Quick valuation please...must make quick decision!

I am not in the market for a Porsche. I have had many in the past but with 2 samll kids, the 911 is not ideal. That said, I have a freind who is getting rid of his 1999 996, TIPTRONIC, with 51K miles. He just received the trade in value of roughly 35K! He is soooo sick of handing the dealers cars for them to make money on that he will sell this car to me for $33K. Is this a GREAT deal. It has to be a great deal as I am not in the Market for the car, I am not crazy about owning a Tip and a host of other reasons. But, the car is Mirage (kind of Goldish/silver) with a navy interior with deviated stitching (supple leather) in like new condition. The opions code on the hood must have 40 option codes...tons! Finally, the car just had a $900 standard service from dealer. The car is a November '99 build and in October 2003, then the 4 year warranty was about to expired, he paid $3100 for a 3 year warranty. So, the car is covered until Nov 2006. The car has a hard top and it is in beatiful like new cosmetic condition. Anyway, some quick advice would be great about the price... AC The KBB says 39K for 'trade in' value....

If the dealer offered 35k$ trade in, then he was VERY generous. That is a very high mileage car, and its a 99. Selling price of 30-33 seem fair, but the dealer probably offered 28 or so. Your friend is blowing smoke up your rear. He wouldn't sell the car to you for less than trade-in. Also, this is a very off-color car. I don't know too many dealers that want a "goldish" car with navy interior... The dealer offer of 35k also has a tax benefit assuming he buys another car, in the neighborhood of 7% (state dependent). Figure this is about 2k. So by selling the car to you, your buddy is giving up 4-5k dollars (35k-33k+2k or so). I like my friends, but I dont just give them 4k$ either. Offer you friend 30k$, he still does ok finacially. Also, tell your buddy the extended warranty is pro-rated and refundable in most cases!!! I'm going through the same thing now with a boxter s, and I would gladly take KBB value...it isn't even close.

Is the market that soft? A cabriolet for 30-33K? Yikes, my year off from P Cars must have been interesting... AC

Actually, 51K miles for a 99 is NOT high and the cabriolet at 33 is a steal. Trade-in is 40K!

Also, 70K Miles would be normal for a 99 so your friends is LOW miles. FYI, in addition, private party is $45K and retail is 50K. Can you find them for about 40? Yes, but you need to factor in condition, location in the US, time of year, etc.

My bad...I thought the car was a coupe. For a convertible, a sale price of 35-40 is pretty good. I still stand by my point that your friend has not hing to gain, and a lot to lose, by selling to you for below trade in value. Maybe he/she truly loves you... LVDELL, no way 70k miles is "normal." On a chevy, maybe. On a school bus, maybe. On a porsche that would be way high miles. Most folks who buy these expect a 99 to have 25-30k miles, and that it was NOT a daily driver. "Normal" mileage is particular to the brand of car. For example, normal mileage on an 88 ferrari testarossa is about 20k (I know, I'm looking for one). 40-50k is "high mielage." Greater than 70k miles and you pretty much have to give the car away. From what I can make out, ferrari's die at 100k miles, and go to heaven. By your calculations, testarossa's should also be allowed 20k miles per year. What do you figure an 88 with 300k miles is worth...? When I bought my boxter s (same time, 1 year ago). Dealers in chicago were selling 99 convertible 996 at 49k asking, with 20k miles. A couple I looked at with 40k+miles were "purschase-able" at 42-43k$. I doubt any dealer would give you 40k trade-in on a 99 conv with 50k miles...I wish they would, but it isn't reality. Prices have tanked. My boxter s, a 2000 tip, has 35k miles. Buyers are telling me all the time that its "high mileage." I can't get 31k for it, and it has plenty of options and a warranty. Its one of the cheapest boxter "s" 's listed on autotrader. Most of the dealers '00s have 15-20k miles on them. Go forbid, I never thought I would be defending the dealers, and this isn't my goal. But, trying to currently sell a car, I know the market sucks. And 996 convertibles can be BOUGHT under 40k$, especially with 50k miles.

Then we agree to disagree. A P-Car is built as a daily driver which is what most use them for. A Ferrari is NOT a daily driver. Not sure what calculations you are referring to but I would never compare a Ferrari miles to a P-Car miles. I plan on keeping my PCar for as long as she wants to run (hopefully 200+K miles). Besides you can't compare apples and oranges in this thread. YOur Boxster doesn't even factor into the valuation equation. Wait till the Boxster gets replaced then you'll see your devaluation. Not sure you could even give one away when that time comes. But like I said, we can just agree to disagree. Cheers.

