89 Carrera 3.2 Turbo Look - advice/guidance/analysis

[MikePro5280]

Hi everyone, first time poster, long-time lurker, and wanted to ask the group's guidance on a 911 Carrera 3.2 turbo look I'm looking at.

Forgive me if this is the incorrect forum (And feel free to move). These are incredible cars and I'm looking at an 89 G50 to match my 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS I've had since 2004 (wow).

The particular car I'm looking at is pretty high end, collector grade, 30K miles. Major service in the last few thousand miles and seems generally well cared for. Have always loved these cars, not ready for a project at this time, so willing to spend a little extra on the front end.

Everything on the car looks to be in order, though the main thing I wanted was guidance for any concerns from the engine bay and photos underneath the car. I'll attach a few below.

Anything obviously out of place in the engine bay, exhaust, headers? Any concerns for the rust/brown spots there on that casing?

Thank you in advance for your perspectives

[shoooo32]

The market has cooled from the 2022 frenzy - I'd request a PPI be performed. $500 is cheap insurance against a major repair bill.

[Missed Approach]

Hi MikePro5280- Welcome aboard! Per your request, just a few engine bay observations- The zinc-plated hardware looks clean, the White/Blue Air Flow Meter Box sticker is in place (a good sign) as well as the white & blue clips for the cruise cable and the ICV wiring. The engine bay pad looks great- no sagging. The Shell Oil sticker is missing from the Heater Blower duct on the left side (easy to source). I can't tell if the AC has been converted to R134A, as the larger Red & Blue connection cover caps are not visible. I can still make out some of the original conversion coating on the Mg fan & shroud (again, a positive). The black plastic cover cap (91160312701) is missing from the alternator/fan hub (common). The tiny yellow cover cap (93011052000) is missing from the idle set screw. All in all, a clean-looking bay. Hope this helps. As an aside, I'm guessing this is a Cab, correct?

[ErrorMargin]

An engine leak down test is a must do...actually I also recommend a full PPI, but a leak down test at minimum.

I just went through a full engine/transmission out on my 1984 3.2 and I can confirm that other than the things mentioned above everything looks good.

[megerian]

Looks very good, is that small yellow sticker an R134A conversion sticker?

[Missed Approach]

Hi Mergerian- that yellow label is the factory R12 sticker. Here's an example from a 19K mile '89 Speedster...

[MikePro5280]

Hi everyone, just a quick note to say thank you for much for the guidance so far. Very helpful.*

Going to look into a PPI including compression/leak down on the motor.

It's so interesting buying a car like this (30+ years old) -- we understand that these cars have decades of life and stories to them. We expect little small things. I think the main thing's we're worried about are generally things like catastrophic engine abuse and collisions and such.

I mean, is anyone ever really surprises that all the hoses, distributor caps, brake lines, etc. need to be replaced on a car this old?

So body panels, accident damage, corrosion and such are main concerns. This particular car looks pretty close to as new as we can reasonably expect a car with 1,000/mi a year average on it.

Yes -- it's a cabriolet. I was initially looking at Targa (to match the 328 GTS) but I've sinced relaxed that and am open to all the body styles.

​​​​​​​

[pmax]

How was the test drive ?

Make sure the engine gets to temp.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Missed Approach

Hi Mergerian- that yellow label is the factory R12 sticker. Here's an example from a 19K mile '89 Speedster...

Are those the same stickers as on a 86 911?

Mine are missing. Who carries them, and the rest of the gold stickers on the front of the engine bay. Mine have faded over the years.

[917_Langheck]

There are many experts to guide here. Frank Amoroso is the guy I would ask questions of regarding the m491; they are his passion.

[megerian]

MikePro - I love my turbo look cabriolet, also in black. Double check that the power top is functioning and properly aligned

[MikePro5280]

Thank you everyone. This is the car:
https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/1989-porsche-911-carrera-turbo-look-c-2288/

​​​​​​​Anything noteworthy?

