First Pcar purchase

kwm · 01-28-2006, 04:06 AM

Hello Gentlemen,
I have been visiting this web site, reading books and mags and just generally learning as much about Pcars as possible for about 2+ year now. I finally decided to log myself on b/c I am getting ready to make an offer on a car. I have full trust and faith in this site and fully appreciate your input and comments. I am on a somewhat limited budget you might say b/c me and my wife purchased our first home about a year ago and spend much time and money on home repairs. My finances for this purchase are as such; if I sell a daily driver Miata I have to a friend somewhere between $15 - $18+k if I don’t sell it, and I am not sure that I want to b/c I AutoX the car to death and drive it everyday and have spent maybe $1500 in repairs in 8 years (Lord you gotta love those Jap cars for that), it is more like $10 - $11 cash w/o the sell. Presently I am most interested in an 80 SC in silver. The car has a rebuilt engine and trans with 30k on it rebuilt front and rear suspension, a respray, fuel system gone through, and seat and headliner redone, down side is it has 230k on it. I am going to look at it with a local Porsche mechanic this weekend or next. Seller is asking $12,500. Obviously the high mileage concerns me that evey moving or rolling part will need to be replaced. I am also very interested in attempting a backdate project with this car at some point. Can anyone put me in the ballpark of an offer price and things to direct my mechanic to look at on this car. I have 2 other SCs I am looking at with 130k but no big work done on them with asking prices of $10 -$12. Should I focus more on them or really go out on a limb and push to sell the Miata and round up as much cash as possible and get int a 3.2? Decisions decisions? Thanks guys

schamp · 01-28-2006, 04:30 AM

Every single part on the p car has 230k on it. I would not sell the other car until you have had the porsche for a while. I would say keep the other car at least 3 months. This goes for whatever car you buy. A porsche is a very fine car but you don't know how it was maintained and driven. Good Luck.

kwm · 01-28-2006, 04:31 AM

good point. thanks

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by kwm
things to direct my mechanic to look at on this car

Peter Zimmermann - author of The Used 911 Story - has posted a step-by-step PPI process here: Rennlist PPI

Ian

David E. Clark · 01-28-2006, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by imcarthur
Peter Zimmermann - author of The Used 911 Story - has posted a step-by-step PPI process here: Rennlist PPI

There is also lots of good information in the Porsche FAQ posted here.

kwm · 01-28-2006, 05:32 AM

Am I stupid for considering a car with 230k? would be a good short question I would have.

johncarlos2003 · 01-30-2006, 03:41 PM

you are not stupid for considering the car. if you have a good specialist to look at it and adjust your offer based on the outcome of the inspection then you're set- don't forget things like tires etc when budgeting for your car- i have a buddy who has an sc with like 300plus on her and it cruises! so, get a good look at everything and don't make a decision or get "heart attached" (as many of us do) until you know where you're at- heck, your're already on the right track by knowing that you want/need! a 911. post pics when you get something please and good luck!

randywebb · 01-30-2006, 03:59 PM

no, the cars are very durable

you need to find out what was rebuilt when tho... and how well

this goes beyond the items you mentioned - if the engien has 30k on the rebuild then it can't have been too terrible

David 84 911 · David 84 911's Garage

Much like you, I contemplated for a long time and was finally ready to take the plunge. I went to see about 15 cars before finding the right one but first I read "The Used 911 Story". This helped me do a first good assessment and even ask the right questions to the mechanic (which helped me lower the price due to the extra small things I found wrong with the car). I bought one with 200K (kilometers) and have had no real problems, but many things can go wrong, especially if it was not well maintained. Maintenance is not cheap unless you can "do it yourself" and even then....Don't over estimate the need for a TLC budget. Good luck and send us picks if you buy it.

PS: There are no OLD Porches, only NEW owners"!!!!

Dantilla · 01-30-2006, 05:03 PM

The build quality of Porsches is far superior to Mazdas. I like my Miata because I simply don't worry about it. It's just a Miata. I can leave it in any parking lot and not worry if it will have a new scratch when I return.

I guess I'm saying that I wouldn't be too worried about the odometer of a well-maintained 911.

Charles Lee · 01-30-2006, 10:49 PM

Limited fund, first home a year ago, u need to walk away from this.
Its always tomorrow, lots of better p cars 4 sale when u have more $.
Just ask your wife.

Seeeu911 · Seeeu911's Garage

KWM, the last poster Charles Lee is right. Sounds like you are on a fine line $$ wise and to reduce your risk I would also suggest you look for a car with fewer miles and better documentation. When the porsche lust is strong its hard..hard to walk away. You did not mention if you are cpable of a lot of DIY ? If not...Consider a newer porsche bank/credit union financed with $5k down and the other $7.5k in a savings account.

kwm · 01-31-2006, 04:14 AM

Wow I really appreciate all the response. With a community like this how can I go wrong buying a 911. Anyway, this is the car http://www.silver911porsche.com/ I hope that if someone has time that they can peruse it. Not sure if anyone here has caught my other thread but it has gotten worse for me. I am onto an 87 3.2 C and very close to making an offer on it and getting myself into debt. It is just so damn hard. I so fell in love with this 3.2 I can't even really sleep or get any work done which I know how stupid and childish that sounds. To me it is like this in a way, I am here to live life. Not mind you to make myself miserable with debt but to live life and be happy. Also it is the little things with me, like anytime I am able to ride my motorcycle to work I then have a smile on my face from 3pm to when I get to leave thinking about the ride home. These are the types if things that make me happy, keep me bearable to live with and make me good at my job so I kind of see them as necessities. Right now this 3.2 is being seen as just that and yes I have made several impetuous moves prior to this one.

Rot 911 · 01-31-2006, 05:19 AM

kwm, I just looked at the ad for that SC and if they have the paperwork to back up the rebuild and restoration claims, and if the inside looks as good as those outside pics, that SC is not at bad buy at $12,500!

donstevens · donstevens's Garage

I agree with Kurt V. If all that work can be documented and your mechanic gives it a thumbs up, the car is a good buy.

I happen to agree with your philosophy on living life too. I have more debt than I'd like and I don't need that 911 sitting in the garage. But both my wife and I sure enjoy it.

Good Luck,

Don