Newbie looking to buy first 911

Neil Mulligan · 08-19-2007, 05:27 AM

Hi all:I am looking to buy my first 911,I have heard that the 78-88 version is probably the best built of the years although I do realize that the most important aspect is the cars history.I live just north of Vancouver B.C.and am willing to fly anywhere to look at some cars and still make it reasonable to drive home.My price point is up to 20k or so.I would like to be able to go somewhere where I could look at a few cars and hopefully buy the car.I would also like to find somewhere in that area where I could get a proper PPI done.I am thinking of the LA area or such.Victory motor cars have such nice ads but the feedback I read on here doesn't always sound very positive.Any advice would be appreciated.I am most interested in a coupe and no sportmatics or tiptronic cars.Thanks all.....

WPOZZZ · 08-19-2007, 05:31 AM

I'd look for a Carrera from 84 - 89. I actually like the 915 tranny in my 85, but those G50 are really sweet with precise gates. For the G50, you do pay a premium, but it is up to you whether it is worth it or not.

hcoles · 08-19-2007, 05:49 AM

I would opt for a G50 car. You didn't mention what you wanted to do with the car. I think that is important. E.g. daily driver to work, drive to Starbucks on the weekends, concours(sp?), autocross or track/DE?? This will help us guide you a bit better IMHO. Also I would like to know your tolerance of spending money after you get the car and what level of DIY you are and do you want to work on your car as part of the fun of owning it or do you want to be a checkbook mechanic?

Neil Mulligan · 08-19-2007, 05:57 AM

Really just a car for the summer and the weekends,no racing just a little touring ect...

livi · 08-19-2007, 06:15 AM

Welcome to the forum!

The 3.0 SC 78-83 and the 3.2 Carrera 84-89 are all very good models. Every year iteration within the series had small improvements but generally it is wise to prioritize the health of any individual car instead of focusing on a certain year model. I am partial to the Carrera of course but you will hear an equal amount of owners pulling for the SC.

Please, take advantage of the archives. Use the search button. These issues have been discussed dozens of times - very good information.

Good luck!

JoeyD911 · JoeyD911's Garage

Another newbie chiming in with my first years worth of advice. First, thank god you found the forum before the car. Opposite of my experience. Get a PPI before you buy anything. That can save you thousands on the purchase, or in the near future. Ask me how I know !
Make sure you get the car YOU want, I have an SC and love it, 915 tranny and all. Some prefer the Carrera, Try to drive both and see which you prefer. Your 20K budget, CDN I assume, will get pretty much eaten up with the puchase of a low mile carrera, you can get a real nice SC for 14 or 15k USD. That leaves some cash for inevitable small repairs, upgrades and personalizing. Depending on your capability and desire to wrench on your own car, an SC can be relatively inexpensive to own. If you are, as stated in an earlier post, a checkbook mechanic, buy the cheapest 911 you can find. A valve job is around $6000 and a full rebuild is going to rip 10K out of your wallet. It will be a 25K car by the time your happy with it. IMHO a properly maintained and upgraded SC will run well into 250,000 miles and give you years of enjoyment.

By the way, IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Joe D
82 SC

hcoles · 08-19-2007, 06:48 AM

more of my 2 cents...probably the hardest thing is getting a good PPI, e.g. the PPI should indicate all that panels that don't have all original paint, this includes under the car, you don't want a car that has a tweaked pan - if the engine or tranny has been worked on... who did it? Another thing that has been said on this forum... "you are buying the person not the car" You might try calling Don Wise in Campbell CA - Dons AutoWerks, he has an 88 or 89 black car that looks to be in excellent shape and low miles. Remember these cars are are getting close to 20 years old or more....stuff wears out and breaks.... it's been said... each year there are improvements so getting the latest year is a consideration.. I could be biased... I have an 89, daily to work, AX and track. Also, I think the Motronic system is generally thought to be a bit more reliable.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Now that there's essentially no difference between CDN and US dollars, you're in beginning 964 territory with your budget.

Having said that, I strongly recommend the '87-89 Carrera coupe. You can get one that is sorted to the result you want for your budget. There's no reason to compromise. Not sure of the rules for importation of US vehicles, but I sold a car to a guy in your neighborhood about 4 years ago, and at that time, it was trivial: send proof of ownership to the customs station 3 days in advance of the border crossing....

We have many more better priced G50 Carreras in the States than you have available to you locally. Get familiar with Craigslist in the SF Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego. Plenty of great PPI resources down here, too. PM if you want some specific tips.

rgdalacrity · 08-19-2007, 08:50 AM

This is what $20,000.00 should buy you.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Welcome, Neil

Here is a great resource for importing US cars into Canada:

see Importing a Porsche from the US into Canada

As above, get a PPI. But before you spend $s, ask a local Pelican to have a look to see if it is worthwhile.

Ian

hcoles · 08-19-2007, 03:21 PM

another maybe not so minor tid bit.... all things being equal get a car with Nicasil cylinders... that way if you need to tear the engine down you can very likely just rering and be good as new.. if you have to get P's and C's... you are into some bucks. There are probably 1,000 or more threads on this...I'm not the expert...so check it out.
I'm not exactly sure when the cutover was to Nickies. There might even be a mix in a given time period.

casor · 08-19-2007, 04:36 PM

Neil - from the "school of hard knocks", if any part has been painted, assume the car has been hit - lightly or otherwise. Re maintenance, most of the cars out there are terribly under maintained for a number of reasons - mainly cost. Even when they have evidence of maint, most of the mechanics don't know what they are doing. At the minimum, if there is no receipt or log, then you must assume the procedure was not performed. These are the minimum assumptions you must make going in.

