Went to see 996 today, need opinions

Ok went to see 2000 W C4 996 today. Seller is very genuine guy and pleasure to deal with. But ... Things that I seen ; 2 owners from new Car has got 48500 on the clock. Vesuvius silver - grey leather. First code is C98. But first owner was London based company and seller (2nd owner) had a receipt from AFN Chiswick (now West London Porsche) for £65k. Options on the car are from decoder : 249 Automatic transmission 288 Headlight washer 288 996: Light washers 413 18" Turbo look wheels 424 Automatic heating control 425 Rear wiper 432 Sports steering wheel, leather 363mm (4 spokes) 432 Lateral stripes, Martini [1978-1982] 436 Folding Targa top (non-folding hardtop std in 1974 and 1975) 436 996: 3-Spoke steering wheel 437 Comfort seat left 438 Comfort seat right 446 Parts for type "Targa" belonging to stipulated assembly 446 996: Colored Wheel Crests 454 Automatic speed control 490 Hi-Fi sound system 538 Right seat with positrol and lumbar 567 Windshield green graduated tint 659 Onboard computer 936 Leather seats rear 981 All leather lining 983 Leather seats front and rear 983 Leather seats front (NOT REAR) Service history Stamps : 1) 11722 mls 5-2001 AFN Chiswick 2) 24867 mls 4-2002 West London Porsche 3) 33323 mls 5-2003 West London Porsche Now, the seller has some bills for oil and filters and pads and brakes but they are local garage. Seller agreed to do big service at Porsche (48k big one) Car drives very well from what I've seen on the test drive. Brakes well. Discs all around in good nick. Tyres also good, but rear ones are PZERO NERO ( no N mark on them). Car has too many scratche (whole car needs FULL glass out respray) and seller offered for his guy to do it. Rear wheels need FULL repair (I'll post pictures later). I love the color. Its unique and I know that its probably going to reduce number of buyers. I can live with that. Seller was very pissed off (with Porsche, very very nice and polite guy). It shows on V5 that its NOT an import car and it was bought from AFN as UK car. Question even with all of the above how much is the car worth? Should I just walk away. Pictures will follow. Regards Voya PS Posted on PCGB as well so yes it is the same post.

WALK AWAY!!! C98 is an import - but that isn't a probelm really. But only 3 service stamps in 7 years and the 48K (4year) service is 3 years late. I don't think Porsche would even put a warranty on this car at all. Plus as the exterior shows you, it has not been cared for. Spend some more time and find one with a good history.

yeah-It stinks of a car that has not been looked after. There are so many good ones around there is no need to buy one that isnt great. Unless its no more than £17k. Keep looking-it will be woth the wait.

As Chris has rightly spotted only 3 services in 7 years isnt great as it's a annual requirement, facelift cars are on per miles basis C98 is import, so unless AFN sold on a import ? very odd a PPI on this car is a MUST due to the patchy service history if you want to proceed, as a 48k major service won't inspect like a PPI does

A C98 is a Cypriot car, so will be no different to a UK car, that's why AFN sold it on. There's nothing wrong with that alone. Now the lack of service history might be a problem. Are you sure that the missing history is not just OPC entries, maybe there's receipts, evidence of indy work?

And pictures here AFN definitely sold that car. Seller even has some outstanding finance with Porsche Financial Services.

Damian, He has receipts but they are from local garage, don't think that they are porsche specialists at all. But he has receipts for at least 4 oil / filter changes after last service. Regards Voya

Outstanding finance AND that condition bodywork? He obviously couldn't afford to run the car. Don't walk away, RUN

Outstanding finance doesn't bother me at all. Just pay finance comp first, then rest to him. More worried about history. Am sure with those receipts could get garage to stamp the book and then get him to do 48k service, but don't think that they are porsche specialist. Regards Voya

What's wrong with outstanding finance? So long as it's cleared there's no issues. The paintwork, now that's a fly in the ointment. The body (from the pictures) looks ok - no dents. A full respray will be c. £6k Are you really sure you want to go ahead with this? Definitely get the advice of a good valeter (the marks look like plastic pan scrubber marks) it may just look worse than it really is and get it inspected

Needs a respray, trust me, even seller agreed on that, he'll speak to his mate , who does bodywork, but it does need respray. What I like about the car is that it is spec that I like, color (sans scratches) looks really nice. Sale was on condition that it passes 111 point check and that porsche wants to insure it. 48K service + whatever,belts,plugs, would be his to pay as well at OPC. And the price is well, very reasonable (if other things do get sorted out). But not £17k as someone suggested. Regards Voya

If the car was mint, I would pay £25K for it max. As it is nowhere near mint and requires a respray (and you want that done properly), don't go higher than £18K. £22K max even if he gets it resprayed - but personally I wouldn't let him get that done - I would do it myself. Even then, it will still have a dodgy history and will be difficult to sell on. Basically I wouldn't buy it. THe bodywork alone tells the story of the car.

I would really, really get Peter Morgan or one of his colleague's over to inspect it. Very impressed with the report they did on the car I am buying. It includes an HPI so that should clear up any questions about finance. Mine's an import as well - nothing wrong there, but it has a full main dealer service history from new. Skipping services or using the local back street spanner could lead to a lot of expense you won't know about until it goes badly wrong. The stuff that they found during the inspection was what I would have missed - the detail. Also they will do it with an eye to practicality, not just tell you what is wrong, but give you an idea of how serious it is, what it will cost etc.

Does it? It's probably been parked under a tree, several birds crapped on it, then someone (who doesn't know any better) decides to use a pan scrubber to remove the crap. Voya has seen it and is comfortable about it, so long as the work gets done properly and the inspection is sound he could have a bargain on his hands. Just tread carefully, don't get to emotionally involved at this stage

Yes I think it does. If the owner couldn't be bothered to clean the car and look after the bodywork, then why would he bother having it serviced, or not tanking it until it is warm, etc Just IMO obviously.