Need advice on selling a 911

[steviee7]

I'm in the process of selling my 86 911 coupe.
Would you pay to get everything fixed just so you could sell it and add the costs to the final price? and would you think you'd get all that money back?

better yet, would you if you were buying a car rather spend less on the car initially and get the things done eventually yourself. knowing that when you get the stuff done you're more convinced that it's been done right.

It seems to me that if you spend that much to get stuff fixed you can't put that price on top of the price of the car.

Maybe I'm wrong? I remember buying the car knowing of little issues but I was OK with that. I told myself it's very drivable now so I can live with it and eventually get it fixed.
I'm talking about a 3rd gear syncro. tranny work. and some other stuff.

Help. need advice

se

[bill3667]

Depends on what the issues are (some other stuff).

[anthony]

I think a bad synchro throw off many buyers. It will attrack the DIYers on a budget who will want a significant discount.

[cgarr]

Its 20 years old, I am always ready to find things to fix and would rather fix it myself anyhow. Just as long as it aint rust!!

Would it make the drive up to Michigan?

[steviee7]

other stuff meaning whatever you think would cost a lot or "while your in there" like a new clutch, or maybe a minor oil leak...
When I bought my car I noticed the shifting was not great, there was a very little oil leak (one drop on the garage floor after a drive) and the paint job had a few inperfections. I was told that the last time the engine was out for a oil leak fix the clutch looked fine.

But I figure that if I get it out for a tranny repair I might as well get a new clutch so that a new buyer will feel like that's one thing to not have to think about for a long time.

I'm just trying to see if I should hold off on selling until I get it fixed or just sell the thing now for less money.

[Zeke]

Well, you know what flippers and dealers do, they detail them and fix any tears and paint the chips. Anyone I know that is in the car business would fix the synchro and ask top dollar. One thing you can do is bring down the number of issues and sell the car as is, or with the major fix included.

I sold my car with an obviously bad tranny. But, I had a good used one here, so I had a shop install the tranny once I had a deposit. That was the quick way to do it and give confidence to the buyer. The car was real decent after that and went for even more money than I got to another buyer in just a few days. I think the middleman did a few little things as well to present the car as good as it was going to get.

Moral: Less problems, more money, quicker sale.

[steviee7]

I like what I'm hearing. The car would make a long trip now as is. I drive it to work a few times and even take it on 2 hour trips to my folks house with absolutley no problems.

I'm hoping to find a buyer like me who can do most stuff themselves to save money on labor. (I'm not ready nor have the time to do my own engine drop and tranny work)

The 3rd syncro shifts fine with a little time and patients. I can drive it knowing it's limitation. I had a possible buyer today take it for a test drive with me after telling him about it and yet 3 times he ground the darn thing shifting too fast. Ouch, that almost makes me want to get that fixed to avoid the embarrasing moment with new buyers.

s

[aigel]

Don't let anyone here talk you into having the transmission rebuilt to get more money for the car. This will only work if you have no labor cost. If you pay a shop to rebuild the transmission, it will cost you south of 3k. I doubt you can recover that in the sale.

You should advertise the car on here for a discounted price, taking into account the transmission issue. You will be able to sell it fairly quickly. If you sell it locally, you will have a harder time and there you actually may just flat out HAVE to rebuild the trans to even find a buyer, regardless of price.

Good Luck,

George

[Evans, Marv]

If you could find & buy a good used tranny for a decent price, you could have it put in by a shop. That way you could sell the car with a decent transmission & tell the buyer it comes with a spare that needs the 3rd gear fixed. That might encourage a buyer to pay a decent price to you could recoup a large part of your expense. Also you could sell the car after the replacement & sell the old tranny for extra with the understanding it needed work. You might have it color sanded & polished. I wouldn't let idiots drive the car. It will only degrade the tranny more when they grind the gear. You can take them for a ride to show how it runs & handles & let them know about the weakness in the shifting. If somebody gets serious & wants to drive it, let them drive it.

[aigel]

Used is cheaper, okay, but R&R of the trans is still 1k in labor. A used transmission is a pig in a poke, unless you get to drive / shift it before it is pulled. If you buy with a warranty from a dismantler, it will be expensive and they will have a core fee.

George

[Zeke]

Originally posted by aigel
Used is cheaper, okay, but R&R of the trans is still 1k in labor. A used transmission is a pig in a poke, unless you get to drive / shift it before it is pulled. If you buy with a warranty from a dismantler, it will be expensive and they will have a core fee.

George

TRE Motorsports charged me about half of that and it would have been half if I didn't have to buy a gallon of Swepco.

People are just plain scared of tranny issues. It's hard to sell any car with a faulty trans.

[aigel]

TRE is not the rule. It is the exception. I will ask my dismantler for a late model 915 exchange price and report back. The dismantler is top notch, but cheap they aren't.

George

[kaisen]

I would be interested in the car as-is. PM me with details.

E

[SLO-BOB]

Way too little info for a general answer as I see it. Lets assume the average carrera is worth 18k. What is that car worth with a bad syncro? Different for everybody. I'm cheap when it comes to such things so not only am I looking for a price that reflects the tranny work, but an additional reduction for the hassle. That doesn't even cover the other "stuff". That 18k car is worth about 12k to me. And that's if it's an otherwiose decent car with no serious issues.

However, to the guy who happens to have a 915 sitting and the inclination and aptitude to install it, might give you more than I would. However, most guys that have such things lying around are even cheaper than me.

If it's an above average Carrera, I've seen some go for 25k+, then I believe it would be worth it to put in the transmission work. No one will pay 22k for a very nice Carrera with a bad tranny. But some people (not me, but some) will pay 25k for a very nice Carrera with a good tranny.

So my question to you is-What do you think your car is worth if it had a good tranny?

[anthony]

Another way to go is to R&R the transmission yourself and take it to someone and have them fix the snychros and anything else in it that is obviously broken. But, forget all the 'while you are there' and the 'nice to do' stuff. I think that often people go overboard with the 'while you are there' things.

[steviee7]

... I was asking 14K as is. Now if I get lucky and spend 3K to fix tranny and even new clutch, fix the very minor oil leak. What could I ask. I'd
like to recoup the cost and ask 14 plus 3 so 17K I don't know many who would pay that, of course I've never researched what you all have paid and what you'd pay in the condition or in the fixed condition.
All it really needs is 3rd or even 2nd syncros, the leak is soooo minor.
Of course if they are dropping it for tranny work why not do the drip.
and OK what the heck new clutch depending on if really needs it because it drives great with no sign of bad clutch.
That's really the only thing.
I'm so confused but I don't what to let it go for nothing. I'm needing you people to give me a clue since I know you've all been there, either buying or selling and know what you've paid or wish you could've paid.

thanks
steve

[steviee7]

I figured I'd add a picture for you.

[cgarr]

Are you trying to get out of it what you have in it? if so cars are a very bad investment, I could never sell my 912 or even my 86 for what I have in them, if you take a loss which everyone does on a car then do it now and dont get more upside down.

[steviee7]

That would be the ideal thing but yes we all know most cars are bad investments. I was hoping that our cars were a little more special than that. Taking a loss wouldn't kill me, I mean it has been a fun car. I just don't want to give it away.

se

[cgarr]

How much for the Corrado??