Lessons from My First Classic 911 Porsche Purchase on BaT

There’s something about classic 911s that has always captured my attention. While my entrypoint to Porsche ownership was a modern 997 GTS, I knew I eventually wanted to add a classic to the garage. I had a few specifics in mind: something with character, a bit of a story, and ideally, a single-owner car. After a protracted search through PCA listings and forum classifieds, it became clear that auctions, especially Bring a Trailer (BaT), were my best bet.

This classic 911 that I bought in the summer of 2024 was my first successful purchase on BaT. I had bid on several other cars before but never won. When this one came up, it checked a lot of boxes, and I finally decided to go for it.

The Search and the Story

I had bid on a few cars before, always missing out for one reason or another. When I finally found the right one, a few things stood out:

• I was interested in an M491 model because it has the GTSence that I enjoy. The M491 “Turbo Look” package sounds remarkably similar to a modern 911 GTS with both design and performance upgrades including what I consider to be a defining feature: a wide body design with a two-wheel drive set-up and a naturally aspirated motor.
• It was a single-owner car, something that becomes increasingly rare as these classics change hands more frequently the older they get. 
• There was an interesting backstory since the seats were ordered in a rare leather-to-sample color and in an unusual configuration, with the sport seat on the passenger side instead of the driver’s side. This turned out to be a clerical error during the build that couldn’t be corrected due to the custom leather order. The original buyer had intended for the sport seat to be on the driver’s side.
• The seller presented the car well with polished videos, a detailed service history, and work done by a reputable shop all made it seem like a safe bet.

I watched the auction closely, but things took a turn at the last minute. As I was keeping an eye on it during an F1 race, my daughter mentioned she wanted in on it. That changed the equation. Ultimately, I pushed past my original bid ceiling and won.

The Buying Process: Adrenaline and Unforeseen Issues

There’s something about the final moments of a BaT auction that can cloud your judgment. Especially when the seller announces that the reserve is off. The adrenaline kicks in. If you’ve been searching for a while, the idea of missing out (again) is hard to stomach. And when your daughter casually says, let’s go for it, hesitation goes out the window.

Post-purchase, I quickly realized that some issues weren’t fairly represented in the listing. I didn’t ignore them, they simply weren’t disclosed, which made for a frustrating surprise when I took possession of the car. Given how obvious they were, I felt they should have been mentioned by the seller.  This included issue like:

• A suspension squeak that pointed to underlying wear.
• Shift issues that were apparent as soon as I drove it.
• Despite 194 listing photos, none of them showed the leather pulling away from the dash, something that should have been disclosed.

Post-Purchase Reality

Once we took possession of the car, we brought it to our trusted shop for what I called a Post-Purchase Inspection (PPI). They went through the car in detail, identifying and correcting the suspension squeak, shift issues and other deferred maintenance that hadn’t been disclosed in the listing. These were things that should have been caught and mentioned by the seller, but at least now they were properly addressed, making the car mechanically sound and ready to enjoy.

Was it a bad buy? No. Am I glad I bought it? Absolutely. But I also had to spend a significant amount of money to bring it up to spec. Fortunately, I was in a position where I could absorb that cost, but for buyers going into a classic car purchase expecting it to be turn-key, this is a crucial lesson.

Lessons Learned

1. Auction excitement clouds judgment. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, especially when you’ve missed out before. I’m a disciplined spender, but sometimes that doesn’t matter!
2. Even well-documented listings can miss important details. Photos and service records don’t always tell the full story.
3. A strong presentation doesn’t mean a perfect car. A polished video and work from a reputable shop help, but they don’t replace a thorough PPI.  Pre beats Post every time.
4. Be financially prepared for surprises. Classic 911s always need something, and if you’re not prepared for that, you might end up regretting the purchase.

Now that the car is sorted, it’s a pleasure to drive. And despite having multiple Porsches to choose from, I find myself reaching for the classic 911’s key more often than not. Even with the unexpected costs, I wouldn’t change a thing.

If you’re considering buying a classic Porsche on BaT, my advice is simple: do your homework, don’t let the adrenaline win, and be ready for the unexpected. If you can handle that, you’ll end up with a car you love, even if it takes a bit more work than you planned.

How Many 991 GTS Coupes are Identical to My Car?

After discovering that my 997 GTS is rare, I started to wonder about my 991.1 GTS.  While the data was readily available to analyze the former, this just wasn’t the case for the later.  Total production stats have been shared, but you need the build data to really hone in.

