Porsche dealer won't do PPI...liability concerns

[DWPC]

I've found a 996 Cab I'm ready to buy if I can verify a clean bill of health and care. I was going to take it to the dealer nearest the seller for a pre-purchase inspection, but they, a major LA area dealer, won't do the inspection because of liability; in case they miss something. And even though its likely they serviced this for the past 5 years, I can't get service history info for the time prior to my ownership either; even if I buy it! Privacy laws.

But if I want to sell my house I'm supposed to disclose even trivial and potential problems?

Go figure.

Seems to me its just a lawsuit away from spreading to the indies too. Then what?

[wvicary]

I have never heard of this before, I thought their job was to provide PPI's so it seems mental that they would refuse to do one. Ask the owner to privode the service history.

[White987S]

Yes, I experienced this with California based dealerships last year during a used Porsche search. Some may do a "multi point" inspection for a couple hundred bucks, but it is not the same as a PPI. Your best with finding a trusted indy shop for the PPI.

[RF5BPilot]

I have run into shops that say they will do an extensive inspection, then tell you what they find. What you use it for is up to you as they are not telling you to buy or not buy the car. I don't blame them.

You can have the previous owner give the shop permission to show you the service history--or get a copy & give it to you.

[JeTexas]

When I bought my car, I paid an independant $120 to give the car a thorough inspection. I then used his checklist to have the seller agree to fix the airbag light seatbelt ground issue as well as a leaky motor mount along with some other odds and ends. If the car is out of warranty, I figure the best you can hope for with an inspection is to warn you of any giant mechanical issues you may have not noticed and to give you some bargaining leverage on pricing.

[Dharn55]

If the dealer is the one who serviced the car they may know of problems and don't wnat to get involved. If they disclose the problems the seller may be angered and say his privacy has been compormised. If they don't and do a PPI then they are hiding something from the buyer and may be liable.

Ask the seller for copies of the service records and written authorization for the release of service records from anyone who has serviced the car. If the seller is unwilling, run don't walk away from the car, the seller is hiding something.

[DWPC]

If the dealer is the one who serviced the car they may know of problems and don't wnat to get involved.

If the seller is unwilling, run don't walk away from the car, the seller is hiding something.

The Porsche dealer's service writer couldn't know the car's identity. The car is a trade-in, and apparently CA law prohibits the selling dealer from identifying the previous owner, and they're not going to go out on a limb and call him for permission.

Edited February 24, 2010 by DWPC

[DWPC]

You can have the previous owner give the shop permission to show you the service history--or get a copy & give it to you.

Nope. The dealer won't provide any data to a non-owner. The previous owner can get the history for his period of ownership only and give it to me. If I could find out who he was. Which I can't.

[Ponch]

As long as the name of the owner (and other personal information, like address, etc.) is NOT provided, there are no Data Privacy Issues. Try again, asking VIN only.

I recently called a California dealer and got a verbal confirmation of service and repairs.

Best of Luck

Edited February 24, 2010 by KRIEGLERR

[doubleb]

Without a PPI do not buy a Porsche. I have been there twice and couldn't resist (foreign country buy) and regret both ;)

Get it thouroughly checked out by a specialist. I am not joking!

Good luck man, searching for and buying a P is always the most fun part.. except fot driving it on a beatiful day haha.

[Dharn55]

Wait, you are telling me that you are buying the car from the Porsche dealer and they won't give you a service history or do a PPI, or is it from another dealer and the Porsche dealer won't do it?

[DWPC]

Wait, you are telling me that you are buying the car from the Porsche dealer and they won't give you a service history or do a PPI, or is it from another dealer and the Porsche dealer won't do it?

The seller is a new car dealer but not a Porsche dealer.