Finally got a cabriolet. This 1996 Arena Red 993 has about 33K miles and I'm pretty happy about buying it. Purchased from Chris Trefny, of Berryville Motors, VA, I can't wait to go down there and pick it up.

Will post more pics later.

P.S. Love the wheels!

Postscript

Picked up and drove back from Virginia. Minor niggles that I'm sorting out but on the whole a wonderful car. Today (Sunday, May 25th) drove out to Old Westbury for the Concours (see above). Finally had the top down and loved it. A great car!

Ran a bottle of Techron through. Seems like my OBDII reading (1123) was a result of the fuel injectors. Hasn’t come back since then.

Now have to install new front hood struts. Don’t like when my head gets banged.

The car runs like Stink! Love it. Problem is that when I park it outside at my in-laws, it gets covered in some kind of air-borne crap. Doiesn’t matter which space I park it in. Perhaps a cover is needed for my weekend excursions?

Old Time Gallery, based in Toffen, Switzerland, is holding an auction of classic cars on 26 April. One of the lots I find very interesting. It's a Porsche-based Porsche Van called the B-32. Here's the info from their website....

Very rare Porsche Van, probably only 5 cars built. Porsche Carrera 3.2-litre engine with 231 hp, Porsche 5-speed gearbox, Porsche disc-brakes. The only car in Switzerland! Last inspection 02.08.

That's it. Was it factory made? What and who made it? I don't know. I'm no Karl Ludvigson. Will add to this. I do think it very cool. In a commercial kind of way.

Doing a bit of investigating I see it'f for real!

Here's a YouTube video of a Bus tuning in Germany meet with two examples.



Here's a shot of the owner's manual.



Need to do more research. Supposedly ten were made.

3D model main image (not the silly sign) Copyright (c) 2007 jason p murphy (www.slystudio.com)


Under Construction!

Hey, selling and buying a car on eBay are actually two similar things. What I recommended for sellers can be pointers to buyers. As well as pointing out the good sellers!

But let's go over what I would expect if I was buying a P-car on ebay.

1. The title should, like a good news headline, give me a good synopsis of what I can expect from the listiing. Year, model, any special selling point such as options or price, etc. Capture my interest. And they might capture my bucks.

2. All listings start with the auto-filled in info. Again, year, model, colors, These are automatically filled in when the buyer lists. But there are mistakes. For example, eBay takes the VIN number and puts in info. But the VIN sometimes doesn't indicate a C4 from a C2. Big difference.

3. Descriptions. How much info is there? Is it hyperbole ("Superb, best I have seen, first will buy, etc.)? I want to know...how was it maintained, any accidents, repainted, any upgrades, engine rebuilt or resealed (as for 964), tire tread, wheels, etc. etc. I hate the two sentence description. If the seller doesn't want to spend the time, well, why should you.

4. Photos. Photos, Photos. I want to see enough to replace an on-site iinspection., But remember, it's easy to retouch pictures. Better get a third-party PPI, preferably from a Porsche Center or independent Porsche Specialist.

5. Contact the seller. Either through ebay or their phone listings. Talk to them. Try to get a sense if they know what they are talking about or bullshitting. Are they pushy? Of course, this is great time to see if they make you an offer or ask what you'd like to pay. This way you can get a feel of what they will take. But don't jump unless you're certain.

Watch out if they try to push financing on you or any of the old 'car dealer' tricks. The best thing is that they don't have you in their dealership. This way they don't do the old 'May I have your credit card..." holding you hostage, or bringing in their sales manager to apply more pressure. Makes me feel like Hank Hill, wanting to kick some ass! If you are financing, try to find out what you'd pay through a third party funding source. If you have money in the bank, check with them. Often you can get a good rate if you can back it up with a history with your bank.

Also remember, Porsche of North America has subsidized rates and options. Often it's less than normal dealer funding. Loans are a big income source for dealers. First get the bottom line price for a car, then check the funding. Don't let the seller try to bundle everything. Can you read 'Hidden Profits'?

