How much money should you spend preparing a car for sale?

In this special “Recon” episode, Paul, Dave, and Casey reveal how they decide which repairs, services, and cosmetic improvements are worth completing before an enthusiast car hits the market.

They debate whether sellers should install new tires, correct imperfect paint, repair minor oil leaks, restore worn seats, remove aftermarket modifications, or preserve a car exactly as it was received. They also explain why spending thousands of dollars on maintenance rarely means adding the same amount to a vehicle’s selling price.

Using real-world examples from Porsche consignment, dealership, auction, restoration, and service work, the hosts examine the difference between making a car presentable and wasting money trying to make a used car perfect.

The episode covers air-cooled Porsche oil leaks, original exhaust systems, catalytic converters, factory seats, paintwork, PPF, deferred maintenance, underside cleaning, pre-purchase inspections, and the difficult decisions involved when a car needs more reconditioning than its market value can support.

CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS:

Paul Kramer | AutoKennel

Dave Van Epps | Sonderwerks

Casey Parkin | Group C Curation

Another Porsche 911 GT3 RS has gone off Angeles Crest—and this one reportedly traveled more than 500 feet down the side of the mountain.

Paul, Casey, and Dave discuss what is known about the crash, how the driver was able to walk away, and why the outcome demonstrates the strength of Porsche’s engineering.

The crew also provides an update on Dave’s damaged GT3 RS. According to the initial assessment, the car may require approximately $250,000 in damage before it can be declared a total loss. If that happens, would Dave replace it with another GT3 RS—or has he realized that modern GT cars require too much speed before they become truly exciting?

The conversation then turns to advice from three “honest” used-car salesmen.

Should buyers automatically reject a Porsche because it has high mileage, accident history, imperfect paint, deferred maintenance, rust, or an odometer discrepancy? Or have online auctions conditioned enthusiasts to value perfect documentation more than the actual condition of the car?

The hosts also discuss overlooked Porsche values, the continuing appeal of manual air-cooled 911s, 991 Targa ownership problems, Top Tier fuel, G50 versus 915 transmissions, dry-ice cleaning, driving rallies, and what sellers really mean when they describe something as an “honest car.”

Paul Kramer | Auto Kennel

Casey Parkin | Group C Curation

Dave Van Epps | Sonderwerks

Send the hosts your questions for an upcoming episode of Shifted Opinions.

A long drive up California’s Highway 1 reminds Paul why early Porsche 911s are so special—and why owning one is not always comfortable.

After spending several days behind the wheel of an early 911, Paul, Casey, and Dave discuss what it takes to make a classic Porsche genuinely usable for road trips and rallies. Dave breaks down modern electric air conditioning, including installation requirements, airflow challenges, upgraded alternators, cost, and how it compares with a traditional engine-driven system.

The conversation also covers the current Cayman GT4 market, a Mexico Blue 914 hot rod, upcoming rallies, and Casey’s long-awaited drive in a B5 Audi RS4 that did not quite live up to the dream.

Then the hosts answer listener questions about radar detectors, repainting versus preserving patina, preparing a car for an online sale, Tuthill-built Porsches, and Porsche facts that sound completely made up—but are actually true.

Connect with the hosts:

Paul Kramer — AutoKennel

Casey Parkin — Group C Curation

Dave Van Epps — Sonderwerks

Special guest Jo Bejar—known as @a_car_gal on Instagram—joins Shifted Opinions to talk about building, repairing and driving classic cars instead of simply admiring them from behind a screen.

Jo shares how she bought a neglected 1972 Datsun 240Z at 18, left it unfinished while completing the automotive restoration program at McPherson College, and later rebuilt it for the Great Race.

What followed was a cross-country adventure involving a mystery engine, a donated transmission, electrical problems, parking-lot repairs, fuel-system failures and an alternator issue that kept disguising itself as something else.

Jo also discusses working on historically significant race cars, navigating a male-dominated industry, her dream Porsche 911 Slantnose project and the automotive work she loves—and hates—most.

Before Jo joins the conversation, Dave provides an update on his recovery following the GT3 RS accident and explains the unusual process of evaluating the heavily damaged Porsche.

