A 912 for the wife?

[Dantilla]

My wife doesn't want to drive the 911. Stiff suspension, light flywheel, 5-point harnesses, no cup holders etc.

She also doesn't want to drive the NARP 944. Something about roll cages, window nets and big numbers on the doors. And no cup holders.

A guy is asking me to buy his 1976 912E because he needs to go to China, and knows I know about these cars.

Black/ black, Recaro seats, harnesses, Momo steering wheel, bigger brakes, Bursch exhaust along with all original parts in excellent condition. Even the hard to find heat exchangers. Numbers matching with Certificate of Authenticity. $6500.

When I first saw the car, I thought no big deal, I can put a real engine in it some day. But the car is too nice to modify.

Question- Does this sound like a decent semi-daily driver? Anybody familiar with a 912E?

[k9handler]

for that price it should be in PERFECT condition as a nice 911 can be found in that range.

[Evans, Marv]

May be OK as an investment, in case these cars go up in value - but they don't seem to have done that over the last almost 30 years. At any rate I wouldn't stick a flat 6 in it bacause there aren't that many stock ones around, whether they are worth anything or not. Have you considered a different kind of car for your wife - seems like she might be hinting at something like that.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Evans, Marv
May be OK as an investment, in case these cars go up in value - but they don't seem to have done that over the last almost 30 years. At any rate I wouldn't stick a flat 6 in it bacause there aren't that many stock ones around, whether they are worth anything or not. Have you considered a different kind of car for your wife - seems like she might be hinting at something like that.

I agree with Marv on this one. I see no shame in having a newer, more economical, and easier to fix car as a daily driver.

[Joe Bob]

Be advised the 912E has a Type IV motor in it....a left over 914 motor....then they used left over "L" Jet fuel injection which was only used on the 1.8 914s.....so it will be a b!tch finding parts.

If you have to smog it....the smog parts are unique to that year.....

Now, if you don't have to smog it....that motor can be turned into a monster with the right rebuild and still maintain the light weight powerplant and nimbleness the 912 was noted for.....

[Hoffman912]

www.912bbs.org

[kellzey]

When I read the thread title... I thought you were looking for a trade?

I have some questions...

1. Does she cook and clean
2. Does she complain a lot?
3. Is her mother a PITA?
4. Does shet get frequent "headaches", if you know what I mean?

I have a 1976 912E that I am willing to trade for a good wife.

PM if interested.

[SandyI]

Why bother buying a 912E for $6500 when you can by a 76 911 for the same price?

Has she driven the car? I know my wife wouldn't enjoy driving a car with such weak acceleration.

[Hoffman912]

actually a 912E is a great car. you can get some good power and good torque out of those type 4 engines. they have lots of potential.

the stock engines, although theyre not a 911, arent too bad. sure the fi system can cause headaches if its been butcherd, in bad shape or not complete. but the thing is to get a well sorted 912E.

they handle very well, and have great brakes (everything is 911s on it except the engine).

they also make excellent cars for long distance touring -a very comfortable ride, and pretty darn good gas milage.

dont poo poo the E just because its not a 6 banger. they have their good merrits too that does give them value (and take note that 912 and 912E values have been rising stedily in the last few years as well!)

[SandyI]

Can't agree with you there, Harry.

A stock 912E has one of the worst power/weight ratios of any car Porsche ever built. The absolute worst of any of the post '64 "911" body style.

High speed touring? How? At the top of fifth gear with that 4 banger howling for hours at a time? That isn't my idea of a comfortable ride.

Good handling? Compared to what? You could drive a 914 faster through a slalom or on the track than a 912E.

Much better to own a 66-69 912 like you do. You have the wonderful early body style and the lighter weight.

And once you put all that time, money and energy into maximizing that Type iV engine in that 912E, what do you have? Something as fast as a 911S, that's worth less, with twice the investment?

Again, I bow down to your dedication and knowledge of all things 912, but you can't sell me on this specific car for $6500.

[Hoffman912]

i agree the stock engines are slower.. and it does take some money to build it up nice (as all porsches do)

but if you build it yourself (and its a pretty simple engine), you can save alot of money. there is a guy on the 912 pelican board who has built himself a very powerful t4 engine to put into his early 912 for 4 grand.

granted a 914 handels better -a 914 handels better than most porsches period. its a different car, youre comparing a 914 lay out to a 901 based lay out. but a 912 E will handle better than a 911. it has better weight distribution.

also i never said high speed touring.. (assuming its stock of course), i just said long distance touring.

but if you do build a hot t4, yes.. you can do high speed touring with out a probelm.

one of my friends, Dave Lovato has a very nice E, an its not too far from stock, the motor is a 2.1 or so. his car can kick my cars ass any day, speed, handeling etc.

besides, like i said for touring a 912E is hard to beat. if youre talking about speed.. well we all know.

i agree with you, the early 901/2 series is the best. looks, weight etc. plus i am a big fan of the 356/912 engine lay out, compared to the type 4. but as a touring model, an E is hard to beat.

ps.. i believe the E had more hp than the 924.

