Buying a 911 or some other Porsche from Ebay

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:49 am

Buying a 911 or Porsche from Ebay:

Have any of you done it? What were your experiences? Was the car as expected when you received it or picked it up?

The reason I ask is I'm contemplating doing the same, except it won't be over Ebay, it will be a purchase over the internet with a Dutch classic car dealer...

If I put a deposit (€1500) on it and pay the balance (€10000) when I pick it up, I should be fine right? Because if it's far from what he described (e.g. a rust bucket and not as nice as it is in the pictures), could I take legal action?

A risk, I know, and the odds are not on my side, but should I do it?

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:51 am

Ebay is ok but then your having to make a desicion on a car in a time frame, with a local add you can slow the pace down and get some out to take a look at the car for you. Nick and others do inspections on cars, this way all you lose is the inspection fee..

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:57 am

912uk wrote:Ebay is ok but then your having to make a desicion on a car in a time frame, with a local add you can slow the pace down and get some out to take a look at the car for you. Nick and others do inspections on cars, this way all you lose is the inspection fee..

Unfortuantely time is not on my side, the car belongs to one of their good clients and he needs the money and has reduced it to €11500 to sell it this week. It had a Dutch insurance valuation in 2006 of €20000. The problem is, I have no time to see it - I'm driving to the UK tonight and will not be back to see it until next week - which is too late for them, although they said they are willing to sell it to me for a €1500 deposit (transferred this week).

The car dealer has been around for a while as I've kept an eye on their website changes for the past year or so - so I don't think it's a scam...

Ian 2.2S · Post by **Ian 2.2S** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:20 am

FWIW. I always do any large or long distance transactions with a credit card as I believe (rightly or wrongly) it offers a degree of protection and re-imbursment if things do go wrong.
Ian

Bertroex · Post by **Bertroex** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:22 am

I',m on the dutch porsche forum as well. Its not van kessel is it? send me a pm mit deine Telephon Nummer, Sportsfreund!

Bert

Helen · Post by **Helen** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:23 am

phone the dealer up and have a chat with him about your concerns.

i bought my 911s unseen from Alan-uk, and would do so again (from Alan) as he was very honest and helpful.
infact he made the car sound worse than it actually is. eg suggesting the interior would need re-trimming and infact all it needed was a really deep clean.

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:29 am

Bertroex wrote:I',m on the dutch porsche forum as well. Its not van kessel is it? send me a pm mit deine Telephon Nummer, Sportsfreund!

Bert

PM sent.

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:30 am

RichiRich wrote: will not be back to see it until next week - which is too late for them

Sounds like salesmanship/brinkmanship. Stare them out and don't blink.
Then when you do get there you'll get an even better deal.

RichiRich · Post by **RichiRich** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:32 am

Helen wrote:phone the dealer up and have a chat with him about your concerns.

I emailed the guy for most of yesterday (it's not so easy to phone from work), he seems like a nice and was very helpful and descriptive - but can I trust him is the question...

Mike Usiskin · Post by **Mike Usiskin** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:13 pm

I brought mine off Ebay! though it came via Alan.uk to Max at revival. no problems, she's a straight honest 911T, which is more than you can say about me !! seriously when i brought it Max was very fair, i wasn't pressured and got her for a very good price. thing is with ebay is caveat emptor, always.

and if it isn't what they say it is i now some very nice people who do wonderful things with pliers

Mike Usiskin · Post by **Mike Usiskin** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:14 pm

Helen wrote:s a really deep clean.

what's that then?

early2.2S · Post by **early2.2S** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:08 pm

As Ian said earlier, just be sure to pay the 1500 quid with a credit card and you will be covered as it's over 100 quid and thus you can always lay a credit card "charge-back" on the dealer (if car is not as advertised) which means that your CC company can remove funds direcctly from the dealers bank account and pay them back to you. Pretty much 100% security.........
Hope it's a good'un........
Regs
Stuart

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:26 pm

I'd say abolutely not, I would never buy an early 911 without seeing it. It's not even a question of being ripped off by a conman. It could be genuine, but just nothing like you were expecting.

So what else is this guy going to do if he needs the money, I think you are being pushed into someone else's timetable, I'd push back.

Graham

decapman · Post by **decapman** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 4:15 pm

I have bought three cars sight unseen apart from photos off E bay and the Samba.
All were from the US and all were absolutely as described.
I spoke to each vendor and exchanged several e mails which gave me the confidence to proceed. You can get a good picture of someone from a free and honest exchange.
In each case the vendor was helpful in follow up and assisting collection, some even sourced additional parts for me.
I also aborted a couple of purchases because I was not comfortable, or was being chased/pushed.
I am not recommending just reporting because my experiences were good doesnt make it so for everyone.

As a general observation when looking at E Bay US advertisers seem to have the most complete descriptions and the widest range of pictures.
Typical French or Italian seller, a fuzzy mobile phone pic and an astronomical start price.

Its a great pity that the Dollar has strengthened so much against Sterling
what a lot of bargains we missed.

964RS · Post by **964RS** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:38 pm

I've bought the following and paid in full without seeing them:

964RS
996GT3
996TT
944S2
67 911S
Grand Voyager
Boxster
2.8RSR rep

3 of the above were on ebay, one was in the US.

As with all things buy the seller and get as much info on the cars as you possibly can and do your research on both the car and seller.

I've never had a problem with a single car i've ever bought nor been dissapointed in it.

You could say I've been just lucky...but thats a lot of luck.

You can buy correctly if you do it correctly and if you have cash you will be in a better place to do so.

Good luck whatever you decide!!