The Practical Buying Process
Discussion
I’m setting off to find and buy a 986 Boxster having owned one before from new in 2004 before the kids came along and can have one again now they are a bit older.
My track record of buying second hand cars isn’t the best and even if the car is from a dealer (or even a Porsche specialist) I’m having it inspected (and the stuff down to make it robust when I’ve got it).
So to buying - would you offer a refundable or non refundable deposit in advance of an inspection. I’m thinking refundable to be repaid if the car is not as described. Any counter thoughts? How much - I’m thinking 5% so £750 on a £15000 car.
My track record of buying second hand cars isn’t the best and even if the car is from a dealer (or even a Porsche specialist) I’m having it inspected (and the stuff down to make it robust when I’ve got it).
So to buying - would you offer a refundable or non refundable deposit in advance of an inspection. I’m thinking refundable to be repaid if the car is not as described. Any counter thoughts? How much - I’m thinking 5% so £750 on a £15000 car.
Yes I would get such a car inspected - ideally by a Porsche specialist garage (so getting it on a ramp etc).
I would therefore want to ask the seller to hold the car for me until the inspection can be performed.
If the seller asked me to pay a refundable deposit to do so, I would. 5% sounds reasonable I agree. I've done this before, I've also had a car held w/o a deposit in a private sale.
A non-refundable deposit would seem to defeat the point of having an inspection if you're already committed to buy.
I did the same about 5 years ago. I had bought a 2001 986 brand new back in the day, lovely in sport yellow. I decided to re-visit the sublime experience that 2001 had been by buying a 2001 986 for about £6.5K as a toy.
It looked beautiful in bright silver, unmarked body, 911 wheels, needed an air bag ecu but drove very well round town on the test drive. Go the garage to sort the airbag light and bought it.
Cost me the same again to get the car 'right'... AOS(s), tyres, brakes, roof, ignition switch, air con pipe(s), exhaust box, air con condenser(s) but mainly the engine turned out to have a cracked cylinder head on one side.
So all in all I was about £12k in before it was 'good'. Sold it a year later after barely using it for £5.5k.
Beware!
It looked beautiful in bright silver, unmarked body, 911 wheels, needed an air bag ecu but drove very well round town on the test drive. Go the garage to sort the airbag light and bought it.
Cost me the same again to get the car 'right'... AOS(s), tyres, brakes, roof, ignition switch, air con pipe(s), exhaust box, air con condenser(s) but mainly the engine turned out to have a cracked cylinder head on one side.
So all in all I was about £12k in before it was 'good'. Sold it a year later after barely using it for £5.5k.
Beware!
No idea where you reside Andy but I had the 986 Boxster S I bought last year inspected by a well known chap before I made the 3 hour bus ride, one hour flight and 10 hour drive home. Once inspected I paid a small deposit to show intent and the balance upon arrival at Southampton.
Without a deposit I would think a seller has a right to sell to someone else if they turn up with the money before you do, inspection or not in the same way that you could drop out despite a perfect inspection.
My car is now for sale in the PH classifieds at a lot less than your current budget.
email me if you want additional details or want a chat.
Without a deposit I would think a seller has a right to sell to someone else if they turn up with the money before you do, inspection or not in the same way that you could drop out despite a perfect inspection.
My car is now for sale in the PH classifieds at a lot less than your current budget.
email me if you want additional details or want a chat.
Piersman2 said:
I did the same about 5 years ago. I had bought a 2001 986 brand new back in the day, lovely in sport yellow. I decided to re-visit the sublime experience that 2001 had been by buying a 2001 986 for about £6.5K as a toy.
It looked beautiful in bright silver, unmarked body, 911 wheels, needed an air bag ecu but drove very well round town on the test drive. Go the garage to sort the airbag light and bought it.
Cost me the same again to get the car 'right'... AOS(s), tyres, brakes, roof, ignition switch, air con pipe(s), exhaust box, air con condenser(s) but mainly the engine turned out to have a cracked cylinder head on one side.
So all in all I was about £12k in before it was 'good'. Sold it a year later after barely using it for £5.5k.
Beware!
Yeah I’ve been there with classic cars hence inspecting the bugger to death. My old Boxster was my second favourite car. My all time favourite was a my1999 Impreza Turbo 2000 but they can be really really really bad at age 24.It looked beautiful in bright silver, unmarked body, 911 wheels, needed an air bag ecu but drove very well round town on the test drive. Go the garage to sort the airbag light and bought it.
Cost me the same again to get the car 'right'... AOS(s), tyres, brakes, roof, ignition switch, air con pipe(s), exhaust box, air con condenser(s) but mainly the engine turned out to have a cracked cylinder head on one side.
So all in all I was about £12k in before it was 'good'. Sold it a year later after barely using it for £5.5k.
Beware!
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff