I'm afraid the day has come...

[adamred]

Well folks the day has come for my targa and I to part company and I need some advice on how to proceed. I'm at a point in my life where a highly demanding 3rd car is just causing us (wife and I) more grief then good...

I'm not complaining, life is actually pretty good...3 great kids, house we're happy with, new business started with a partner that is taking off, I just simply don't have the time or energy to deal with the car.

We did decide that all proceeds from the sale will go into my own private future P-car account, with hopefully the purchase of a 993, Cayman, or if things really go as planned perhaps a 997 sometime in the next few years....

Now the tough part, how to actually sell my car...It is a 1980 SC Targa in Petrol Blue, approximately 70,000 miles. As many of you know it was in an accident last summer, but was very nicely repaired, which included pulling the car completely straight from an accident that must have occurred prior to my ownership. I have owned the car almost 4 years.

The car needs a significant amount of engine work. It is leaking oil pretty significantly when it sits (which it has been doing for several months now). In all likelihood has a broken headstud or 2 and has a leaky camtower. I will be bringing it to my wrench in the next couple of weeks to get a few things done, including figuring out why it keeps running the battery down and requiring a jump. I will probably cap my pre-sale repairs at around $1000, the rest will be disclosed to any potential buyers.

So the 1 million $$ question, what is it worth? My wrench would probably give me $5000 for it, so I set that as the low point, what should I start as an asking point for the general public? I have some pics below from the last fun run, I got a new computer and this is all I have for now...

Anyone care to share advice, brutal honesty is appreciated, I won't take it personally...

Thanks in advance for the advice, I'm not gone forever, just need a break and something new....

Adam

[Rot 911]

I wouldn't make any repairs and I think you could sell it for $7K as is.

[wcc]

I agree with Kurt. I think I'd ask about 8K for it and come down.

[ischmitz]

Adam,
I hate to say this but I'd take the Targa top for 200$ shipped. Now that it is out what I really wanted to say is that at these price levels you'd do better parting this car out. I know it is a shame but by the end of the day you'd get a lot more money (for the trouble to deal with the partiing) that way.

A potential buyer pretty much needs to factor an engine rebuilt at 6k-8k into the equation to make it a fun daily driver in the 12-15k range. The good news is that this would make it a super nice car that won't depriciate as fast as newer cars. Think how much you get for a Geo Prism after you've owned it for three years

Cheers and good luck,
Ingo

[porschenut]

Disassembling the car and selling it piece by piece would take more time and energy than he's got, sounds like.

See if you can get 6-7k for it as is. If it doesn't move at that price, sell it to your mechanic for 5k and be done with it.

[psjoe]

I would like to find out more about your car. It may be too much of a project for my first 911 but I am still interested. When you get some time PM me or better yet shoot me an e-mail - psjoe@yahoo.com.
Thanks - Joe

[adamred]

Hi Joe-
Email sent thanks for the interest.

Adam

[adamred]

Ingo-
I would love to have the time to part it out, I know it is worth more, that said I also still have an "emotional" attachment to my first P-car, it would be really hard to cut it up....that and my wife would absolutely kill me!

[makaio]

I was in a similar situation last year with my SC. The motor was tired, but still ran. I ended up letting it go for $5000 and cut my losses.

I say if your mechanic will give you $5000 as is, and you are willing to put $1000 already into repairs, sell it to the mechanic and be done with it.

[mjshira]

sorry to hear - I agree with the other posts, recommend you use the p-car sites such as pca.org and others like this one to list it. you'll get a lot of time wasters in other listings.

[hoosierdaddy]

How come the mechanic can buy the car for 5000 but no one is telling him to sell it to a fellow Pelican 5000 .

[Zeke]

Originally posted by hoosierdaddy
How come the mechanic can buy the car for 5000 but no one is telling him to sell it to a fellow Pelican 5000 .

Right on.

Anyway, if you think you can get 7K, I'd run the ads and see what shows up. First, here. I'll bet these tire kickers are bad enough.
When you get done with a few of the general public kickers, you will probably run to the mechanic.

Another thought is to squeeze your mech and see if he will move up to 6 or a little less. Looks like a pretty decent car and you now he's gonna make some money. Take a little of his profit ahead of time.

[theclaw]

For crineoutloud, the wheels are worth a grand. Don't give anything away. NJ is a big market. You'll sell it.

[schamp]

Any chance you could put it in storage. Use your future p car money for a rebuilt engine just the way you want it.

[mjshira]

hell, get a 3.6 and drop it in.

[adamred]

Thanks for the feedback gents...I have considered all of the options, including one that I was really pursuing for a while of rebuilding the motor/tans, driving it for a few years and then taking the motor and trans and putting it into an early coupe, sort of cafe racer style (see that tan car from Excellence last year).

I just don't have that kind of patience and the right attitude anymore for that kind of project, maybe when I'm an old fart with tons of free time, grown kids, etc...right now priorities are just different, cars with warrantees are key, and free time/money is about being the best I can for my family, not my car...
We'll see what the next few years brings with my business, heck the company could be footing the bill for my next P-car....My 40th bday is not too far in the future and that is the outermost limit for putting a Porsche back in my garage.

On the $$ front, I'm a capatalist like everyone else, the person with the most cash who wants my car gets it, if it turns out to be my wrench for $5k then good for him, if it is a Pelican for $6k, then thanks a bunch, if it is some local guy/gal who just has to have it for $7500....here's the keys...I never made an offer to the wrench to take it for $5K he merely said that's his limit when it comes to buying his clients cars....

[anthony]

I think you are selling yourself a little short here. First thing, get an estimate for the repair before making any decisions.

In my neck of the woods, even though SCs are plentiful, a 70K mile car in really nice shape with a fresh top end would probably sell for closer to $15K in the spring. From the couple of pics you posted your car does look nice though it's hard to tell for sure.

Honestly, unless money or space is an issue my two cents says to get the car repaired to turn-key no probem condition and then just drive it and enjoy it when you can. It seems like a small price to pay for the pleasure of driving a 911 a few times a week.

[bigchillcar]

i'd want to know exactly how much proper engine repair work is going to cost (not a complete rebuild) and subtract that from 12-13k, then ask that amount..nothing to lose unless you're absolutely pressed to sell quickly. otherwise, looks like a nice sc.
ryan

[cab83_750]

I read Wayne's rebuild book, and need to practice the rebuild processes...

Drive it to So.Cal. and I'll give you 6K.

[gsxrken]

I'm sorry to see you leaving the fold. We will continue to meet on the Palisades for some Spring/Fall runs in your memory.
But man, you sound like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. That's what a 911 is supposed to relieve. They are not practical and your wife won't like the next one either.