I'm thinking of selling??..THIS STORY HAS A CRAZY TWIST!

I have a 2003 with just over 70k miles and it's a manual trans. I lost my job last year and I need cash. The car just had a new front bumper and side skirts put on by a professional body shop. I hit a curb in my driveway and it needed some work so I had the new side skirts put on at that time. Both OEM Porsche parts. It also ad a clutch put in at 65k miles and a RMS. I also have new VE wheels that we're purchased in January. I doubt I have 500 miles on them. The car runs strong and the only thing I can think of that's wrong with it is that it was keyed ad has a small scratch on the rear quarter. Besides that it looks and runs wonderfully. Any idea what she's worth?

[Image-only post; no author-written text. Original image references:] http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj178/Norcoastal/a06b1faafa177c200c08b34aa69036cb.jpg http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj178/Norcoastal/e1fb9e92c51358db7b233d628cfae205.jpg

Oh yeah, one more thing...it's got a bad squeak when I turn the wheel. Must need a bushing or something, doesn't affect the handling or anything. Just annoying.

Based on the limited info., 25K plus or minus 3K.

installing new front bumper and side skirts because of damage? IMO, you need to be more clear on what sort of damage and what sort of repair was done w/photos(if possible) of before/after damage to best sell it. also interior photos and photos all the way around exterior including engine and trunk compartments. - is the interior black? - was IMS bearing upgraded when you did the clutch? i'd have to think if your car was professionally repaired with documentation, it should fetch somewhere in the low 20's - it would also help to mention you have the stock wheels if that's the case sorry about your job and best of luck with the sale

I don't have before pictures but I do have all of the paperwork from the body shop. I hit the curb pretty hard and replaced a bunch of parts, the front bumper being one. The new side skirts were just because I wanted the right ones for the car. The interior is black and in great shape. It has a CF wheel factory installed with cracks as most CF wheels have. I do have the original wheels and they'll come with the car. I did not change the IMS shaft but I have no leaks whatsoever. I'll post more pictures tomorrow.

He means the IMS bearing, not shaft. I think you are mixing that up with the RMS. Here's the main difference: RMS: The RMS is what causes a mess on your garage floor. IMSB: The IMSB is what all the scare-mongering on the internet is about, since in a small percentage of cars it self-destructs, and thus causes the motor to implode or explode or upload or something bad.

if you were shopping, how much would you be willing to pay for this car?

I did a lot of research on the asking price of over 80 different 996 C4S models. My data shows an average asking price of $32K for a 2003, and with ~75K miles the asking price is around $31K. Manual trans usually ads a few %. Good luck!

DaveCarrera4 - nice chart....well done and VERY informative.

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Correct, I replaced the Rear Main Seal.

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Great chart Dave. Unfortunately my car is a plain Jane C2 with cool affects. I wish I had a C4S. I was planning on keeping this car forever. I'm pretty bummed I'm thinking of selling it. I was thinking $23,000 is about what she's worth?

Nice job on the chart.......now do one for a C2 because that is what Mr. Norcoastal has.

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this is not a correct market value guide - why do i say that?? because i have been shopping for a C4S for 2 months after my turbo purchase deal fell thru. i am in negotiations/process of purchasing a 2003 47K miles C4S in southern california - original paint, never any damage, new clutch/replacement IMS bearing and in showroom condition for $28K there is also one in phoenix az. which has 68K miles in the same condition for $27K i'd have to guess a 75K miles east coast car with history of damage isn't going to fetch more than low $20's you can ask all you want but if you want to sell it, you have to get real which is something porsche owners/sellers have a hard time understanding.

... 1 million dollars - YouTube

^----- we don't gnaw on kitty We dont gnaw on our kitty - Dr. Evil - YouTube

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if it was a C4S maybe $23K?? - i'd think $19-20K for your C2 with the damage history unless of course the paint on the front bumper matches perfectly which usually isn't the case and no other damage on car. again this is if you want to sell it - if you want to price it at $25K and have 20 pages of posts and wait a year to bring the asking price down to one that will generate real buyers, thats another thing...some stubborn RLers like the year thing

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I'll let you do the work on the C2. Front bumper threw me. 2002 Turbo - Basalt Black Metallic / 2003 Carrera 4S - Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 - Rust Red

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yep, there was a typo, the data is asking price! Selling price depends on negotiation skills, or sellers situation. 2002 Turbo - Basalt Black Metallic / 2003 Carrera 4S - Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 - Rust Red

Here's a twist on the story... I talked to my buddy who owns a car dealership and he pulled the CarFax. In 2009 my car was in an accident in Colorado and was a TOTAL LOSS. apparently someone fixed it and never disclosed it. It just showed up on the CarFax in January 2014!!! I of course pulled the CarFax before I bought it and it was clear. My buddy told me that he law is pretty clear, if it's a total loss and wasn't disclosed, I can get my money back. I bought this car 4 years ago and I took it to the dealership today and it looks like I'm going to either get a full refund or a credit for what I paid for the car towards another car on the lot. Apparently he has to go after the guy he bought it from and that guy has to go after the guy he bought it from. It looks like I'm just gonna be made whole. HOW CRAZY IS THIS?!?!

