It shouldn't be so hard to find a 911!

[Stutzdriver]

I posted this in the "Marketplace Discussion" area but thought it might get more comment here.

I sold another collector car last July and have parked the money in the bank. I have been looking for an 84/85/86 3.2 Coupe ot Targa since. I have looked at several cars and walked away and I have seriously considered several more. Some of these have been snapped up while I was attempting to arrange a PPI or while I was making arrangements to travel to look at the car. Some others I have considered have had VERY unrealistic prices and the owners won't budge, some have sold for my original offer or below?

This shouldn't be too difficult, I have some color restrictions (both by me and my wife) but I am pretty flexible otherwise. Current market looks like $12K is the sweetspot for a good car that needs some TLC? I have the ability and facilities to do just about anything in my shop except full repaint and upholstery repair (but I have a Porsche interior specialist friend)

Travel to see something isn't too much of a problem but I won't spend the big $ for airfare tomorrow. I am currently thinking of limiting my search to 500 mi form Cleveland, OH just so I can react quickly.

Just missed another one today, I have been leaving messages for the owner for 5 days (2-3 per day), he didn't react and the car was sold by a broker yesterday ( just talked to the broker on the phone).

Not really wanting to do the eBay thing but I peruse here, Cars.com, Autotrader.com, Collectorcartrader.com, etc everyday. Any other sources anyone can suggest?

This has been really frustrating! I was hoping to have a car to work on over the winter but that dosen't look like it might happen.

Thanks for reading my rant!

[id10t]

If'n you are interested, Mom has an '84 factory Turbo Look coupe (M491 option). Minor issues relating to 2nd gear going awol and then sitting for 2 years. Drop me a PM if you are interested... car is in Florida, but I can give details of issues and if you are still interested then I can give you lots of pictures, etc. as well as a good local shop or two.

[MotoSook]

Jay,

I'm comtemplating a purchase which would require me to sell my 1989 Carrera. The topend was rebuilt less than 2000 miles ago (new turbo clutch and flywheel too + new front and rear crank seals, new reference and head temp sensors) with freshly machined, guided and sealed heads + 964 cams. Rockers rebushed + reconditioned with rocker shafts machined or new. RSR rocker shaft seals.

I'm currently rebuilding the suspension with more sporty parts. Rear suspension parts getting replated this week + 21mm hollow torsion bars up front, 29mm hollows in rear, custom machined polygraphite bushings, new HD Bilstein inserts up front, Bilstein sports in rear). The paint isnt perfect with some usual Porsche rust spots (windshield area). Headliner is perfect, driver's seat has leather wear, but no rips. It's a black coupe with sunroof & tan interior with black piping on the power seats.

All that's left to do is the paint to get it near perfect....shoot! I hate to get rid of it being so close to finishing all the stuff I want to do with it.

It's not a 915 Carrera like you listed, but it's got a G50...even better

I'm in the Chicago west burb. I'm looking at its replacement this weekend..and should know next week if I'm actually going to sell it. Shoot me an e-mail if you think this is something you might be interested in. I'm looking for a little more than the 12K sweet spot you've seen for other cars.

[HardDrive]

I dunno, I have always thought the hunt was half the fun.

[ramonesfreak]

cannillo has a red 3.2. been there for a while. seems slightly over priced and in need of TLC but overall decent shape

http://www.cannillomotorsports.com/inventory/red87911/red87911.htm

a bit more than 500 miles from cleveland though

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I dunno, I have always thought the hunt was half the fun.

Yup, It took me over 2 years to find my car, I got to drive alot of nice cars, alot of dogs, and met alot of people. It was a very fun time. In the end the hunt was very fun, and the end result was worth it.

[RWebb]

buy a decent one

drive it while looking for the holy grail

[Dixie]

Nine years ago I started searched for my 911. At times, I'd become dissuaded. After three years of searching I found my car.. While it wasn't quite perfect, it was leagues ahead of most of the turds I'd encountered.

I'm willing to affront most on this board and state that 85% of the '89 and earlier 911s you will encounter are nasty bastardized hulks owned by those who could afford to buy, but could not afford to maintain, the car.

[911boost]

It took me about a year of serisous looking to find my turbo.

Bill

[old man neri]

12K for a good 3.2? In my mind that might be a bit low. Although the market has gone bananas lately in relation to the economy.

