'82 SC prepurchase advice needed please

[jasonlee]

I spent close to a year looking for my 82 SC. Its not a cream puff, but is in nice shape. I paid 17K Canadian, 19K US seems a bit on the high side, but can you really put a price on happiness. Take it for a PPI and if it checks out take it home. You will always need to spend money on your P Car it just a matter if you spend it now or later. I do finid it interesting that the selling wants to get rid of it "before something goes". That would leave me a little suspect. Just my $0.02

[Plecostomus]

Thanks Ron And Jason. It has 60k miles and limited records, from what I remember.

Agreed. A rebuild would be a nightmare after paying top dollar for it.
It is suspect that he wants to unload it now. Lets see how the PPI turns out after I see it next weekend-IF it looks good in the flesh!

Regards,
Curt

[David]

Make sure you get a leakdown, compression check, and check for broken head studs during the PPI. If everything is not perfect, it doesn't mean you shouldn't buy the car, but it gives you some bargaining ammo.

[Nickatnyt]

Plenty of great SCs out there for 15K and good ones for $12-13K (like mine for $12.5K). Consider finding a nice CA. car, having it checked out, fly out there and save yourself $5K over a questionable east coast car.

FWIW, a local in Bremerton, WA just got an 86 CA. targa for $14K in outstanding condition. I was at the P-car mechanic shop when it was there for a post-buy inspection and it certainly was an excellant example.

[BrokeMyCar]

Also useful bargaining chips:

-does it have the upgraded chain tensioners? ($500 parts, about $400 labor if you pay for it) Those will very likely fail (as they did on my 82 SC).

-what state is the hinge-stop on the driver's side door like? (does it crack when you open it?)

-when was the clutch last replaced?

-how do the synchros from 1st to 2nd gears feel?

Good luck, looks like a sweet ride!!

Babak

[Wayne 962]

Looks like a nice car, but $20K is way on the high side. If I were to recommend that someone pay that much for a car, it better come with 2 or 3 concours trophies as well...

-Wayne

[GothingNC]

1984 Lowered Red Carrera Coupe

I would go for this nice red Carrera instead.

Do not look at the thread if you already purchased the SC

[jdowty3]

To me, the gas "leak" just sounds like the overflow drain but it also sounds like the owner is worried that his lack of proactive maintenance may be leading to other issues.

It's a nice looking car but 19K is too much for a stock SC with 60K miles.
If you like it, tell the owner what you think it may be worth and whether the outcome of a PPI could provide room for negotiating. If he won't budge on the price, then you should probably walk away and wish him the best of luck.

[GothingNC]

I wouldn't go just by low mileage.

The orginal owner of the Targa I have purchased it with 62,000 miles.

A short time later after he had the car the internal T-stat went bad so he had to pull the motor and then found a broken valve spring so he had the heads send off to a machine shop for new springs, valve guides etc and replaced the head studs with steel ones and a bunch of other stuff for $$$$.

Then the wheel bearings had to be replaced, brake calipers rebuilt etc....

Now I have the Traga with almost every suspensiopn, seal, fuel lines, oil hoses, brakes, clutch, bushings all replaced and the interior is in perfect shape and the original paint still shines

Good luck with your decision.

[Plecostomus]

David- Thank youu- Bargaining power indeed, I'm hoping!

Nick- Good option, but it would be disappointing if the car looked terrible once I saw it after the 6 hour trip!

Babak- Thank you.

Wayne- Thank you too. I am being clobbered over the head by reason

John- I'm really stuck on black for now, thank you for directing me there though.

Jim- I think you hit it on target. Its probably been sitting for the longest time, but hopefully the PPI will bring certain things to the surface. Thanks again.

John- Agreed. Thanks much!!

Curt

[GothingNC]

http://deemsriddle.tripod.com/1980_911_sc

Here's a nice black 80 SC listed on Rennlist for $12,500 obo.

I would paint the rims black

[GothingNC]

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/showthread.php?t=6298&highlight=black

Black 84 Coupe with tail near Philly ubde 15k

[Plecostomus]

Thanks John for your leads! You are too kind. The 80SC interior leather is a little weird looking (cheap! and the car looks uncared for. The '84 has burgundy interior which is something I could never swallow! Not trying to be picky!! I am stuck on a black/black SC. I am grateful for you keeping me in mind.
Regards,
Kurt

[jdowty3]

Black on Black SC's rule

[Plecostomus]

Haha. Yes!

[emcdan]

yep...your obsessed! Your gonna get it no matter anybody says.

I personally hate black interior, it fades, it scuffs, its hot, it shows badly. And all the black car owners can attest to weekly cursings at dust, bird droppings, swirls marks, scratches on and on. Boy...that sounded synical.

Get the black 80'SC and change the interior to black. You can sell those cork pieces, dash (hec fire you can get 1K for those electric cork seats)....totally recoup the cost for a new inside.

That will be 1 dollar please for solving this problem.

If Wayne says no go......you ain't listening to nobody!

[GothingNC]

I agree.

Black & Black down south is torture unless you only drive at night once it's above 50 degrees or if you have a Targa you can just leave the top off. Planning on geting lighter color seat covers to keep cool in the warmer weathe r or my car.

My Jetta GLI has a black interior and I even have to crank up the A/C to cool off in the winter after leaving it parked outside in the sun for a while.

I was persistent with getting a mid-year Targa before I picked up my SC. Really nice car and in great mechanical condition.
Took it for three test drives (One for about 70 miles) but there was something in my mind that stopped me from pulling the trigger at the last second.

Let us know how the PPI goes.

[Grady Clay]

This is a difficult period in the life of these 911SCs. First there is an incredibly wide range of condition, degree of maintenance and rejuvenation. None should be in the restoration category yet. (Yes, there are some needing restoration but that isn’t remotely economical.)

The absolute best advice is to buy the best example within your budget. Yes, that probably means paying over market. Even then you will need to apply a lot of the proper lubricant ($$$) to get it where you want it and maintain its condition at the top rung. I think those are the best long term bargains.

A year or so ago I considered a ’81 911SC. Original paint, original full blue leather, 125K and a broken head stud. Overall it was in pretty good original condition. As I looked closely, aside from the engine rebuild, the clutch was way off, the trans needed at least syncros, old (original?) suspension needed attention, brakes worn out, heat exchangers needed replacing, and there were another 15-20 “minor” issues. There were $20K needed to be spent to bring it to $12K market value.

Needless to say I didn’t insult the owner by offering to take it off his hands for free so I politely walked. I suppose with my crazy Porsche obsession, if free, I would have spent $20K+ on the repairs and upgrades just to recover it to $15-18K value.

What happens to these cars is they get made to look nice and the flaws that an unknowledgeable buyer might identify be fixed. This is the “used car” market.

This illustrates why careful and through Pre-Purchase Inspection (PPI) is so necessary. With a very high-end car, I would have several qualified experts completely inspect and test it. I would also seek good market advice. I think spending 5-10% isn’t unreasonable. Many times I have spent $500 and much more and walked.

The term I use is; “Don’t let your money burn a hole in your pocket. It may come back and burn you in a more sensitive place.” It is free to lament over missed deals, it is very expensive to allow passion over good sense.

Best,
Grady

[wesayso]

Can't help but feel that price is high. But here I am at the other side of the globe...
The SC's here are around 12.500 EURO's and I got mine for less. I got a black - red '82 SC and I love her
Right now I'm spending what I saved on the chain tensioner upgrade and regular maintenance.

[GothingNC]

Wesayo,

Your black coupe looks real sweet with the maroon interior.