The eureka moment came one afternoon.  I could use sampling to draw a more detailed profile of the population of 1,245 US 991.1 GTS coupes.

A quick refresher on statistics showed that I’d need details on ~65 cars for a confidence level of 90% and a margin of error of 10%, the lowest statistically acceptable ranges in the tool that I used to calculate a sample size.

Next, I used a random number generator to arrive at a range of VINs and set off to do the ‘pick & shovel’ work at VIN Analytics, manually entering VINs until I found enough GTS coupes to run the analysis.  This proved to be quite tedious after only a few attempts.

Before slipping too far down that slope, I reached out to the team at VIN Analytics and explained what I hoped to accomplish.  Thankfully they offered to send me a data set so I could sidestep looking for the needles in the haystack!  (Add their site to your favorites.  It provides a wealth of data on Porsche cars, and they are all-around great guys!)

With the tedious work aside, I flexed the spreadsheet muscles (e.g.  =INDEX,=COUNTIF) to run the analysis. 

Let’s start with a question that always seems top of mind: the ratio of manual transmissions to PDK.  Color me surprised as only 53% of the cars in the sample were delivered with a PDK transmission.  I expected the mix to be more consistent with the 997 GTS.

The data for 991.1 cars only includes coupes, while the 997 data includes all models.  It’s pure speculation, but perhaps the inclusion of cabriolets in the 997 mix increases the portion of PDK cars.

Next up on the analysis is color, and another surprise.  My 991 GTS is a Voodoo Blue PTS car, and I expected that option to be a rare choice.  The data shows something different.

The sample data set included a Rennsport Reunion car and a few Club Coupes.  The build sheets list these packages as PTS cars, but they are somewhat different than a traditional PTS car IMHO.  The factory chose them, not the buyer.  If we exclude these cars from the analysis on color, then PTS drops to ~5% of the sample.

One other surprise on color is the relatively low number delivered in black; roughly 7% of the 991.1 cars (i.e. Jet Black Metallic + Black) vs. a third of the 997 GTS generation. 

With transmission and color settled, next I looked at a set of the options on my car.

As I learned with the 997 GTS analysis, it’s the small things that make these cars unique.  Not surprisingly, my car was the only one in the sample with the Sport Chrono Clock Dial in Racing Yellow. 

Similarly, it’s the only car in the sample with both SportDesign and a rear wiper.

In this last table, I thought to share a set of other options that enthusiasts may find interesting.

Eventually, we may see data for the full range of cars, but for now this sampling is the most complete analysis that I’ve seen.   If you have a 991.1 GTS, I hope this helps you understand more about your car.

How Many 997 GTS Cabriolets are Identical to My Car?

No two are alike and any self respecting Porsche owner can prove it to you!  Jokes aside, with 997 GTS values rising and anecdotes about buyers searching for years to find the right car, I started to wonder how many 997 GTS cabriolets are identical to my car.

Remember the Great Recession?  Without even considering models and options, tough economic times meant lower production overall.  Like most manufacturers, Porsche lowered output during this period.  The stats show that 997.2 production accounted for only ~35% of the overall 997 run.

Using the same data to focus the lens, we can see that GTSs only represented ~9% of the total 997.2 production.  While the GTS model isn’t ‘numbered’, they were produced in limited quantities.  Add that ~60% of the GTSs were delivered as coupes, and it was starting to look good for my cabriolet.  If only I could get more details on how the cars were spec-ed.

While it was widely believed that Porsche built most 997.2s with the new PDK transmission, it wasn’t until @Prairiedawg, @BodyinWhite, @bluelines1974, and @nwGTS did the pick & shovel work outlined in this Rennlist post to show the mix between cars with manual transmissions and the PDK.

While their aim was to prove that most GTSs were delivered with the PDK transmission, the pivot table they produced provided the missing link I needed to answer my question.  I was able to identify VINs for the 21 Meteor Grey 997 GTS Cabriolets delivered with a manual transmission in the US. 

Armed with VINs for the 21 cars, I turned to VINanalytics for the option list on each car.  I did see a few discrepancies in their free data.  After contacting VINAnalytics directly and running a few VIN searches independently, I was able to produce an accurate profile of the 21 cars.

