Is this 997 too cheap to be true?

[Hasan]

I don't want to put a dampener on your upcoming purchase but I would have a real think before pulling the trigger here as when you come to sell it, many prospective buyers will be put off with a service stamp from "Exeter Diesels".
If it was a recognised Porsche Specialist, then fine, but it's not even that.
I would do some serious milieage verification, by looking at the past MOT's and asking Exeter OPC after they serviced it in 2006, do they have a 111 point check on record since then.
Just a bit of feedback....

 

[alisayyah]

Spoke to Exeter OPC. The history goes as follows

July 06 - Minor Service 18k miles
Sept 07 - OPC sold the car 19k miles
June 08 - Exeter Diesels sold the car at 25k miles & performed 4yr service

Now mileage stands at 42k so the current owner has done just under 10k a year.

 

[Dylan1]

hopefully you will bag a real bargain but i guess the suspicion is that i (and many other ,but NOT all prospective porsche buyers)wouldnt touch with a bargepole a car with only 1 OPC (or indi)stamp in it from new.in a 6yr old car that simply isnt good enough(imho).but if you intend to keep it for a good few yrs that probably wont matter so much
best of luck with it anyway and hope yo have lots of fun

 

[alisayyah]

Appreciate the feedback everyone. My honest opinion is that if the car has been taken care of carefully that is what counts. Could have an owner who trashes the car, doesn't clean it and then services at OPC (extreme, but you get what I mean!).

Will keep you posted on how it goes when I view on Sat!

 

[azure111s]

I always get completely pedantic in car buying situations, so I'm thinking out loud here and you may or may not choose to think along the same lines ;-) ....

Who is the 'mate' (current owner) of the guy at Exeter Diesels (I'm paraphrasing previous posts from memory here, not quoting as such)? Take the details from the logbook and contact him. Be open about this with the seller. They'd do the same if they were you, after all (wouldn't they?!). If he's ex-directory then pop along and knock on his door if it's feasible, just for a quick chat..... you know. For this exercise I wouldn't accept a mobile number provided by the selling garage ;-) Contact all the previous owners if you can. IMO any 'decent' previous owner will be delighted that you have taken the trouble to contact them and subsequently heap information upon you. You will gauge lots from their responses, and I suspect that the most recent owner's response will be most useful to you. I'd be asking simple and obvious questions, like: current mileage (from memory), faults during his ownership period, any accidents, etc, etc?

On a personal level I would insist that the OPC does the service. This will have a double effect: get the 'proper' stamp in the book, as well as flush out any potential issues that the selling garage might just be slightly tempted to, dare I say..... errr.....cover up?! If your negotiations do not facilitate this then at least ensure that the OPC does an inspection. Any purchase would have to be dependent upon a satisfactory outcome of the inspection, service or no service.

 

[alisayyah]

Hi all,

Just to give you a quick update. Went to see the car on Friday and the previous owner provided some additional history. Car had a major service at OPC and he provided the bill, so it added to peace of mind!

Bought the car and couldn't stop driving it all weekend hence will take pics soon and post up properly. Very different to drive than my old 987 boxster, car feels a lot more settled.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[tscaptain]

Pleased you're happy with your purchase, Ali. Look forward to the photos and now you can join the club and the 997 register and come along to some events![]

 

[azure111s]

errrr, no.....nothing more to say :-/

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: azure111s
errrr, no.....nothing more to say :-/

Maybe you should have used less space to say nothing in Nick?[]

 

[944s2]

Just think

Wonder how many of the doubters will be kicking themselves now[]

Enjoy your car

 

[alisayyah]

Thank you all... Actually just went outside to admire it again now... I've forgotten how much fun it is keeping a black car clean!!

 

[azure111s]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: azure111s
errrr, no.....nothing more to say :-/

Maybe you should have used less space to say nothing in Nick?[] 

Maybe I should have and maybe I just did ;-)

Exasperation can get the better of one and cause too much space to be used ;-)

 

[alisayyah]

Hi all,

Still haven't had a chance to take proper photos of the car yet but thought I'd post this one up as a placeholder!

Thanks again for all the help.

Just bought a pair of Dansk mufflers for the car, being fitted this weekend hopefully. Hopefully won't be too obtrusive!

Ali