Car still under warranty, do I really need to pay for an inspection?
I'm looking at a 2021 911 Carrera that still has the factory warranty for another year and the seller keeps telling me I'm overthinking it because anything major would be covered anyway. Part of me wants to believe him because the car is basically new and the warranty gives some peace of mind, but then I remember that warranty doesn't cover accident damage, wear items, or anything that happened before I bought it. A guy at work told me he bought a CPO car once and still found out later it had been in a fender bender that was never reported, so now I'm paranoid. I came across prepurchasecarinspection.ae while googling around and it seems like they know Porsches specifically, but I'm still trying to figure out if it's overkill for a car that's this new. The seller is a private guy and he's been a bit cagey about why he's selling so soon, which doesn't help. Has anyone here bought a nearly new Porsche and skipped the inspection only to regret it? Or did you get one and feel like it was worth it even with the warranty? I just don't want to be that guy who saves a few hundred and then eats a huge repair bill because I trusted a warranty that doesn't cover everything.
Warranty covers defects, not history. If the front end was repainted after a fender bender, Porsche isn't going to care, and they can still push back on claims if something was damaged or modified. A paint meter reading on every panel is cheap insurance on a car this young.
Cagey private seller on a nearly new 911 is the bit that would make me book the inspection. Cars that age usually get sold for a reason, and sometimes it's just a job move, but sometimes it isn't. Ask him straight why he's selling and see how quickly he answers.
Bought a nearly new Cayenne privately and skipped the check because of the warranty. Turned out one rear quarter had been resprayed and I only found out when I sold it and the buyer's inspector flagged it. Cost me a few thousand off the price. Wouldn't skip it again.
Before you spend anything, call a Porsche Centre with the VIN and ask for the service and warranty record. Check that every scheduled service was done at an authorised centre, since gaps can give them grounds to refuse a claim. Then an independent inspection with a paint meter and a full scan covers the accident side that the warranty won't.
Is it a 992 Carrera with the factory warranty only, or does it have an extended Porsche Approved cover too? Also, what's the mileage and is it GCC spec? If the warranty is transferable and the dealer records are clean, that changes how deep I'd go.