Lamenting Our No-Longer Affordable Hobby

[onewhippedpuppy]

Worthy of note, the reason I'm looking on Craigslist vs buying on Craiglist is time. It's also the reason why I'm selling my Boxster, and maybe further thinning the herd after that point. I do genuinely enjoy working on and cleaning cars, but time is definitely the limiting factor at this point in my life.

I would also say that my original post was not in regards to the entire hobby car industry, more specifically directed to Porsches. As I and others have noted, there are a LOT of fun and unique hobby car options out there for $10k or less.

[Deschodt]

I've been whining about that for years, mostly on the Early911S forums...
All the cars on my bucket list which used to be attainable (20-40K) are now 60-100...
Game over.. For ex: A pagoda, an alpine A110, a 356, a stepnose Alfas, an E9 CSi, hell I remember 40K dinos ! As for the newly importable 90s dream cars like a Lancia Delta and the like, not in Cali... I need to move ;-(

At least I secured an early 911 + a GTV in time...

[Charles Freeborn]

Yep. Boxter.

[KNS]

Matt,

More to your point, I think the whole investor frenzy along with the auctions soured the Porsche hobby. Look at an Excellence magazine from 20 years ago compared to today. These days, especially around auction season, the magazines are full of ads from the big auction houses; Meacum, Bonhams, R&M, etc. In addition, look at all the ads from companies dedicated to "Want to buy your Air Cooled Porsche". The magazines are full of them.

Twenty or thirty years ago there were zero such ads. I'm happy to be an air cooled owner but it's turned me off a little bit.

[pwd72s]

Hobbies come, hobbies go.

[JeremyD]

Plenty of fun cars out there - you just have to change your style a little and dig...

VW Golf GTI - Subaru BRZ/FRS - Miata - even the S2000 - all capable cars for small money and fun to drive.

The Boxster/ Cayman I think are great cars for the money -

Japanese cars are fun - and lots of aftermarket stuff - just different

I like the current Mustangs and Camaro - again definitely affordable performance.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Demand is high because more people have more money... And supply is not increasing.

Sad to say, either during the next recession or when these people die off is when prices will go down.

I would say you're partially correct...

Demand is high, which is driving prices, because people who have money, have more money...

I'm not sure that more people are getting wealthier, but the wealthier people seem to becoming more active in the more appealing hobbies, like air-cooled cars, and a deeper pocket is going to run a price up every time...

Maybe I'm wrong...

[berettafan]

zero interest in water cooled for me so I'm pretty much priced out. The most fun I had with my '70 911 was autocrossing. a total hoot. once I got a taste of that any sort of legal driving on public roads was just bleh. no fun. I'd love to have another longhood or even SC prepped for parking lot warfare but at the prices I'm seeing today I wouldn't enjoy owning it. I know miatas are an awesome value and very satisfying to wrench on but they just don't pull out of a turn in second gear like a 911 does.

well I'm glad I at least got to experience it for a little while.

now if I saw a prepped 914 with a 6 in it for reasonable money....I MIGHT be tempted.

[Deschodt]

I repeat myself (must be old age), but IMO there are only a few affordable/fun/reliable/good-value-for-$ classics cars left... The primo one IMNSHO is the BMW 2002. Buy one. Preferably in a crazy loud color ;-) Buy a base car, not a Tii, you can soup up that engine 25 different ways. That car is a go kart, so much fun to drive and so practical... if I had room I'd buy 3 !

[1990C4S]

https://toledo.craigslist.org/cto/d/1982-fiat-124-spider-2000/6293415962.html

a) cheap b) you will ALWAYS have something to fix....

[DanielDudley]

I can make a 124 reliable, particularly the ones with Bosch fuel injection. Most of the problems I see are from previous owners. Miatas are the sweet spot.

[sc_rufctr]

Older sports cars are much cooler than the current models. That and the lesser use of plastic and high tech that goes bad and you don't get that big depreciation hit. If you buy right any money you put into them you'll see back again when it comes time to sell. There's no mystery here.