Just my 2 cents. $23- $24k with IMSB replaced. $20-$21k without it.

I guess the moral of this story is... GET A PPI!!! I'll keep you posted on what happens.

Subscribed!

I'd like to know why it just now shows up on Carfax. I'd be calling those boys & girls for a explanation....

Interesting. Does anyone know the law if the car was in an accident but it was not a total loss? Also, is it state specific ? I bought an SUV a few years ago, clean carfax but after owning it awhile I bought 4 new tires and got an alignment at the same time. They couldn't get the car in spec and speculated it may have been in a collision significant enough to bend the chassis. It still drives great and the tires always wear evenly. My son has it now, but was curious about this law.

Not sure about an accident, but I'm told that the statute for a total loss is either 7 or 10 years. It's considered fraud. I'm sure if your car was in an accident and not disclosed, you may have some recourse, but I'm not sure. Why CarFax took 5 years to post a loss is beyond my comprehension. The dealer where I bought the car said that the CarFax may be wrong and the car is fine, but he said that would be a longshot and CarFax is about 99% accurate. The only reason he's suspect is that it took so long to post it.

If you'd gotten a PPI, you wouldn't have gotten a Porsche to drive for four years, followed up by a full refund. That's some good luck, amigo. How does a dealership not identify that a US-registered car had a salvage title? Even if it wasn't previously on CARFAX, wouldn't DMV records include its classification as a salvaged vehicle? It also seems almost impossible that someone spent enough time, money, and effort on a restoration so good that a dealership wasn't able to detect the damage. Who spends that much money restoring a mass-produced sports car? This is an '03 911, not a hand-built, limited edition supercar. Regardless of the back story - bank error in your favor, at a time when it sounds like you need a break. Congratulations.

Incidentally, I suspect the resale value of this specific vehicle is now somewhat less than the low 20s.

Yes, this seems pretty crazy... it would be interesting to find out where things went wrong, how it could have slipped through the cracks. When you pull a carfax, don't they also offer some sort of guarantee or protections? Nice break... keep us informed!

All true but I'm not sure how it will end. I need the money and if I'm offered a credit for a car on the lot I'm sort of in the same boat. I did drive it for 4 years and I did enjoy it. It looks so good now and the new VE wheels are practically new. It's really a shame. I really love the car. I was thinking of putting the Porsche wheels back on and selling the Victor wheels, but I may just leave the Victor wheels on and sell the Porsche wheels. I think the Porsche wheels wold not only have more value, but I bet people on this site would appreciate them more than the aftermarket wheels.

Did you try the other carfax type service to see what you would get ? I think its called auto check.

I also don't want to leave the club. This is my 4th Porsche and I was planning on doing some DE's this year. But with no job, that too had been put on hold. I have a big job interview coming upon two weeks. Fingers crossed. If I get the job I may buy a 944 and do some 944 series races. I won't be able to get these cars out of my blood.

Get the job, get the money back on your 996, then buy a lesser valued 996, you'll have a 996, money in your pocket and a job.

Whatever car you apply the credit toward is going to sell for a lot more than the 996 would have (especially given its current circumstance). If you really need the $$, spend some time w/ KBB figuring out which cars on the lot are worth the most at resale, take the car, and then flip it (either private-party or Carmax if you need to turn it quickly)...

if the car was a total loss, how did the title get thru the system without a salvage or rebuild stamp??

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That is the question of the day.

Wow just read everything, just crazy. Glad to see things turning around, good luck in a few weeks. I assume 4 years ago you paid close to 30 or a bit higher, or is that an incorrect assumption? Take the money, pay off any/as much debt incurred during unemployment (assuming you didn't have 2 years of income saved for a rainy day) and buy something else (if limited debt and living comfortably, and not thinking logically, ie. investing the money), you can pick up a MK1 for high teens, in very good condition imo. Then bank the rest for mods/upgrades/maintenance. Yes I feel OEM wheels will sell better than aftermarket, just imo. I think before the accident, 23k for sale price would be fair.

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^This. All day long. Only issue may be that if you only get a credit towards another car, can you get a loan for the rest without a job. Crazy story.

So how did it all work out?

I think even Carfax offers a buyback guarantee (unless its BS) so he and the dealer should come out OK. http://www.carfax.com/manifest/bbg/termsConditions.cfx

Did this story have a happy ending? (to the OP)

My guess is he's still in the process of pulling teeth over this one.

Hmm, I would be very surprised if you received a refund. DMV's are under no legal obligation to report accidents. Carfax buyback is only valid on information reported to them. And unless you asked about accidents and they said "no", I don't see the dealer being liable. And I have only seen one car in my life that was so well repaired you couldn't tell, and I'm talking matching weld beads well. Curious to see how this pans out as well.