The mash-up allowed me to compare how my 997 GTS spec compares to the overall population of Meteor Grey Cabriolets delivered with a manual transmission in the US:

You can see from the table that I have a ‘1 of 1’ car as mine is the only one spec-ed with the Alcantara Storage Lid with Logo (see featured image above for a partial shot of this unexpected difference maker).  It’s a small difference, but I’ll take it!

Twelve of the other cars have ‘1 of 1’ options also making them unique.  In my opinion, the most interesting of the unique options is the car spec-ed with PCCBs.  Most of the other unique specs are cosmetic like the Alcantara Storage Lid.  One car has 5 options that aren’t included on any of the other 20 cars, although on average each unique car has just 1 unique option.

Sadly, I also learned that at least one of the 21 cars is wrecked.

If you have a 997 GTS, use the data I’ve shared here to run your own analysis.  While it’s fun to have a ‘1 of 1’ car, there is so much more to like about the GTS than the stats!

Porsche 911 aftermarket warranty analysis

It’s a common topic on the forums.  Someone buys a Porsche.  The OEM warranty is expired, but an aftermarket warranty is available.  What should you do?  Faced with this situation recently, I decided to share my analysis which resulted in a decision against the aftermarket warranty.

I bought a 991 from a West coast broker (backstory).  It was a low mileage car, and I was able to talk with the original owner as part of the due diligence.  Though I was encouraged by the narrative, I still opted to have a Prepurchase Inspection (PPI) completed at a West coast Porsche dealership.  I talked to the service tech during the process and asked if the car would be eligible for CPO.  Of course it is a requirement that the car is sold by a Porsche dealership to be eligible for CPO, but I thought of the question as a litmus test to gauge the overall condition of the car.

We also discussed other options for aftermarket warranties, and the service tech suggested that I follow-up with my local Porsche dealership since they frequently sell these warranties in addition to offering CPO cars.  I sent the VIN# and mileage to my local dealership for an estimate.  They responded with the following proposal:

There are a few notable differences between CPO and other aftermarket warranties like the EasyCare VSC option presented to me by the dealership.  For example, with EasyCare VSC you can select mileage limits, term, and a deductible to arrive at a package tailored for you.  Another difference is that the coverage includes wheel and tire care, whereas the CPO program does not.

Armed with the terms of the warranty, I was ready to make a decision based on data.  I thought it might be useful to analyze my 997 ownership experience with and without the warranty as a proxy for the 991.

I’ve owned the 997 since 2013, so naturally there have been repairs in addition to the required maintenance.  I used the costs of the repairs to evaluate if an aftermarket warranty would have benefited me financially.

The table below shows the costs that I incurred for three repairs without warranty coverage, plus the cost of the repairs with a $500 deductible EasyCare VSC warranty.  After factoring in the cost of the warranty (note: I chose the lowest cost option available from EasyCare VSC), the analysis shows that I was approximately $300 ahead without the warranty.

I support local businesses as much as possible, so the repairs on the 997 were completed at an independent shop, not a Porsche dealership.  Had the work been completed at a dealership, the repair costs likely would have been higher and the warranty would have been more advantageous financially.

Also, though I’m annoyed that the 997 required these repairs, they are more minor in scope.  Higher cost repairs (e.g. PDK replacement) would have also made the aftermarket warranty more advantageous financially.

Finally, as with any analysis, your mileage may vary as may my experience with the 991 vs. 997.  Here’s hoping for the best!

backstory behind buying my 991.1 GTS Porsche

The first Porsche that I noticed as a kid was the 70’s era 911 RS/RSR.  There is no shortage of reasons to covet those cars, if not for the wide body and ducktail alone.  Add a Brumos or Martini livery for the Triple Crown in styling.

With a wide body and ducktail, the 911 GTS-based 2016 PCA 60th Anniversary cars were just one crown short of the triple.  Take the iconic styling, plus my affection for the GTS line and my wife’s urging to buy a “blue Porsche”, and you could build a pretty good case for adding one to the garage.

I wasn’t in a position to buy a PCA 60th Anniversary car in 2016, even if I could have won a spot in the drawing.  By 2019 that position had changed though, so I set out to find one.

A few low mileage specimens were available around the country, but the asking prices were stratospheric.  One slipped away on Bring a Trailer at a very reasonable price while no one was watching during the Christmas break.  Another came up for sale in the middle of nowhere which made a PPI nearly impossible; another miss.  Then came the chance to bid on a PCA 60th car at the Amelia Island Gooding auction in March 2020.