So, what I gather is that it is potentially a very good price. I got to admit that 33K sounds really low to me. I drove the car and was very impressed with the tip, my first time... As far as my friend is concerned, he got a rough trade in value from the local mercedes shp-e (he is ordering an E55) at 10% under Kelly tradi in, 39K. That comes to 35K. His car needs two tires ASAP. My friend bought his last set of tires at the dealer for $450 each (dealer prices!!!). So, he is certainl they will wack him for 1K, bringing the car to 34K. By the way, in Ca, there is no trade in tax credit, you pay tax on the price of the new car. Well, there is no right answer, I just want to make sure I do not get killed if I find that the Tip is not for me in 6 mo to 1 year. AC

A few more points: 1) Mirage and blue is a tough color to sell 2) The Tip makes it an even harded car to market 3) If its a 99, it cant have an 11/99 build date 4) You dont need to spend 450/tire 5) 33K is not a bad deal ... if you like the car.

I have a '99 coupe that is Mirage (one of my favorite colors) but I have black interior. I can't imagine a blue interior looking tasteful at all. Perhaps it is just me. I began my search for a P-car in March of '03. '99's and '00's that had around 50k on them were in the $60k - $65k range back then at the dealers. I waited and waited, even considered getting a Boxter S to save on $$ and eventually they came down in cost. I bought my car in May for $40k with 25k on it and it is fully loaded with all of the ammenities I wanted. I do know that they have further tanked over the last months since then and I could probably get the same car now for around 35k or possibly less. I think that may be slightly high for that many miles as well as a VERY odd color combination. I suppose if you really love the car that could make up the difference. if you don't want a Tip, don't do it. I personally wanted a tip and would not settle for a 6-sp. I think it boils down to personal preferences. If you really like the car, it doesn't matter if it is $30k or $35k or even more. You will love it and a few grand doesn't make a happy car owner. Getting the car you want will make you happy. Just my .02 worth.

51k miles is a little high, but not VERY high; 70k would be what I would consider "VERY high" for a 99. That said, I dont understand the question at all. You don't want a 911, don't want a tip, arent sure about the color... Why would you even be considering buying it? It doesnt make sense to just buy a car because it's a "good deal". Your friend probably got offered lower than $33k at the dealer and is trying to make a little and I can only assume you're thinking to make a little by buying it and flipping it for a little more (hence the interest in "how great of a deal" it is). My advice would be to just forget it since you dont want a 911 (let alone a tip) and tell your friend to just suck it in and trade it into the dealer, or sell it private party to someone who actually wants the car for a lot more than $33k. Im sure he could get over $40k for it private sale if he holds out.

You can probably get a comparable car through another private party for $37-38K. So for the potential saving of $4-5K you are considering 1) buying a car when you are not even in the market for one; 2) in a color you are not neccesarily fond of; 3) with an arguably not all that popular interior color; 4) with a transmission you don't want; and 5) which is an early model year which may be prone to repair issues. Does this really make any sense to you?!?!

That's exactly what I was thinking. In order to get a good deal on something, it has to be something you need or at least want. If it's not the right car in the wrong color and the wrong transmission, how does saving a few thousand make it a good deal?

AC, I grew up in the automobile business and spent early formative years in that business. I'll pass on what my father (who was a new car dealer starting at age 19) told me... "I never paid too much for a GOOD car, but I always paid too much for a BAD car" Note that GOOD and BAD are relevant terms only to the purchaser, and has nothing to do with the quality of the machine, but strictly your own perceived values. From your own comments, this is a BAD car for you...follow other's advice and pass on it. Respectfully, Perry (42 years of Porsche Ownership plus "tons" of various automotive appliances)

Well said!

Are you sure about that build date? My 2000 was built Sept '99.

perrys7342, that is sound advice! After re reading my post, I can see how it may have been a bit odd! I should have prefaced it by saying that I have had 7 Porsches in the past 10 years. I am not a dealer, but I do buy, drive and sell often. I did manage to keep my 97 TT for over 2 years, that one was tough to get tired of! So, it is in fact not the 'right' car for me and I am not in the Market, however, I do have 'cash' that is NOT in the equity markets, that maybe fun to tie up in a car that would provide me with some grins, if I can feel confident that I will not take a bath in 6 months when trying to sell it. I have a house in Lake tahoe that I go to every weekend. For the next few months, while the weather is nice, a few runs in the 996 would be fun. And, with the traffice in the SF bay area, the tip may have a purpose. Hope that explains to all of you why I am considering the purchase. Still on the fence...he places the order tomorrow. AC

While it looks like this may not be the right car for you, it may be exactly what I'm looking for. I like Mirage and am looking for a Tip. Would have to see the blue interior, not as sure about that. If you decide to pass on it, let me know. If you decide to go for it, enjoy! Paul