If the '70 had updated seats, the rails were probably higher, and the seat would have sat taller than it would have been with the original seats.

This a tough question, since due to your size, you are going to need to "test fit" the potential cars. I had a friend your size, and he had a heck of time, but belive it or not, I think an early 90's Pontiac Grand Am was what he drove for years....

An earlier non-sunroof car is going to be harder to find I would guess, as most of them have been snatched up by track junkies. I know when talking to Grady at one point in time aboutnot having enough headroom in my 911 due to the sunroof, he mentioned taking the seat out, and using wire to pull the cusion lower. He said it is very possible to gain an easy couple of inches in headroom that way. So, either doing that, or even getting a different seat might be an option. I wouldn't think a snug seat would be very comfortable for you though, that or a sport seat.

My biggest problem in the legnth of my legs. When I move the seat back far enough, its not as comfortable for my arms. I think its pretty safe to rule out the 964's, on price, and they have a more obtrusive lower dash (atleast in my opnion when I compare my new car to my Carrera). In your price range, I think you should be able to find an SC in decent shape, with a little bit of $ left over to tackle the seating issue.

I am sure you could get a mid year for cheaper, but I don't know enough about them to be totally honest on what year etc., to look for.

Based on the %'s listed from capital one, if you could find the potential car at a dealer, then you are looking at a much much better interest rate. Are you friends with any dealers? Maybe you could use a dealer as a broker, and give them a comission of 500 bucks or so, you'd easily make that up in the long run with the lower interest rate.

Ok, hopefully I didn't ramble too much.

Bill

Just curious...why are the interest rates higher on a vehicle purchased from a private party? Isn't the risk for the bank the same? The risk is on the BUYER defaulting, not the Seller!?? Hmmm.... Any insights?


JA

Personally I would look for an UBER clean SC. You can certainly find a Carrera for $15k these days, but you can get an SC that is excellent.

There are other options.....

http://www.cookiescorvettes.com/clas...o/DSC00105.jpg

I am thinking about looking for a very very clean SC. I'm going to see if I can get preapproved for 15 grand from Capitol 1.

So, anyone seen and dealership 911s clean, no power seats, no sunroof?

My dad has almost 300,000 miles on his '84 Carrera Cab. If you take care of them they last a very long time

Well that worked. I talked to capitol 1, and they approved me. In fact they approved me for way more than I was considering....

What do you all think of this beauty?

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/car/564933150.html

To me the 996's with their headlights and slab sides are just ugly.

You need to sit in the newer cars. My experience has been that they have less room.

If it were me, and I didn't have to worry about hauling kids around, I'd rather have this Boxster: http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/car/558634870.html

I would be VERY surprised if he fits in a Boxster.

You're really blowing your original budget. The newer (water cooled) Porsche just don't do it for me but then you're not me. Actually if were you I'd start looking outside SLC (snow climate) and consider Las Vegas or Phoenix. Here's a cool car that I'm sure you could negotiate the price on

Phoenix 911

Contrarian perspective: You just accomplished getting your bills down. Congrats. So I would be gunshy about buying any older car with the potential of big dollar maintenance/repair expense - i.e. an old Porsche. You have a girlfriend out of town, "Hi honey, sorry I can't come to see you this weekend because I have to replace the brakes on the Porsche." If I were you, I'd buy a nice Honda.

That notwithstanding, I like that you are interested in joining the local club and enjoying the car. If so, get a good condition SC (with a thorough PPI). Save your pennies and have a $2K repair fund in place. Oh, after your accident you might want to get a quote on your car insurance going from a Jeep to a Porsche.

Good luck,

Don

Tonight I am going down and I'll see what they have the lot, and take some pictures so you can all enjoy my efforts.

I'll see about the Boxster, but I have my doubts. The main problem with them is they literally can't go back very far, but I'll give it a sit and see what I think.

Also I'm going to keep, and the fix the jeep. So I will be a 2 car person. The Jeep has been paid for for years, and I had the alignment checked, she is still straight. So I'll be using it on ugly days.

I'm not buying the Porsche for its looks, I'm buying it because its the best super-car I can get for its price and reliability. So a slab sided 996, with its water pumper holds no fear for me. Neither does the Boxster, or even if I could swing it, that omg hot Phoenix 911 Davis put in the thread 2 entry's up. The 914 I had wasn't anything cute. I'm not hear for looks, I'm here for engineering.

I do have some savings put aside for a rainy day, I'm not overly worried about anything up to 2K that suddenly shows up.

I am concerned with getting the most I can in this endeavor. I'm buying my second and last Porsche here barring accident that kills the car so bad she can't be fixed. I intend to do a stated value insurance. I'm 35, and I wasn't cited for the accident I was in with the jeep. I'm not too worried about insurance. I'll be sure to check it before pulling the trigger

Hey guys I went and drove that 996 last night. I'll put up pictures tonight, about to go.

On 996's.

I ran the seat on the 99 back to the limit, and down to the limit. I ran the telescoping wheel out to its max. I should have worn better shoes for this, but I was able to drive it with no issues.

Its a sunroof coupe, if I straightened I could push on the roof with my head. It was close enough in normal driving posture that I felt my hair touching the roof off the static charge.

I feel if I could move the seat backwards that extra 1.5 inches so it is flat against the back seat, and down another inch, I would be perfectly comfortable. If I removed the brackets all together and mounted the seat to the floor, (theft protection!) I could manage a helmet.

The car drove like a dream. I was going up I80 from SLC into the mountains, and I was having fun, dropping into 4th and running it up to 5800 and it was leaping off the blocks. The back end would drop a little settle and launch that car forward, even going up a fairly steep hill.

I also went and sat in a pristine 1985 928 with 23000 miles on it. Same color as the risky business car. To be honest, an amazing car. If it was a stick and not a automatic, I would seriously consider it. Amazing car. Everything worked. It was like a time capsule.

Anyway more later.

I was going to comment that 996's are dropping into your price range but I see you already found that out!

Good luck with the shopping you lucky dog, and keep us posted.

Hey, you could buy my 944 and dump $10K into restoring it! :D

996's are good cars. My buddy is 6'7" and he fit in my 1972 911 without trouble, I have later Recaro's in it, and no sunroof. He looked a little goofy clambering out, if I'm honest about it...

Before I'd go into debt for 15K on a used 911, given your size and situatuation (recently divorced, you'll need a sedan eventually if you date anyone with kids), I'd buy something like this 540i 6 speed for 7500-8500. here's one on ebay with a buy it now for 8400. 6 spd 540's are cheap cheap cheap for the performance and engineering and there are a ton of them out there since most 5 series buyers want an automatic. A friend has one and it will flat haul the mail...and she gets 27-29 mpg hway if she keeps her foot outta the loud pedal and in 6th gear. It just lopes along at 100 mph all day long. it is suprisingly nimble for a sedan. I promise you the seat will go back far enough and low enough for you to be very comfortable. Plan on replacing the struts/front brake rotors at 100-120 K...not an impossible DIY job and will save you big bucks over having it done.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1203807356.jpg


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1997-BMW-540I-6-SPEED-LOADED-SNRF-LTHR-FREE-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ180217410342QQcmdZViewItem?hash= item180217410342

do not buy old Porsches with loaned money.

I would go a step further and would say that you shouldn't buy toy cars with borrowed money period. If you are desperate for basic transportation, that's a different story, but why not drive the Jeep for a while until you have the money in cash? At $500 fixed monthly bills, that should not take too long. (My property taxes are more than that. ;) )


George