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YOUR RESEARCHPPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
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car i really liked color wise and option wise
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Only reason I invested the time I did was because it was the car I really liked color wise and option wise....
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
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Adjust (200$) and could have a beautiful car
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Suggestion · Original poster
(250) hook up the existing seats to the air bag senors (2-4hrs labor lets say 350$) have the RMS done later as it was moist but safe for a while (maybe after I buy the warranty I planned on getting?) and then look for a nice exhaust system used on forums or other and install $1000-1500 range or less, have the suspension dialed in right at a better ride height ($300) then have the shifter adjusted (200$) and could have a beautiful car.....
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
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Check under warranty and failed inspection porsche
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When these engines were checked under warranty and failed inspection Porsche replaced the engines.
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
Replace engines
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When these engines were checked under warranty and failed inspection Porsche replaced the engines.
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
Replace so the seats
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PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
Replace vote - go
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PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
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Adjust (200$) and could have a beautiful car
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Suggestion · Original poster
(250) hook up the existing seats to the air bag senors (2-4hrs labor lets say 350$) have the RMS done later as it was moist but safe for a while (maybe after I buy the warranty I planned on getting?) and then look for a nice exhaust system used on forums or other and install $1000-1500 range or less, have the suspension dialed in right at a better ride height ($300) then have the shifter adjusted (200$) and could have a beautiful car.....
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
Adjust coid overs, etc...) this car is ready
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Suggestion · Original poster
with about $1500 of asjustments (hook up current seats, tweak shifter, new rear tire, adjust coid overs, etc...) this car is ready to ride,,,,the tech said RMS was very light and wasn't a fix needed asap...could have this done later under warranty?
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
Adjust rms
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Suggestion
If this car out of warranty, and you buy car even adjusted for RMS repair, and then find out the crankshaft out of position, the new engine's on you...
PPI Results 2003 C4s, yes some issues....run for the hills or seek adjusted $$$
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common problem, adjust the price and have it fixed
Some have been following my thread and about my dilemma about a 2003 C4s not local to me, well after a 300+ PPI I now know why it was a deal.... that said if the price was adjusted I may still consider but it needs to be adjusted fairly.... here is what was found! The tech was a great guy, been there for years, owns a Porsche, and a car enthusiasts so the right guy for the PPI IMO.
After this I agree with all that said PPI is mandatory......
a. RMS (rear main seal) leaking oil need repair in future....
b. Original seats the car came with are NOT there, the car comes with power heated seats with the red stitching.... These have been taken out (stolen, maybe car was theft recovery, or tracked to save weight?) and Non power, Non heated, without the red stitching and no Porsche crests, stock lower end seats put in place..... That said these seats are NOT hooked up to the electrical system and thus the airbag system and the airbag light remains on. Wires under the seat are tucked up but not connected and bound with electrical tape... seats that are there now work OK, OEM just not heated, not power and need to be hooked to the airbag! told these can bee hooked up...
c. This car had sport muffler system, ....the exhaust is GONE, removed and in place a OEM standard muffler set up....
d. Right Rear tire worn below line on inside due to excessive camber, one rear tire is new other need replace....
e. The sport suspension is NOT factory OEM, it is a set of coil overs set at near lowest setting.... Told by tech they are nice and costs someone some $$$ to install, Bilstien full coil over adjustable...
f. Tech not digging the short throw kit, said hard to shift and would remove and go back to stock, its just not right....
g. Front facia/spoiler is NOT OEM but the wing is.... said thinks from an Aero or other GT series.....
h. Rear seats are missing, this non sense about a no rear seat option I don't buy it myself as the Velcro pieces are there for the seat cushions and there are rear seat belts?
OK that's it..... Run for the Hills or look for adjusted price???????????
Now the above stated, the tech said car was clean, under carriage good, all else checked out, engine nicem ran strong, test drove the car, ran well, windshield original and not many chips, didn't look as if teh car had been used as a track car.... even said the car is nice, very nice besides these issues which can be fixed.... and if price could be worked lower then it could still be a good deal...... anyway. If all checked out I would have bought the car today but as it stands looks like I may just walk, unless the price gets adjusted big time....
I say find another unless this gets marked down to "cannot pass up" prices. Too many great cars out there to take one with an "iffy" story behind it with major componets IMO.
