'88 Targa advice purchase advice needed

[jaimekop]

Hello All,
I've been looking for a nice Targa or Cab for the last few weeks and I think I might have found something I like that fits my budget. There were a few problems I noticed I'd like to bounce off the group here to see if they're serious issues or not:

Car is a '88 911 Targa.

1) Car has new clutch with updated fork. Feels great, grabs great, but when you press the pedal in and out while sitting, there is a small clunk noise just as the pedal reaches to top of travel. This is something to worry about?

2) "Automatic" heat does not work. While driving with heater off (knob between seats at 0) there is the feeling of some warm air from under the dash. But with the car parked (and warmed up) I turned the knob to 10 (defrost) and maxed out the dash blower and didn't get any heat. What controls the amount of heat from the flapper box? Is there a servo? The car doesn't have the lever between the seats, only the rotary knob to be set from 0-10.

3) Seats have Perforations. Little holes in the seat that my friends '88 Targa doesn't have. Does this mean anything? I know they've been re-dyed, but they look great.

4) Misalignment of front valence/spoiler. Owner reports that at some point car was tweaked up front and fender was repaired. Fender fit is good, but the valence/spoiler below has a gap on that side, you can see it just above the drivers side fog light. Is this something a body shop can tweak back? Otherwise hood and fender fit well. Doors open and close nice, but drivers door has slightly larger gap than passenger door.
Pic http://images.jaimekop.com/2005_08_20_Porsche/2005_08_20_Porsche-Pages/Image7.html

Otherwise, the car is in impressive condition. Its very tight feeling, no rattles, stiff suspension, good handling. Trans and clutch work great, motor was just serviced (valves adjusted) and runs great. Cosmetically is very good with clean interior. 120k miles.

I've driven a few cars now in my search, and this is the only one that feels right so far. Fits the budget too. Asking price is $17.5k.

Rest of pictures here:
http://images.jaimekop.com/2005_08_20_Porsche/

Any comments or advice is much appreciated.

Thank you!
Jaime

[dsdw40]

i'm sure you've heard enough about getting a reputable shop to perform a ppi...
with that said, i might be a little concerned about the misaligned front valance & the door gap. being on the same side may suggest this car was more than "tweaked"

[chgrec]

a PPI by a reputable Porsche shop is a must....the objective eye is always much better at seeing things we, who are blinded by love, fail to see....

You may also want to have a body shop check the front end to make sure there hasn't been more extensive issues than a "tweek".....

If it all checks out, looks like a nice car...

Good luck
Chris

[Steve87-911]

Jaime,

1. I've heard this too on a G50 updated car, although it's occaisional. It seems as if the clutch release arm is hitting the tranny housing at the end of its travel...just my guess. My wrench is not concerned. Maybe someone else here has better advice on this issue.

3. My 87 seats have the perforations too.

4. I'd be concerned about the misalignment of front valence/spoiler. I'd inspect thoroughly for more front end damage.

PPI, like everyone else said, is crucial.

[masraum]

Yep, the leather should be perforated.

I'd want to fix the clunk noise in the clutch.

Personally I'd pass on this car. If you are patient there are better cars out there.

[tubwreck]

That valence looks way off to me. Compare w:



It looks (to me, based on the pictures) like the result of an encounter with a curb or other low obstacle. Take a careful look at the various components behind the valence: ac condenser and guard bar, horns, aux oil cooler, and foglights.

Obviously get a PPI, preferably from a shop with experience working on automatic heat systems.

I think the biggest make-or-break would be how much of a service history you have. The PCA sticker makes you think that the car spent at least some of its life in sympathetic hands.

Some people would check the vehicle ID sticker (on the trunk lid) to verify that the car came from the factory with the spoiler and wing; other people wouldn't care.

With a good service history and clean PPI, along with a price concession to repair the heat and valence, I think this is attractive enough.

[ClaudeB]

Jamie: Front plate on the car looks European to me. Make sure the car is not a rest-of-world (ROW) car. It may be impossible to get insurance on it. Check the VIN----should start with WPOEB for a US car. WPOZZZ is rest of world.

[Hugh R]

No problem insuring my ROW. On the auto heat, on mine the lever on the servo in the box where the heat switch is popped off, its plastic. I stuck it back on and the heat works great. IF ROW, make sure it'll pass smog before buying if that's a requirement in Texas.

[Eric Coffey]

As mentioned, the leather perforation is factory/normal. The car also appears to have the full-leather option (pics show leather door handles and map pocket lids).

