Discussion
I've been looking for a 911 for months, and gone from 9964s to 997.1s to 996tt and now it's almost certain I will buy a 997.1c2 because it seems it to have the lowest risk of total engine failure combined with reasonable servicing costs. I'd prefer the 3.8 for obvious reason but bore scoring puts me off although a well known Porsche specialist told me if it hadn't scored by 65k miles it was unlikely to happen in the future. Anyway to the point, I think every 911 I've seen advertised for sale claims a full service history, mostly OPC and specialist yet I gather from this and other forums people are spending hundreds and sometimes thousands to put these cars right. I know from my time in the motor trade we would carry out services, recommend work which the customer declines because they can't afford it or are selling the car yet the book is still stamped. Without invoices to back up the stamps I now assume it hasn't been done fully and receipts for bulbs or tyres carry no weight. My Mercedes has full history and the indie who carried out the last major service confirmed it had been done and what was done but will not give me a copy citing data protection as a reason. The last 9964s I looked at had all the stamps but no invoices." People don't want that stuff" the salesman told me. Well I did and walked but the car sold two weeks later.
It depends on your faith in human nature.
Since owning vehicles as a teenager, I have always kept a full service history for every vehicle I have owned (anorak!)
On less cherished vehicles which I have maintained myself, the service booklet has not been dealer stamped but I have kept a written log and stored all the receipts for parts and MOTs etc in a folder. (how else would I know when it was next due for a service?)
When I have sold such vehicles some people have carefully analysed the paperwork and some have made no attempt at all!
It also happens that when company cars are serviced the receipts often get filed with the company accounts and detached from the service booklet.(usually only in the early years)
In my view the stamp in the book is worth nothing if it cant be substantiated by receipts, or by the agent who carried out the work.
If there is no paper trail for a vehicle such as a Porsche, then you have to really satisfy yourself why not?
Since owning vehicles as a teenager, I have always kept a full service history for every vehicle I have owned (anorak!)
On less cherished vehicles which I have maintained myself, the service booklet has not been dealer stamped but I have kept a written log and stored all the receipts for parts and MOTs etc in a folder. (how else would I know when it was next due for a service?)
When I have sold such vehicles some people have carefully analysed the paperwork and some have made no attempt at all!
It also happens that when company cars are serviced the receipts often get filed with the company accounts and detached from the service booklet.(usually only in the early years)
In my view the stamp in the book is worth nothing if it cant be substantiated by receipts, or by the agent who carried out the work.
If there is no paper trail for a vehicle such as a Porsche, then you have to really satisfy yourself why not?
I'd suggest either buying a brand new 911, or going on gut feel, and then an inspection with your attitude to risk. Service history is only as good as the salesman showing it to you - do you think he is going to leave the invoice with the advisory about the suspension needing a look next time in the folder?
You are looking to trade depreciation curve for annual expense - it's not free or cheap to look after an older 911, and you have to accept there are very few owners who would bring a car they are selling right up on all points, rather than simply the big obvious points.
You are looking to trade depreciation curve for annual expense - it's not free or cheap to look after an older 911, and you have to accept there are very few owners who would bring a car they are selling right up on all points, rather than simply the big obvious points.
PORTIA911 said:
I've been looking for a 911 for months, and gone from 9964s to 997.1s to 996tt and now it's almost certain I will buy a 997.1c2 because it seems it to have the lowest risk of total engine failure combined with reasonable servicing costs.
Really, what led you to that conclusion? I would not touch any of the pre 997.2 engines unless they had been to someone like Hartech for a rebuild...foreverme said:
Really, what led you to that conclusion? I would not touch any of the pre 997.2 engines unless they had been to someone like Hartech for a rebuild...
I agree, but full Hartech/ Autofarm rebuilds for sale are as rare as hens teeth. I just feel that outside of Gen2 the later 3.6 997.1 is a bit less risky. Unfortunately nobody comes on forums to say they've had a 911 or three and it's never blown up and the twenty parked waiting outside Hartech will be from all over the country so I will go on gut, get it inspected and borescoped and just enjoy it. I'm looking for a keeper to buy once and buy right.When I traded my Cayman S in at an OPC I offered a file to the salesman with all the invoices and condition reports for 8 years I had owned it, as well as receipts for tyres, brakes discs and pads, air con re-gas, etc as well as all the old MOT certs and tax discs.
He told me to keep it as a souvenir (just like Mr Benn's shopkeeper if you're my vintage).
I held on to it thinking the new owner will get in touch - haven't heard a thing, so the new owner must be happy with just the stamps.
He told me to keep it as a souvenir (just like Mr Benn's shopkeeper if you're my vintage).
I held on to it thinking the new owner will get in touch - haven't heard a thing, so the new owner must be happy with just the stamps.
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff