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Posted by: zonedoubt May 23 2003, 10:40 AM

Has anyone actually bought a 914 off of eBay for a decent price?

I looked at this car in person before it was listed on eVilbay:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2415241573&category=2030

The guy was asking $3100 (Canadian). It didn't run (likely bad fuel injection problems), there were rust holes in all the usual places, and many other problems.

It just sold for $4700 (Canadian), probably to somebody who didn't get a chance to look at the car.

Is it even worth shopping cars on eBay?

Posted by: Aaron Cox May 23 2003, 10:42 AM

i would alwyas have tio look at the car before i would buty it! otherwise it is like buying blind! the Evil part of ebay is the didhonesty of some of the sellers.....ne pic or no pic and being sold a completely different item then the one on ebay!

Posted by: Chris H. May 23 2003, 10:51 AM

Posted by: zonedoubt May 23 2003, 11:01 AM

Yeah, I'm interested in buying a 914. I've been lurking this board and the others for some time now.

There aren't a ton of 914's for sale in the Vancouver area, or in Canada in general. I prefer to buy something local or at least not too far of a drive (Washington, Oregon). The car doesn't have to be perfect, I expect to spend time & money to tune it up, etc. But I don't want one with structural rust.

And I agree with you, Chris, that it would be great to find someone from one of the 914 boards who's selling their car at a fair price. It shows that they're somewhat knowledgeable about teeners.

Posted by: Dave Cawdrey May 23 2003, 11:37 AM

I bought mine off eBay for $1300. Went to look at it prior to bidding. Not running, but did start up w/ starting fluid. No structural rust. Towed it less than 2 miles to my buddy's house. Lucky, huh? Fuel pump, tune up, and new brakes. Drove her home...

Best money I ever spent.


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Posted by: Qarl May 23 2003, 11:42 AM

I've discovered one really nice thing nice about the 914 community... there is usally someone here willing to check out cars for you if it's within a decent driving distance.

I bought my current project car sight unseen out in Phoenix Arizona. Saw the car in the AutoTrader. Gerard Rodriguez checked it out for me and gave me the thumbs up. I had it shipped.

If there's a car and you're interested, post a message here and someone can check it out.

Here's my car...


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Posted by: tod914 May 23 2003, 12:02 PM

I found mine on ebay. Had it checked out by a guy in local PCA out there had a PPI done. Contacted the seller and bought it. Had the car shipped, and got a non-transferable dealer title the next day. Took an attorney and close to 4 months be4 I finally got a proper title. Car looks very nice but wasnt what it was represented to be. Best advice I can offer, make sure the owner faxes you a copy of the title, and have some1 who knows 914s inside and out inspect it before making any kind of commitment.
Murphys Law definetly kicked in on mine

1/2 the 914s out there are grousely misrepresented.

Good Luck

Posted by: tracks914 May 23 2003, 12:05 PM

Like the trunk rack...is it a Porsche product or aftermarket? How much was it?

Posted by: Jeffs9146 May 23 2003, 12:07 PM

I sold a boat on evelbay and the guy who bought it got a screaming deal!!

But, I am one to the honest ones.

Jeff

Posted by: GWN7 May 23 2003, 12:22 PM

Deals on Ebay? Not anymore, I got the last one.

There are four type of cars on Ebay and you can tell them usually by the ads.
.....The perfect car- Ad has lots of clear, close-up pictures. Lots of info about the car and a phone number to contact the seller.
.....The not so good car- Ad has the minimun amount of pictures. Little info. Seller might respond to your emails.
....The Sawsall/Rip off- Ad has pictures that are blurry and taken at a distance. No mention of rust in the usuall locations. Ad info reads "fun summer car, drive with the top off (should read "if your allowed to sit in the car while being towed") Little if any info on the car or misleeding info. Seller never resopnds or only to say "Nice car bid high"
.....The Deal -If the ad starts with "my wife wants rid of my project" You have probably found a winner Usually a one picture ad, basic info seller responds to your questions in a day or two.

Check the Vancouver "Buy & Sell" there is or was at least a couple cars listed in it every time I looked at it

Or there are a few guys just South of you that could find you a not bad car.

Posted by: zonedoubt May 23 2003, 12:32 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm pretty sure I'd want to see a car myself before buying it. But the PPI advice of a savvy 914Clubber might be just as good.

I actually found the aforementioned 914 in the Vancouver Buy&Sell. There does seem to be at least one in there every week, but it's either a severely rusted "parts car" or a super-modified high-priced "deal".

The search continues! I hope to soon be an owner so I can get more involved on this board.