6. Know the prices. Check out NADA and Blue Book prices. But remember that the market is fickle. Some cars, like 993's can go for a premium, others like 996 cabs are in plentiful supply. A good way to check is to watch ebay auctions for similar cars and see what they actually sell for...real money. Also, some cars ae seasonal, like cabriolets. They are not hitting their Blue Book levels this time (winter-early spring) of year.

7. To check out the similar cars I go to the Porsche section of eBay motors, choose my model number, click on type of transmission (if that matters) then put them in recently listed form. This way I can see what has been added recently. If you're just checking prices it doesn't matter. You can also look at completed auctions.

8. I also visit Cars.com and AutoTrader.com to see what's available. I find prices there all over place. But I also see the same cars listed on ebay sometimes and can either see more pictures, learn more about the dealers or private parties, and get any idea of what neighborhood 'price-wise' they are looking to get.

9. Ok, you're in on the bidding. If you are serious it might pay to give the seller a call. Remember, ask any questions now! Also, if you're really serious and you think that you can work something out with the seller, maybe you should get a PPI, a pre-purchase inspection. A good place to start is:

http://www.platz.com/servicecenters.html

A listing of service centers specializing in Porsches. Also a local Porsche dealer will do it for you. Just might cost a bit more. Or Google "Porsche specialists" in that area. If the seller says, "Trust me, I had it checked out" do you feel comfortable enough to do so? It's tens of thousands of your dollars.

Also remember, if you click the "Make an Offer" button you can stipulate the offer is subject to the car passing a PPI. Me, I'd like a leak down test.

Updated on March 16th



Ebay is a wonder. Fascinating, rewarding, dangerous...for both buyers and sellers. As a long time buyer, and a fanatical watcher of auctions I've come to glean a few tips that, I hope, will be useful for those contemplating or currently selling cars in eBay Motors. I'd like to cover listings, display and description, successes and failures, caveats, dangers and scams, and finally, alternatives. And while it is mostly geared to 911's and other Porsche's, the basic points apply to all cars.

Personally, I don't care what software you use to list on eBay. Whether you use eBay's own tools, or a third party offering such as GarageSale (on the Mac). They mostly do the same thing...get your car exposed to thousands of buyers. And that's the point. You want to expose your car in the most appealing, open way. We're not talking about attic junk, inexpensive merchandise, or the like. We're talking about a relatively expensive item. And in a medium that is fraught with dangers, both on the selling and buying ends. You need to keep in mind that the buyer needs the assurance that they are dealing with an honest seller, who will make every effort to present their offering in a way that is clear and open. If anything I say is meaningful, this is probably it.

But let me put it even more bluntly. Clarity means money. I've seen dozens of cars go for way under the money because the seller didn't have a clue. Poor title, bad pictures, descriptions that are either lacking or deceptive. These are all pocketbook killers. And time wasters. Your time, especially.

Let's start...

The Listing Title

Of course, the basics are Year and Model. But you need to add some sizzle to drum up interest. 2002 Carrera 996 is ok, but perhaps adding words relating to options, warranty, location (especially in a road salt free area), etc. provide a more concise opening to your listing.

On the other hand, one listing I thought was terrible had the title "Clean Title, No liens". I would hope so already. Don't state the obvious. And if the title wasn't clean, and/or there were liens better to mention that in the body of the listing. Buyers will find out eventually.

The eBay stuff

Under the main head lies the basic info on the car...VIN, mileage, color, options, etc. Most things are automatic but make sure you list options. If you don't have the 'option' to check off, include it in the body copy. You want to sell the car, don't you?

Main Copy

You're selling two things. The car and yourself. You're asking a person to spend thousands of dollars. If you aren't a dealer with a nationwide reputation, you need to reassure the buyer that you are a caring owner who has treated your Porsche like your baby. In the UK, service history and where the car was maintained is of supreme importance. To me, it is too. If you kept records, and hopefully you have, state it. If some specialist did the servicing, state it.

