To buy approved or not?

C_Stewart · 29 Jul 2016

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice! Basically had an Audi TT for a year but have always loved the look of a Cayman.

I am currently talking to a Porsche approved garage regarding a Cayman 2009, 40000 miles, automatic, for around £23500. This comes with warranty etc.

Is it worth buying approved? If I look on auto trader there seems to be a few other Caymans at that price with more included but I have no idea what the cars like underneath etc.

But confused.

Thanks for your help,

Cameron

T8 · 29 Jul 2016

:welcome: to 911uk Cameron.

Buying any like-for-like Porsche from an OPC will always be the most expensive option but for many it is worth paying the premium for the peace of mind that having that 2 year warranty gives.

No other warranty is as comprehensive and to add it on to a car not supplied by an OPC would cost well over £2,000.

mark pearce · 29 Jul 2016

Cayman and Boxster warranties are a lot cheaper than 911
£690 for 12 months or £1190 for 24

C_Stewart · 29 Jul 2016

Im basically trying to work out the value and if I'm getting a good deal or not. Obviously the warranty is great and is something that does ease my mind, but is £24000 not quite steep for a 2009 40k mile Cayman with not many extras?

T8 · 29 Jul 2016

mark pearce said:
Cayman and Boxster warranties are a lot cheaper than 911
£690 for 12 months or £1190 for 24

Thanks Mark, I hadn't realised that.

That's quite a difference considering that there's surely not much difference in parts or labour prices.

It looks like the 'buyers premium' levied on new 911s at time of purchase is carried on throughout it's life. :wink:

mzmini · 29 Jul 2016

Crickey that's a shock Terry life is full of surprises ,how naughty of Porsche :floor: :floor:

T8 · 29 Jul 2016

C_Stewart said:
Im basically trying to work out the value and if I'm getting a good deal or not. Obviously the warranty is great and is something that does ease my mind, but is £24000 not quite steep for a 2009 40k mile Cayman with not many extras?

I've moved your thread to the Boxster/Cayman sub-forum as you'll more likely to get answers from people more au-fait with values etc of the mid-engined cars.

I haven't looked but I'd guess from 911 experience that a Cayman up for £24k at an OPC would be £22k-£23k at a Porsche specialist and £22k at an ordinary dealer.

Make sure you compare like-with-like especially regarding mileage. 40k in 7 years is about average for this type of car. Those with higher mileages will be considerably cheaper.

Zingari · 29 Jul 2016

T8 said:
Make sure you compare like-with-like especially regarding mileage. 40k in 7 years is about average for this type of car. Those with higher mileages will be considerably cheaper.

Indeed as I have my eye on a 2013 Boxster from a 'dealer' that has 39k miles (so buyer will suffer the 4yr/40k service and most likely discs/pads) and it is £2k (and 20k miles) more than one I've seen at OPC :floor: Whilst it has a few additional 'nice to have' extras it doesn't justify the price unless they big up the p/x price it will be around for some time.

My advice would be (especially if buying newer) is dont get one without bluetooth/phone module as that kills them on resale as I discovered with a very very low priced Cayman at OPC where the salesman told me he must have had 200 calls for it, but just static after he mentioned no phone :grin:

cheshire911 · 29 Jul 2016

Cameron: One factor in your purchase to consider will be your prior Porsche experience and knowledge of the model you want. Of course you will pay more from OPC but in return you will have a car which has her put through a 111 point inspection, faults emanating from that will have been rectified and sn unlimited mileage TWO YEAR Warranty - the best there is out there of warranties.

The car will have been checked against mileage and driving style verified from interrogating the ECU and the knowledge that Porsche likely reject a chunk of cars in part ex and dispose of them through the trade if they don't meet OPC requirements and they cannot give a two year unlimited mileage warranty on it. Where do those pass-off's end up? And the pass offs may be prepped and put right with a 6 month warranty - not two years.

If you know the model, you will be more comfortable with buying a lower price car outside of OPC.

Cant help you on the value of the specific example you mention, but a current owner will come along and offer comment.

As already mentioned, make sure you compare like-for-like on spec, mileage, history, condition and after-sale warranty package.

wilpert · 29 Jul 2016

I wouldn't rely on Porsche giving as much thorough inspection as some believe.
They took my Cayman s PDK and gave a decent price, with no more than a glance over it.
They said no point doing an over rev check because it's PDK and that was about it. They only looked in the service book when I handed it over and didn't notice that it's first service was actually after 3 1/2 years from new. Something that I questioned and was happy with the reason given at the time.
Don't get me wrong the car was solid but they weren't to know that.
They also didn't notice the aftermarket exhaust that i had fitted. Again it was all good but still not really well checked over imho.

cheshire911 · 29 Jul 2016

Did they sell it on their premises or pass it off on the trade?
How old was it? They won't sell a car beyond 4/5 years because it will become 6/7 years with the warranty.

Not saying all OPC check diligently every car at part ex. Sometimes they know its not a car they want to sell and don't do all the checks. They may know irs going to be a pass off from the outset for whatever reason.

But I doubt if any car they do sell and give the two year warranty will not have been thoroughly inspected. But as OPC are different clusters of different ownership, and as Porsche GB owns only (I think) four OPC's nationally, there is going to be variability.

apollokre1d · 29 Jul 2016

When I was in the market for a 4S the OPC near Bolton said they would not do a bore scope on the car I was interested in so their inspections aren't as thorough as you think... Although they do stand by the warranties they offer.

wilpert · 29 Jul 2016

cheshire911 said:
Did they sell it on their premises or pass it off on the trade?
How old was it? They won't sell a car beyond 4/5 years because it will become 6/7 years with the warranty.

Not saying all OPC check diligently every car at part ex. Sometimes they know its not a car they want to sell and don't do all the checks. They may know irs going to be a pass off from the outset for whatever reason.

But I doubt if any car they do sell and give the two year warranty will not have been thoroughly inspected. But as OPC are different clusters of different ownership, and as Porsche GB owns only (I think) four OPC's nationally, there is going to be variability.

Agreed they may have already earmarked it for the trade.
However, it was only 6 years old and under 40k miles.
They also paid a grand more than indies had offered me although it was a very clean and sound gen 2 pdk cayman s and in the "right" colour combo. black on black
The car I bought was brand new and for some maybe not "the right" colour combo. black on 2 tone black/luxor extended leather.
I suppose a lot depends on what youre buying, not just what youre selling.
Plus it was near the end of the month and i had the impression they had to clinch a few more sales.

C_Stewart · 3 Aug 2016

Guys, great advice here. Thanks for all the replies. In terms of the car, it's at 40k miles, it hasn't had any brake discs etc replaced so can I expect them to need replacing soon even if it's from a porsche dealership?

I don't do many miles so obviously that's a factor.

T8 · 3 Aug 2016

Brake discs are a consumable so wouldn't be covered under warranty so you're right to factor in what a full set of discs and pads all round might cost you in the first couple of years of your ownership.

Life of such things does depend upon the type of usage but at 7 years old and 40k miles I'd suspect that they'd need doing sooner rather than later.

If the car is right for you I'd have a conversation with the seller and perhaps agree in advance a (discounted) fixed price for the job when it needs doing.

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