[Andi]

Hi everyone! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

As I was mentioning in my first thread yesterday, I'm from Italy, I'm in love with driver's cars, and I'm looking for a 968 Cabrio... I found a classified ad for a blue '92 Cabrio in Sardinia, and the current owner sent me some pictures.

I was wondering if you could kindly tell me what you think... I'm going to see it and drive it on Sunday, but if - as experts of this car - you spot something wrong, it'd be really helpful to know.

I'll bring the <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> PDF with me as a checklist <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

The only weird thing I noticed are the ugly transparent windscreen nozzles, but I don't think it's going to be expensive to replace them.

Here are all the pictures. Some of them (not many unfortunately) are high res.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sfuvkkr7rsrvb...ovGfBrtJpa

Thanks A LOT in advance!

A.

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[Rap]

Is the car sitting in a Porsche dealership. Are you having a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> done? This is the most useful and important thing you can do to help you decide.

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[Andi]

[quote name='Rap' timestamp='1405416968' post='160089']

Is the car sitting in a Porsche dealership. Are you having a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> done? This is the most useful and important thing you can do to help you decide.

[/quote]



The car is not in that dealership anymore; the owner left it there (BMW dealership) for a bit, because he was interested in a car sold by that dealership, but eventually he changed his mind and decided to sell it on his own.



Unfortunately there is no Porsche dealership in that area of Italy, and - in any case - a Porsche "official" <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> process is not THAT common here in Italy (I admit I've never heard of it... things here are... a little more "informal"). I'm going to check the car with a friend of mine who is a mechanic.

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[Rap]

There is ample info here on what items to look for and at. What type of service records are there? This is also a vital piece of info. Is your friend familiar with the 968? Good luck!

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[Andi]

[quote name='Rap' timestamp='1405418971' post='160094']

There is ample info here on what items to look for and at. What type of service records are there? This is also a vital piece of info. Is your friend familiar with the 968? Good luck!

[/quote]



Yes, thanks a lot! I've downloaded the <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym> checklist in PDF <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

The service book scans are in the Dropbox folder, the service history is complete, even if part of the servicings have been done in non-Porsche dealerships (VW mainly).

My friend is quite familiar with Porsches, so hopefully everything should be fine.

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[Rap]

Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Again good luck!

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[Andi]

Thanks again! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[banditsc]

The outside looks nice, and has the 17" rims. Would be nice to have some engine photos though.

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[Andi]

[quote name='banditsc' timestamp='1405458299' post='160141']

The outside looks nice, and has the 17" rims. Would be nice to have some engine photos though.

[/quote]



True!

For the moment I've seen the invoices for the timing belt change (first one @70.000 km's and second one @ 130.000).

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[Andi]

Unfortunately it's not "the one".

Repainted (not so well...), lots of details are not exactly convincing, and it definitely feels like a car that has been in an accident.



There is one question I'd like to ask before I test drive other ones.

The steering feel was weird, a little bit "numb" when going straight. Not that there was a clear mechanical "play" (the steering was quite homogeneous) due to the wear of the parts, it was just not accurate at all.

I was talking about this with a friend of mine, and he told me that he had exactly the same feeling with another 968 years ago.

So the question is (assuming I made myself clear, which is not 100% sure since my English is far from perfect): is it a common flaw in 968? If yes, what is it related to, and is there a way to fix this?



Thanks a lot!!

A.

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[MCL968]

A few of those situations have been the result of the rubber rack bushings getting soft from exposure to oil and power steering fluid. They are cheap and pretty easy to replace. It could be alignment and tramlining on the rain grooves if you were on a grooved freeway. But, I would try the rack bushings first.

Here is the link:



http://www.968forums.com/topic/2050-foun...msearch__1

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[94SilverCab]

Caster Blocks at the end of the A arms are a high wear item.



These cars are very sensitive to tire pressure.



Jay

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[Andi]

Thanks a lot to both of you!

I will keep this in mind when I test drive the next one.

Best,

A.

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[Langley968]

The steering will feel completely different from one brand of tire to another brand of tires. Some brands will cause "tramlining" and others not. The age of the tires also makes a difference. The tires I have on my 968 at the moment are "old" (more than 5 years - they came with the wheels I am currently using) and the "tramlining" has become worse and worse lately. I will be replacing them in the next few weeks with "newer" tires I have on my original wheels.

Just a thought...

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[Andi]

[quote name='Langley968' timestamp='1406051576' post='160413']

The steering will feel completely different from one brand of tire to another brand of tires. Some brands will cause "tramlining" and others not. The age of the tires also makes a difference. The tires I have on my 968 at the moment are "old" (more than 5 years - they came with the wheels I am currently using) and the "tramlining" has become worse and worse lately. I will be replacing them in the next few weeks with "newer" tires I have on my original wheels.

Just a thought...

[/quote]



Thanks a lot for the tip, but in this case I guess the other possibility is more likely to be the right one, as the car was fitted with recent, almost new, Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, so quite good ones...

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