Should I buy this 981?

Should I buy this 981?

Author
Discussion

Pablo Escobar

Original Poster:

80 posts

42 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024010352...

Been to view this 981 and really like it. Had Porsches before and I know how sensitive they are re servicing. This one has had its 1st service done at Porsche main dealer, all other services by dealer who is selling on behalf of the owner, they aren't an Indy. It's a pretty basic car - no heated seats and a couple of options. So 1 Porsche service and possibly just further oil changes in 9 years. How much of a bath will I take when I sell, I would have it for several years. How would I have it serviced going forward, would there be any point using Porsche, Indy, or Halfords or do it myself. 1 "proper" service in 9 years! How cheap would it have to be?


Edited by Pablo Escobar on Friday 8th March 10:54

RiccardoG

1,664 posts

279 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
Hey Pablo...

Do you like it? Do you want yellow? How long will you keep it?

Yellow Porsche are Marmite but usully come with "yellow tax" on them, so would not be concerned. As in, many people will pass but then some people will be dead keen. Manual 6cyl car will always appeal.

Me, I love a base car in simple spec and manual, so that car would be a definite yes from me were I looking for a Boxster right now. In fact, slightly jealous of whoever gets to buy it.

Conclusion: hard yes, buy it.

woodysnr

1,060 posts

235 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
Looks nice from photos ..I like Speed Yellow had a 987.2 nicer than the current Race Yellow .as you said low on spec hence possible price ,MOT;s are all clean. Milage is low, re service history why not get an independent Porsche specialist in your area do a check on it and a quote for service and use that as bargaining tool to get a lower price or get the garage selling do a full major service including Belts. Brake fluid .Oil filter change ,Check coolant .Pads /disc check .

Hoofy

77,492 posts

289 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
Says private sale. SOR sales should be trade sales, surely?

As for the servicing, if it's a decent garage, it wouldn't bother me. If it's main dealer service for the first one then Kwikfit for the rest, run away!

Orangecurry

7,534 posts

213 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
I'd add something similar - private sale means (nearly) no comeback, but you are paying trade price?

RiccardoG

1,664 posts

279 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all

Yes, the servicing is not ideal, agreed. Looking at the ad I see: 1 older gentleman owner, low miles. Makes me think it was a non-car guy who just wanted a nice car for weekend and high-days. Once a year, probably at MOT time, got the car serviced at local garage. And for a low use weekend car that's OK for first few years (9 is quite a few, mind).

What brand tyres has it got on?

The suggestion to have it looked at by a local Porsche specialist if you're serious is a great one!

TheOctaneAddict

874 posts

54 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
Love the colour, looks like its got stitched seat logos, painted roll over hoops and sports exhaust tips as options.

Service history wouldn't put me off as the miles are so low. I would get it inspected/ppi'd by an indy though.

Looks like its done a handful of miles each year so there might be some differed maintenance hiding.

Is it me or is the front bumper scuffed/damaged on the front left corner?



Edited by TheOctaneAddict on Friday 8th March 14:00

DJMC

3,520 posts

110 months

Friday 8th March
quotequote all
Get the seller to instruct an OPC to carry out a 111 point inspection (but you pay for it) for a look over or an independent specialist for a more in depth report.

WARNING: Elderly driver. How elderly? My father damaged every panel on his Audi at 80+ (years, not mph).

Armitage.Shanks

2,444 posts

92 months

Sunday 10th March
quotequote all
Looks OK at a good price for a yellow car that would, to me, hold a premium. If the garage has stamped up the book then fair enough.

If you're keeping it for a few years your choice of service agent will count far more than who carried out a service 5+ years ago. Too many buyers get hung up on having a full and complete main dealer/indy service history to the point they quibble about a gap from 15yrs ago. A low mileage one owner car for a car of this age is rare in the Porsche world. OK it's light on extras but finding one to your exact requirements will be a lengthy journey.

plynchy

108 posts

234 months

Monday 11th March
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981Boxess

11,529 posts

265 months

Monday 11th March
quotequote all
DJMC said:
Get the seller to instruct an OPC to carry out a 111 point inspection (but you pay for it) for a look over or an independent specialist for a more in depth report.
This.

There is a 4 month break in the MOT history in summer, odd for a convertible, could be nothing (eg owner ill) or something (eg being repaired) "This vehicle has undergone paint correction and full detail".

If it checks out ok and you like the colour/spec, why not.

paulguitar

26,679 posts

120 months

Tuesday 12th March
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I have been looking at this car too.

Interestingly, it is now listed for sale by two different people for different prices:







bennno

12,735 posts

276 months

Wednesday 13th March
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paulguitar said:
I have been looking at this car too.

Interestingly, it is now listed for sale by two different people for different prices:



It appears pretty simple one is a dealer sale with warranty, one is direct from owner.

If you’ve got the cash then speak to the owner direct, he’ll advise if he’s still got it or sold it to the dealer.

AW10

4,497 posts

256 months

Wednesday 13th March
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Slightly off topic - is that a Bentley Val D'Isere in the background? That's a rare beast. With a yellow interioer. Someone likes their yellows.

Pablo Escobar

Original Poster:

80 posts

42 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Thanks for pointing that out, it's not really for sale by the owner, a garage in Leighton Buzzard is selling on behalf of the owner, no warranty with sale, that's a red flag for me, after the "story" I was given at Leighton Buzzard when I viewed it, "owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone" service book all stamped by selling garage except the 1st service. For anyone interested it has small damage at rear wheel arch.

paulguitar

26,679 posts

120 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Pablo Escobar said:
Thanks for pointing that out, it's not really for sale by the owner, a garage in Leighton Buzzard is selling on behalf of the owner, no warranty with sale, that's a red flag for me, after the "story" I was given at Leighton Buzzard when I viewed it, "owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone" service book all stamped by selling garage except the 1st service. For anyone interested it has small damage at rear wheel arch.
If it is coming from a garage, do they not have to provide a 3-month warranty by law?



bennno

12,735 posts

276 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Pablo Escobar said:
Thanks for pointing that out, it's not really for sale by the owner, a garage in Leighton Buzzard is selling on behalf of the owner, no warranty with sale, that's a red flag for me, after the "story" I was given at Leighton Buzzard when I viewed it, "owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone" service book all stamped by selling garage except the 1st service. For anyone interested it has small damage at rear wheel arch.
Seller doesn’t want to get involved in the sale more like, whilst the dealer doesn’t want to provide any back up or a warranty.

There are a lot of expensive bits to go wrong on these, I’d wager at that age and without a full history it’ll want a pair of radiators and air con condensers as they rot at that age (£2-3k) then it’ll want the exhaust bits and gaskets drilling out and redoing (£350-£1000) for starters.

I had a lower mileage car that was full history and 3 years newer and it needed a lot of work to get a Porsche warranty on the car, those costs were with an Indy doing the work - so I’d want an Indy to look it over first.

981Boxess

11,529 posts

265 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Pablo Escobar said:
............after the "story" I was given at Leighton Buzzard when I viewed it, "owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone" service book all stamped by selling garage except the 1st service.
I know this is serious stuff but rofl

Armitage.Shanks

2,444 posts

92 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Pablo Escobar said:
"owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone"
At least the soft top mechanism will be like new given it won't have been used but probably needs a grease

paulguitar

26,679 posts

120 months

Wednesday 13th March
quotequote all
Armitage.Shanks said:
Pablo Escobar said:
"owner has agoraphobia, can't speak to anyone"
At least the soft top mechanism will be like new given it won't have been used but probably needs a grease
A yellow convertible Porsche does seem an odd car choice for an agrophobic.