What every serious buyer needs to know before they bid. Bore scoring, IMS, 997.1 vs 997.2, and what a good example actually costs right now.
The psychology of the BaT auction, how to set your walk-away number, and what to do after the hammer falls.
The one engine issue that defines every water-cooled Porsche purchase. What it is, why it matters, and the two tests that actually detect it.
The guide we wish existed. Budget, due diligence, PPI, where to buy, and the hardest part - walking away from the wrong car.
Documentation, fluid service, inspection, insurance, community. Getting the first month right sets up everything that follows.
The comments on a Bring a Trailer listing contain more useful due diligence than most PPI reports. What to look for, which commenters to trust, and how to spot a seller in disguise.
The naturally aspirated Ferrari that everyone agrees got it right. Sticky valve guides, open differentials, and why the Spider commands less than you would expect.
What a good independent PPI includes, what it misses, and the specific questions to ask your mechanic before they lift the car. The difference between a checklist and a proper inspection.
No reserve auctions attract more bidders and end differently. How to set your walk-away number when there is no floor, and why final hours behave differently on each platform.
Bought a classic with a thin folder and a verbal history? How to reconstruct what you can, document what you do, and build a paper trail that adds value at resale.
The water-cooled Porsche that the market undervalued for two decades. IMS bearing risk, RMS leaks, and the specific 996 variants that have quietly become the better long-term buy.
Convertible tops are expensive to replace and often misrepresented in listings. The five-minute inspection that reveals hydraulic condition, frame wear, and water ingress before you commit.
Every serious bidder has a story about paying too much. The cognitive biases that push bids past rational limits, and the pre-auction rituals that keep disciplined buyers disciplined.
The M3 that defined a generation and still represents the best value in the M3 lineage. SMG versus manual, VANOS failures, subframe cracking, and what a clean example actually costs.
Agreed value versus stated value, mileage restrictions, storage requirements and the claims process nobody explains upfront. What to ask before you bind coverage on a car you actually care about.
A stored fault code is not always a red flag. How to interpret OBD data on cars from 1996 onward, which codes matter and which are background noise, and what to do with the results.
One of the most beautiful cars ever made and one of the most expensive to maintain. VH platform reliability, Touchtronic transmission issues, and the service history standard a good example needs.
Buyer fees are not created equal and they change your effective bid ceiling. A plain-English breakdown of every fee structure and a formula for calculating your true maximum before you raise your paddle.
What it actually costs to keep a Porsche 997, Ferrari 458, BMW M3, or Aston DB9 running well each year. Parts costs, labour rates, and the maintenance items owners consistently underestimate.
A paint meter is one of the most useful tools at a car viewing. How to use one, what readings indicate prior respray, and why a uniform reading across a panel is often more suspicious than an uneven one.