1988 911 Cabriolet - what's it worth???

VT944 · 07-06-2003, 07:40 PM

Hello everyone,

I'm over from the 944 board posting on behalf of a friend of mine. He has a 1988 911 Cabriolet, Red with black/tan interior, I *believe* around 70K miles, with history.

He bought a black 993 a year ago, so he is looking to sell his '88. He had it at an auto broker in New Jersey who "guaranteed they could sell it". They have had the car for a year now!!!!!!! He told them he wanted around $19k for it. is this reasonable???? seems it to me, but I don't know a whole lot about the market for 911's.

The car is really in superb condition. I can't believe the car is worth less than this???

I told him to bring it home, take a few pic's and put it on E-bay. what do you all think??

Thanks,

Brian

SpeedracerIndy · 07-06-2003, 07:43 PM

My father's 88 targa in "superb" condition with 74000 was 23K with all of the records. I would consider his car nearly perfect with the exception of the mileage. 19K seems low to me unless there is something wrong with it.

krichard · krichard's Garage

I am actually looking for a Cab in that year range. Where are you located? Can you forward pics?

VT944 · 07-06-2003, 07:47 PM

Thanks Casey,

The car has absolutley NO problems - everything works, all maintenence has been done, and paint/interior is perfect. He just had the seats redone (to original spec).

I think the guys in NJ have been giving him the run-around, why I don't know, but it seems it would sell for this much???

I would love to hear everyone's opinions, as I will be forewarding a link to this post to him.

What do you think is the best place to list this car??? Locally, there is little demand (Burlington, Vermont).

Thanks,

VT944 · 07-06-2003, 07:50 PM

Hey Krichard,

The car is still in New Jersey, but he was planning on going down and picking it up shortly. I was going to take a few pic's for him so I would be happy to send you some pic's.

The car is in Burlington, Vermont. It's a ways but I know he is looking to deal. He doesn't have the room (Condo, has two cars already) for three cars.

I see you're in Texas. He bought his 993 cab. in Houston, I believe.

I will be forewarding him this post and he can get in touch with you.

Thanks,

krichard · krichard's Garage

Thanks Brian. The best way to contact me is email at kerry.richardson@amd.com .

VT944 · 07-06-2003, 07:56 PM

OK - I just spoke to him - it's actually a '87, with 83K miles (sorry) but it is in excellent condition, with a new black top.

He is bringing it back home the weekend of the 26th.

Thanks,

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Depends on the details of the condition, and how quickly he wants to sell. My guess is $20K plus or minus.

SpeedracerIndy · 07-06-2003, 08:42 PM

Don't cabs usually go for higher than coups or targas? 83K is getting up there, but if it's 83K pampered miles, that can be better than 30K hard miles. Deffinately sounds like the NJ guy was jerking his chain.

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Where in NJ? I'm here in South Orange and want to avoid the place. Do you know the dealer's name?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

If he's telling the seller he can get him $19K, that means the broker is selling if for probably around $28K asking.

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Don't know if it'll bring that much. How much do you figure a coupe goes for in this economy? Maybe 14-19 depending on condition? Take off a little for it being a cab...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Cabs usually command a few K more than a coupe. The car has sat with the broker becuase he's likely asking close to $30K. Sitting with the broker also isn't helping the value (a missing year of use/receipts). You friend should get the car back and post it on Autotrader/Rennlist/Ebay, or sell it to a dealer/broker and be done with it (expect about $12K cash that way though).

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Todd, I think it's really nasty out here in NJ (east coast in general) for the exotic cars. The Porsche dealer told me $7K trade in value for my car (didn't tell him the miles) and the paper is listing mid 80s in the teens. That's why I'm thinking about an upgrade to a 993.

Schrup · Schrup's Garage

It's a buyers market, If he has good documentation, I would think he could unload it for $18k rather quik. Why would he let it set on a car lot for a full year? I would have at least sent a friend to the lot to see what's up.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

I would think if it checks out - no respray - no oil leaks - receipts/records he could get low 20's. E-bay doesn't look like a good place to sell - most not meeting reserve these days...

greenmonster · 07-07-2003, 06:29 AM

It's a tough market right now for sportscars. I've seen alot of pcars advertised for a long time in autotrader. There's a mauve ?? one http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=135558798 (bad resale color) and a 84 cab (can't find that listing right now) that have been listed on and off for at least the past 6 months (probably more like a year).

Listing it on autotrader, the local pca website, and the other usual suspects (pelican, rennlist, etc) should help drum up some interested buyers especially at that price.

Heck, if I didn't have 6 cars at the house (2 car garage), I'd be interested in it

I've got a bunch of pcar forsale links here:

http://www.john-perry.com/porsche/index.html

Hmmm.. now that I'm thinking 'bout it I do remember a Vermont 911 forsale on ebay or autotrader awhile back. As you said, there's not much demand up there for porsches. The boston area is a little better, so you might want to advertise it here:

http://www.porschenet.com/martcars.html

VT944 · 07-07-2003, 07:43 PM

Thanks everyone - yeah sounds like the broker was trying for too much money.

After he bought the 993, he brought the 911 down and left it with them, as they assured him they could move it for him.

They sold his '71 911T he had a while back rather quickly, so I think that's why he let it stay there that long. Plus, they keep the cars inside and he has no room for it at home.

I spoke to him last night, and he's going down to get it on the 26th. We will employ some of the ideas mentioned in this post, hopefully with better luck.

Krichard, I will be sure he gets your E-mail address.

Thanks everyone!

ludovicbreger · 07-07-2003, 08:18 PM

I'd say you should be able to get $19K fairly easily if the car is in
the condition you describe. As already mentioned in this thread, the
broker is most likely asking way too much.

I have been looking very closely at the prices of 87-88 911 coupes
and cabs in the SF area over the last year, and there is a clear
and ridiculous price difference between car advertised by dealers/brokers and private parties especially given the
economic slowdown.

I also got a depressing quote for a trade-in ($6-8K) from the dealer
for my 911 88.
GSpreeman: where you thinking about an upgrade because of the drop
in the value of 993?

GSpreeman · GSpreeman's Garage

Lud, yeah, right now it's a buyer's market. The problem is I would probably have to hold the Carrera and get a 993 cab and then get rid of the Carrera when the market comes back around.