...

I'm interested in a 2002 911 Carrera Coupe for sale in my area. It has 50K miles, tiptronic, PSM, full leather, Xenons, CD, rear wiper, flared rocker panels, etc. The car looks very clean, but don't they all. Upon start up, it belched a lot of white smoke and quickly cleared up. Engine sounded good. The seller (wholesaler middleman type) says the startup smoke is typical of boxer motors that have sat for a week or two (he said this one had sat that long; I believe him because battery was a little weak, too). Asking price is $40K. I was a little spooked by the smoke and left without driving it. Here are my questions: 1) Is the smoking normal if it sat for a week? 2) Where is the best place to get a pre-purchase inspection? Dealer? Independent? 3) What does a typical PPI cost? 4) Does $40K sound too low for this car if it's mechanically sound? 5) Am I crazy for considering a 50K mile 911 with no warranty? If so, is it possible to have Porsche certify the car (CPO) and extend the warrany? If not, are there any 3rd party warranties worth considering? I really like the car, but have these concerns. Please tell me if I'm being seduced into future misery or if it's OK to proceede with caution.

1) A little smoke on start-up is normal 2) Dealer 3) Not sure 4) 40K sounds a little low for an '02 even with 50,000 miles 5) A Porsche dealer could probably CPO it (it cost the dealership around $1,600), but I doubt they would unless you purchase it from them.........and no you are not crazy.

3) What does a typical PPI cost? 2 hour of labor call you nearest dealer to find out their rate.

Register (it's free) and you can use the search to find the answers to all your questions and more. In the meantime, let me get you started: 1) Don't know, but my car doesn't smoke after sitting for 1 week. Ask about it at the PPI. 2) Porsche dealer can get information an independent cannot e.g. warranty repair history, original selling dealer's #, TSB, recalls, original factory options etc.. 3) $200-300, it's another $200-300 if you want a compression test. 4) You're in the right ballpark for a non-CPO car according to edmunds.com 5) CPO is only available via a Porsche dealer (or buying a car w/ balance of a CPO from a private individual). In order to CPO a car you would have to negotiate with a Porsche dealer go through the charade to have the dealer "buy" the car, repair, certify and CPO the car, and "sell" it to you. There are lots of 3rd party warranty companies, some good, some bad, you're going to have to do some research. Good luck

I'm a total noob here but as someone who has been shopping 996s for the past month, I will say that price does seem a touch low for the car descibed. -Mike

Price is good because you are buying from a wholesaler..... Get a PPI.....

My car is a 99 with 58000 miles and it doesn't smoke on startup whether it's been sitting or not. At this point I would probably stay away unless you get a very clean PPI.

When you say white smoke, was it white or was it bluish? If it's white that's coolant burning, very bad. If it's bluish then that's oil, and according to PCA (and some people here IIRC, or maybe it was another forum) that's normal for a horizontal engine (it's on its side, some oil will get by the rings and into the combustion chamber when parked).

i bought mine...55K miles.... $40K is cheap..my 99 cab/tip went for 42K last Sept. do a PPI and get an extended warranty. I found this site after I bought my P, but will do it differently now that I know all I learned on rennlist.

The smoke looked very white to me. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is (may be coolant smoke), but I'm still thinking of getting a good PPI if I trust the shop (Phoenix area dealer won't do PPI, so I have to go to an independent).