This car smells of the track. Nothing wrong with that, but it would have to be at the correct price. You have a lot of to-do's on that list. Agree with Zoolander. Could be a tad bit of time and money to sort this car out. Look for something else.
a: RMS is not a big deal and shouldn't be a deal breaker.
b: Fankenstein car! This thing sounds like it's been hobbled together from bits and pieces of others. BS on the rear seat delete option...no such animal.
c: if the PSE cans had to be replaced, there wouldn't be that much savings by going to stock cans considering all the rest of the $$ the PO "apparently" put into it.
d: Tires are usually replaced in pairs; sign of shoddy maintenance.
e: sounds like PSS9s
f: an OEM or a B&M SSK works very well and shouldn't be so problematic...maybe it just needs adjusting.
g:that front end is UGLY. Back
looks
like the euro bumper, but it would surprise me if it was a cheap fibreglass replica.
h: see b above.
That the airbag light is on and that the BMW dealer didn't even try (or couldn't!) reset it as part of his used vehicle remarketing process, smells fishy, really, really fishy...like a flood victim maybe?
Verdict: RUN FOR THE HILLS!! C'mon man, there are so many great C4S's out there and some smokin' deals this time of year that you shouldn't settle for what is bound to be a fleabag.
Remember that there are no cheap Porsches and if the deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
Good luck.
How about over revs??? I would be very careful. I would not care about a "track" car if it was cared for. The mis matched interior and the other stuff is a big red flag. Crush them on the price. Find out what it would cost for you to make the car right. Seats =$2,500?? Deviated stiching,exhaust, $3,000, RMS: $1,500 the RMS might be able to be done by Porsche if it is still under warranty. Back seats no big deal.
This is a risk no matter how you look at it.
not a 911
range rover on deep dish mesh style twenty fo's
in all seriousness, no idea. it'd be a total stars aligned type thing as i'm totally content with the car as is. it's setup perfectly for me.
i don't know why i do this to myself like the E46 M3 i had was mint as well but sold it cuz the c4s caught my eye, but this time there's nothing else catching my eye but just thinking about it cuz... i have a wandering eye.
seeing how mick wants a 911 so much, i mean what cleaner car than a rennlist car esp mine?
You are getting a lot of good advice here. There are just way to many of these cars out there and with winter here, there is just no reason to not be picky and get a really nice car that has zero issues. Also realize that you may have trouble selling this car as well when you decide to move on. Resale issue alone would make me walk from this one.
Again, I would not screw around with this type of car... do yourself a favor and look for a great used 996 from a Porsche dealer, get a CPO and have peace of mind.
Thanks so much for the data, its been so helpful and greatly apprecaited.... with this data and the response from this forum I am walking at 46.1K that said, let me run one last thing buy the forum....
I have shopped around, shopped to death, ebay'd, auto trader, mags, and forums comparing cars and $'s. I had this car for 46,100 for a 2003 with 15K miles seemed unreal...... now given this data I think it is clear how I got the price down as the car has some issues. The tech followed up his review saying overall the car was clean, ran great, it was clear someone put some $ into it with the coil overs and sending out the brakes to get proffesionally powder coated yellow......acknowldged the previous owner was going for PCCB fakes but at least didn't spray them himself but looked like they were proffesionally done. Also said paint was great, under carriage clean, interior was mint and overall would actually recomend a buy now that the facts are out on the table and "if the price was right" ..... not at 46,100.... He said if the car could be had for 40-42K it was be a great buy..... then buy 1 new rear tire
(250) hook up the existing seats to the air bag senors (2-4hrs labor lets say 350$) have the RMS done later as it was moist but safe for a while (maybe after I buy the warranty I planned on getting?) and then look for a nice exhaust system used on forums or other and install $1000-1500 range or less, have the suspension dialed in right at a better ride height ($300) then have the shifter adjusted (200$) and could have a beautiful car..... so if I could live without red stitching and power/heated seats I could be into this car for lets say 42K+3K in work then 3500 for a 4 year 50K warranty from warrantydirect.com thats 48,500 total for a 2003 C4s with 4 year bumper to bumper warranty to 2012...(with coil overs) I haven't seen any deals even close to this. Maybe I am wrong? My goal was to spend under 50K and have a low low mileage C4s warrantied up the wazoooo...
