Car Found - Opinions please

[Hasan]

Hi,
I've just found a potential car to buy and just wanted to see what you all thought. If it's good, bad....

It's through a dealer (I'm not keen on dealers but hey ho), called EMG Performance based in Camberley.

It's a 997 3.8 S, 2004, 54 Reg, in Seal Grey with 40k miles.
Here's the link:
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_popup.jsp?did=12292&pageid=2&originalid=&gid=nogroup&tid=40&start=2&distance=0&adcategory=cars&channel=DEALERPAGE&id=200814306900108

Pros: It's got a good option list, a 3.8 S car and has a Porsche warranty til Dec 08.
Cons: There are no receipts for previous work, which means I don't know what's been changed in it's life. It's also had 4 previous owners...

It's only had 2 service stamps, a minor from Chester OPC on 25/01/06 and a major at 30k miles on 11/04/2007 at Reading.

It's currently on 40k miles....is this how it should be?...seeems like too few stamps?

It's had a 111 point Check last week for a buyer that has pulled out due to finances not coming through...so I'll ask to see a copy of that (It apparently has nothing wrong they could find)

OPC Reading wouldn't divulge details of that check due to 'Data Protection'....

What should I do?...bearing in mind my budget is no more than £43k for one with a warranty and sunroof.

Can I call up OPC Reading, Chester and Wimslow to check what works been done on it?..Would they give me print outs of work done if I buy the car?....or shall I just walk away?

 

[Dylan1]

hi
my 2p`s worth
pros-good price
cons-beware with no prev story
-if its a 2004 then the service history described may not be according to opc guidleines but insufficient dats to go on

i wouldnt be too put off by numbers of owners but 4 in less than 4 yrs is prob at least one too many

if its too good to be true then it probably is[]for a few k more you can get one that will cause you no anxieties

 

[2fast4u]

Here's my tuppence worth!!!!

A 2004 997 would only require a 2 and 4 year service so perhaps that explains why there are only 2 stamps in the book and 4 owners?? You can get a yearly service (oil change) if you want but it isn't required for your warranty.

Going on price, it seems great!! I've a 997's', May 2005, I'm the second owner, I bought mine when she was 6 months old!!! She has 13k miles on the clock and doesn't seem to have as many added options as the car your looking to buy. I'd be looking to get around the £50k mark for mine but I'm definitely NOT selling!!!! I love her too much[].

Hope this helps a wee bit when you're making up your mind.

Kim

 

[sidicks]

ORIGINAL: Hasan

OPC Reading wouldn't divulge details of that check due to 'Data Protection'....

I'm sure that the Data Protection Act applies to data on individuals, not the sort of data that would be found on this type of check, so there is no reason why they should not show this to you, particularly with the permission of the dealer selling the car.

Cheers

Sidicks

 

[Hasan]

Well the dealer says that the last owner had registered it in his company name then changed it to personal use resulting in a owner change apparently.

I spoke to Chester OPC and Wimslow OPC who confirmed the minor service in 06 and major service in 07. I spoke to Reading OPC who said that the car had all new brake discs and pads at 28k miles, so that was a good thing.
All OPC's said that I can't print off old receipts without the consent of the owner at the time...which is the only hassle but not impossible I suppose, Reading did say that the car had been serviced properly though at the right times.

So if the dealer shares the findings of the 111 point check with me which was done last week, then things are looking pretty good provided it looks good in the flesh!....I'm viewing it on Saturday.....

 

[johnag007]

Contact the previous owner, short-circuit the whole loop (maybe)
Is there really nothing else? Frankly when you buy this sort of car, better be safe than sorry. Stamps-wise, just tell them you want the Porsche extended warranty thrown in for free, and make sure the service history is acceptable for it.

JAG

 

[Hasan]

I appreciate what you're saying but I can't contact the previous owner not knowing who it is.
The car already has an Extended Porsche Warranty until Dec 08, as the last owner paid for this...

