I initially purchased Ebay item #400261070637 and had it inspected. This inspection did identify some issues that the dealer agreed to correct. Subsequently I purchased and airline ticket for six days later to complete the transaction within the 7 day requirement. When I arrived in Houston none of the issues had been resolved and I only purchased a one way ticket.
Texas Auto suggested a car one year newer (Ebay item #190574659714) and I drove and inspected this vehicle. Upon completion of the purchase I immediately started to drive back to Minneapolis. About 100 miles North of Houston I stopped for gas and noticed an oil leak. It was late in the evening and I needed to get home for business so I purchased a quart of oil and put the appropriate amount in the engine and drove another 100 miles. Upon the second stop I noticed that the leak was significant but stabilized. I stopped for the night at a hotel and drove the balance the following day. The car leaked one quart of oil in the 1,400 mile trip.
I immediately took the car in to the local Porsche dealership and they indicated that it was likely a Rear Main Seal (RMS) failure and that they could not look at the car until the 27th. I took the car to a Minneapolis Porsche expert repair ship the following day. Upon inspection they verified that it was in fact a RMS failure. They also determined that it had been leaking for a very long time and that someone had recently worked on the engine and left the two lower bell housing bolts out, and reconnected the transmission linkage without the correct parts and used an electricians plastic zip tie.
When they removed the engine to complete the RMS repair they noticed recent paint markings on the engine and a "P.O. #" that would consistent with those used by a salvage yard. The repair shop determined by the serial number that it is not original, was sourced from a scrap yard and has many more miles than the 27,000 advertised on Ebay by Texas Auto. I subsequently called all of the Porsche dealers in Noth Texas and was able to find the dealer that had serviced the car 18 time. The most recent service call was in June and the miles were slightly less than what they were when I purchased the car. During that call the dealer determined that the engine had seized. The owner of the car at the time decided not to have the engine replaced and "the car was towed to Stafford".
I was able to verify that the serial number on the seized engine does not match what was in the car when I purchased it. I have since found the owner of the car at the time of the engine seized service call and he indicates that Texas Auto was fully aware of all of the issues above. The oil leak is now repaired at a cost of $2,300, however the engine now puffs blue smoke and has many more than the 27,000 advertised.
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