OK enough convincing myself, I know I need to walk...... but would people think I am a total jackass if I offer 40-42K as a rock bottom price and use that bottom line to walk or not?
Think I will walk, thanks all for the support......
I lost 320$ during this process, but learned a ton more about a porsche...not just this one but in general so again thanks...
Only reason I invested the time I did was because it was the car I really liked color wise and option wise....
Dude. I feel what you are going through. You know you should walk, you know it in your heart but you are so deperate to get into this car and drive it around that you are ignoring every sensible bone in your body. But I have a better solution for you - instead of just walking - walk to another dealership and start negotiating on a car that doesn't have all these issues!
Every time something goes wrong with this car, it will drive you crazy. You'll wish you didn't make this decision. Avoid the pain!
I bet it went off track. jacked up the front and rear bumpers, damaged the exhaust, maybe screwed up the alignment. Maybe that is why he does not want to talk to you. have you spoke to anyone in the local porsche club? maybe they would know the car.
Good decision but $320 is not a big loss compared to what you could have been facing.
When I was looking I actually flew to Las Vegas to look at a car I was really interested in, but it just seemed too good to be true and it was. The guy had put NOS in the car and a bunch of other things that were not mentioned in the add.
So keep looking at you are in no rush.
I don't agree with the people who say run. The car is priced below a perfect car.
I would however price out the rear main seal fix, a set of powered/heated seats that originally came with the car, a set of tires and then drop them down in the price.
I would then take that money you just saved and fix the real main seal.
It sounds like the person who originally had the car swapped out the upgraded parts for parts on another car. I am sure he would have taken the suspension as well but seeing how he left the seat doubt he was mechanically capable enough to do it.
a. common problem, adjust the price and have it fixed
b. adjust the price, can you live with cheaper seats?, if not upgrade them. I am sure you could sell the existing ones on ebay.
c. Not a problem
d. adjust the price, and buy all new tires. Get an alignment done afterwards.
e. Not a problem, most of us upgrade this anyways
f. Hmm� Some people don�t like short shifters, what cha going to do
g. So� this has nothing to do with if the car runs great. It�s a matter of preference, do you like the mods? If you don�t then don�t bother.
h. Good or bad thing� Guess it�s up to the person buying it. Do you need back seats?
I disagree. You saved yourself some more money in the long term. Due to the fact the car may not have been maintained could have led to further problems later. That $320 was money WELL spent.
Back when I was hunting for a 968, I spent $600 and 4 months before I found a properly maintained, perfect example. Take your time, continue to research and hunt for that perfect car. If guarantee, if you do...you will be handsomely rewarded for your efforts.
Rest assured, you did the right thing.
FWIW - I have purchased and owned 5 different Porsches. Every one of them being pristine examples and ALL purchased from private sellers. I have all kinds of tips and tricks to find the proper car. PM me if you have any questions. I'll be happy to help.
cheers,
Chad
Sorry I see no evidence that the car was not maintained.
Tires are not a maintenance item. I go through a set of rears for summer and a set for winter. If I happened to trade my car in, do you think I am going to shell out and put brand new tires on.
The PPI came clean, no dry rot hoses, belts or any other items were identified.
What maintance is really done on these, the car only has 15k miles on it. Change the spark plugs, air filter and oil and bleed the brakes.
That's exactly the point! There are tons of really good 996's out there. Have fun hunting and find one without all the issues, and buy one you have confidence in. The market is soft right now, and you can find a great car for a good price. Run away, quickly, from this particular one. You can do lots better!
Oh really. I suppose the items that came back missing, and the RMS issues are minor.
One VERY important factor that I consider when buying a Porsche is really quite simple. What type of home did it come from? Were small issues addressed and maintained or simply forgotten and passed off? If the later of the two...I walk. People who are passionate about their cars fix them usually in a quick manner. And...if items were removed, they are usually kept and sent with the car to the next owner.
Sorry my friend, yes...the car had it's scheduled maintenance performed. Oil changes and filters. Whoop-dee-do. There's more to it than that.
If things like the RMS were not addressed, who is not to say that the maintenance schedules were not performed when they should have been? The simple fact is, (as others have said) there are 1000's of these cars in the US. Broaden the search and he will find a great car for the price he wants.
Say what you like. I know Porsches. And...I know what they are worth and how to find them.
