Reluctance to take a test drive

[americancrx]

I have put my 996 up for sale.

My ad lists "tire kickers and test pilots welcome".

Only one person has actually come over and test-driven the car, out of thirty people who have messaged me.

Why are people passing up a free drive in a Porsche 911?

[Mr Tidy]

You're brave to put words like that in your advert!

I've never driven a Porsche - I wonder if you are anywhere near me (Surrey)?

[paul_c123]

americancrx said:

I have put my 996 up for sale.

My ad lists "tire kickers and test pilots welcome".

Only one person has actually come over and test-driven the car, out of thirty people who have messaged me.

Why are people passing up a free drive in a Porsche 911?

Because their daygame isn't as good as their text game?

[Wacky Racer]

Mr Tidy said:

You're brave to put words like that in your advert!

I've never driven a Porsche - I wonder if you are anywhere near me (Surrey)?

He lives in Texas,

Americans can't spell Tyre correctly.

[americancrx]

Mr Tidy said:

You're brave to put words like that in your advert!

I've never driven a Porsche - I wonder if you are anywhere near me (Surrey)?

Unfortunately, it is LHD as I live in the USA. It is a manual.

[Super Sonic]

They must think it's on its last legs and you're hoping it will die on the test drive so you can blame them and sue them.

[scot_aln]

They can't drive a manual?

[americancrx]

scot_aln said:

They can't drive a manual?

That's possible, but these are potential customers for a Porsche 996 and the automatic in that car isn't exactly a 7-speed PDK.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

americancrx said:

Unfortunately, it is LHD as I live in the USA. It is a manual.

I might be wrong about this, but, maybe the USA isn't quite the market for it? My impression is that a lot of people there are more interested with a newer production car and staying as up to date as possible.
So a manual 996 is a niche enthusiast's by relative means compared to a lot of other international markets.

I may be wrong, but that's certainly the impression I get of it.
You might have better luck in an an East Coast area more suited to that demographic? Alternatively a dealer might sell it on consignment for you.

[Mr Tidy]

americancrx said:

Mr Tidy said:

You're brave to put words like that in your advert!

I've never driven a Porsche - I wonder if you are anywhere near me (Surrey)?

Unfortunately, it is LHD as I live in the USA. It is a manual.

Shame, but if you don't ask you don't get!

Good luck.

[Rotary Potato]

americancrx said:

I have put my 996 up for sale.

My ad lists "tire kickers and test pilots welcome".

Only one person has actually come over and test-driven the car, out of thirty people who have messaged me.

Why are people passing up a free drive in a Porsche 911?

I would imagine that people are so used to seeing the opposite that they read what they think is written, rather than what is actually written.

30 to 1 is about the ratio of messers/daydreamers to serious buyers that I had when selling my 986 Boxster, so I'm not sure you advert or location is overly influencing that.

[CB 987]

I had a very similar experience when selling my 996 a few years ago.... Loads of messages and questions asked, photos requested but these never materialised into viewings.

I think there are a lot of buyers considering one, but never taking the leap to look. Plus, I think there is an element of buyers chasing their perfect spec, low miles, all preventative maintenance done and then best price possible! In reality there is always a compromise.

Mine was low miles, the right spec and a really good example, priced fairly, it probably needed a few bits in the future but then what 20 year old 911 doesn't!

Cheers.

[georgeyboy12345]

americancrx said:

I live in the USA. It is a manual.

There is your answer.

[BertBert]

americancrx said:

Unfortunately, it is LHD as I live in the USA. It is a manual.

Isn't it a stick-shift if it's in the US?

[americancrx]

Rotary Potato said:

I would imagine that people are so used to seeing the opposite that they read what they think is written, rather than what is actually written.

30 to 1 is about the ratio of messers/daydreamers to serious buyers that I had when selling my 986 Boxster, so I'm not sure you advert or location is overly influencing that.

That might be the answer. I'll re-publish the ad saying instead "come on down to (my city) for a test drive!"

[oceanview]

Also, considering 996s' are old now and what, 300-320BHP, no one is going to be blown away by them now, even if they steer well.

[americancrx]

27 years old, 295 horsepower in 3000 lbs, still 0-60 MPH in 5 seconds and 0-100 in 12 or so. Not going to walk away from a Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor but still faster than most cars!