We planned to attend the Amelia event during the weekend.  The car was scheduled for auction on Friday.  Not a problem since online bidding was an option.  I registered, set a bid ceiling, and signed in from home.  Covid-19 was just starting to look serious in the US.  I was certain that it would affect bidding.  Giving me a shot at winning the auction with ease.  We could pick up the car when we arrived at Amelia Island for the weekend concours events.

I was in the game with the high bid several times before another bidder took the price above my ceiling.  It was tough, but I exercised the discipline.  Someone else is driving that car now!

I continued to think about the PCA 60th cars over the next few months.  In early June, a GTS was listed in The Mart at PCA.com.  It had clearly been spec-ed to look like one of the 60 PCA cars.  I hesitated, and few days later the car was gone.  I missed another one!

Like most enthusiasts, I look at car listings daily.  To my surprise a GTS was listed by an exotics broker on the West Coast just a short time after the car on The Mart disappeared.  It had to be the same car; a bit of internet sleuthing proved it.

I was able to talk to the original owner (OO).  Once I heard the story, I knew it was the car I wanted.  His story is now part of the backstory behind buying my 991.1 GTS Porsche.

The OO is in the car business on the West coast.  He has owned several Porsches over the years, and is a PCA member.  When the PCA 60th cars were announced, he and a friend decided to enter the drawing.  Only one of them pulled a golden ticket!

The two friends decided to order two cars together anyway, with one spec-ing a legit PCA 60th Anniversary car and the other spec-ing a standard GTS to match.  The paperwork made it all the way through the regional and US systems before the Germans kicked it back.  Only PCA cars could be ordered in Club Blau.  A hilarious exchange ensued after a BMW PTS color was requested before the OO settled on Voodoo Blue.

Several other features were added for comfort and to complete the retro look, all of which made the spec even more appealing to me.  The car even has the Fuchs-style wheels that adorned the PCA 60th cars, although even that involves a story.  The factory refused to sell those wheels as an option after delivery without a VIN for a PCA 60th car; a situation rectified with a call to a friend who was lucky enough to have one!

Think of it as PCA #61!  We both tried and failed to get a legitimate 60th anniversary car.  Being in the car business, the OO knew how to work the system to his advantage.  An impostor was born!  The backstory made it all more appealing to me. 

backstory behind buying my 997 GTS Porsche

I’ve been a car guy for as long as I can remember; Hot Wheels, Revell models, all the usual fixes.  A taproot car for me was a 1999 Miata that I purchased new.  Though it wasn’t my first car purchase, it was the first time that I could afford to buy what I wanted.  It was a sport spec with the Bilsteins, strut tower brace, and other performance bits included from the factory.  I still remember it as one of the best cars that I’ve owned.

I wrenched on that car because I wanted to learn, and because I couldn’t afford to buy the upgrades plus pay someone to install them.  One of my mods was an oil filter relocation kit.  It moved the filter to the firewall, so it was easier to access.  Well, one day the kit failed.  The engine lost oil pressure and was damaged.  In a move I still regret, I decided to sell the car.

It was 2006.  Though I liked the Miata, I wanted something upmarket with more power.  I cross-shopped the Boxster and the S2000.  I took the lower cost choice and drove the Honda until I traded it for a 997 GTS.  

The next part of this backstory behind buying my 997 GTS Porsche must be one of the longest sales cycles in history.  When I drove the Boxster in 2006, the Porsche salesman was really a great guy.  He spent the time sharing his knowledge of the brand and treated me well even though it was clear the Boxster was likely a stretch.  He actually referred me to his friend at a Honda dealership who sold me the S2000.

By 2013 I was ready for a Porsche.  I drove to the dealership, walked up the receptionist, and asked if Richard happened to still work there.  He did.

We picked up right where we had left off 7 years earlier.  He asked if I’d ever driven a 911, grabbed a set of keys, and off we went in a black, 997 Carrera Cabriolet.  I knew in less than a mile that I wanted one.

Being an astute salesman, Richard nudged me towards the 997 GTS that I now own.  As they say, the rest is history.

It’s hard to image parting with the 997.  It was my first Porsche.  It was the first car each of my kids drove when they earned their learner’s permit.  Though I admittedly prefer the flyline of a coupe, the cabriolet is especially nice for the exhaust noises and the openness of the cabin.