FWIW - My last 996 was purchased 4 years ago. Back when the prices for '99's were hovering in the $40's. I found this example with all records, maintenance schedules and documentation for $32,500 with 30K miles. Not a single mark on her. In fact, my friends from the PCA wanted me to concour it.
Say what you will...He did the right thing.
C.
Actually the RMS leaking is a minor issue. I've had mine fixed 3 times as well as having the intermediate seal replaced.
So the seats were replaced with cheaper seats. My god, lets all freak out because it doesn't have crests in the head rest.
Actually for 46k on a 15k mile C4S. You are going to have a hard time finding one. I took a look on autotrader and only found a few within 50-46k but they have 40-80k miles on them.
Thank you. You just validated my point.
You sir are a proper owner. You fixed the issues that arose with the car. Am I "freaking out" over seats? Pul-ease.
Like I said...there are deeper issues with this car. And yes...I would be willing to bet the price of a PPI that I could find a car. There are more sources than just Autotrader.
C.
m boy j biggie reppin' the nyc! hova!
i'm totally in love with cars sold by people who care, what you would call a car enthusiast. i am one of them. i take care of my ride and if i hear something funny or i know something is not in 100%, it bugs the **** outta me that it takes away from the ownership/driving experience even if it is a ding on the quarter panel that no one cares/knows to notice.
my e46 M3 was a prime example. i would buy a car from myself because like some of the others here, we love to take care of our toys. i would buy my c4s from myself. look for someone like chad, ben, phil G, dell, ray S who is selling. and these types of cars are few and far between, but when it comes up, you give it extra attn.
exonolonder (sp?) is selling is SY aero Mk1 996. what a fine, fine example! be patient, man. skip this one. it just isn't setup right.
Agreed and walking even if they come back and let it go for 42K, If I were mechanically inclined I maybe in a better position to take a car that needs some work etc....but am not.
Thanks one last time for eveyones input I do apprecaite I learned a TON!
Hate to switch directions here but had someone call me back just an hour ago on a 2005 997, 6sp, nice optioned with moon roof, NAV, black etc.... I guess I had pinged him with offer of 55K and he said if I paid with no loans etc may just take the offer....... Owns the dealership and its his personal car, he has two... its 5K more then my budget but its still under factory warranty etc and seems mint with about 17K miles.... I have other cars as mentioned so the AWD of the C4s was awesome but I didn't have to have AWD etc. If he says 55K should I scoop this one up? This is local to me.
PS I did test drive a 997 and loved it but knew I could not afford one right now..... but at 55K may just be able to swing it!!!!
I wouldn't go for a non "S" 997. Unless you want a downgrade from the 996
you should ask on the 997 forum, I am sure a lot of non S owners could chime in and disagree with me, (they only need to convince them selves though, lol)
Mick,
My 2004 C2 is for sale at $44,000.
2004 C2 Lapis Blue
There are a few mods on it but they are mostly cosmetic. Mechanically, it is stock.
Where are you located? I would be willing to pay half of the "reasonable" shipping cost to your home. PM me if you have any questions.
Mick - I can certainly understand and totally agree with personal color preferences. Thanks for taking a look at the car ad.
Good luck on your search!
Chad, thanks for the kind words!
exonolonder or something like that on 6speed, heck if i didn't have my c4s already, i would save money and get this SY cuz it's so beautiful (i'm an mk1 aero fan)
I can't believe I am considering this again but I am..... They said they will give me my price -as is-, they said they are willing to sell the car for what they have into it. That comment holds not weight with me but wouldn't surprise me if they gave this on trade..... I said I need to think about it, and that I would feel better with more answers from prior owner so they did agree to call him and ask about the whole seat/exhaust swap etc.... again this will be not varified so not a big value here either...
with about $1500 of asjustments (hook up current seats, tweak shifter, new rear tire, adjust coid overs, etc...) this car is ready to ride,,,,the tech said RMS was very light and wasn't a fix needed asap...could have this done later under warranty?
If the Tech for the PPI didn't say overall the car was (very clean) clean, great shape, ran strong etc and overall great besides these issues that were found I would have ran for the hills but to be into a 03 c4s for 47+K range with main issues addressed and an awesome warranty till 2012 seems like it could be a good buy.... the PPI came back as a great car minus the oddities of seat and exhaust swap etc.... Also tech was in autobody collision business for some time and said no sign of accidents or that the car has been beat/tracked... said of course it could have some track days but didn't seem like a track car,,,,, anyway thats where I am....if people are sick of my waffling I will stop posting but wanted to give an update.
side note: the 997 05 with 15K miles owner called me back and said NO to 55 but yes to 57......