Offer a chance for interested buyers to get a Pre-Purchase inspection. A listing is available at:

http://www.platz.com/servicecenters.html

I always recommend an inspection. It's a good investment. It also shows that you have faith in your car. Remember, the more you put into the selling of your car, the more you'll get in the end. Of course, not everyone has the time. But try. Also try to be available for personal visits.

Another good thing to mention is any Porsche affiliation. PCA members, this is a big plus. Don't be shy. Hey, and if the car won any awards at shows, don't be modest.

Of course, try to be honest about the car. Is it a salvage title? Well, you should mention that. If they order a CarFax they are going to find out anyway. Same for bad accidents. A small dent, well. Body work that was cosmetic and repaired. I leave that up to you.

Conversely, talk about condition, especially if it is a plus point. Lack of road chips, scratches, original paintwork, etc. Pluses.

But don't lie. You're going to back it up with photos!

Also, if you use one of those checklists which have all the points and a grading range, excellent to poor, don't check off excellent if that area leaves much to be desired. One dealer has been listing the same car for months now. His pictures are good. But they also reveal leather seats with pronounced cracking. It's obvious. But he has 'Excellent' checked off under condition for the seats. Hey, if he's stretching the truth on that, what else is he hiding. Now I emailed him with links to leather products that could fix them up. But rather than spend twenty or so bucks fixing them, he keeps on listing the car. Oh yeah, his engine bay is dirty. And this is a dealer! So far he's gotten bids up to $24,000. He's asking $32,500. He relisted twice with an opening bid of $27,000. No takers. Is this an IQ test?

Photography

I'm a firm believer in the value of good photography in selling cars. And I've seen hundreds of cars not selling because the pictures were few, overexposed, too small, etc. I don't know if the seller is uncaring, hiding something, or just lazy. Do I want to spend tens of thousands on a car that I can't see in person or at least photos. Simply put, Good Photos sell Good Cars.

A good example of listings that show cars off to good advantage is SportsCarShop in Oregon. I can't provide a link since listings end, but here's a link to their website. Their listings just repeat this.

http://www.sportscarshop.com/cgi-bin/k9bytes.pl



I like how they group their photos with a descriptive paragraph. And they even put the car up on a lift to show off how clean they are. It's reassuring. I don't know them, but I would buy from them.

The more photos (within reason) the more likely you'll sell your car. And that's what you want to do, isn't it?

What do I hate? Out of focus pictures. Overexposed, lack of contrast, no shots of the engine bay or boot, the wheels and tires, etc. Need I go on? Think of it this way. Your photographs are a substitute for the buyers doing a personal inspection of the car. Would you want to inspect a car in the dark? Have a one minute time limit? I don't think so.

Take your pictures either earlier in the day or later, but not at night. The sunlight can wash out details. A bleached out look to the car will make the buyer have second thoughts.

Remember this point. At major auctions, the sellers that stay by their cars, answering questions, allowing punters to examine their cars, etc. achieve significantly higher prices. Treat your auction the same. Show off your car in pictures. Answer questions quickly and thoroughly. Make more money.

Know Your Car (Model Selling Points)

For each model, even each year there are points that you can make that sell you car. Here's a few:

356 range -- Obviously the most important things are a rust-free body (or repair work to make it such), originality, matching numbers, etc.

Early 911's -- Probably one of the hottest areas in the market. Again, body integrity, matching numbers. The earliest cars are more eligible for historic events. Later, 'long chassis' cars are better handling.

1974-1989 -- Again, body condition for non-galvanized cars is important. 1988-89 cars, the G50 transmission. Engine modifications like hydraulic tensioners should be noted.

964's -- As this line went on, major improvements occured. Mention all updates such as breather hose on distributors, or belt changes also for this failure range.

993's -- 1995's (Non-Variocams) don't have the carbon buildup that the later engines had, so longer life without top end rebuild. Later cars have more power. Of course, these are the last air-cooled cars. "S" cars carry a premium, don't underprice your cars.

