Urgent buying advise needed Please help

[Mark sP]

Hi guys,

Your thoughts are needed on this item

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2493205357

The car is too far away to be viewed prior to end of auction. The seller looks bonefide, the car looks great.

They have confirmed that the top end was rebuilt at 46ooo miles.
But I am worried that at now the car has covered 150,000 miles, this may need doing again?

ten hours till end of auction. I suspect that should I just forget this one. What would you guru's do?

Thanks

Mark

[dillinger]

I'll give you the good points, as I'm sure others will fill the void. I have over 200 buying and selling experiences, including buying 3 cars via Ebay.

1. Seller has a real good feedback history. 1 Negative feedback a long time ago. Neutral feedbacks were not bad and delt w/ politely!
2. Great auction page w/ tons of information. Lots of pictures! Pictures of all the receipts.
3. Complete service history on car. It looks good and if taken care of will last a real long time.
4. This price is low right now. 6,000 pounds... ~$3,500.

Things I would do is call the dealer, talk to them. You will be able to get a feel for their honesty by having a conversation w/ them. Ask about an inspection, see if they have any problems provided you can have it done before auctions end (even if you have no intentions to). Ask about a post auction inspection, if there are major problems, see if they will nullify the auction. You can always get it inspected afterwards, if it doesn't pass, don't buy it. Who knows if they will go further than giving you negative feedback. That would be better than buying a junker. I'm not sure if you have a service like Carfax. I would run a title report to verify the owner history, see if it matches the receipts. Ask to have that gas smell delt with before you take delivery.

Good luck!
Don

[jevvy]

hmm, it's a tough one - no significant advice, just a few thoughts...

Seems quite cheap, it can also be seen advertised here at £6950:

Exchange & Mart

I guess it will depend on what you want to do with it, if buying to keep it might not be too bad but if you plan on trying to sell it again you might struggle to make much more than the current asking price - there seems to be a few cheapish porsches appearing at the moment

Im not too keen on the interior - not a hangover driver, would make you barff!
All documents seem to be in place, 8 owners seems to be about normal for the age, wheels look a bit wierd with the centers that colour

Im not sure how you will find it after the 3.2 you have - will you keep them both or did you have plans?

And a quick question for you...what difference did you find with the Wong chip, is yr 3.2 the 231bhp model and did you drive it standard before hand - I have read a lot about the difference the chip makes to the US 3.2's but not so much about the Euro models - any comments appreciated

Enough of my rambling - good luck with the auction if you go for it, cheers

[jevvy]

Quick update for the dudes accross the pond, £6000 is $10,684.83 USD not $3500 USD as stated above

With all due respect of course

[Jim Richards]

We knew that.

[Mark sP]

Thanks for the input guys. Very helpful as always!!!

To answer the questions raised, but in no particular order,

I intend to buy a second 911. I want another that I can track without worrying too much. The targa is far too nice to 'rough-up'.

I am also unsure how the SC will feel and perform alongside the 3.2 already in my stable. CHIME IN HERE SC guys please.

I love that chequered interior, but will probably remove it all and store it as I intend to lighten the car for track day use.

How easy is it to instal a new headliner?

I agree that the seller seems to be top rated and the pics and history of the car look very thorough.

I did drive my 3.2 prior to the Steve Wong chip. My targa is the last year of production and the UK sport specs. Quite frankly I was underwhellmed by the response of the car. Yes it was quick but I felt you really had to work the car to get it to perform. After fitting the SW chip, she was transformed. Maybe the actual numbers are no better than stock, I don't know, I haven't dyno'd it. But the response of the engine is much much better. I now am thinking of installing a shift light, because she revs to redline so quickly!

I have done 10K miles since installing the chip, and no probs at all. I went to London Yesterday, 230 mile round trip on half a tank of gas, so the mpg isn't hurt by the chip either.
GET ONE!

[Mark sP]

I'm gouing to let this one slide guys. I don't feel comfortable buying without physically seeing it.

I spoke to the seller who seemed fine. But they would not entertain the idea of a post auction inspection. If you win the auction, the car is yours.

Although there is alot of history, all the major jobs were done in the first 70K miles. Since then, just servicing.

I'm sure the winner will be getting a nice SC though. Maybe he will end up posting here?