05 997 black on black with 16K miles and balance of warranty left for another year or so+ Nav, etc...decent optioned for 57K
or
03 C4S with 15K miles 4 yr 50K warranty (color I like better) Bilstien Coil Overs (I personally like this option and tech admitted it was a nice system and looked fairly new) for 10 grand less at 47K+ range.....
or keep looking........ just thinking out loud here....
Keep looking. There's a reason they are trying to dump it.
re: the 997. FANTASTIC car. Great price. And that one WOULD have a warranty. No brainer, IMO.
C.
I understand falling in love with a car...I did that once before to my detriment.
Don't fall in love until AFTER you buy it!
Stand back for a moment and think about it:
The Price:
When I was shopping for a car I looked at several. I came close to buying a C4S several times. One car I passed on was a Guards Red/Black 2002 with 11K miles and 1 year of CPO warranty remaining. The car was perfect, HEAVILY optioned, and being sold with all records from day 1. That car could have been bought for $49K. I waited a week too long and it sold. I looked at several others just like it.
There are some really great cars out there for a great price. You won't have to pay much more (if any) for a "perfect" car.
The Condition:
I would run like hell from any car that has been bastardized or picked over like this one. As someone else mentioned earlier, it would be understandable if the PO was very tall/short or had a bad back and needed to change seats. That would be fine as long as the original seats were included. In this case, you don't know the story. The same for the exhaust.
The History:
When I bought my car from the Porsche dealership, they gave me the name of the original owner (the name matches the service records) after they got his okay for me to call him. He is a cardiologist and I spoke to him for over an hour getting the history of the car, his long history of Porsche ownership, etc. Bear in mind that the PO didn't have to talk to me (he had already traded in the car). He did this because he is an enthusiast and knew the next owner would want to know the history of the car and feel comfortable with the purchase. I have always been happy to talk to anyone who has a bought a car I have previously owned. What is the ex-owner hiding?
The Truth:
Many people bought these cars because Porsche made leasing so attractive. Unlike my 993 ownership experience (which was like buying into a great "cult"
), many 996 owners have no clue about the heritage of the company and don't obsess over it like the air-cooled crowd. They buy the car because they can afford the payments and treat the car like the family Camry. The car you are looking at may be okay. But, why take the chance? An aftermarket warranty is not like the factory warranty or a CPO warranty....and never will be.
The vast majority of people on the forum have told you to move on. It's good advice. Always remember the difference between wisdom and experience.... experience is learning from your own mistakes. Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others.
Good luck on whatever decision you make.
due to an accident or an off at the track. And the seller not replacing both... He's cheap now when he's trying to sell car, how cheap has he been with the car's servicing?
Wrong seats, missing rear seats, leaking RMS.
BTW, when RMS fixed (and along with RMS the intermediate shaft o-ring and bolts are upgraded to ensure the RMS leak is not in fact an IMS o-ring/bolt leak (the o-ring is a multi-seal affair, replacing the single o-ring, and the upgraded bolts have better thread sealant to prevent oil from seeping past threads outside of the engine case -- bolts thread into crankcase and are exposed to engine oil) it is SOP to check crankshaft position within spec. If out of spec, new RMS will not seal for long and new RMS will not remain oil tight for long.
Even if you can live with RMS leak engine can suffer catastrophic failure as the crankshaft misalignment only gets worse.
When these engines were checked under warranty and failed inspection Porsche replaced the engines.
If this car out of warranty, and you buy car even adjusted for RMS repair, and then find out the crankshaft out of position, the new engine's on you...
There's always another car and in this case, just about any other car would be better...
Sincerely,
Macster.
You should walk.
But if you are inclined not to for whatever reason, insist that it is taken to the P-dealer and have them do the RMS, and check the crank.
If they do not agree, walk.
If I remove my rear seats, change the front seats to non matching stitching, cut a hole on each side of the front bumper and put a black patch inside the hole, paint my calipers yellow, sand down the inside of one of the rear tires, punch a pin hole in the RMS, install Bilstien suspension and raise the price on my car, would you buy it? No, I didn't think so!
