Possible 2003 Porsche 4S purchase. Opinions please!!

So im in the hunt for a good driver car that may not be in the best shape but mechanically sound and overall in good shape. Located the following........ 2003 Porsche 4S 66,000 original miles I provided the window sticker with options in pics. recent clutch 1 month ago with IMS bearing fix The GOOD....... 1. I test drove the car today and seemed to run and drive just fine. Mechanically the car pulls hard and shifts good. 2. It has cold A/C and most things in the interior are intact. Also seems to be a non smoker. 3. Does not seems to have any leaks underneath. Now to the BAD........ 1. Just assume most panels have been painted with a sub par paint job. Not the worst I have seen but not Porsche standard in my opinion. 2. Need new tires all around. 3. Missing fender liners in both front wheel wells and several underbody panels. Most likely just not installed from a previous accident. 4. Interior carbon fiber factory wheel is cracked on all 3 corners. Not sure if due to a accident or just neglected by sitting in the sun. 5. Several small imperfections around body including a sent in the front passenger side fender. Probably can get pulled with paintless dent repair. 6. front glass cracked all the way across. 7. front headlight out as well a turn signal. 8. Probably needs a new ignition switch where you put the key in because it sticks a little and doesn't allow the interior electronics until you wiggle it to the left a little. So I know you may be thinking just wait for the next one to come by but I might be able to get this thing in the very low 20's . What is yalls opinion of what this thing is worth being its current condition? Thank you in advance for any thoughts you can provide. IMG_5190_zps3sxkq8se.jpg IMG_5188_zps0he9vap7.jpg IMG_5189_zpsyanq6ehc.jpg IMG_5186_zps2husp8yy.jpg IMG_5187_zpswcebao21.jpg IMG_5191_zpsu7ia85ih.jpg IMG_5183_zpsrrhvrkw1.jpg IMG_5185_zpslbsjx6ti.jpg IMG_5184_zpssv59aglh.jpg IMG_5182_zpsumjnkvus.jpg

Here is a link to the Craigslist add. https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/ctd/5415388558.html thanks

Are you OK with the paint "as is"? Are you handy enough to fix the small things like the ignition switch, etc.? Do you have a receipt for the work that includes the IMSB? If the answer to all of these is "yes", I would continue to consider the car.

What kind of accident did it have to require full repaint? Sounds a bit sketchy IMO.

A) Do you have well documented evidence of the IMSB fix? Which fix was it? B) Car has many, many signs of unprofessional repairs. Makes me squeamish. C) The owner has opted out of regular maint on items that would be deemed a road worthy issue like the windscreen. What else did he opt out of fixing that you CAN'T see? Unless you are getting a killer deal, and it's exactly the car you want, I would keep shopping, or negotiate some kind of serious discount to have it brought up to par. Note that a decent paint strip and repaint to Porsche standards would be $8-10k.

sounds like it needs 10-15K to make it right. Unknown mechanicals may be another 10k . Why not find a good car and pay 25K

The exhaust pipes are not correct for the 4S. It either has an aftermarket exhaust or something else is going on.

Pass, keep looking............

Thats very interesting. I didn't realize that myself. Im going to pull the car fax to see if it can show me anything related to the history of the car. Thanks again for all the great responses. They said they would show me receipts tomorrow for the IMS bearing fix and the new clutch recently installed. The only reason I am pursuing this car is because of how well it drove. I could probably have a full paint correction done to it and it would probably be fine for a daily driver. The cracked factory carbon fiber wheel makes me think the car was in a accident or is this a common issue?? Does anybody live in San Antonio or surrounding areas know of a good Porsche shop for a PPI besides Porsche San Antonio. If the PPI checks out as mechanically sound and free of any frame damage would $19000 be fair deal for the car? Thanks

blackoutz, Are you dead set on a C4S or are you open to a C2? Mike

really like the look of the C4S!! Im always open to ideas though. Blaine

Carbon fiber wheel, and other bits, cracking are unfortunately not uncommon.