996's -- 3.6 engine more powerful. State if your 3.4 or 3.6 engine has any updates such as RMS work. 2002 onwards more creature comforts. 1999 - 2001 good value. Tiptronics have less RMS problems.

997's -- Well, great cars but depreciation is hard to gauge. But the buyers here are looking for the cleanest, newest looking car.

914's -- Getting hotter. Personally I prefer the 2.0's or the 6's. Upgraded shifters,, other upgrades or improvements...talk it up.

928's -- Later models have more improvements generally, and the prices reflect that. Unfortunately, this is a very expensive car to deal with. Any remedial work should be mentioned...engine work, electrical, etc. It's scary what it costs to fix the most minor thing. But they are good cars when running.

Front Engined Porsches -- Well, not as knowledgeable here. 924's actually finally getting some respect. 944's and 968's selling and good value for dollar. I'll get to this eventually.

Cayenne's -- Do you bother reading about Porsche's?

Pricing your Baby

Here is a grey area. A good start is the pricing sites. NADA and Kelley Blue Book are two.

http://www.nadaguides.com/

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/Default.aspx

Excellence magazine is a fantastic resource. Bruce Anderson has both Market Reports talking about ac†ual sales, and his Market Update covering a section of the marketplace (for 993's, 914's, Early 911's, Turbo's, etc.) with very up-to-date pricing in varying degrees of condition. I can't recommend it more. And his brother Steve's illustration work is superb!

Also, see what price COMPLETED sales achieve. An overoptimistic opening bid is not indicative of an actual price. Ebay does give a market range but I find it useless. Also, unsold auctions can teach us a lot about listing. Is the reserve price too high? See what bids DIDN'T meet the reserve. And remember that dealers usually achieve a premium for their cars, especially when they are specialists or authorized.

IMPORTANT -- Remember that ebay gets phony bids. Try not to encourage friends to submit bids to drive up the price. You're probably not going to sell the car. Also, if unsuccessful in your listing, ebay will probably offer you a free relisting. Well, maybe the relisting is free but some extras are still optional.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT -- Today, in early 2008, we are entering a very unstable economic environment. I see a softening of the market in lesser than top-tier cars. It either is going to take longer to sell your car, or a readjustment of your expectations. Don't be discouraged. Good cars sell.

How Options affect value

Got to be honest. Aftermarket kits, especially updated body kits, $20,000 stereos, etc. are great fun. But don't expect them to make their initial investment back. I saw a guy who had a 911SC updated to a 964 bodykit, expensive stereo, tasteless interior installed, etc. He was asking $69,000 for it. Guess what? He eventually relisted it $20,000 less. Guess what? I'm sure he still owns the beast. A 911SC is a 911SC. The car was worth in the teens. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as they say.

If you want to improve/customise your car....fantastic! But do it for yourself, not in expectation of a big reward later. There are exceptions. Getting a RUF upgrade from their USA place might be an interesting idea. But you still won't get back your money. Most cars are just used cars. Unless there is a particular demand for the model, say a 356 or early 911, some collectibles such as factory Speedsters, etc. your car probably isn't worth more than you paid for it.

International Opportunities

If you are comfortable with shipping, and with dealing with overseas buyers you can consider some of the eBay Motors foreign markets. With the weakness of the dollar, overseas buyers can achieve a significant savings even with import tax and shipping. Especially with 356's and early 911's. The market is quite crazy there, especially in the UK. But be careful. Yes, be very careful! I wouldn't sell anything without the money in the bank, and verified. Scams abound. I'll cover that later.

Alternatives to Ebay

Say you're not successful on ebay. Well, don't give up hope. There are some other cost-effective methods to get your car out there. Firstly, the time-honored auto classifieds, Hemmings . I've always worried about the lead time, especially in monthlies but now Hemmings is placing their classifieds on their website so that answers that. It does seem that the asking prices are higher in Hemmings but that could be indicative of a more focused clientele than just wishful seller thinking. Worth a try.

Lists are a good resource. Pelican Parts and Rennlist are two that cater to sports cars, and Porsches. They might be better for manual transmission cars than Tiptronics due to the readership, but the price is right.