I like the DME cars (84-89) but the SC's are nice also and have owned both. SC's will break head studs - almost a guarantee, esp now that they are so old. And yes if you can spend for a G50/DME car go for it but it may be tough under 20K, esp when you consider you have will a min of $1500 maint and "stuff" to do - I guarantee it.
Rob Caso

hcoles · 08-19-2007, 06:05 PM

Neil,
Rob is correct....a lot of people own these cars and are not maintenance nuts like I am....
Even me... there are things that should be done that I don't do cuz it may cause divorce (which is even more expensive).... I take very good care of my engine and trans. and brakes however. Yes, be prepared with about $3k in pocket for misc. stuff... and then put $150 per month in a piggy bank at least...for the remaining time you own the car... In my case I do 95-99% of all the work and have figured out how to get parts reasonable and my mechanic even loans me tools and gives me parts if they are used and he doesn't need them...Porsche people are like that Probably the best part of the whole Porsche thing is the people you meet.. this forum is a good example...lots of knowledgeable people...and helpful.. we hope.

hcoles · 08-19-2007, 08:04 PM

a tip... if you want to see all the panels and different colors because of repainting... look in early or late light - be forwarned you will have a hard time doing PPI activities.... you will be too emotionally charged to be objective - IMHO - I'm in the same boat... of "ask me how I know" group. I got lucky no hard hits just minor stuff... Then about 1 year ago I hit a dear and got the whole front end repainted... the actual dent was small but I paid a bit more and got the front end done...now I don't like to drive on the freeway without the bra.... so you can see there are pros and cons to having a good car and a really like new clean car. Probably most of the people on this forum like to drive and really use the cars.. I think the SC/3.2 cars are very good for learning to drive... no electronics, no powersteering... no fancy save your ass rear suspension.... if you goof up the car will let you know....and they are easy to work on and durable

umfan866 · umfan866's Garage

I would go 84-89, and 87-89 in particular for the smoother shifting tranny, but also a 78-83 SC -- go for CONDITION primarily and find the best condition car you can afford.

Also, please note that while there are a lot of cars in California, Houston, etc -- and the bonus is that if they are 15+ years old they are easy to import -- why not start in your own backyard? There are some good cars in vancouver ... eg.

This car looks great! A 1988 red/black car, mileage a little high, maybe bargain the
car down to 22,000?

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/car/379010455.html

FS 1988 Porsche 911 coupe - $26800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: sale-379010455@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-07-21, 1:24PM PDT

FS 1988 911 gaurds red sunroof coupe. 3.2 flat six! Black leather interior .....
this one is Sweet enough to take home to mama!!!! 134 k miles on it
26,800.
1 604 768 4144
http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa214/steve-peters/?action=view¤t=c98251e5.pbw

umfan866 · umfan866's Garage

Neil -- also check your PM (Private Messages) on Pelican...

burgermeister · burgermeister's Garage

It's been said often in previous replies, but can't repeat it often enough - you will need $1K to $3K in the first year of ownership to adress all of the things you will find than need fixing (or that you don't like).

"Low miles" can be well over 100K, and in many respects it is probably better to get one that has been driven rather than one that has sat in a garage. They are cheaper, for one. And from my experience, when a car that has sat around for 7 years suddenly gets driven, lots of stuff suddenly will need replacing.

*** Most important of all: ***
Get something you will drive. If you spend your last dime on a semi-mint example and you will be too afraid to drive it for fear of adding miles, stone chips, or breaking something, you bought the wrong car. Get a car you will feel comfortable taking to work on occasion, and having your kids (if you have any, or will have any) put a scrape or stain in - the peace of mind is worth triple what you'll save on the purchase price, so it's a quadruple savings.

Plus, you get to do what you wanted to do, and often: Have fun with the car! I had a 'primadonna car' for 14 years that I drove maybe 8000 miles total. A total waste of money and garage space. And stuff still needed fixing despite it just sitting there. DON'T DO THAT.

rcooled · 08-20-2007, 11:07 AM

Neil, check your PMs for info on my '89 Targa which will soon be offered for sale.

dralph12 · 08-20-2007, 11:48 AM

Take your time, and wait for what you want.
Drive a lot of different Pcars, look them over good, and ask a lot of questions.
I have had mine for just over a year and spend 6k already.
its a 21 year old car and YES there is always something wrong! little things!
The wife had to have new wheels and tires, and there was a noise in the tranny within the first 6 months Boom!! 4.5k but now all is well and its a blast to drive. I found there is not a lot of stock to choose from, and most owners think their car is assume so be nice, say thank you, and stay focused on the car you want.

hcoles · 08-20-2007, 12:15 PM

yes, exactly.... what do you want?.... coupe, color, mods, G50, DME, what you want to use the car for/etc. Like Dan mentions...be somewhat ready for some big hits in terms of $$$. I wanted an 89, coupe and was looking for cars costing up to $33k. This was for an 89 with 8k miles untouched...I'm sure glad I didn't get it... I would have hated to drive it... on the other hand you might be able to talk me into buying mine... and be careful of people from Santa Cruz ;-) hope that doesn't offend... I grew up in Aptos. just kidding..