Most of the advice here has been for you to walk away from this car. It is obvious that you want the car very badly, so BUY IT!
I dont even know why you keep asking people if you should buy it still.
Everyone said walk. You agreed.
They come down $1500, which isn't alot of money and now you are considering it??
You are just trying to justify it to yourself.
I agree with gota911. Just buy it, but don't complain when it costs you $10 k for a new engine.
J
By no means starting a pissing match here buddy but how the heck could I be out 10K for a new engine? I have said numerous times I have a full warranty lined up through a very good carrier that many P car owners recomend that would cover this?
My 2 cents..
The only thing about the car that I can't live with is the crappy aftermarket body kit. The Bilstein PSS9 suspension is actually a real plus for a lot of folks.
The mechanical stuff is all minor and as lots of folks have said fixable. The seats not being right and being downgraded doesn't sound right because people usually go the other way with this. The same thing goes for the exhaust. People do not downgrade these cars... these two items to me
are the fishiest and just don't add up
.
I think that there is a story here that isn't coming to light about this car.
I think that enough people have said but a moist RMS is no big deal... most are in this state constantly.. it is when they drip that you need to do something about it. Engines do not fail because the RMS leaks a little oil. The crankshaft is another issue altogether and not every leaking RMS is an indication of a crankshaft being misaligned (wasn't that rather rare? and only very early on?)
Other than that, it is your money and your choice.
I had a chuckle at that one.... first a bit pissed but then laughed I can understand why you posted that.
I went back and suggested a best and final of 40K + a talk with the owner. If they can't deliver both I walk. If they agree I will do just that and buy it. (assuming I am comfortable with owners data) I hope that would't offend you or anyone anyone else. I asked for advice and got some great input and its helped me along this process and for that grateful to all. Thank you. I very much apprecaite the feeback and if the deal didn't continue to change it would have been an easy choice for me based on the help from people here. Buts it has had some changes from the data of the PPI (which car wise was actually solid but the oddities of swapped out parts still raises huge question I agree) Regards to RMS and any/all other problems related to a RMS that would be covered under the full warranty that would be purchased and ready to be applied the day I purchased the car.
Wish I could know 1000% for sure today the car is a wrek.....what if the owner was just a poser (tinted out, turbo caps on the rims, front facia, had some cheesey race seats installed at one time, fart can mufflers etc...) but did baby the car (as the tech said it looked clean, actually very clean....undercarriage, paint, engine, wear and tear was at a minium etc... and car ran great.... Long shot maybe....but I am willing to put in a little more in just in case. The tech that did the PPI knows a tech at the other dealer where the car was brought to over the past 3+ years and also chasing that angle. I am putting some faith in the PPI/Tech that went through the car as well (he owns P cars and also a true enthusiast member of porchse clubs etc...) and he said at 40K the car would be a "GREAT BUY". At the end it maybe for not but if some extra efforts ever did clarify some things and I got a clean 03 c4s with 15K miles for 40K+3500 for warranty till 2012+1500 for fixing some immediate things that actually was clean I would be quite happy.....
note: tint would come off asap, turbo caps gonzo, car would be re-badged correctly, and I would shop patiently for used porsche rear seats/mufflers and front facia....
If people are sick of this thread.... I will stop posting, didn't mean to **** anyone off. I am a car enthusiasts, yes very attracted to this car and do sincerely apologize if I rubbed anyone the wrong way..... not my intentions.
thanks
Walk into the sales managers office, have him pull up this thread and read all the negs and he/she will surely dump it for 40,000. It's your money, and if the car doesn't have any issues for the next year or two it would be a fantastic buy. I would sort the thing out if you buy it for 40G. Spend the few thousand to do the things that need it.
No need to end the thread, just tell us what they say to the offer. I'm still interested to see what happens.
Mick - I wasn't trying to **** you off. I was making an absurd comparison to get you to look at the car with your eyes and not your heart.
Some of us that have been around here for a while have seen this type of situation previously. Sometimes it is about a car, but more often it is about wheels that are the wrong offset for a car or something much less expensive than an entire car. Every now and then someone opts to disregard the advice given here and proceeds with the purchase.