Follow Jo on Instagram at @a_car_gal.

Follow Shifted Opinions and subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify for more honest conversations about Porsche, classic cars, road rallies and the automotive industry.

This episode goes from vintage racing chaos to very real Porsche ownership advice.

Paul Kramer, Casey Parkin, and Dave Van Epps start with The Great Race, Cannonball Run memories, and the kind of car-movie disappointment only a Countach-obsessed kid could understand. Then it turns into a proper Shifted Opinions shop session: 993 cabriolets, a low-mile Boxster Spyder, dead batteries, jumper-pack hacks, a 968 Club Sport, Cayman GTS auction talk, and Paul’s newly acquired Albert Blue 1971 911T.

The listener questions get into the good stuff: when does a sports car become too raw to enjoy, what air-cooled Porsche makes the most sense for a first-time owner, whether a cabriolet is secretly the best value 911, what actually makes someone a good driver, and how to keep old air-cooled cars alive on modern fuel.

It is part Porsche therapy, part marketplace reality check, and part old-car survival guide.

Most auction listings look effortless. They are not.

Paul, Casey, and Dave pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to consign and sell an enthusiast car—from photography, research, and write-ups to reserves that miss and the awkward question of who eats the cost.

Dave checks in after his GT3 RS accident, leading to a candid conversation about airbags, old-car safety, and why internet reactions rarely reflect real life. Then it is back to rallies: broken 928s, roadside repairs, speeding-ticket etiquette, slow cars that feel fast, ugly cars that grew on us, and a Porsche 993 with a $51,000 service bill.

It is not always polished. That is the point.

Dave is back—and thankfully, he's okay.

After a frightening accident in his GT3RS during the Highlands Motoring Festival, Dave shares the full story of what happened, from the crash itself to being airlifted to a trauma center and the recovery process that followed.

The crew dives into modern performance cars, airbag injuries, whether today's GT products have become too capable for their own good, and why older sports cars may actually provide better feedback for enthusiastic drivers.

Plus, Paul recaps over 5,000 miles of rally adventures across 10 states, Pinewood Derby madness, tornado warnings, wildlife encounters, and what may be next for Overcrest Rally.

Questions, comments, or topic suggestions?

📧 Paul Kramer: [email protected]

Paul checks in from Oregon after completing the Safari Party rally, sharing stories from gravel roads, beach driving, overland-inspired Porsches, and the incredible people behind one of the most unique automotive events in the country.

Meanwhile, Casey breaks down a week of record-setting collector car sales, including a 2011 Porsche GT3 RS, a Heritage Ford GT, Ferrari Speciales, GT2 RS models, and the surprising market trends pushing analog performance cars higher than ever.

Dave joins with an update on an incredible Russell Built 964 Safari project, explaining what makes these builds some of the most capable off-road 911s ever created.

Plus:

A fun, laid-back episode packed with rally stories, Porsche talk, collector car insights, and plenty of laughs.

This week on Shifted Opinions, the guys trade Thursday-morning coffee for Sunday-evening cocktails and dive into everything from the Ruchlos Rallye to the current state of the collector car market.

Dave returns from an epic West Virginia Porsche rally with stories of incredible roads, close calls, and why the people you meet matter more than the cars you drive. Meanwhile, Casey shares updates on multiple high-dollar auctions, including GT3 RS models, Ford GTs, and a Ferrari Pista.

The conversation turns philosophical when a listener asks a simple question:

Is it really about the car—or is it about the journey?

Along the way, the guys debate:

If you love driving, road trips, Porsche culture, and automotive storytelling, this episode is for you.

Has the Porsche hobby become unrealistic for normal enthusiasts?

The guys break down the real reason enthusiasts feel locked out of the market — and why social media, online auctions, and “perfect spec” culture may be doing more damage than the cars themselves.

From six-figure GT3 RS auctions to bargain 914s and rally-ready drivers, this episode explores why there’s still fun to be had if you stop chasing internet validation.

Also:

“We’re not sure, but cars are involved.”