Dilemma on whether to sell my Porsche

[Nathans_Dad]

Guys,

I have been sort of softly listing my 1984 targa for about 4 months now. Nothing major, just Craigslist since it's free. I got a response a few days ago from a buyer in Oregon, ibuyporsches.com. I was not planning on selling to a mass buyer but I decided to listen to him anyhow. He offered me what I thought was a reasonable price and sent me an e-mail today saying that he would buy the car for a certain Porsche reseller in Houston. I have heard some of the stories so I was a little leery at that point, especially since they are buying the car sight unseen.

Anyhow, I just got an e-mail from the company in Houston saying they were no longer interested because the car is a 1984 model, not a 1985 (I mistakenly listed it on Craigslist as an 85 before I checked the title).

First, why should that matter? The car did not change between the two years and it has only 65k miles on it... I would think condition and mileage would matter a whole lot more than the car being one year older.

Second, do you guys think this is even worth pursuing? I'm concerned about someone buying the car sight unseen without even a PPI. I know the car is solid, but I just don't want this to turn into a headache if they come up with some nit picky thing they don't like...

Thoughts?

[DaveE]

Sounds to me like it's going to be a headache. I'd just re-post it on Craigslist with the proper year info and see if anyone else bites. Or maybe their interest will renew itself.

[Nathans_Dad]

Wow, just got an e-mail back from the retailer in Houston who says that the car is a year older and therefore not worth the same amount by any standard...

Makes me wonder about this whole thing, is there anyone on the board who would say that a 1984 model with 65k miles is worth any less than a 1985 model with 65k miles???

I won't even mention the fact that any Carrera with 65k miles on it is a very low miles car no matter what year it is.

Sheesh...maybe I should just nix the whole thing...makes me nervous.

[berettafan]

if you're gonna get jo'd at least have a sock handy.

[berettafan]

tell us about the car!

[legion]

I'd drop it and run.

Clearly the guy from ibuyporsches.com doesn't understand buying Porsches.

[berettafan]

jeez, just found your CL ad. wish i was in the market!!! been wanting a targa for nice days and when the '70 is on jackstands but just don't have the dough right now. this is truly a bummer!

[speeder]

You should list it w/ some good pictures on the Pelican "Porsches for sale" forum. It's also free and if priced right, it should find a more targeted audience there. I'd put it on every free site, what have you get to lose?

As for the '84/'85 thing, there were some minor cosmetic changes but you are right that value should be = if all other things were =, IMO.

[Gogar]

They're just trying to mind-fuch you, hoping you don't know any better. They wanted to buy the car for a cheaper price, and were trying to reverse-psych you into it.

I wonder how many '73s they've bought that way. "Oh, it's a '73. I"m sorry, we were deifinitely looking for '74 or newer. '73s have the undesirable body trimmings and whatnot. BUT, if you'd like to sell your '73, we can offer you $xx,xxx. Sorry, that's all we can do.

Sell your car to someone who actually wants it. You said you're not in a hurry.

[berettafan]

they are not worth the time it took you to read the last few posts on this thread. really.

nice car btw!!!

[livi]

In 85 it got that wonderful four spoke wheel..very exclusive and sought after..

[Nathans_Dad]

Yeah, I will list it on the PP site as well.

They offered me $15k for it which actually isn't a horrible price. I was hoping to get $16k but the market is soft right now.

The guy called me on my cell and said that since it is an 84 they won't do $15500 (which was my counter) but they will do $15k.

Not sure what to do, I told him I would think about it. My big concern is if I do sell it to them what about if they decide to come back with some nit picky stuff after the sale? I mean the car is solid, but it has the usual stuff for a car this age. There are rock dings, there is a scratch on the passenger side door and the front dash is shrunken from the sun.

He also tried to tell me that the car was a Euro car since it had cloth seats...the car was sold in Las Vegas from a Porsche dealership as far as I know...not sure what that was about either.

I just have this feeling that if I sell it to them they are gonna come back at me in 2 weeks and have some story about how they want some money back because of X or Y...

[berettafan]

euro car would make the price go UP.

[RANDY P]

you know that hidden antenna on the 85 is a very sought after option. That alone doubles the price of the car.

[Seric]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

you know that hidden antenna on the 85 is a very sought after option. That alone doubles the price of the car.

Triple dude, come on.

F that ibuyprosches tard, they obviously don't know anything about pricing these cars. I'd just keep the ad up and see what happens. Took me a year to sell my last Porsche, but it went to a good home and that's what matters.

[mkaraoglan]

So ibuyporsche is the buyer for V*****y M****s ?
hmmm
interesting

that also give a good benchmark for what prices they pay for their cars:

84 with 65k miles= $15,000

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by Seric

they obviously don't know anything about pricing these cars.

I think they do. They also know how to play mind games so they can buy low and sell high.

Step 1: Get seller excited about having a serious buyer.
Step 2: After buyer is mentally convinced the car has been sold, beat him up on price.
Step 3: Most sellers give in and sell the car, even though dissapointed with the price.

The bottom line: They are being dishonest. They are simply acting like used car salesmen.

[Seric]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

I think they do. They also know how to play mind games so they can buy low and sell high.

Step 1: Get seller excited about having a serious buyer.
Step 2: After buyer is mentally convinced the car has been sold, beat him up on price.
Step 3: Most sellers give in and sell the car, even though dissapointed with the price.

The bottom line: They are being dishonest. They are simply acting like used car salesmen.

Agreed.

[Nathans_Dad]

Ok, so here is the bottom line. I have a little reservation about selling to a mass buyer but not enough to make me not sell the car for the right price. Obviously I would rather see the car go to an enthusiast locally, but that may or may not happen. Sort of the bird in the hand thing...

$15k for a 1984 Targa is not too far off, IMHO. I know people list these cars for $16-17k all the time, but I haven't seen too many go for that amount.

I sent him another e-mail detailing every issue that I know of with the car. I'd rather be honest and not sell the car than try to hide something.

[berettafan]

have a buddy from a different zip call Victory and ask for a low mileage carrera targa. see what $$ they say. i'll guess VERY high teens.