 

[Dylan1]

sounds like you may be on to a good bargain-good luck with the test drive

 

[944s2]

Ask to see the V5

 

[Hasan]

Spoke to the dealer again,
Last owner only had the car 6 months so he never actually serviced it, he sold it to this dealer due to a baby on the way.
I asked for the 111 point check to be faxed to me and the dealer has informed me that the 111 point check that Porsche dealers do has now changed.
They no longer provide the sheet with the boxes to tick and Engineers notes....as now they just flag up what needs doing on the receipt.
Can anyone verify if this is the case?

 

[Delbox]

Walk away! The clues are there!

 

[davidcross]

theres too many question marks over this car for u to ever have peace of mind. its alot of car for the money ill agree but the mileage is high and its too suspect. remember that times are changing and there will be a few desperate sellers around very soon with house prices recording their biggest fall since the 1990 and redundancies looming. i recon ive done 10k on my 997s since last july but ive peace of mind, a car thats still only done 17k miles, a proper service history and its only had 2 previous owners. bide your time prices are heading in your direction!

 

[Grant]

If the service book is stamped & has been verified by the OPC's, I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of paper!

I would worry a little about 4 owners, only because this sometimes masks problems (clocking/ringing etc) & so will the next buyer when it is 5 owners, but it is probably ok as the car is 4 years old now!

But I 100% for sure would NOT buy the car without a professional check, I wouldn't rely on the old, "its already been done & passed with flying colours routine." If you want this car its worth paying a few pounds to verify that your £44,000 investment is ok, I'd pay the OPC & do an HPI check. Before paying for the test/check I'd visit the car to see that it meets your requirements & looks ok.

Best of luck, there are lots of 997's out there, so take your time & you'll get a good-un!

 

[davidcross]

exactly, sadly for all us current owners our cars are getting cheaper too quickly so he"ll get a good one for a real steal if he waits. oh well, u only live once!!!!

 

[Hasan]

Hi David, Grant,

Appreciate your comments and in my heart I know you're both right, there's not enough piece of mind for me here as I'm a guy that likes to see the previous owner and get a feel for the car that way.
This dealer has just lied to me really, as I called up OPC Reading and they said that whilst they have got rid of using the check list sheet, they do provide a 2 page engineers report......

I'm phoning tomorrow to cancel the appointment and just bide my time.

Thanks for your advice

 

[adrian996]

Hi Hasan.

Is it me - or do the near-side exhaust tail pipes appear to be twisted and pointing to the port side (near-side)...?

Probably just camera trickery - surely...?

Anyway; the market is full of these cars - and with the miles slightly high it doesn't mean that you won't find another car for similar money elsewhere that you'll have no doubts about at all.

IMHO - take a step back and think; you're contemplating spending forty three thousand pounds on a car. A car that you're not 100% sure about?
I'm sorry - there's just too many out there to even consider it. I'm not sure of your annual milage but before you know it this car will have done 50K+ miles and you'll be looking at 996's with far less mileage going for more cash. Just a thought....

Adrian.

 

[Dylan1]

I'm phoning tomorrow to cancel the appointment and just bide my time.

you know it makes sense.but i appreciate once you get excited about a new car its difficult to see sense-thats why were here![]
anyway good luck with finding a straight car-with prices going the way they are it wont be long!!

 

[Jamie Garside]

There are enough cars on the market for reasonable money for you not to have to jump on one you aren't 100% comfortable with.

 

[Black80XSA]

This car was previously owned by a guy called 'ATM' on www.boxa.net - he sold it in 2006 with 27000 miles on the clock

http://www.boxa.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=31857

 

[Hasan]

Small world!...I've actually emailed him.....and he loved the car
Drove to Italy in it so that would explain the contribution to the mileage being at 40k now....I would only drive the car I buy 3k per annum and keep for 4 years so mileage is fine for me.
He's also saying, why do I need receipts?....(He had all tyres done and serviced it...as he had it for 8 months) I've verified both services with Chester and Wimslow OPC anyway.

I'm confused now as to what to do.... (Haven't called dealer yet)