Uh Oh, this could be a problem
 

My friend retired and moved to Florida. He left behind a 1987 Carrera that he wants to sell me. 190k miles, convertible, well maintained, nice car. $22k. I don't need another car, but that sounds too good to pass up. What say you all?

Wow, unless it's broken, someone will have a steal and probably just flip it. Aren't those going for $35-50k these days. Sheesh, I'd buy it if i had the "spare" $22k laying around collecting dust.

Missing your friend could indeed be a problem but you can always take a drive down in your new 87 Carrera to visit him.

If it's not rusty and runs okay, passes a ppi I would say you should gopherit.....
What could possibly go wrong?:)

Has there been a top end along the way? At 190k that could be your main risk. Assuming all is right with the car, I'd say you just acquired a new toy. Have fun with it for a bit and when you get bored, clear an easy $10k profit.

All good.

Easy decision. Write the check.

Clean it up and flip it.

If you feel guilt about profiting in that manner donate the profit to a charity in your friends name.

If the car is black or white, buy it and flip it to me, making a few bucks for yourself along the way.

I'm local to you. 45236.

DL

I wouldn't hesitate...

What does "need another car" have to do with it? Buy it, drive it, sell it on. All you need to do is be a good steward until it finds a new home.

buy, drive it, sell and split the profit with him when your done.

I say I wish I had friends like that.

Buy it!

Don't flip it!

Then drive it like you stole it!

I might be interested in that.

If it is in decent condition at that price you pretty much did steal it!

If he's a respected friend don't flip it. I'm sure there is room for another car in you life (and garage.)

I would not complicate your life and buy a car that you do not need.

$22k is not a "price you can't refuse"
$22k is about market price for a 190k mile Cab.

Here are ones with a fewer miles for the same general price.
1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet | Bring a Trailer
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet | Bring a Trailer

Jesus, maybe I should up my stated value coverage...

Yeah, I couldn't flip it. A true friend would help him sell it for more, or just walk away. I'm going to look at it in the AM. If we like it we'll buy it and have his n hers white Carreras for a few years. Mrs WD is kind of pumped about the idea. I'm selling one of my 356s this summer, so maybe seeing her happy in a Carera will take the sting of that away. I've owned my 56 coupe since 1974. In my past life I drove it through 40 of the lower 48 states, multiple Registry Holidays, lots and lots of miles, lots of memories. I haven't driven it in almost 10 years. Time for it to go. Time for some new memories.

Or buy it, flip it and give your friend half the profit

Does he have some emotional attachment to the car that dictates you shouldn't flip it for a profit ?

I think $22K is a little high actually. Know of an 87 and 88 Coupe that both just sold for $15K and $17K. Both had @ 210K miles. Garage queens are still pricey, but a 190K mile car is not a garage queen.

I'm totally biased toward the aircooled 911s, so maybe I'm not able to give good advice.

But without seeing pictures, to me it sounds like a stupid crazy good bargain. I'd be all over that in a heartbeat. Probably because I know that 190K is nothing on that motor. It can easily go another 190K before needing a teardown.

Yes, he bought it new, ordered exactly the color combination he wanted. It's his pride and joy.

Buy it! ....now I have SRV playing in my head :)
I personally would not buy it to flip however...you don't "need" the $, and imo it would change the friendship were he to find out....just my .02.

Is the car and its options suitable to your tastes? If it wasn't your friend's but you had similar confidence in its history, would you consider buying it?

That actually makes it really cool. There's an emotional connection and a story, I like that.

I think the price is probably fair but definitely not a crazy steal either. While everything air cooled has gone up, it seems like the frenzy has somewhat cooled for the more average cars. The nice thing is that at 190k you'll have no compulsion to keep the mileage down. Drive the damn thing daily, the G50 is really easy to live with as is the 3.2.

Ah the voice of reason.

If you asked your friend the seller if you bought it and flipped it would that be okay with him? A true friend I think would say that is fine because he put no conditions on its sale.

As mentioned above if you flipped it and he was upset it could cost your friendship. :eek:

One can always offer first refusal.

Regardless as to whether you take it or not, it is nice to be offered.

Buying it and flipping it makes no sense to me. I don't need the money and I hate the hassle of selling cars. Plus, I would have to pay Ohio sales tax on it so that puts $1400 on the price right off the bat. What's the up side on a $23400 911 with 190k on the clock? I would rather help him sell it and trust he would make my effort worth while. I know he would.

Perhaps you appear to be an easy buyer. Trying to maximize the $$ from a sale from joe blow public with your friend doing the selling may not be his strong point.

And this is perhaps where you come in.:eek:

It would be an insult to me if you pass up on something like that.
jezus, I have the wrong kind of friends

He won't have too much trouble selling it. Doesn't sound like you really want it.

There are guys here who would love to have it if you want to pass on it.

This is sounding expensive!
I just talked to my friend and got some more information. All he's ever done to the car himself is wash and polish it. He has always had it serviced by the same dealership he bought it from, and he has always talked to the same service manager. All the car's records are at the dealership. He gave me the service manager's name and told me he would call the guy and tell him to expect my call.
I'm going out to see it Monday.

If he was a check writing owner and dealer serviced it might have an extensive service history. That's not a cheap way to own a Porsche, and they typically go above and beyond in terms of service.

Went to look at the car today. It is a shadow of the car I rode in just 2 years ago. Too many problems to detail. I don't need another project, and this car would be a project. I decided to pass

Typically the reason someone would leave a sports car behind is that it's having problems. If it wasn't he would take it with him.

There are a number of red flags with this car. Both my friend and the dealership say he has had all the work on it done there, and they kept it in tip top shape. But there is so much that hasn't been done. I don't know why.
The service manager says they have to put a new battery in it every spring, but the alternator belt is worn out and loose as an old whore. I would think a service department that has taken care of the same car for 30 years would check the charging system when putting in a new battery - or at least when it needed a second battery in only a year. Most service departments can't wait to tack on extra work. Why just stick in a battery when you can sell and install a much needed alternator belt? Makes me wonder what else has been neglected. There is an obvious growling from the back, sounds like a wheel bearing. Why didn't they suggest he get that fixed? It runs on 5 cylinders, which could be a gummed-up, stuck fuel injector. The car has been sitting since last summer.
I expected the usual wear and tear of a car with 198k on the clock, but this car shows too many signs of neglect for me. If I could get in it and drive I would be all over it, but I don't need another project.
Bottom line, both the owner and the service manage says it has been well maintained, but it hasn't.
His is a strange situation. About a year ago he had to leave town in a hurry to take care of his dying mother, he got stuck with staying with her and basically gave up his life here in Ohio. Bought a car there and left both of his cars here. He eventually got his own apartment and had his belongings shipped down there. Forty years in the same city, the gone, poof!

Good move....that is NOT a well maintained car by Pelican standards. You interested in a well set up '88 with 70k miles :)? I keed....she's not for sale (yet), but deserves to be driven more than I have the past few yesrs :(. I'm torn....and she is sad...

^^

Ha! I bought my '88 coupe with 80k on the clock and a book full of service records. The previous owner was a checkbook owner and spent a fortune on it. Oil change with synthetic oil every 3000 miles (!). I drove it like I stole it, and by 90k it was burning a quart of oil every 700 miles through the valve guides. "These cars is like a box of chocolates."

I would consider those items to be extremely minor. Alternator and rear wheel bearing would be a 3 hour job, and that's if you stop to drink a few beers and watch TV while you're doing it.

But, to each his own.