[Mr. Merk]

Each of the specific facts that it's a G50, an M491, a spoiler delete, a final-year 1989, super low miles and the great looking condition definitely all add to the value. The cabriolet definitely reduces the value some.

I don't think it's a bad price if the PPI agrees. It'd be nice to have a leak down test. I don't get as caught up in those numbers as some do, but in a car of this price range I'd want it to be really good.

We also have a 1988 M491 available on our website. It's not as mint as this car, but it's less money and a coupe. Might be more fun for someone who wants to actually drive the car.

[chucksmith]

I would let mine go for much less than that. 87 m491/470 paint to sample Maraschino Cherry with linen interior/red piping.48K miles

[ErrorMargin]

Originally Posted by MikePro5280

Thank you everyone. This is the car:
https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/1989-porsche-911-carrera-turbo-look-c-2288/

​​​​​​​Anything noteworthy?

It looks good, I don't see anything noteworthy other than the price.... at $160k that puts it right at the top of the G50 M491 market: https://bringatrailer.com/porsche/911-carrera-3-2/?search=m491&yearFrom=1987&yearTo=1989

I'd say a PPI with a leak down test (not a compression test, a leak down test) is mandatory for that kind of money. I'd also want to see that all the accessories work, such as interior and exterior lights, AC, radio and all speakers, wipers, speedometer accuracy, convertible top, etc. I'd want to see cold start, hot start, hot restart, 20 minute freeway drive with AC on, etc.

For that kind of money I'd be looking at a Turbo of the same vintage, but that is just me and this car might be the car for you if you are looking for a super clean low mileage example and everything checks out.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by MikePro5280

Thank you everyone. This is the car:
https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/1989-porsche-911-carrera-turbo-look-c-2288/

​​​​​​​Anything noteworthy?

Let's see more underbody pics than just those 2 you posted.

I assume a good dealer should be able to put the car up on a lift and get you that.

[megerian]

Very nice, but I am biased - I love that color combo. From a high end dealer as this appears to be, I would have little doubt that the cabrio top works fine, but if buying sight unseen, ask for a short video showing it working. I only mention this because the cabrio power top can get finicky if not properly aligned.

[PeteKz]

Originally Posted by ErrorMargin

It looks good, I don't see anything noteworthy other than the price.... at $160k that puts it right at the top of the G50 M491 market: https://bringatrailer.com/porsche/911-carrera-3-2/?search=m491&yearFrom=1987&yearTo=1989

I'd say a PPI with a leak down test (not a compression test, a leak down test) is mandatory for that kind of money. I'd also want to see that all the accessories work, such as interior and exterior lights, AC, radio and all speakers, wipers, speedometer accuracy, convertible top, etc. I'd want to see cold start, hot start, hot restart, 20 minute freeway drive with AC on, etc.

For that kind of money I'd be looking at a Turbo of the same vintage, but that is just me and this car might be the car for you if you are looking for a super clean low mileage example and everything checks out.

You haven't seen what a top level 89 Turbo goes for now. They have jumped up even further.

[Phony930]

Woof, is this really M491 pricing and not Turbo pricing?

I picked up a black 1988 M491 Cabriolet last year -- not comparable to this one as its driver condition and modified (with 3.3t engine swap) but it certainly seems to be worth much much less than this. I understand condition and mileage play a big factor, but two-fold or more?

If you have the money and you want an exceptional example, I guess this is it -- I'm just taken aback by the massive premium to get that extra 10% of vehicle condition.

edit: I mean, wait, M491 Cabs are all headed to $160k+ and beyond, even the totally not sacred ones like mine!

[RSF964]

2 M491 Targas sold in the last quarter of '24 on BaT, both low mileage, under 50k, and pristine. A red one for $145,911 and a black one for $170,000. I owned the black one and sold it for $41,000 about 12 years ago. I knew I'd made a mistake within a month of selling it. Prices don't seem to be cooling for beautiful examples of these.