Needs tires, windscreen, ignition....accidents, poor paint and body imperfections... Seems like you will need to invest $2,000 minimum immediately, but let's pad that because I know something else will pop up and you're probably at $3,500 needed immediately (without addressing the paint $7,000) Low 20's plus $3,500 .... I'd pass and wait for something with original paint in great condition.

I think you guys are right in the fact I should just wait for something else to come around. I have no problem stepping up to lower mile more documented car just something interesting that came up. I appreciate all the responses and will let y'all know what I decide to do. thank you Blaine

Run, just the fact it's been offered by a buy here pay here dealer should tell you something is very wrong.

There's a nice looking C4S listed for sale over at Pelican. Blue and grey but lightly optioned from what it looks like.

My '02 is very clean, but my CF wheel has the same cracks. Common problem. I would be much more wary of the neglect this car has seen. Most troubling to me is the recent IMS change. Seems odd on an otherwise neglected car. i think someone may have noticed some potential engine problems and changed the bearing in order to dump the car. At 10k, it might be worth buying, but you can find much better cars for the kind of money you're talking.

Someone will buy it because it's a Porsche and that's the angle the buy here pay here folks will push. You having found this site and asking educated questions are not one of those folks. Buy here pay here means save now pay later. If you have to finance a 13 year old car under 30k I wouldn't even consider a Porsche.

From Experience don't jump into the first one you see, do your homework and look around, There is one out there with your name on it. Good Luck

I'd run from that one. As others have mentioned..just too much neglect. There are enough well sorted examples out there. I searched for almost 2 yrs before getting mine.

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I bought a 90GT 928 red/tan from a buy here, pay here lot a while back for no-spit; $6000. He didn't know what he had, and I wasn't going to tell him. Oh yes, it needed work but at that price - why not? Of course, he sent it next door to the shop for a new batt so I could get it home, and they left it outside overnight when it was broken into and radio stolen. Idiot thieves broke both windows to get in.

Agree with the overwhelming majority above. However, on the paint, don't assume it was in an accident. On both the 996TT I did buy and the other one I almost bought, they were both keyed to the extent that they required nearly a full repaint. Both were in NYC when they were keyed, so that may have made it a higher likelihood of happening, but, a Porsche getting keyed is not that unusual. The are plenty of jealous douchebags out there. The wheel well liners missing is probably a bigger red flag to me than having bumper, fenders, hood respray (which may have been for rock chips).

The deal on panel or blending black cars is that it never, ever matches. I don't care if you're Picasso, and you spend every dime on prep and chemistry, it just does not match well. Might as well go whole car rather than try to touch up black. Also, when it gets dusty the different paint will have a streak, or sheen difference because the surface doesn't match. One could do a panel job on a black car, then color sand the whole thing the same, and buff it, but it for picky people, it just won't look right. White, I can blend all day, even most blue and green aren't too bad. Red is tougher but doable, I just won't panel match or blend black or dark gray. I can look at the right rear fender and see the mistakes even in the internet pictures. Imagine what it looks like in person. Gulp.

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+996

There are so many people out there with absolutely no excuse mint cars out there in the mid twenties that low 20's for this one sounds too high. Upper teens maybe.

I would buy from a Porsche Club member.

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Good advice. I like to buy from a private individual rather than from a dealer.

I am in my third Porsche car. Remember each enthusiast has a story. I recommend you continue a legacy of the brand, and the particular car. A club owner will tell you the history, and you can pick it up from there. Just my 2 cents https://www.pca.org/browse-the-mart-classified-ads

I started my search driving (4) different C4s cars and thought that's what I wanted. Ended up in a C2 with lots of options for $23k and 69k miles. I don't regret my choice at all and I love my RWD car... (My car has also been keyed) prior to me buying, WTF? Is with these cars being keyed *i also seem to get tailgated everywhere I go In this thing. It is almost ruining the driving experience - my bottom line point is do not buy that car...there are others out there