Price check on potential purchase

Hi, I am negotiating with a non-Porsche dealer currently on a manual 2003 C4S with 29,500 miles. Options on this car: aluminum dial, supple leather, heated seats, four tail pipe look, and clear front bra installed. Warranty is up end of 2006, and no Porsche extended warranty available because it is not from a Porsche dealer, but third party warranty is available at additional cost. What would you guys estimate the value of this car if PPI passes, and everything else checks through (Carfax, etc.), or more specifically, at what price would this car be worth purchasing? Thanks! Hopefully I will be able to post some pics of my own soon instead of drooling at all your cars.

3 months ago, paid $60,000 for my 02 C4S w/ 24,500 miles. I thought that was a pretty fair price considering a dealership trade and all. Only got $30,000 for my 02 Mercedes C32 AMG (origianlly offered only $25,000 from dealership) so it's hard for me to figure out which way I got screwed (both probably). Nevertheless, I am enjoying the car tremendously.

Mileage is quite high for a 2003. Option list seems to be pretty plain. I'd venture a price btwn $58-62k. You should check for RMS history (bring VIN to dealer), oil leak, tranny. Service histoty is important. 30k mi service is about $800 so budget that in if it hasn't been done. How is the interior / exterior? That usually tell you a thing or two about how the previous owner treated the car. Be aware of greasy seats / dash soaked in armorall to hide wear. Also, don't trust carfax alone on accident records. Do a thorough inspection and alignment check.

Bought from a dealer and its Certified, so that got me two more years of warranty. It had a $88,600 MSRP when new, so ironically it equated to a depreciation of about $1/mile since new. Condition inside and out was "like new". Got dealer to do the full annual service plus brake fluid flush, and he also paid for an independent pre-purchase inspection. Options were: Wheel caps w/colored crest Navigation System Bose stereo w/6-pack CD Xenon Lights Soft-look leather seats Autobahnd protectant film

I think the mileage is a good indicator if the car has no negative history to speak of. It means the guy drove the car everyday. If there have been no RMS leaks or other major problems, I would prefer it over an 03 with 5k miles. Anywhere in the 60k range would be good, but I would check with local dealer before purchase, they may offer you an extended warranty on the car, particulalry if PPI doesn't trun up much needed work, and the price of the fixes can be used to negotiate with selling dealer.

Thanks for the input guys! Good to know about the 30,000 miile service. The car was one owner before, so it seems like the person drove it everyday, and even though its mileage is higher than I would like, its not too terrible, plus it still leaves me with enough until the factory warranty ends. About the extended warranty, is there a way of getting the Porsche extended warranty, or am I stuck with third party warranties? One concern with this car is that the option sticker on the hood is all washed out and bubbly. The dealer says its because the detailer sprayed chemicals on it. I hope its not an indication that the hood was replaced. The car has a clear bra on it, wonder if that could indicate that nothing was wrong. The dealer said the car underwent no paint jobs or bodywork. I guess the PPI should uncover any accidents from a paint inspection, alignment, etc. The other concern I have is that the dealer said that they have no service history on this car. If that's the case, how would any third party extended warranty cover any claims on the car? Can i call PCNA to get service history? Wish I could find the colour combo I want at a Porsche dealership, but so far couldn't find any as of yet. Anyways, you guys have been very helpful!

Hi, Just put a deposit down for a 2002 seal grey targa w/black full leather interior. Xenon lights, Technic package, 18" rims. 17k miles, clean Carfax record. $54,000... I traded in my POS 2001 BMW CiC. I won't buy another convertible again, as I couldn't stand the lack of rigidity. That and the horrible experience I had purchasing the car last year in Long Island. I've owned 2 BMW's and 1 Audi...thought I'd stick to BMW's (originally went to the dealer searching for an '02 M3 with an SMG transmission), until I saw the Porsche listed and relized it was within my price band. My old roommated had a 1985 Targa, which he let me drive at my leisure. It was well maintained and I enjoyed it tremendously. To boot, I really liked the look of the all-glass Targa, for some time now (since I first saw it in fact). Is $54,000 too good to be true? I can't wait to get this car.

I'd say...looking on KBB.com that 60-62K would be a very fair price.

54 is a good price on that targa IMO. i love those thngs, but the only one I ever checked out, 97 993, had had a bad leak problem, so I quit lookng a them. I later found out whay that particular car had had problems and irt was the owners fault.

I think that's a fair price for the car. I also have a '01 330cic. It's been reliable, but I hate the way it drives--I agree with you, part of it is just that it's a cab. We also have an '01 325i sedan-it's far more tossable and nimble and I enjoy driving it. Anyway, you'll absolutely love the Targa. It'll put the cic to shame in many ways. And the Targa roof is fun, too. Lately it's been 90 degrees here; too hot for cabs in my opinion, but the Targa roof open with the side windows up and the A/C on is perfect. And I love the glass roof even when it's closed.

Porsche just buys their warranty coverage from somebody else anyway, so buying it through them is really no better than finding a reputable company on your own. Most 3rd party companies aren't going to care about the service history before you bought it, only since you bought it. If the dealer can't get the service history, it means one of three things: 1. They're lying to hide something. 2. The service was done at an independent shop. 3. No service has been done.

Got my '02 C4S with 1900 miles for $67K a couple months ago. Options were small leather package, xenons, seat crests, wheel crests, bose/cd changer, and aluminum shifter/handbrake. this along with a Porsche certified warranty. it, btw, came with a porsche car cover in the bonnet trunk (it practically spent it's entire three years under this car cover). I think there are some good deals out there. stay away from the big metro area dealerships as they tend to ask for higher numbers. There's a local dealer who also has an '03 guards red C4S (2500 miles) with lots of carbon fiber options (it's very well equipped). they are asking $79K. it has been for sale for over a year. You gotta wonder how deep some dealers got into these cars that they can't budge and keep pace with market deflation. then again, i can't say for sure why they are sitting on it for that long. certainly, they are persistent and determined that it will sell at that price. in that case, it's best to leave them to what they want to do. All i can say is that the car is getting more and more swirl marks from it sitting outside and having to be washed/cleaned up. What a waste. I actually turned away from this and another C4S b/c of poor caretaking.

If there is no service history, I would think that is strange, as the car must have at least gone in for some sort of warranty repairs...most people with 996s I would think would go in to dealerships as well for the scheduled maintenance, so just make sure you get a PPI done...C4S is certainly the sweetheart in the 996 range in my opinion, so you are lookin at a great car for sure.

25k, sh#t I have over 30k on mine, no problems. A friend has a '03 AS/blk C4S 9k, tons of alum/carbon asking 69k. PM me and I'll hook you up with him.

Will do man.