Yes the front valance is off, but I would say it was more than a front-end "tweak". The driver's door alignment/gaps look skewed, and the driver's rocker panel looks to have been replaced with a used one of the same color, or maybe a bad repaint (does not match the other side). So, buyer beware and all that.
Considering the mileage, color, body style (Targa), and prior collision history/repair, I'd say it's closer to a $14k car. YMMV.

[pa911]

Appears bumper is also pushed up and or in?

[frenchy 911]

Jaime,

FYI,

I bought my 87 Targa with 50K miles for S14.5K and spend another 2k fixing samll leaks and other small problems.

[s5uewf]

If it helps you negotiate, I bought a 1988 targa from Arizona with 113k miles, no body misalignment, leather, working AC, No major issues, for $13k on EBay. I think it had been to a few DE's but so what, that's what I do with it, too.

Good Luck!

[azasadny]

That Targa looks great to me! Get a PPI and if it checks out, buy it!

[jaimekop]

Thanks all for your replies... I took another look at the car today, and spent several minutes under the car to have a look at the mounting of the valence. Drivers side mounting is partially covered by the washer tank, but everything looks identical to the passenger side. It appears to have just been curbed or something, unrelated to anything else. From what I can see, it also appears that the mounts are adjustable, not fixed to one allignment. The bumper is straight in relation to fenders and hood. So I'm not so concerned.

No evidence of repaint over anywhere except driver's fender. But the original bolts are still painted over from the factory, and inner fender is perfect. Hood is original part (has VIN tag) with original paint. Looks like it was side swipped or something minor from what I can see. Rocker panel was repainted for some reason too... perhaps related. But its solid, nothing weird about mounting or up behind it when compare with the other side. I've spent the last 8 years or so looking at german cars, and I've learned alot about what to look for, so I'm not a complete novice here, at least!

So body wise, I'm not so concerned. After all, I'm looking for a driver here, not a show car! For the right price I can look beyond that. And one thing this car does is drive real nice.

PPI is next step for that professional second opinion. Should be fun... lets see if he find something I didn't, and vice versa!

Thanks again, I'll keep you guys up to date.

Jaime

'88 Targa????
'84 MB 300SD 219k driver
'67 MB 250S 64k classic driver

[Eric Coffey]

This might be a good deal (depending on the condition):
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/83802273.html

Here are a few others you might check out:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=185348651
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=185348428
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=174660213
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=187735373
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=183558986
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=178150516
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=175387800
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4570782348
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4570588720
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4569475441

[jaimekop]

Nice collection of ads Eric!
That cheap '89 cab looked pretty interesting... I went and looked at it. Its about what you'd expect for such a underpriced car. Interior is seriously beat and the car never saw wax its entire life. Car drove surprisingly well, owner let me take it for a while... well.... it drove very well considering it has almost 150K miles and only had oil changes since 1992. The guy didn't even know when the last one was done or where.

But it was an interesting example of how these cars can go and go and go with only basic maintence if you really don't care much about it. For this guy, it was just a car that he drove every day year round. If it broke, he fixed it, otherwise he did nothing.

For the rest of the cars, I've explored a few of them, one of them is this car I'm looking at, and the rest are a bit far away. I don't do ebay... I've won alot of cars on ebay and actually bought very few of them. Its just a terrible way to buy a car.

Jaime

[cbeers]

PPI

3.2L with 120k miles on the clock may need valve work too.....


-Chris

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by jaimekop
I don't do ebay... I've won alot of cars on ebay and actually bought very few of them. Its just a terrible way to buy a car.

Jaime

I hear ya. That is why I looked in your area first, and the first two (ebay) cars listed are in NJ. I would be especially keen on the `84 factory turbo-look cab in Toms River (but that's just me).
EBay is a good advertising/exposure tool for sellers, but like you, most would never buy a car "sight-unseen" over the internet. However, if you can go look/drive/inspect the car in person prior to bidding, deals can be had. In anycase, good luck!

[jaimekop]

Very true Eric! I "stole" my '67 Mercedes 250S from an ebay seller for $2500. He wanted $8000 or something crazy. That was four years ago... still the best $2500 I ever spent on a car.

Jaime

[jaimekop]

Well, I attempted to buy the car, but owner wouldn't budge much from 17.5k. Not sure I'm comfortable with it. PPI checks out... but... Gotta think it out a bit more....

Gotta see if any more Targas went up for sale around here too... :-)

Jaime