Well that was a waste of time

[944Scott]

Today I did over a 300 mile round trip to look at a 944 Turbo, what a waste of time. The paint work had laquer peeling in lots of places, the drivers door does not line up with the rest of the panels and sits about half a centre inwards from them, There was a nasty big wiggly patch of additional paint across the drivers door. Not to mention the (what I was assured) was surface rust was significantlly worse, after removing the drivers side door vent I could see daylight through the bottom of the sill, oh and no sign of the Promax stage 2 kit that was supposed to be fitted to the car.

This was a car described by the stealer as a truly stunning example!

The hunt continues []

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Thats really annoying - but there is little you can do or say.......

It may be worthwhile seeing if there is anybody on here local to a car your interested in - lots of us would give a car a look - not a full inspection but at least pick out dogs like that!

 

[simkin911]

ORIGINAL: 944Scott

Today I did over a 300 mile round trip to look at a 944 Turbo, what a waste of time. The paint work had laquer peeling in lots of places, the drivers door does not line up with the rest of the panels and sits about half a centre inwards from them, There was a nasty big wiggly patch of additional paint across the drivers door. Not to mention the (what I was assured) was surface rust was significantlly worse, after removing the drivers side door vent I could see daylight through the bottom of the sill, oh and no sign of the Promax stage 2 kit that was supposed to be fitted to the car.

This was a car described by the stealer as a truly stunning example!

The hunt continues []

300 miles is a long way for such poor reward. Before travelling long distances perhaps you should post on here if anyone local can take a quick peak on your behalf first?

Perhaps the daylight thro the sill bottom could have been a drainage hole or is that just wishful thinking?!

Where are you btw? If you update your avatar you may even be approached by someone local to you on the forum who is thinking about selling (if they they know you are looking but they haven't advertised yet).

 

[Frenchy]

Please name and shame !

Boils my p*** when people do not describe their cars accurately, been there and done it even after explaining i know cars inside out and will be travelling some distance. A good mate set off at 3.00 in the morning with trailer to pick up a "belting example" 600 mile round trip, turned out to be a shed,not even worth restoring !!!
Not a Porsche i may add. []

 

[jonnyporsche]

Been there and done that. Really annoying but can only put down to experience. def a good idea to see if someone on the register is near where you are looking. If there's one in East Yokshire send me a message.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

The hunt continues

Don't be put off, just learn to grill the seller before travelling. []

There's no reason why, in this age of camera-phones, a seller couldn't do close-up pictures of all the significant areas to look for. They can scan and e-mail the history, you could even do live video footage of a walk aound the car without leaving home.

I'd be very happy to consider viewing a car without this, not everyone uses a camera or e-mail after all, but I'd want to know why first. Fair enough it's it a treasured classic, pampered from new by an owner who's in their 80s and doesn't do photos. If it's a car advertised as "truly stunning", but they won't send you detailed pictures, then you have to think twice.

As someone who's sold a car, I never felt overwhelmed by the questions from buyers. In fact, the people who asked for the most info up front were the most keen to buy.

 

[944Scott]

Thanks for the replies, there's some good info there I need to take on board. I looked at the pictures the seller provided and noticed some rust, I contact the seller and he had given it a good looking over stated it was only surface and that the sill's were in good shape, thats a joke and he knew I was coming along way, what a wasted journey to Huddersfield.

Here's the car http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201118386530723/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-from/6000/model/944/make/porsche/page/1/quicksearch/true/radius/1501/postcode/nr352nz?logcode=p

 

[simkin911]

I am very interested by your comments.

By coincidence, that car was owned (until very recently) by a guy who lived in the next street to my old house in Edinburgh. I walked passed it every day for a couple of years. It was reported to have previously been owned by a "senior" TIPEC member. I have to say it looked pretty good on a "walk by". The guy sold it earlier this year (it was at one point £5k ono on Autotrader so assume sold for less than that) and then it turned up on 911 & PW mag for sale again a couple of months later - this time in East Lothian. I was then surprised to see it advertised at a dealer way down there at a significant mark up!

 

[944Scott]

Really, other things that put me off was that they had it running when I arrvied (and I got there early) plus its supposed to have had a head gasket replaced yet there was mayo on the cap and the coolant wasnt a pretty colour.

 

[Fat Albert]

I don't like it when the car is warm when you arrive to view, but I also don't like it when the battery is flat and they have to spend ages scrabbling to get a charger/jump leads and then re-arranging their lives to pull the thing out of the garage.....you knew I was coming and I expect to hear it running/drive the thing!

I can see why you went to see it, the advert and spec looks very alluring shame reality did not meet expectations/description

 

[pauljmcnulty]

From that advert I'd have travelled to see it as well, they really do photograph well and hide a multitude of sins! [&o]

 

[DivineE]

I hate that. We've all been there. I find telling them it's not my first 944 and I know the cars very well 'so please don't waste my time' works well.

 

[zcacogp]

If we're trading "cars I travelled to see but which were a waste of roadspace" stories, mine was an S2 being sold in Southampton, which I travelled to see from East London. Again, described by the seller as "superb", he said I could have it for free if I find anything wrong with it.

However despite it not starting (had to jump it off my own car), the lights not working, the paintwork not matching, there being clear signs of poorly-repaired damage to the back, the handbrake coming off in my hand (yes, really), and the fact that the owner didn't have the V5 (no, really!), I still wasn't given it. And the owner cut up quite nasty when I said I wasn't interested on account of all the faults ...

He still seems to sell the occasional 944, making me think that he is a bit of a part-time trader.


Oli.

 

[Lowtimer]

"and featured in the October 2006 issue of 911 & Porsche world magazine where it was described as one of the best in the motoring world."

It might well have been good five years ago, but five years is a long time in which much can happen...

 

[944Scott]

The more I think about it the more I think they need to pay a visit to spec savers [8|]

 

[VanhireBoys]

Dont worry Scott... At least you know what to look for, but it took 300 miles !

A friend of mine wanted me to check out a 944 which was in Headford Co.Galway a few months ago. I never let on that I knew about them at all. Lucky it was only 20 miles for me !

It was not just the worst 944 I ever seen but the worst car I have ever seen. Just a total heap ! It was totally rotton..!

The guy wanted €3500.. I told him Id give him €500 and break it, thats the only way that car was headed ! Unfortunately some softie will get caught out [:'(]