Seen 2 997's...few questions

Andyc11 · 5 Jun 2013

Hi,

My search has led me to 2 997's and hope someone can confirm a few things please.

1 car is a private sale with a transferrable OPC warranty
1 car is a trade sale with standard dealer warranty

This is my first Porsche and I want an OPC warranty - fully aware of the good and bad points doing so, but my questions are:

As the private car has an OPC warranty, is there any need to get an inspection done on it? If so, is it better to take it to the OPC for the 111 point or an independent?

If I opt for the trade car, aware I need to wait 90 days before the OPC warranty can be granted. But if I take it to the OPC and get the 111 point check done now (and any potential remedial work carried out), would I have to get another 111 point done after the 90 days of initial ownership?

Thanks

Nattyboy · 5 Jun 2013

My understanding ...

As the private car has an OPC warranty, is there any need to get an inspection done on it? If so, is it better to take it to the OPC for the 111 point or an independent?

Not really. Any issues identified post purchase would be dealt with. That said - this is a 'reactive' situation. If you really are that worried you could pay for an inspection to pro activley address anything thats 'looming'. The forthcoming OPC open days (with free 1 hour inspections) would be a good way of doing this. Another thing you may want to consider is a rev range check. If it has OPC warranty remaining but has been driven inappropriatley, then the warranty might be invalidated anyway worst case !

apollokre1d · 5 Jun 2013

If you want an OPC warranty then I would go with the first car as it already has one as it's passed the 111 inspection not that long ago.

As the other one still needs to pass the 111 point inspection, is the dealer will to let that happen and if so will the dealer rectify any potential issues before selling to you?

-AP

cheshire911 · 5 Jun 2013

If I'm not mistaken, the priavte sale would have to have a 111-point insppecction, put right anything that throws up and then wait 90 days before they will issue a warranty. But if the owner has a warranty it ccan be transferred as-is or renewed by the selling owner if it is eligible for a renewal on the warranty.That may help you between the two choices - one is with an OPC warranty transferable the other private sale would need to go through the process I've just outlined and there would be a 90 day window before a warranty would be issued.

Dave1505 · 5 Jun 2013

Hi Andy

I am new to 911UK but I myself have just bought a 2007 997.1tt and this was a question I had to ask myself too. The car I bought was a very genuine one owner car in GT silver with full OPC history and 19700 miles which has 11months of OPC warranty remaining now at first I though not to bother with the check because if it had any issues later then I had the warranty. But then it hit me and I realised that if something had been done to the vehicle after its previous 111 point check that would invalidate the warranty then I would have problems. I had no reason to doubt the seller but you never can be sure can you if for example the car had been tuned, mileage tampered or some non-Porsche parts fitted then the warranty would be void so I decided to get the check and the car came back all good with no faults, a few ignitions in Rev Range 1 and none in 2 or higher, The ECU operation hrs was 514hrs so that confirmed the mileage is more than likely correct also making the car having done an average speed of around 38mph.

All I am saying is you can't guarantee that warranty is still valid without having the check because there is no way of knowing what the previous owner has been doing with the car since its last inspection.

It's got to be worth the money just to know you are covered.

:wink:

neunelfer888 · 5 Jun 2013

In my experience, OPCs will also want to do another 111 pt check immediately prior to setting up a warranty. I bought a 2 year old 997.2 C4C from a BMW dealer and despite successfully passing the 111 pt check immediately before I bought it, the OPC have said they'll insist on a second check after 90 days, prior to issuing a warranty (standalone Porsche Warranty), although they did suggest 'a bit of a discount' on the second check...

Andyc11 · 10 Jun 2013

Thanks for the replies, helpful. I viewed the cars and they weren't right for me...hard to explain, just didn't seem to click with either. If I'm honest, I'm pushing my budget trying to get into a 997 (budget is really about £25k) that has an OPC warranty. Have considered finance and going for a gen 2, but I want to own it outright.

As an aside, had a drive in an Audi S5 today. I'm going to be doing mainly motorway miles for the first 6-8 months of ownership and just wanted to try one. Clearly a very different beast to a 997, no 'explosion' of power as such, just smooth acceleration. Have to say, the V8 sounds amazing and the grunt was impressive.

This might sound a bit strange, but just felt that I wouldn't cherish it the way I would a Porsche. Would almost just become a car I drive, whereas with a Porsche it would be something I genuinely want to look after. Hopefully not interpreted as some snobby 'it's about the badge' sentence! Might be going back to my original search...a late gen1 or early gen 2 Cayman S.

cheshire911 · 10 Jun 2013

Ican only pass on my views around what you seek. Your budget is the bottom-end of a 997 and therefore brings with it the possibility of buying a money-pit and maybe even an uncared-for example.

If you want a OPC warranty then it rules out a 996 4S (the Turbo would take you into £27k-£28k territory).

A Cayman S might be a good choice for you. As it is an OPC warranty you want, the dealer OPC route would be your best source - though you can also have an OPC inspection + warranty on a non-OPC supplied car.

mark pearce · 10 Jun 2013

Always have a car inspected
I had a Boxster S 2 years old and 4 weeks
serviced 4 weeks previously and done 250 miles since

had it inspected, stone chip to Air con condenser, corrosion to inner faces of brake discs, replaced fronts, skimmed rears £1500 bill

911_AS · 10 Jun 2013

As an aside, had a drive in an Audi S5 today. I'm going to be doing mainly motorway miles for the first 6-8 months of ownership and just wanted to try one. Clearly a very different beast to a 997, no 'explosion' of power as such, just smooth acceleration. Have to say, the V8 sounds amazing and the grunt was impressive.

This might sound a bit strange, but just felt that I wouldn't cherish it the way I would a Porsche. Would almost just become a car I drive, whereas with a Porsche it would be something I genuinely want to look after. Hopefully not interpreted as some snobby 'it's about the badge' sentence! Might be going back to my original search...a late gen1 or early gen 2 Cayman S.

It doesn't sound strange at all. I was in a similar position prior to buying my 911. Coming from previous Audi's, I was looking at the A5 and both V6 and V8 S5. I was close to buying the S5 too, but...

...I concluded that the 911 is something I would truly cherish and enjoy more. I was right! I really look after the car, often glancing back at it after I've parked it up. The A5/S5 are superb but don't quite command that kind of owner attention. This should not at all be mistaken for badge 'snobbyness'.

If the cars you viewed were not right, then keep looking. Don't let a couple of bad examples put you off 911 ownership. The Audi will serve it's purpose and function very well, but the 911 is, well, a 911.

Andyc11 · 10 Jun 2013

911_AS said:
If the cars you viewed were not right, then keep looking. Don't let a couple of bad examples put you off 911 ownership. The Audi will serve it's purpose and function very well, but the 911 is, well, a 911.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily bad examples, just not for me. As I say, my budget is stretched at £25k and unless I'm very lucky and find a private sale with the transferable OPC warranty (and would still want the 111 point check done), I'm really looking at more like £30k after I stick a warranty on there. As you say, the 911 is a 911, as much as I love the Cayman S, I feel like I'd regret not getting a 997. The S5 was a bit of a curveball to chuck in there.

Andyc11 · 10 Jun 2013

Forgot to say, when asking the (main) dealer what their best price would be on the £26,850 for the S5 as a cash buyer, £200 off if I'm lucky! If I was going for finance/gap cover etc would have been more like £1k off.