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover May 23 2003, 01:21 PM

I bought my car from 3000 miles away, sight unseen except for some grainy photos, but it got high marks from "Good Gracious Ass Bodacious" and Dave Darling. It was an excellent deal. But there was another car I was interested in at the time, in Seattle, that seemed really nice in the pics. I had a friend of a friend look at it for me and he gave it 2 thumbs down. I was worried that he might have wanted it for himself, then I found out he already had a mint 914/6 and a Boxter so I assumed he was already "Porsched out".
If you're buying a 914 I think the most important rule (and I've said this many times) get the nicest one you can that is as close to perfect as you can afford, because it's far far cheaper to get a nice one than it is to get a cheap one and fix it up.
Good luck

Posted by: JRust May 23 2003, 01:22 PM

I'll be putting my 73' 2.0 up for sale soon! Feel free to give me a call about it 971-388-4674 & I'm just down by Salem. I figured to go on ebay to sell also. I am always looking at the 914's on ebay for sale. It is pretty tough to buy a car sight unseen. I have done it a few times & have been lucky. I definately second everyones sentiments on having someone on the BBS go check it out for you. I went down to check on a 914 for a guy in Mississippi last year. It was only 20 minutes away from me & I love to check out 914's as do most of us. So it was a pleaure to go check out this 72' 914 for the guy. After checking out this rust free automobile I promptly told Bill DO NOT BUY! It seems there are alot of 914 owners out there who have never seen rust before! So I never believe those rust free adds unless someone has checked it out! Aparently as long as the rust is covered it is rust free! Good luck & check out the classifieds here oon this BBS. Most of the people that list here are responsible members & will be truthful. Also there is a pretty good possibility someone here has allready seen it. Good luck on your search!-Jamie

Posted by: Chris H. May 23 2003, 01:23 PM

Don't know what your price range is, but how about this one? Rust free from CA.... I also like the brown one in the classifieds. Needs a front valance but otherwise seems to be in good shape.



http://www.914world.com/classifieds/detail.php?cat=20&de=644&PHPSESSID=23cb4c1543f160647428b0624d1a590b

Posted by: tod914 May 23 2003, 01:46 PM

Brown car seems like a good deal - I like the color too. I assume its resprayed being there is no pillar vinal. Interior looks very nice. Be curious how solid of a car it is i.e. rust issues.

Posted by: Ferg May 23 2003, 02:03 PM

I've bought both my teener's sight unseen, first car a red 2.0 74 was an ebay car, I feel the key is asking all the right questions, and getting a feeling for the seller over the phone!!! If he is annoyed cause you asked him to check behind the rockers run away, this is no the type of person you want to be buying sight unseen from! My current car was not an ebay car but I had Sammy go check out and at least 10 lengthy phone conversations with the seller, Thanks to sammy and my questions it was a no suprize car either when I picked it up, and is actually much turned out to be nicer than I thought, now that I have had time to go throught it. head to toe. Ferg.

Posted by: Brad Roberts May 23 2003, 02:58 PM

I want to respond to this thread (badly) but I have to bite my tongue.

B

Posted by: Gint May 23 2003, 03:18 PM

Come on BRAD!

Posted by: Mueller May 23 2003, 03:19 PM

My 914 was an eBay deal, luckly for the PO before me
(Jon), he was able to check it out first.

eBay is no different than any other medium for advertising, just cause a 914 is listed in Panorama or Excellence does not make it a better car or deal.

As with ANY purchase "buyer beware"

I don't think there is anything wrong with buying or selling cars on eBay, but you have to use common sense and know when a deal is not a good one and ask plenty of questions.

Posted by: VegasRacer May 23 2003, 03:36 PM

Posted by: jonwatts May 23 2003, 03:39 PM

Yep, the white car was an Ebay car. The seller was up in Burlingame so I was able to check it out (and check him out). Basically he was a guy getting rid of his toys (had a real nice '65 mustang convertible) and trying to simplify his life. Had full documented history of the car and let me take it for a spin.

Ebay is good for surfing cars because you come across ads with good pictures vs what you get with auto-trader or newspaper ads. I look at cars on Ebay that I would never buy but I might want to see how they're put together or what kind of wheels came on an RX-7 or whatever.

One thing is that if you want to buy a car (or truck especially) off Ebay you better live in Texas or be prepared to go there to get it. Seems like there are a ton of good, low mileage cars and trucks out there and Texans must love Ebay as much as some of us do.

Just my o'pinion.

Posted by: scottb May 23 2003, 03:41 PM

mine was an ebay car and i feel like i got an ok deal. runs great but there is a bit of rust (advertised rust free), the trany grinds bewtween 1st and 2nd (supposedly fully rebuilt) and the interior is needing at bit of work by my standards. but it does start every time and a real porsche guy has looked at it and said it looked pretty good. but if i would have had somebody look at it i may not have spent quite as much.

Posted by: Mueller May 23 2003, 03:42 PM

I think the biggest problem with eBay is people posting
"hey, look at the 914 I'm bidding on"

stupid idiot...like I'd want the price to go up even more by bidding against someone I know or told the car about.