There are general listings such as Cars.com and AutoTrader.com .Worth checking out even as a supplement to your listings.


Seller Beware

Remember, scams abound on ebay, both buying and selling. Be sure to add language to protect yourself. Unless you sell warrantees state whether anything is covered and the time period. Or state, "AS IS". People are buying used cars and both parties must make an effort to do the right research to protect themselves.

Also, sellers must be extremely careful who they sell to. Low feedback can indicate either a newbie to ebay, or someone who changed their identity to hide negative feedback. Negative feedback should be a warning sign. Too much of that and you might consider canceling their bids. Some people ask for a higher deposit from these buyers.

Pay attention to the ebay warnings about scams. Foreign buyers can be a godsend with the dollar dropping. They can also be scam artists. Beware people who send a deposit higher than asked, and who request you to send back the difference in cash. You're not that stupid, are you? Certified checks can be forged. It isn't enough to deposit a check. The bank will credit your account for the funds. If the check is no good, they'll just as quickly take out the funds. Remember, it can take weeks for a check to clear, especially if foreign. Go to your bank manager, ask them to find out that the check is real. There's a system in place for this procedure. You don't want to find out that you're out tens of thousands AFTER you ship the car.

So the operative word is CHECK. Check the buyer. Check the check. When in doubt ask for cash or wired funds. Then give them the car. If the buyer is legit he or she won't mind.

A Success Story

One car I was interested in was a 95 Cabriolet located in Florida. The listing was outstanding. His description of car, its' features and add ons (Artec wheels, LoJack, Kicker Sub and associated amps, rear seat delete, factory option of locking storage, etc.), detailed notes on body structure, etc....as I said,outstanding. He offered his assistance in shipping, both domestic and foreign. Everything was clear. Then, the icing on the cake. The photos. A couple dozen clear photos on the listing page. AND a link to a Picassa web album containing dozens more pictures. Other than being there, it was a close second.

Now the interesting part was that the seller had the car listed on Autotrader at a decent price. But no buyers. So he listed on ebay. I had submitted a bid at book. I knew it was going to go higher. And I had seen the ad on Autotrader so I knew in general what he was looking to get. I had the winning bid till a few days before auction end. Then he started receiving questions...some from clueless buyers (what kind of coolant does it have?) and dealers who knew that the car was worth a nice bit more. And also queries from Europe. At the end of the auction it went for over two thousand more than it was listed for on Autotrader. While sad that I didn't get it, was so happy for the seller (who I've had some great email conversations with...and knew that this was an upfront and honest guy).

The car wasn't perfect (although was pretty close), but the listing was! And his return showed how a little effort, honest presentation, and clarity really pays off. By the way, he got over six thousand over book price! Just goes to show that people will pay for the right car!

What do my two favorite companies have in common? Well, actually lots. But I won't get into my whole rant about this, rather, just point out one thing...their stock price is extremely attractive at this point.

Apple, which was over $190 just weeks ago, has tumbled a bit and stands today at mid-160's. Don't you think that it could easily jump back, especially with the holiday buying season upon us, and, supposedly a new sub-notebook being introduced at the main Mac Expo this January and new iPhone in Feb. A nice twenty percent jump might be in the cards, and more coming.

Porsche, whose stock price is approx. 1460 Euros has had a crazy drop. wasn't it around four hundred euros higher less than a month ago?

Part of this drop is part because of slightly slowing sales, part because of the perception that they are having trouble with VW unions, preventing a grab of more VW stock. Personally, I think that unions in Europe are so protective of their position that they are wary of any corporation coming in and reducing the workforce, etc. Maybe rightly so. But, if you ask me, Porsche's involvement in VW will strengthen that brand, and, by doing so, increase share prices for both companies.

I don't know. I think both Apple and Porsche are STRONG brands. And I think the downside is minor compared to the upside. Hey, I did tell my sister to buy Apple years ago at $14. Now with the splits and increases she's done amazingly well.