I specifically recall two guys who had their mind set on getting some cheap off-brand wheels. They were told numerous times that the offsets were wrong but both guys bought them anyway. Within a week both of them wanted to know how to make the wheels fit without the tires rubbing. They tried more negative camber, then they tried narrower tires, and one even talked about rolling the rear fenders. They spent more time, effort, and money trying to “make the fit” than if they would have opted for a different wheel.
None of us have a crystal ball, so we don’t know what issues this or any other car will have in the future. But there are enough things that indicate that this car
may
have some issues in the future. It may not seem like it, but we really are trying to help you.
Ultimately, it is your decision. Maybe you have a good “gut feeling” about the car, I don’t know. Whatever decision you make, I hope it works out for the best.
Oh, one more thing. I am not sure that the warranty you are planning on buying will cover the RMS replacement, since it is a pre-existing condition prior to the warranty period. Just another thing to consider.
Dude - clearly you want this car BAD. I was one of the ones that said you should walk away, but clearly this is something you just have to do. I have changed my vote - GO FOR IT.
Tim speaks the truth. I can say personally that this board saved me from two cars that I really wanted emotionally but was somehow able to see through the fog and be patient and wait for the right one to come along. I was soo much like you.....hoping to convince myself and have others convince me it was a good car when it probably wasn't.
It took me a few months but I ended up with an 03 C4S Seal Grey 39,000 CPOd for $50,000 which was bought April 5th. I LOVE THAT CAR and I am still grateful to the guys here on the board like Tim, WellardMac, and Dell.
Good luck and be patient.
Oh, and save your money. Is $10,000 more for a 997 going to give you 10,000 more bangs for the buck? Probably not. I was looking at Turbos and spent over $600 on PPIs then decided I didn't need the horsepower to make me happy
The C4S is better looking anyway
Mick, I truly wish you the best. I really do.
I still stand by what I said. Buy a Porsche with your head not your heart. Please keep us posted.
Best of luck,
Chad
+1 We saw what Zoolander went through (thanks for the kind words
) and it paid off. It was very hard for him to do though.
It's easy to fall in love with a car. Buying a Porsche is an emotional experience, but one that can turn out to be very very expensive if you don't do your homework and buy a sound car. This car has way too many questions caused by the odd behaviour of the previous owner.
I bought my C2 without the help of this board (I found out about it after I bought), but I got REALLY lucky to find a great car very quickly. There are lots of Porsches out there and sadly some that you really don't want to buy. This one has so many red flags for me. We would just hate to see you in the hole for expenses within a few weeks of buying your car. Whatever your decision we'll be around to help with advice, but it's better to be wise than lucky.
warranty may not cover the problem. And even if it covers RMS will it cover new engine if crankshaft alignment check -- assuming place that does work even perform the check and performs it correctly -- indicates crankshaft out of position?
If you do not know for sure whether car is a wreck ("wrek") you should either take the time to find or walk.
Given the poor condition of the car I'd not even bother, but walk away from the car.
There's way too many used Carrreas to select from the select the first questionable car you find.
Sincerely,
Macster.
Yup, I know previous posts commented on pre-existing conditions and sadly this car has a bunch of those.
You had better know for sure how the warranty you're looking to purchase handles pre-existing problems. I'd bet that they wouldn't be happy to cover problems that you knew existed when you bought the car.
Thank you for the replies....I think at this point I am going to pass with the only chance at a re-visit is at 40K and a long talk with the prior owner...... even then not saying I would move forward but just saying this is the only way this
C4s deal could have another breath of air......otherwise its over.....
Thank again for all your replies and advice, I learned a ton and very much apprecaite everyones replies.....
Warranty companies are very hard to work with when they have to pay.
I am glad you are seeing the light. You'll find the right car.
For me it's the thrill of the hunt.
Not trying to make you mad.
i just dont want to see you disappointed in 3 months.
Thanks,
J
ikonomore.....nice signature!
There are deals out there....just wait for the right one.
I bought my '02 C4S with 35K on the clock....very well optioned...CPO'd for 42.5k in May, sight unseen other than photos. I jumped on it....and I love the car. Hit 44k miles today....basically issue free and warranty included. While it's known as one of the best deals here at the time, it's certainly not the only deal had. You should also know I looked for about a year before I pulled the trigger. No PPI due to location and timeline, but with the CPO, I had great piece of mind, which is what a warrantly brings to the table. Post purchase PPI was fantastic.
J
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