[911boost]

Yeah $12K won't buy you a nice SC out here.

[Stutzdriver]

Just an FYI, I have "missed" 2 relatively nice cars for under $12K in the past 4 weeks. the market in the midwest and east is soft and you can but a good 3.2 for that money. will it need some help, yes but that is what I am looking for. i don't want a "turn-key" car so i am willing to correct past sins. As long as there are not major engine, transmission (spell big $$ repairs) or collision damage, I can correct just about anything else.

[Stutzdriver]

Aslo, FYI i missed an 85 3.2 coupe in Indiana today that sod for $10,900 with 75k miles.

[911boost]

Jeez, I sold my 86 cab with 2 broken head studs, true mileage unknown for $14K. Granted it was to a Subaru dealer. They REALLY wanted to sell me a WRX. Since I was facing a top end at a min (It ended up needing way more than that) I was happy to get $14K out of it.

Bill

[beasty]

i have an 84 targa for sale, pm me if youd like some more info

[the]

It's never taken me more than a few weeks to find a good 911. In fact, just bought one this week, after looking for around 2 weeks.

[mike monde]

12k for a 3.2 in good shape would seem like a challenge to find. I would be concerned that a car in that range would need more work $$$ then what you would spend in the 16K to 18K range. Which could be a very nice SC or a decent Carrera.
FWIW, took me over a year to find what I wanted. For 12 to 14K I saw allot of cars that appeared to be "worn out" and needing allot of TLC. In the 15K to 22K range, cars where in much better shape. A huge jump in quality from one price range to the next. Seemed to me that if I was going to spend 16 to 18K anyway so I moved into the upper $$ range. I searched out the best car for the dollar which ended up being a very nice SC. The Carrera's are great cars (I have owned two) but my SC seems more "raw" which I enjoy. For a weekend warrior, it fits my needs.
I do agree with the thought that the search is half the fun, it certainly was for me.
Anyway, good luck and enjoy.

[Rot 911]

Might be helpful if you told us what colors you are looking for.

[Stutzdriver]

Color preferences noted below with the factory color code (000)

YES Colors:
Quartz Gray Metallic (662) with a maroon or black interior
Black (700)
Dark Blue (347)
Zinc Metallic (956)
Grand Prix White (908) only with a blue or red interior
Iris Blue Metallic (33P)
Guards Red (017) only with a black interior

Maybe Colors:
Ruby Red Metallic (810)
Kiln Red Metallic (811)


NO Colors:
Moss Green Metallic (20C)
Slate Blue Metallic (661)
Light Bronze Metallic (966)
Chiffon White (182)

I sold these cars new in the early 80's and have seen some wacky exterior/interior colors that I want nothing to do with (most were "stock" cars sent/forced on to dealers to "qualify" for additional allocations and where I worked was stupid enough to take them.) Examples are white cars with tan interiors, green cars with blue interiors, etc. (we had a "off color car that sat in the showroom for 18 months, finally was sold after a "seat change" with another car that made more sense but both left the dealer screwy.)

Also I will take a ROW car or a US spec car, looking for something pretty box stock with minimal "upgrades" as I have my own preferences on these so most "upgrades" would have little value.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by RWebb

buy a decent one

drive it while looking for the holy grail

He's not looking for the holy grail. He's looking for a car that needs a little work. This makes no sense, BTW, these cars are so cheap and repairs/maintenance are so expensive that one should buy the best one you can find. These cars are plentiful with the with the wide parameters indicated, ie. colors, targa or coupe, willing to travel, etc...

Eliminating eBay from a nationwide search is a head-scratcher, especially when cars are getting sold out from under you left and right. It is the world's largest selection of these cars every day of the year and if you win the auction, the car is yours until you can fly out to get it. Of course the merchandise runs the gamut from crap to pristine, but there are showroom condition cars listed most all of the time and good cars with histories from private owners as well as auction junk. One needs to know how to ask the right questions and navigate the internet, but it is where the cars are.

I could never relate to the stories of people searching for years for a fairly common used car. I've never searched for more than a week once I was ready to buy and always find what I'm looking for. 2-3 years?? I lose interest and sell before that, no matter what the car or bike is. Life is too short and there are too many things to obsess on to stay focused on a used 911 for 3 years that I don't even own. No matter how great something is, after a couple years I'm over it. That's just crazy to me. Just go out and buy a good 911 this week and drive it.