What year 930 to buy?

[Lensart]

I just sold my '83 SC Cab. since it costs so much to upgrade to 300hp or more.

Now I'm looking at 930's or maybe a 3.2 turbo look Cab.

The top amount I'm willing to spend is about $25000. I would perfer it closer to $20000.

There are several cars on Ebay, some stock and some with mod's. would you buy the best stock one you could afford or buy one that already has performance upgrades?

What about this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6433&item=2469926833&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT

Or http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470481679&category=6433

Or http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2469820154&category=6433

What is the best year to buy? Are there some years to avoid?

I got out bid on a 1984 Euro 930, I stoped at $21200, was it worth more?

I'd really like to hear any advice. If I had found this forum before I bought my Cab . 4 weeks ago I would of bought a later model.

Thanks Randy

[David]

You should be able to find a good condition '86 or '87 930 for $25K. Excellent condition would be in the $30K's. You can find an Excellent condition 78 or 79 for under $25K. I don't think I'd offer much more than you did for a Euro model. I paid $22.5K for my 79 last year and it already had most upgrades. I figured I would have done them anyway.

The only 930's to avoid are the ragged out ones, since the Euro models (80 to 85) may have been run hard in Europe they are usually avoided. The 76 and 77 don't have intercoolers and have a 3.0 engine. The 78 and 79 fuel injection flows more than newer ones so you can make more power, but they're older and have very expensive brakes. The 86 to 88 have better A/C and are just plain newer. The 89 is the first one with a 5 speed so it is highly sought after.

[Lensart]

The guy backed out of the deal so I'm going to have to wait on the 930.
Randy

[Carl_Boehme]

I owned a 1986 930 for most of its first 17,000 miles. It was a great car but it had an unusual transmission problem. When stopped, if I couldn't get it into 1st then the procedure was to select a high gear first then it would easily go into 1st. I understand that this was corrected in 1987. Has anyone else seen that problem.

[Emission]

Originally posted by Carl_Boehme
I owned a 1986 930 for most of its first 17,000 miles. It was a great car but it had an unusual transmission problem. When stopped, if I couldn't get it into 1st then the procedure was to select a high gear first then it would easily go into 1st. I understand that this was corrected in 1987. Has anyone else seen that problem.

Mine is hard to get into REVERSE. I just row through another gear pretty quick (or move the car and inch or two) and it slips in just fine...

As far as the 930 goes... I'd spend every penny of $25,000 getting the best 930 you can afford. A 930 with "issues" will suck your pocket DRY!

Choose a car with lots of receipts. Check for regular oil changes, turbo replacement interval (low interval means abuse), clutch change interval (low interval again means abuse), and upgrades. Many 930's are running 1-bar springs, or K-27 turbos. Both can be fine as long as you don't have predetonation issues.

Pay for a PPI.

[Doug Steinel]

Lensart,

Excellence Mag had a Bruce Anderson Market Update on the 930 in its Oct 03 issue. If you don't have access to it, I will fax you a copy if you send me a fax number.

Doug

[Lukesportsman]

This is when I would say "newer" isn't always "better". First I would define what your intentions are for the car. If its just to have fun and you don't require the G50 style transmission, then get a 86-87. If your planning a killer with obscene hp, then get a 78-79. If your honestly just wanting more hp than before with 300ish, I would consider the 76-77 due to reduce desire the cost is great. Smallish engine will be more peaky with less torque obviously. Don't buy one that has been stored for a long time, no matter mileage is low....it will get you on all the soft stuff.

If your intentions are to modify or restore, don't pay for things that your going to do over. So-so paint, new shocks, new OEM pads and brakes, cheap carpet kits, etc. This is not specific to 930's, but more a general car restoration issue. Buy it raw or buy it finished but don't pay for a half axxed botched restoration that you'll have to redo. Then your just buying it twice.

[Emission]

Originally posted by Lukesportsman
Don't buy one that has been stored for a long time, no matter mileage is low....it will get you on all the soft stuff.

I have to agree.

Mine had 119,000 when I bought it two years ago. Now, it just passed 130,000 relatively trouble-free miles.

The previous owner of mine drove it daily, and maintained it religiously. I can't thank him enough.

[Stuttgart951]

Its generally accepted that the 78 and later cars are worth the premium over the first generation 930's for a variety of reasons.

Grey market cars (80-85) are anyone's guess. As long as the car has been federalized and passes a PPI with flying colors, I say you have nothing to worry about. Getting one of the greys is a great way to get a monster car for less than a monster price.