A friend of mine restores older British sports cars on the side. He's what I would describe as a semi-pro. He does some of the work himself and outsources the paint & body work. Mostly MGs, Austin Healeys etc. He has about 10 cars at various staged at any given time. There's lots of older unloved British sports cars in Australia. He restoring a first series Land Rover right now. AND he's making money. Not a lot but he's happy.

I've posted this a few times but the biggest financial regret I have is saying no to a cheap Aston Martin DB5. (Silver with red leather interior)
It needed a full restoration inside and out but it was OK mechanically. About 25 years ago... Asking price: $12,000!

[Max Von]

Some local CL listings....
Still some affordable, but nothing like the old days with air cooled.

https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/d/porsche-928s/6339222665.html

https://providence.craigslist.org/ctd/d/1987-porsche-944s-spectacular/6327197028.html

https://providence.craigslist.org/cto/d/1993-porsche-968/6307317100.html

https://providence.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-porsche-911-carrera-4-cab/6326383291.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/cto/d/1985-porsche-944-red-classic/6327259898.html

https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/d/1974-porsche-914/6331323349.html

[A930Rocket]

I sold my 81 SC and bought my 87 930 in 2000. It was in great shape but stock. Over the years, I made bolt on suspension mods, wheels, etc and rebuilt the engine. 400 RWHP. It was absolutely scary at the track but I loved it. I felt like I was ALIVE!

Sold it when the economy went south, especially new home construction in 2010.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever be able afford another one or take it to the track.

Other cars just don't interest me.

[wildthing]

As far as classic Porsches go, yes, I do lament the no-longer-affordable prices. After I bought my 88 in 2011, I was looking for a 993 in 2012 or 2013, they were $25K to $30K, but my wife wouldn't let me buy another one.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I repeat myself (must be old age), but IMO there are only a few affordable/fun/reliable/good-value-for-$ classics cars left... The primo one IMNSHO is the BMW 2002. Buy one. Preferably in a crazy loud color ;-) Buy a base car, not a Tii, you can soup up that engine 25 different ways. That car is a go kart, so much fun to drive and so practical... if I had room I'd buy 3 !

Honestly looking at value for money the 2002 has jumped the shark. When I see round tail light tii models selling for $30k+, that's even dumber than air cooled 911 prices.

[Max Von]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I sold my 81 SC and bought my 87 930 in 2000. It was in great shape but stock. Over the years, I made bolt on suspension mods, wheels, etc and rebuilt the engine. 400 RWHP. It was absolutely scary at the track but I loved it. I felt like I was ALIVE!

Sold it when the economy went south, especially new home construction in 2010.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever be able afford another one or take it to the track.

Other cars just don't interest me.

I totally understand.
Sold my minty 1988 Carrera after moving to San Diego to make ends meet and support the wife and me. Regret has never left me. Once on our feet, bought a new 400hp GTO, sold it for what I bought it. Then an E55 Mercedes W210.
Never had the same "Thrill". Nothing like a 911.
Oh well.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Max Von

I totally understand.
Sold my minty 1988 Carrera after moving to San Diego to make ends meet and support the wife and me. Regret has never left me. Once on our feet, bought a new 400hp GTO, sold it for what I bought it. Then an E55 Mercedes W210.
Never had the same "Thrill". Nothing like a 911.
Oh well.

If I had to choose from this crowd I know what I would be driving!

[sugarwood]

Question for the guys who think an old 911 is the only car that is fun to drive .
Do you also have this "stuck in the past" mindset in other aspects of your lives?


(you are truly missing out on many great cars)

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Question for the guys who think an old 911 is the only car that is fun to drive .
Do you also have this "stuck in the past" mindset in other aspects of your lives?


(you are truly missing out on many great cars)

Over the years I've driven and owned a whole bunch of cars. The SC is the one that stayed post divorce. 15 years later it's still with me. I've fixed, adjusted & rebuilt everything on the car. It's completly stock except for the Wheels. It's insured for $75,000 AUD. When it comes time to sell I'll walk away with a chunk of money. Way more than I paid for it. I may be close to breaking even if you include parts, maintenance & insurance. Fun car that basically will cost me nothing except time. Time I didn't spend in front of the TV or goofing off.

Am I stuck in the past? Yes absolutely I am.