[pkfrdh]

Where can you find a perfect '76 911S for $6500?

That would be a car w/ nice original paint, no body problems, no interior problems, not high mileage, no need for any engine or mechanical repairs, current updates applied, excellent maintainence record, single owner car, etc. I don't think they exist any more....at least not for sale...that car is tucked away in someone's garage worth more than $6500 to the owner.

I have never even seen a perfect '74 -'77 911S for sale...they all seem to need so many things to get to "perfect". I have only seen fair cars for sale for that price range w/ a long list of deferred maintainence repairs or updates needed.

My only experience w/ 912's was the White w/ red int. '69 5-spd my wife had back from '82 thru '84. She loved that car, but I don't think the relationship was mutual. She had endless problems w/ carb synchronizing, cracked heads, and rust in all the typical places. We tore the car apart...did a nice restoration paint job and sold it for what we had into the car and got the '77 Carrera 3.0 we have now. Totally different cars...the early 912's are like fun little "go carts" compared to the heavier later 911 cars...but the later ones are like a true touring sports car. I imagine the 912E has the same touring car feel w/ less power. I would hope the power plants in the 912E are more reliable than what we experienced.

It seems to me that $6500 is not cheap, and may be expensive if the car is not in good condition with hidden damage or deferred maintenance. But if this is an original owner, original paint car w/ a desirable color not needing anything...where can you find that in this market? This car already seems to have some valuable upgrades as well.

I don't think it will ever be a collectable classic as has been hoped for by 912E owners, but still could be a nice rust resistant car that has a relatively low cost motor to maintain and yet the overall feel and safety of the later touring platform of the '74 and later 911 cars...sans the power of the 6 cyl. Do the 912E motors have head bolt problems and as many oil leak problems as 911 cars?

The key here is to be sure to not buy it for that price if it needs anything that would significantly raise that price. Check it out very closely including proof of previous owners, if possible, as well as all previous maintenance records.

Good luck...also make sure the wife drives it around for a while to see if she really even likes the car.

Joe in Santa barbara

[rlh930]

Does your wife like to walk?

[Dantilla]

Okay, a little about my wife-

-She cooks
-she cleans
-she only complains about not having a Porsche of her own.
-Her mother ALWAYS sides with me.
-No headaches.

I'm keeping her.

I'm not interested in hopping up this car. I already have the 3.2 powered '73 for hooligan driving. Another car just needs to be more fun on the way to Starbucks.

By the way, I'm keeping her!

I haven't seen all the original parts yet. If they are in as good condition as the car, I may buy it. I can always change my mind and sell it again.

My wife is excited about it, but we haven't driven the car yet. The seller actually decided not to sell, then found out his costs are going to be quite a bit higher than he thought, and has no choice. He then called me, asking me to buy it.

Bruce Anderson's market update for October 2004 for the 912E:
Poor: 7375
Good: 8385
Excellent: 11,225

Decisions, decisions.....

No trades for my wife. I'm keeping her!

[Hoffman912]

actually 6500 is low for a well sorted E.

edit.. ok so youve seen the valuations.

if youre really serious and thinking about an E, you should check out the 912 registry's bbs www.912bbs.org

if you want some leads on possable cars i can see what i can find.

[COLDBASS]

Semi-daily driver? I am gonna lose some friends here, but, BTDT
I would advise against this decision for the wife. As an investment, for that price, buy it. If its that clean, then $10k is not asking too much...basically my recommendation is buy it and resell it...take the additional cash and find her a nice Jetta or Passat.

[Hoffman912]

Originally posted by COLDBASS
Semi-daily driver? I am gonna lose some friends here, but...

boo.. hiss

[COLDBASS]

[Dantilla]

She would never consider a Jetta or Passat. Boring. Yuk. Yawn.

This would be a "semi" driver because we need to keep her Jeep Wrangler. Gotta have at least one convertable, ya know. The Jeep is fun with the top and doors off. A 912 would just be another fun way to scoot around town.

[Hoffman912]

****.. why not just get an early 912 then? hell.. you can even make it a targa, so that you can have a convertable! heck.. why not a soft window targa! that way you can remove rear window and the top!