Should I buy this car?

[AndrewEllinas]

I'm looking to buy a 996T or TS. Ideally seal grey or black with a black interior, and from 2004 to 2005.

I went to see a car yesterday. It looked very straight and clean, but a couple of things bothered me and I would like your advice:

1. The car has had a recent 111 point check that indicated a slight cooolant leak and recommened that the radiators be replaced. The owner said that the cost of replacing the radiators made it not worth doing for a 'slight leak'. My understanding is that radiator replacement is common with turbos and does need to be carried out. Is this correct and how much would an OPC or specialist charge?

2. The 111 point check also recommended disk pad replacement, which the owner had carried out by his friend who 'prepares cars for racing'.

3. The current owner bought the car from the original owner 'a couple of months ago' and hasn't had the V5 changed into his name. There was no receipt for his purchase but he did say I could call the previous owner to check. He said he did this so that the next purchaser would still be the second owner.

All the advice I've ever read about buying a car from a private source has said that if you have any misgivings you should walk away. I have three, so you you think they are large enough for me to dismiss this car and keep on searching?

Regards

Andrew

PS: If you know anyone selling a 996T, please let me know.

 

[anil_sharad@yahoo.co]

HI,

If the V5 is not up to date, I'd walk away: if the guy is a bonafide private seller he would have registered his name straight away.

The RADs seem to be a 996 malady - leaves etc collect & eventually if not cleared, start to rot them. NO biggie, but again not cheap.

Pads are no big deal, to set your mind right, why not get them cecked by an independant?


Given your reservation and the large stack of cash at stake, I'd look for another.....



Anil.

 

[SteveFeakin]

You beef to be 100 precent sure. Go with your gut on this if I were you. Richard Hamilton will give you some sound advice also. But good luck these cars are awesome. Steve

 

[AlexBell]

Point 1 and 2 are very minor issues in the long life of a supercar, nothing to worry about and as you mention they will need replacement at some point. Changing pads is no more than £2-300 even at an OPC.

Can't comment on point 3.

 

[Pepi1677]

Point 1 & 2, are not a problem.

Point 3, you could always pay for a HPI check to see if it is straight, I think they give some form of insurance.

Has he had any work done on the car? The invoice would gernerally have the address on. What about MOT's were they done locally to the seller?

 

[Nick_USA]

3. The current owner bought the car from the original owner 'a couple of months ago' and hasn't had the V5 changed into his name. There was no receipt for his purchase but he did say I could call the previous owner to check. He said he did this so that the next purchaser would still be the second owner.

He's broken the law by not registering car so your alarm bells should be ringing.

Either he registers the car or I'd walk away.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

He shouldn't even possess the V5C. It is a legal requiredment for the former keeper to return it to the DVLA (not the current owner), unless he is selling to a trader, and it sounds like the current owner is a trader to me. Even if he isn't, could you trust him to return it to the DVLA? What he has done so far, as Nick says, is illegal.

As for 1 & 2, are you planning on getting an OPC warranty? If so, then budget for the work to be done by an OPC, and use it in your negociations. The pads aren't really the issue - but the rads, no matter how slight the leak, need doing. Slight leaks never fix themselves, they only get worse.

I think I would walk away if it was me. Plenty more fish in the sea.

 

[AndrewEllinas]

Thank you. Confirmed my feelings. I'll keep looking.

Please let me know if you hear of anyone selling.

 

[Spy]

Bets to walk away Andrew, as you have suggested.

Sounds like the guy is a trader who has probably patched the car up cheaply.

With regard to brakes, he may not have fitted original Porsche parts which would mean you could not put a Porsche warranty on it until you changed them back.

There are many others around so keep looking

 

[richard hall]

walk away

the friend who does racing porsches......please any reputable car has receipts and proof of components properly fitted
these cars aint cheap to run the guy sounds like a joker

as for the v5

there are too many crooks in this game any way to many decent cars around if there is even the slightest whiff about it.......

 

[DivineE]

I've got to ask why 2004-2005 only? I'm thinking of taking my black 996tt back from the garage who offered me a sale and return in Jan because it's not going anywhere where it is.

Edited to edd: Better cancel that sorry. Just rang after the bank holiday and it looks like the garage has found a buyer so don't want to upset proceedings.

Typical just when I was thinking of keeping it and bought a private plate for the car yesterday. These things always happen.

 

[rickware]

This sounds just like the same scenario I bought my car in. Not a henry in the midlands by any chance?
Anyway, rads are around 1300 to fit and buy, I got mine hpi'd and phoned and met previous owner and then took a chance on the hpi insurance as it only works if you buy off the registered keeper. I had a suspicion he was a trader but the car seemed to be a really good one (and I still believe this!) so I went ahead.

 

[jdpef356]

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton
I think I would walk away if it was me. Plenty more fish in the sea.

Your looking for a TT - Turbo Tuna - sounds to me like this one was a Dog Fish[]