89 Carrera 3.2 in Austin, Texas - need someone to look at car.

[jschauer]

AUSTIN, TEXAS RESDIENTS -- I am looking at purchasing my first 911 from a Porsche fanatic in Austin, Texas. There are no good cars in the Pacific Northwest at the moment. I am in need of someone with knowledge of these cars to help me by going to view/drive the car to see if it truly is as nice as the seller and pictures seem to indicate. I live in Seattle so a visit is not feasible. The car looks very nice in the photos and a spreadsheet with all work done shows it has been very well cared for, incluing an engine rebuild at 75K that included replacing pistons/cylinders with Mahler items. It has a Dansk 2 into 1 exhaust and SSIs, new suspension, tires, battery etc etc. I am a little concernd that it needed a rebuild so early and engine was split but the items used are top notch and the seller has all records and used the car as a daily driver for 11 years.

If someone is willing to help me, please let me know. I would be willing to pay for your time to view the car and then call me if reasonable. I am also in need of a good mechanic there to perform a PPI.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Jason Schauer.

[jmz]

who did the engine rebuild?

[jschauer]

Moorespeed in Austin. Seller paid 9K 5 years ago for this work and my Seattle mechanic who is very well respected here - John Walker - tells me that for that price, some things may have been left out. I am awaitng a pdf from the seller of these records to determine if the heads were rebuilt at the same time.

[jmz]

David Moore has a good reputation. Maybe some of the Austin folks will chime in but I'd feel pretty confident that it was done right.

At 75K it was probably in pretty good shape to start with...

[Pat Crellin]

I would gladly check it out to let you know if it's worth a PPI. Unfortunately, I'm still laid up with knee replacements. My goal is to be able to drive my P-car in 7-10 days. If I make my goal & you still need help then, I'll do it.
I like to check out boats & porsches.

[john walker's workshop]

i think the main issue is that it's selling for $15K. kind of a red flag for a car that could get $22K in a heartbeat.

[jschauer]

JMZ and Pat -- thank you both.

The car was burning a lot of oil according to the seller and his mechanic said it was simply time to do the rebuild at 75K. Isn't that soon for these cars? While doing so, he decided to upgrade the p/c and some other items. No oil consumption issues sine rebuild but it dos drip "1-3 drops" after driving in the same locaton.

He has done everything his mechanic has ever suggested plus all sorts of other things to make it perfect and now has too many nice cars so has to sell. He has certainly mainained the car very well I have no doubt. He even spent thousands upgrading the ac sytem and repainting hood/qrt panels/mirrors/lower spoiler area (5K+) so I believe the car should be nice to very nice. I really cannot purchase a car without at least 2 people telling me it drives and looks very solid since I will either fly to Texas and drive it home or buy it and truck it back here sight unseen. It will need a clutch in 10-15K though but if that is all I will need to spend immediately after purchasing, I'm fine with that.

Pat -- I am in no hurry and neither is the seller. If no one else offers to help me, let me know when you feel up for it and I will discuss with you and the seller. Thanks again.

[jschauer]

Well hello John! The seller started listing the car at nearly 20K, then after 3-4 months reduced it to 15,500. Tons of people have inquired but only a couple have visited and driven the car. According to the seller, many Californians have called but because the cat has been removed, they all run from the car due to emissions. You are right though, the price is low, which adds to my unease. My wife is already freaking at the thought of buying a 20 year old Porsche! John, maybe you can explain to my wife that you will keep the car running like a top for reasonable $$!

Jason

[SP2]

Don't you got any frequent flyer miles? I went to the University of Texas. Great TexMex food and probably warm there now. That's a lot of money, not to see it with your own eyes and drive it. Otherwise I would be patient and wait. Something will come up on craigslist here or in Portland. Just my suggestion.

[Pat Crellin]

Jason-
PM me in a week or so if I can help & I'll let you know if I'm driving.

[holtjv]

Jason: I live in Austin and would be able to look at and drive the car for you. But full disclosure, I am no expert. I'm happy to take a list of things you'd like me to look at/assess/photograph, whatever you like. My mechanic is quite good, if you're looking for a PPI or pre PPI--maybe ideally i could do the grunt work then, if you're interested, get the owner to take it to my guy Steve Henry.

I'm also in the local PCA club (http://www.hcrpca.org/) and probably could find a good resource to look at the car with me or in place of me.

So, to sum, if you can get hold of someone better, go for it. If you want some grunt work done, I'm happy to oblige--shoot me a PM and I'll give you my contact info.

Jack

[holtjv]

Originally posted by SP2
Don't you got any frequent flyer miles? I went to the University of Texas. Great TexMex food and probably warm there now. That's a lot of money, not to see it with your own eyes and drive it. Otherwise I would be patient and wait. Something will come up on craigslist here or in Portland. Just my suggestion.

Warm? We're having the second week of our 2-week winter right now. Low in the 20s tonight and winter storm warning through tues night.

[jschauer]

Jack - Thanks. I think I just PM'd you. I am new here so let me know if you did not receive it. Reply and we can exchange contact info. I suspect we will need to wait until the snow and ice are not too bad where you are. It is still icy and freezing in Seattle! Drive safe.

[holtjv]

Originally posted by jschauer
Jack - Thanks. I think I just PM'd you. I am new here so let me know if you did not receive it. Reply and we can exchange contact info. I suspect we will need to wait until the snow and ice are not too bad where you are. It is still icy and freezing in Seattle! Drive safe.

Jason, replied to your email. Hoping that we can get some board participation after posting a lot of pictures. The guys are amazing here and basically can act as another 200 eyes for the PPI mechanic.

Jack

[holtjv]

Originally posted by Pat Crellin
Jason-
PM me in a week or so if I can help & I'll let you know if I'm driving.

Pat: let me know if you'd like to come along--happy to pick you up. Looks like the earliest would be this weekend. PM me. Jack

[frankc]

Jason,

I'm in Austin as well and could take a look. As was mentioned, there are also a couple of shops in the area that can perform a PPI, or I could take a look myself for one extra pair of eyes. I'm most comfortable with the 74-86 models (pre G50). Access to a lift would would be necessary to do any credible inspection IMO, but unfortunately I am relatively new to the area an don't know any shop owners well enough to ask any favors at this point.

[jschauer]

Frankc - thanks. I think Jack is on it though. I really want one or two porsche people to simply look at the paint and drive it for basic functionality and aesthetics to tell me if the pics/representations should be relied upon. It is a sort of pre-PPI. If Jack tells me it looks real nice and drives straight, I will spring for the ppi. Thanks for the offer. I may take you up if Jack has problems or his view is somehow inconlusive.

Jason

[jschauer]

PICTURES. Please voice your thoughts on the look of this car. Jack will be viewing it with his own eyes for me soon (thanks again jack!) but people feel free to voice your opinions. The paint is suppose to be very nice (respray by Austin painter who handles dealership Porsches on front bonnet, qrtr panels and mirrors). The interior is also suppose to look new and there a great number of items have been replaced or refreshed -- rubber bis and weather stripping. Windshield does show pitting according to seller.

I will post the close ups the seller is sending once I receive. Thanks. Jason.

[jmz]

looks nice,
have you thought about calling David Moore to ask what he knows or did to the car?

http://www.moorespeed.com/contact/index.html

[jschauer]

Yes. I am having my Seattle mech John Walker speak to him this week. That should produce some good info I think.