I could be wrong...but don't tell my wife that.

Der Spiegel, the newspaper not the catalog, has reported that Porsche is standing pat on it's slightly over 30% of VW holdings for now. According to sources, problems with the unions and high VW stock prices are curtailing our favorite company's desires to obtain a 50% share in the company. The unions' fear of Porsche imposing its' productivity-increasing measures, taken at Porsche in the mid-1990's very successfully, makes them unhappy.

Hmmmmmm....doesn't that sound eerily similar to former union demands in Detroit? And look what happened...the unions here had to give major concessions just to keep some of their jobs.

Now I'm not anti-union by any stretch of the imagination. But you do have to moderate desires for fair employment practices with reality, don't you?

Either way, Porsche, in my opinion, will take the right course for itself and for VW in the short and long term.

Porsche announced yesterday (Oct. 31) that they added a new, cool feature to their website...Web Cinema.

Their press release states...


Application Plugs in Viewers to Movies, Music, Rare Racing Footage--Even Famous Engine Roar!

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2007--Porsche today announced it has launched a new "Web Cinema" on its Web site that offers Porsche sports-car fans and admirers the ability to view extraordinary Porsche films. This new Web technology gives browsers a "virtual" front-row seat to experience much of what embodies Porsche's legendary sports car driving. The site features rare product development documentaries, inside-the-factory research and even brings the auditory passion of Porsche to life with sounds of the famous engines from the German car maker.

All of this is now live on the Company's Web site, www.porscheusa.com.

"We are constantly seeking ways to connect consumers to our exciting world of races, rallies and sports car driving," said David Pryor, vice president of marketing for Porsche Cars North America. "With the new web-cinema in place, viewers can feel a part of the action anytime; and the engine sounds truly are music to the ears of a true Porsche lover."

In addition to audio files, browsers logging on to www.porscheusa.com will find the movies "True to yourself" about the Porsche Cayman S and "No" about the 911 Carrera 4/4S, both presented with the Golden Camera Award in Hollywood. Reports from the American Le Mans Series and Transsyberia Rally are also available.

Comment -- Great adddition to their website. True, you're not going to get sneak video, or 'crazy wackiness' but it's done in typical Porsche stylish-ness.

A french company, PGO, has brought out two models of a cabriolet that looks strikingly Porsche-like. To these eyes (old and worn out as they may be) they look like a speedster mated with a 993 wide body, replete with 356 twin-grille and wide flanks.

Sold through companies such as Lifestyle Automotive (www.lifestyleautomotive.co.uk) which also sells the TD2000 MG replica and Lobini's Elise-like roadster, PGO is also establishing an international network of dealers.

PGO (http://www.pgoauto.co.uk/) has two models. The Speedster II looks extremely like its' namesake (actually an A variant) but contains some modern elements. The Cevennes (above) has a slightly different profile, especially from the front. More squashed.

Quality-wise these are not Beck Speedsters, they are done to the nines! While composite-based, they have a multi-tubular frame, a mid-placed engine (no pics), luxury appointments including leather, available automatic shifter, a/c, etc. Since it isn't, at this time, being imported into the U.S. I'm not sure of the price but probably starting under $60K. But, remember, it's not a Porsche!

There is a very nice website at PGO, with video, etc. Take a look!

The European Commission has stated that the law protecting Volkswagen from foreign takeovers is illegal. The EU Court is scheduled to rule next week on the matter but normally follows the Commission's guidelines.

Of course, right now Porsche with 31%, and Lower Saxony with over 20% retain a majority holding in Volkswagen AG so the threat of outside takeovers is rather moot, this does clear the way for Porsche to acquire more shares in the company. While Porsche's recent overtures to shareholders were made only as a matter of course, offering below market price, they do retain options to purchase more equity in the company. And, with Porsche on the board, and Ferdinand Piech sitting along side, I personally see Volkswagen (and Audi, Lambo, Bentley, etc.) only benefiting from the new direction that Porsche's involvement entails. Maybe it's a good time to invest in VW?