[aigel]

Never buy a car without seeing it and test driving it. I can take pics of any of my cars and they always look great. In real life, it's a different story.

Also, an inspection of the engine is mandatory. SCs like to snap head studs and your climate does not help that either.

Did I miss something, or did the seller leave out pics of the engine? And why was there an overhaul at such early mileage? My SC has 160k miles and never has been apart.

George

[911mot]

I watched a 1990 911 get listed twice by them and the same for another 911 not so long ago. Maybe it was the buyer messing but you never really know.
The prices are good but one has to question a 1-day listing, surely?

PS an exhaust isnt £98 either!
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/

[dillinger]

Sorry for the #-$ conversion error. It was early here on my side of the pond when I responded.

Don

[juanbenae]

my 911 purchase was one of the 1st i did not rush and go off halfed cocked on, and i am glad everyday i handled it that way. not to say your efforts were half cocked, but i think ebay purchases tend to create an urgency that is not condusive to the buyer's best interest.

keep looking and yee shall be rewarded.

[Mark sP]

I agree on all counts. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I was most concerned at that simple fact of a one day auction in the first place. Just wanted to hear some fellow Pelicanites say "wow, slow down there buddy" or something to that effect. LOL

[jevvy]

Mark - so you decided not to...probably for the best, wait for one that you can actually go and see. As I said I have seen a few cheaper 911's coming up recently, I suppose that's why I found mine for not much more(actually less than - just checked auction £7900 - phew!) than that SC and only needing a bit of work to get going. Anyway, back to the chip thanks for the info - it seems you are quite impressed and I’m really pleased you were able to give before and after butt dyno report. What did you exactly order from him, did you get it tweaked to match any other mods exhaust etc?

911MOT - how’s the 3.2 going, any more changes? You may be the right man to give Mark some feedback about the difference in drive from a SC to 3.2 as you used to own one I think. I have also previously seen that bloke selling porkas on ebay, he seems to get a few motors through his hands - I was always a bit suspicious of buying a car that had been re-possessed – I’m sure most of them are taken for a "last drive" if you know what I mean before they are taken away!!!!!

[jevvy]

dillinger - hehe, still had sleep in your eyes????

[911mot]

3.2 going like a train still.
Moving into house with garage next month - lots planned, watch this space!

Mark I'm sure you've looked but just in case here two great pork dealers.

www.911virgin.com

www.paul-stephens.com

I bought mine from the virgins and my mate bought his from paul stephens - both highly recommended. They wouldn't sell tat - it would ruin their reputations.

3.2 or SC? Doesn't matter as long as it's 'right' They are both great cars although you'll get a better SC for the same amount of money. And if you can live with LHD you'll get an even better car for the money

good luck hunting, show us what you find

[jevvy]

"Moving into house with garage next month - lots planned, watch this space!"


C'mon man, share the love!!!

[911mot]

I'm going to rent a house in the middle of nowhere with no central heating just because of the garage. And that's where the first heater is going!

Thats how much I love her

[jevvy]

no man, maybe I wasn’t clear enough - I want to know your plans for the 3.2 and what conclusions you have come to from what you have read...sorry, I will be less cryptic next time!

[911mot]

LOL

Planned: sport pre silencer, sport silencer, clutch, rebuild driveshafts , fit bilstiens if not already fitted, oil return tubes.

Mark take your time.

Slowly slowly catchy monkey

[Mark sP]

LOL. Gotta love a guy who heats the garage before the house! Hehehehe.

Thanks for the links mot. I know of virgin, but the others new to me.

Jevvy, I just emailed Steve back and forth. I ordered for a totally stock euro 3.2 of 89 vintage. Specified that I run 98ron octane. Stock exhaust etc. I did go for the higher, club sport rev limit.

Now some folks say dont go there, but quite frankly, even with the stock chip, I was regularly bouncing off the limiter when overtaking traffic! I guess I have always been a little lead footed?!!

Anyway, I have never hit the new higher rev limiter, but regularly go to aprox 6500rpms. Hence the idea of a shift light instal.

Steve's a great bloke. drop him a line. He offered to tweak the chip for me as many times as necessary at no extra charge! But first time was the right time as far as I can tell. With the dollar sooooo cheap right now you cant go wrong imo. (Chime in here anytime Loren, LOL)