997 buying tips

zrcg1 · Aug 18, 2007

Being a 993 owner for a number of years, i've been considering a 997 for a while and thought the second hand route would be the way to go.

Bearing in mind it would be from an OPC with the official 111 point check, RAC check and 1 year warranty, can anyone help with any advice with buying from these sharks?

I spent a couple of hours at an OPC on Friday, and I was very unimpressed by the ordeal. Some of the cars I looked did not look in prime health -- after market exhaust tips, stone chips to the nose, and badly marked carpets -- and that was before pulling the engine cover or front compartment.....

Can anybody offer advice on how to approach buying second had from an OPC?

eg. whats the best time of the month to approach them
How much can I expect to get of the screen price etc.

Regards
Chris

Stewart H · Aug 18, 2007

The sales department at an OPC always reminds me of a gate. You stand there ready to go in and the salesmen are standing there like a pack of rottweilers wagging their tails. You know that if you step over the threshold, it's going to hurt.

I don't know if you'll get anything off the ticket price, they usually like to "give away" discount off things like your first service. At the least, though get them to repair the chips and make the interior shine like new. You are spending a lot of money so make them work for your business.

zrcg1 · Aug 18, 2007

It certainly looked very painful...... I reckon the salemen think they have a captive audience. Didn't seem very "sales driven" to me ....

garyw · Aug 19, 2007

Best time is the end of the month when they are short of their sales targets...
They usually offer to do the repairs/stonechips but usually after they have concluded the sale, some cars may be on sale or return so no point until its sold in having the paint done.
I'd push for freebies, trackday tickets, driver experience as there is more chance than a discount.

garyw

Mark Elder · Aug 19, 2007

Have you driven one yet - how does it compare with the 993?

zrcg1 · Aug 19, 2007

Mark,

Very, very nice ..... seem massive in proportion (from the driver seat) compared to the 993.....

Dylan1 · Aug 19, 2007

there is a huge difference as far as internal space goes-much more roomy.
i have never gone near an opc with any serious intent of purchasing until 3-4 days before end of month.as gary says ,go in then if you see a car you like,then make an offer-walk away and wait for phone to ring on the 31st in the afternoon[

]

Mark Elder · Aug 19, 2007

ORIGINAL: zrcg1

Mark,

Very, very nice ..... seem massive in proportion (from the driver seat) compared to the 993.....

Chris, that is my slight problem with it - do you not think it's a bit big for a sports car?

When I was buying they had only just been launched (so I could not afford) and I was comparing 993 and 996 - and there was no question about which I preferred. I drove a 997 (because the salesman offered) but that was really too early in my search to test it properly and understand the differences.

Julio Geordio · Aug 19, 2007

Why buy a used 997 from an OPC at all? You'll pay £000's more than private and for what, a valet and a warranty? Get a decent valet for £100 and you can buy a warranty from a range of suppliers. I'm sure that even Porsche would sell you one.

And if you want a mint 997S in arctic silver with ocean blue leather, Jan 05 with 26k and FPSH, then I, like Yves before, have a friend who will be selling his in a couple of weeks [

]

Grant · Aug 19, 2007

ORIGINAL: Julio Geordio
Why buy a used 997 from an OPC at all? You'll pay £000's more than private!

I do agree with Julio (biased as he is[

]) unless you have a good local OPC with a saleman who is really good, he will take the pain out of finding the right car & then it worth paying the premium for service & peace of mind.

But if it is anything like my local OPC everything is too much trouble for most of the sales people, so I'd find a decent (PCGB member?) used car privately & then pay to have it Porsche checked & warranted!

Dylan1 · Aug 19, 2007

ORIGINAL: Julio Geordio

Why buy a used 997 from an OPC at all? You'll pay £000's more than private and for what, a valet and a warranty? Get a decent valet for £100 and you can buy a warranty from a range of suppliers. I'm sure that even Porsche would sell you one.

And if you want a mint 997S in arctic silver with ocean blue leather, Jan 05 with 26k and FPSH, then I, like Yves before, have a friend who will be selling his in a couple of weeks []

ask julio towards the end of the month then[

]

Jamie Garside · Aug 20, 2007

The OPC's that I deal with fully prep the cars before they put them in the showroom. I wouldn't pay OPC premium unless the car is in 100% tip top standard when you view it.

zrcg1 · Aug 20, 2007

Many thanks for the responses so far, they are invaluable.... please keep them coming.......

Mark
It is big -- in fact I would say more its more 928 than 911. Looks like Porsche eventually replaced the 911 with the "928" as they set out to do all those years ago.......

But nevertheless, its an absolute belter. I cant wait to get one - but it has to be at the right price!

okellyt · Aug 20, 2007

When you trade in your old car at the good old OPC the first thing they try and do is knock you down on price over the cost to them of repairing stone chips on the car for resale, closely followed by cost of curing any internal blemishes.

Therefore were I to buy from an OPC I would epxect no stone chips or intreior belmishes as they have already charged the previous owner for fixing it.

I'd also go near end of month as previously suggested, holding the salesman's children captive works as welll i am told [

]

Julio Geordio · Aug 20, 2007

You're more than welcome to ask me at the end of the month as that is indeed when I'll be advertising it - and it's already booked in to get a couple of stonechips sorted so it will be perfect!

I'd buy it - in fact, I still can't work out why I'm selling it.

Dylan1 · Aug 20, 2007

just keep talking yourself out of it julio[

]
if in doubt speak to yves to see how he is missing his...[8D]
i lasted all of 6 weeks last time before i was back in a new porsche!!!

GT3_newbie · Aug 20, 2007

Have you read Chris Harris' column in GT Porsche this month? Basically defending OPC's second hand prices because they make the cars effectively as good as new, hence 20 - 25% markup. Therefore unless their cars are absolutely perfect, wouldn't touch them with the proverbial ....

garyw · Aug 21, 2007

Mine was marked up by the OPC by 10K to the next owner.
I was then knocked down a further £1600 to allow the front end to be resprayed to their standard and a new windscreen fitted.
It had an almost new warranty on it which they refused to refund or credit as they said they had to put a new one on it anyway.. I'm sure they would have cleared 9K+ on the car.

I'm also led to believe the OPC actually make more profit from used cars than they do from new...

garyw

zrcg1 · Aug 21, 2007

Hmm.....

Have been keeping an eye on one for a few weeks now at the local OPC. Its on the forecourt at 77k - Cab2S with some useful options, 6 months old, 2.5k miles...... trouble is list price for a new car I would spec is only 1.5k more ....... if the price was more realistic (for a second hand car) i'd bite their hand(s) off ...... but as advised, i'll register my interest and wait a bit