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PPI for early 996 - is it needed?

nickd

Well-known member
Joined
10 Jun 2015
Messages
66
Hi,

I'm new to Porsche, but not to messing about with cars. Plenty of mechanical experience over the years, with lots of in depth Honda work (engine changes, turbocharging, tuning, suspension/handling changes) and have bought 30+ cars over the years.

I have never sought a PPI for a car before, but it seems to be the default position in the 911 world.

I'm looking at early 996s - £10-13k or so, and am wondering if the PPI is worth the spend, and given that it could take time to organise, the possibility of a car I like being sold to someone else who hasn't gone for a PPI.

Are the cars that specalist, that someone mechanically competent would be likely to miss issues, or is it more the size of the bill should I miss something?

All opinions gratefully received :D
 
Hi & :welcome:

My opinion - PPIs are for people who don't know (mechanically) what they're looking at with cars. If you're a mechanic or even a dab hand with a spanner, there shouldn't be an issue. They're just a car, just like any other.

If you do know cars pretty well and you do a bit of reading up on different sites on what to look for, there shouldn't be a problem.

Anybody who tells you it is a "PORSCHE" as though it's some type of mythical machine not to be touched unless highly trained in doing so are telling you Porkies.

I bought mine 15 months ago, didn't know what I was looking at, didn't get a PPI done, checked the service history was right and took it for a drive. Felt right and the rest is history.

Main thing though, like I said, do you reading up first on what potential problems you may encounter.

.....last thing - get one bought!!!! :food: :food: :thumb:
 
Hi nickd

:welcome: to 911uk

Getting a PPI done is the default advice but it doesn't apply in your case.

i.e The actual advice is that someone like me should pay someone like you to look at a car for them. :grin:

Happy Hunting :thumb:
 
Just the usual car stuff, you sound like you know your stuff. Don't buy the first one you see, have a look at a few and get a feel for them.

The prices are all over the place - theres dogs for £12k and mint cars at £8k. They are expensive to maintain at OPC / specialists so don't bat an eyelid at heap of big bills, its that car that matters.

This can work in your favour when negotiating, e.g. common fixes for aircon and suspension refresh are all fairly pricey at specialists/ OPC, but if you are handy with spanners theres lots of DIY info here and parts can be sourced more cheaply than OPC.
 
Well, I count myself as one who needed a PPI (little spanner experience tbh)....

Gained a lot of info about what needed doing to my car - almost a checklist/to-do list. Useful.

Regardless of if you go for a PPI, imho, you MUST go for a boroscope. Borescore is a REAL issue and can be seen from the scope.

Might save you a LOT of heartache. If you know what you're looking out for.

Good luck regardless :)

Dan
 
Thanks for the friendly welcome - and the helpful replies.

I've been doing my research and have a list of things to watch out for so hopefully going in prepared.

I'll be doing any work myself, so lengthy but cheap in terms of parts jobs will be a bargaining point.
 

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