The first questions - so not to waste time
Discussion
Mileage
Number of owners (dont be too alarmed if its 6 or 7 that seems to be the way with these cars)
Service History.ask when, where, who, last serviced? new clutch etc etc
Condition..........difficult one as not all people are honest
I would HPI check anything before travelling (saves me hours of time in wasted journeys)
Part Exchange........if the car sounds like what you want ask for a figure to swop subject to viewing.....no point travelling if you want £10K for your p/ex and the dealer says its worth £4K
Good Luck.
I would also ask for the VIN and engine numbers, and ask the vendor to confirm that the VIN numbers on the chassis/behind the windscreen/V5 etc. all match up.
I'd then cross check the VIN/engine numbers against the listing in the buyers guide to give some confidence that it is what you think it is.
One point - the RoW VIN numbers all start WPOZZZ and it seems to be extremely common for the DVLA to translate the letter Zs to number 2s - it should be straightforward to sort out, but it can produce some unusual HPI results if the DVLA have 2s ...
Additionally I would also ask for the list of option codes from the sticker under the front bonnet. This does two things: one it tells you a great deal about the spec. the car was built with AND two it tells you if the sticker is still there ...
Dan
I'd then cross check the VIN/engine numbers against the listing in the buyers guide to give some confidence that it is what you think it is.
One point - the RoW VIN numbers all start WPOZZZ and it seems to be extremely common for the DVLA to translate the letter Zs to number 2s - it should be straightforward to sort out, but it can produce some unusual HPI results if the DVLA have 2s ...
Additionally I would also ask for the list of option codes from the sticker under the front bonnet. This does two things: one it tells you a great deal about the spec. the car was built with AND two it tells you if the sticker is still there ...
Dan
I would also ask the following
1. Has it had a new clutch
2. Has it had new discs
3. Is it a varioram model
4. If appropriate has it had the wiring loom checked.
5. does it have all the tools
6. some problems with Targa (leaks etc, so possibly consider that)
7. Very important for a C4, has the geometry been done
8. Has the check strap been fixed. Bit of a weak point on these cars (there has to be one somewhere, and this is a rather acceptable one)
Then some personal ones:
1. Does it have aircon ?
2. Does it have OEM exhaust, as some aftermarket stuff can be very boomy. I prefer the car to be totally OEM, but again, that is taste.
3. Try to make sure you get a good colour combination, I personally think the dark blue and bright interior are a very good combination, rather than all the silver tin on the roads at the moment. (Personal tastes again)
4 Does it have sports seats, they are much better than the normal ones.
Allowing for that, you will adore these cars, and always take the long way home.
1. Has it had a new clutch
2. Has it had new discs
3. Is it a varioram model
4. If appropriate has it had the wiring loom checked.
5. does it have all the tools
6. some problems with Targa (leaks etc, so possibly consider that)
7. Very important for a C4, has the geometry been done
8. Has the check strap been fixed. Bit of a weak point on these cars (there has to be one somewhere, and this is a rather acceptable one)
Then some personal ones:
1. Does it have aircon ?
2. Does it have OEM exhaust, as some aftermarket stuff can be very boomy. I prefer the car to be totally OEM, but again, that is taste.
3. Try to make sure you get a good colour combination, I personally think the dark blue and bright interior are a very good combination, rather than all the silver tin on the roads at the moment. (Personal tastes again)
4 Does it have sports seats, they are much better than the normal ones.
Allowing for that, you will adore these cars, and always take the long way home.
danww said:
Additionally I would also ask for the list of option codes from the sticker under the front bonnet. This does two things: one it tells you a great deal about the spec. the car was built with AND two it tells you if the sticker is still there ...
It also tells you if the bonnet is the original one and therefore if car has had a front-ender or not. If the sticker isn't present, then be suspicious
It's also worth asking if the doors click when being opened and closed - clicking means checkstrap failure (reasonably common 993 fault) and a potential bill from a Porsche bodyshop of 6 or 7 hundred quid to fix.
Chris
welshchris said:
Additionally I would also ask for the list of option codes from the sticker under the front bonnet. This does two things: one it tells you a great deal about the spec. the car was built with AND two it tells you if the sticker is still there ...
It also tells you if the bonnet is the original one and therefore if car has had a front-ender or not. If the sticker isn't present, then be suspicious
Chris
Indeed. That is what I was driving at. Of course if its a dealer, they will say "Oh, these got lost really easily don't worry about it." When you then ask for the same list from the sticker in the front page of the service book, and you find that sticker isn't there either ... as happened to me once ... you start to to get a rough idea whether the car is worth going to see or not.
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