The last Excellence report (August) reported an '84 coupe is worth 16k (so-so), 18k (good) and 24k (excellent). Seems to me it's very fairly priced, especially considering the low miles. Is the Cali market that different than the rest of the country?

I wouldn't know anything about that :). I remember telling the PO when I picked up my car that I'd probably upgrade the stereo as I loved music and it had a cassette, but probably not do much else. The Blaupunkt CD player I bought still sits new in the box (stereo deleted), and I haven't looked back. LEAVE this board now, I'm warning ya!

Congratulations, nice car. Regardless of the initial purchase price, my experience would lead me to believe the cost of ownership for these cars will push you in the $20+ k range anyhow. Parts have a "Porsche" tax. If you elect to take it to a competent mechanic for work, the shop charges a top hourly rate for the work.

My car is my hobby. I enjoy tinkering around with it as much as driving it. I figure I am further ahead than if I seriously picked up golf and joined the Country Club. At least that's what I tell my wife every time the new Pelican Part package arrives at the door!

From my perspective watching over the past few years, yes without question. A garage queen G50 (for example) will bring significantly more on the east coast than in So. Cal from what I've seen.

Congratulations, on the new coupe.
Sometimes we over analyze things and spoil all the fun.
Glad you pulled the trigger and joined the club.
Have fun with your new toy.

Congrats! Enjoy!

Best,

Just got back
 

Just got back from a quickie up the freeway to Del Mar and back, with a few twisties on the side. Doesn't handle as it should. Shocks are dead, felt as though I was driving a '56 Buick, I suspect they are the originals. Sooooo new Bilstiens to be ordered this week. I'm thinking about removing the tint on the windows. With the color of the car and the dark windows all I need is black helmet with heavy breathing and I will start receiving a paycheck from George Lucas.

Sorry, picture of the car is on the bottom of the first page.

Don't be so sure about your shocks ... the Carrera's don't have the worlds quickest response time to steering inputs (at least not the 2 I've driven). Takes a while for the back end to take a set. My Park Avenue DD (funny you should mention Buick) reacts faster, though doesn't corner nearly as well. Compared to a Saturn Astra I drove recently (drove my 911 same day due to oddball nice 50's weather and dry roads), my Carrera seems sloppy. Still more fun to drive though!

Then again, Porsches are for tinkering, so ignore my ignorant rambling and start wrenching! :)

you got a better car than I did for the price. I have $23k into mine and could easily sink another $4-5K to be like yours.

Like everybody says...pay more for a very nice example rather than try to save a few K on something so-so as those savings plus more will be spent on the so-so car before it is all said and done.

Respectfully disagree on this one. Mine had 46K on her when I purchased and the first thing I did was new tires and Bilsteins (HD/Sports) and couldn't believe the difference compared to the original Boges. That was just the beginning, drive a "well sorted" Carrera and you'll change your mind :).

+1

Also, tires are cheap for these cars, so make sure yours are fresh. Older tires go off, and may seem to be fine until you reach their limits.

Enjoy your new car ! :)

Good to hear - then there is hope! I'm pretty sure I have original everything (146K). Original spring plate bushings probably don't help either. Not too many folks with well sorted, or any other for that matter, Carreras in the Detroit area (that I know of), so I'll have to wait for now.

Its True
 

It is true about the Bilstein (Sports). I have an '86 coupe with them on. Keith is absolutely correct about shocks and tires. The '86 handles like it is on rails, the '84 feels derailed.
Suspension is my thing, I don't do engines or trannys. I can't tell you how many cars I have bought with no attention to the suspension parts. This includes Boss 302, Tigers , Corvettes and Porsche's.

In general people just don't give it a thought. These are tell tale signs, floating on the the freeway when low or dip areas have been driven through. A kind of bottoming out when rough areas are hit. When in the garage, stand in front of your car and grab the bumper and lift up and down quickly as possible. Does it move more than 1" to 2" ?The new purchase '84 suffers from all of this. In one of my other posts, a Porsche brother up the coast made mention of his SC floating at 85mph.
My friends, a car that is designed to reach 145mph does NOT float at 85mph if everything is in working order and dialed in. So, Vader will get the following, (when I can afford it), Shocks (Bilsteins Sports), new turbo tie rods. I forgot about the crown I need to pay for tomorrow. Might as well do the tie rods since things will be apart. If anyone can think of something else then please chime in.

You're getting one of those early 90's crown air freshners installed on the rear package shelf? Or was that just a Detroit 'hood thing? :D

Crowns make Porsche parts seem a bargain in my experience...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1200939391.gif
Couldn't find one "in situ" ... bummer. Should be placed on the rear shelf.

"Carrera's don't have the worlds quickest response time to steering inputs"

- The wider the tires, the slower the response and "feel."