Posted by: vortrex May 23 2003, 03:50 PM

most people think they have gold on ebay. I would never buy a 914 from there, unless someone very reputable had a look at it in person. it's fun to just read peoples descriptions on some of those cars. remember the 914-6 that was stored indoors for 25 years??? looked like it was pulled out of a lake after 25 years.

Posted by: drew365 May 23 2003, 04:04 PM

I bought my car off E-bay. An original 6 with new 2.7 twin plug motor, full cage and a bunch of good parts including a spare set of track wheels with Hoosiers and a Chalon body kit for $13,000. It was as advertised and the whole deal when smooth. I know I was lucky. Because a lot of people don't like the body kit he felt he was going to have trouble selling it so he let it go cheap. He had lots of other toys, so he wasn't hurting for money. There are good deals to be had but they're the exception not the norm.

Posted by: Brad Roberts May 23 2003, 06:39 PM

Lets just say.. shit gets passed down. Person buys shit 914 on Ebay... next person who bought it sells shit again on Ebay without ever knowing he bought shit in the first place.

I see a lot of "Ebay bought cars." I'm really beginning to beleive that people are reading the "Tony Robbins how to make a million dollars selling cars" books and have NO idea what they are looking at when it comes to the 914.

Do NOT... and I repeat...Do NOT buy a car from Ebay unless you send a trusted source to look at it. You may have to pay to have the trusted source look at the car.. but it could save you 1,000's in repairs later. I miss things on every car I look at.. but I dont miss the potential bank breakers.. and I know what I'm looking for.

I have seen close to 10 cars this year that I know changed hands 2-3 times on Ebay. Every single one of them needed 1,000's in work. 90% of the owners dont actually know what the car needs.

Ask the seller how long he has owned the car (figure out if he is a car salesman or a individual)

Ask him/her why they are selling the car (figure EXACTLY why they are selling the car)

Ask to see faxed copies of reciepts on the car from previous owners (or current owner)..you can tell a lot about a car based on its past history.

This sounds like a pain in the ass... but people are getting taken EVERY day buying pieces of shit.

If your serious about buying a car... approach the process serious.

B

Posted by: anthony May 23 2003, 07:44 PM

So basically do everything you should do when you buy a whether it was advertised on ebay or elsewhere.

Posted by: soloracer May 23 2003, 09:33 PM

Posted by: Maine914 May 23 2003, 09:43 PM

Got mine on ebay. It ran enough to drive home and I looked her over pretty thoroughly. Seriously misrepresented in certain aspects so I knocked down the price on the spot. So far replaced tranny, rebuilt carbs, replaced master cylinder and fuel lines, and needs rear springs. But ebay is no different than any other place to buy...just got to be careful.

Posted by: Gint May 23 2003, 09:45 PM

Posted by: Maine914 May 23 2003, 09:46 PM

BTW, I sold a Honda on ebay and listed all the problems with the car. When the buyer showed up, I had her test drive it, and made arrangements at a local garage in case she wanted it checked out or put up on a lift. She got a better deal than I did when I bought my 914. Just goes to show you, there are honest buyers and sellers on ebay...just like anywhere else.

Posted by: seanery May 24 2003, 08:08 AM

Vision Motorsports in SoCal, like Laguna Nigel, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach area.
They usually have quite a few cars, do wicked things to turbo cars.
They seem pretty top notch and are very approachable at the track, offering advice and
help to others.

Posted by: soloracer May 25 2003, 08:04 PM

QUOTE

On a side note I would like to praise Vision Motorsports and Dwaine Dement especially.

Hey, that's cool and everything, but where are they located? For that matter, where are you located? Can you fill in your location in the "My Controls" section?

Posted by: GWN7 May 25 2003, 08:09 PM

Not worth starting a new thread for this, but this is a prime example of an ad with not enough info....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2416826841&category=6430

Think if your selling a car, you might want to put a picture of the whole car?

Posted by: Aaron Cox May 25 2003, 08:22 PM

lotsa freebies included for the opening bid...not too bad of a deal if only i had cash.....i need some interior!

Posted by: scottb May 25 2003, 08:28 PM

acox914..... what the hell is that thing in your avatar?

i want to buy it and scare my dogs in to shutting the hell up........

Posted by: Gint May 25 2003, 11:08 PM

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 May 26 2003, 08:12 AM

A couple of years ago, I bought a rusted out POS 914 on eBay for about 500 dollars. (Named the car "Sanford")

Seller represented the car as a 73 1.7, basically complete but missing engine. When I arrived, the car turned out to be a 72. I wanted a spare side-shifter. We haggled, and the price dropped 200 dollars after it was clear I was willing to walk, and his wife wanted the carcass gone - NOW.

Overall, not too bad. I got enough parts off of it to justify the trip.

Posted by: zonedoubt May 26 2003, 05:31 PM

Has anyone in the Seattle area checked out this car?

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/3/6/48599636.htm