While
 

While I am thinking on this I would like an opinion as I am sure I can rustle up a few on this site.
Subject 1984 911 coupe. 74K verifiable miles. Just had a PPI done and outcome is it could use new syncros and a major tune, original paint and upholstery and no wrecks. One inch thick paperwork on history of car. New tires, sunroof, performance package (wing), no rust. Is it worth 18K?

Seems pricey.

Then again, if it's exactly the car you want and it's something special, a rare color, or otherwise uncommon ... I think it's better to overpay and get exactly what you wanted rather than get a good deal and get sort of what you wanted. Life is short - if you're going to go half broke on an irrational toy car hobby, it might as well be exaclty what you had in mind. When you're done, the extra few K won't matter. At least that's how I am wired ...

I'd try to get the owner to take into account the price to replace the syncros. The PO of my car (1984 RoW Carrera w/ 91k at the time) took off $1500 off her asking price for clutch replacement.

If the car is the right color combo, it speaks to you, who are we to say the price isn't fair? If it's good for you and are comfortable with it, I say go for it (especially with a PPI that was done).

Good luck!

Mike

The problem
 

The problem is that good coupes that have not been altered are not easy to come by. This one is arena red (burgundy) with black interior. Quite stunning in the tons of pix the guy sent. So if I can live with the so-so syncros for a while then..........I am on the fence. I know a syncro job is going to run 3k so now I would be at 21k. The problem is the guy won't budge on the price and I have tried everything. There are plenty of verts and targa's for sale but those don't interest me. To find a good coupe and it takes a while and the PPI mechanic said the car was sound. I hate making decisions.

This is the fun part!! As long as you're not spending your last penny, what's the worst that can happen? You overpay by a few K. In 10 years, you won't remember and your life will be no different. A 911 isn't an investment, it's an expensive irrational (but fun) hobby. As far as unmodified, you may find yourself modifying things yourself before long :)

Some other questions to ask yourself:
Did the PPI check all the head studs for existence and the front suspension pan for rust?
Why would someone sell a car that needs a major tune-up? I'd tune it up before selling ...

Make sure you budget $2 or $3K for any other things that may crop up that the PPI may have missed - just in case.

Agree. If you're comfortable with the price and trust the PPI, why not? If you think the price is still a little high, then move on. Keep searching. The right one is or will be out there for you.

Performing a major tune up on a 'new' car will help you get in touch with it. Nothing better than a tune up and a good cleaning inside and out to make a new car feel more like my car.

I would strongly agree that I'd have some 'mad money' (what my wife calls it) put away for those 'what's that sound?' or 'oh crap!' times.

It's not a cheap hobby, but it's much cheaper than some!

Have fun!
Mike

It appears to me that there is a consensus with the board... If you like it, buy it, however be prepared to spend some extra money beyond what ever you think you know about the car. I bought a CarFax 45,000 mile car knowing some issues, but still had to spend 3k-4k more above what I thought I had to spend to get it right.

The problem is the guy won't budge on the price and I have tried everything. There are plenty of verts and targa's for sale but those don't interest me. To find a good coupe and it takes a while and the PPI mechanic said the car was sound. I hate making decisions.

It sounds like the problem is that you've already fallen in love. Exactly what a seller wants to see. Run Forest, run! You may be surprised when you phone rings a week from now. Worst case scenario; you don't get the Burgundy 911, best case; you find a better one next month for 5k less $$.

Be sure to add the price of the tuneup to the price of the car. Can you do the work or do you need to pay a mechanic?

It's already overpriced.

There ARE other cars out there, a ton of them. Even better. Even less expensive.

And, it doesn't move in a week or two, the seller may be calling you.

What is the car worth as described West Coast pricing?

' it COULD use new syncros and a major tune '

sounds like almost every 911 on the road. use it as a bargaining chip but don't let it kill the deal if you like the car.

ps. NOBODY sells a perfect car, you'll always spend something to make it right. also, I find that late january when the credit card bills come rolling in a good time to buy a car. people are willing to deal.

For 18k it should only need minor work. Transmission rebuild should alter the price. For 18K you should be able to get a G50 Car.

Thank you
 

Thank you all for good insight. Think I will sit back a while and take the advice of you guys. Happy Holidays. Mike.

Cal44 - Don't give up yet!

Seems you found exactly what you want. Is this a dealer or are you talking to the owner with those documents and history? If it's the owner, then he's obviously an enthusiast. Why don't you just be upfront with the guy and tell him you really like the car and that "from one P-Nut" to another, you were hoping he would consider the issue with the synchro's and let you have the car for a little less....Negotiate!

I agree with the other posts - Life is short. These are not investments. Get what you want. In a few years you will forget the fact that you paid a premium for a nice car.

Regardless of what you get, in the end it's going to cost the same!

Trigger pulled
 

After looking and looking for a nice coupe I came back to the '84 I had the PPI done on in Arizona. Even with the tranny problem I thought since the good stock coupes are getting harder to find I will throw the dice.
Well the out of state mechanic was right about the transmission. Plus it howled in third and forth. I was not to upset since I am used to making poor judgements on many levels.

So, since it needed to be smogged I thought I will have the boys give it a major service and check out the tranny with assesment and change to Swepco 201.

Turns out the linkage was out of adjusment. So in summation, car shifts nice with second a little notchy but darn near perfect and no howling. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1200831249.jpg

Beautiful car. I just saw this thread for the first time, and reading through, I was agreeing with most everyone else. Overpriced, but if it was what you wanted, a few thou is moot in the long run imo. Now I would suggest leaving this board before we "save" another 5-10 grand out of your wallet on "stuff" :). I paid a premium for my garage queen several years ago ($29K), and have sunk much more into her since...no regrets whatsoever and it's been the first car I've ever truly "learned" and wrenched on, and she's everything I dreamed of and more...enjoy!

Beautiful! Love the color. Be sure to drive it as often as possible so you get your money's worth.
I have not regretted a dime I've spent on nor a mile I've added to my car.

Sounds like you found the deal you wanted. It looks great. Congrats on the purchase, enjoy it!

Nice car. And I agree the few extra dollars were worth it. Especially since an adjustment to the linkage helped in prolonging the trans. rebuild.

Good Luck and watch out for the "whilst you are in there disease", it seems to be contagious around these parts.

I really don't think that was a bad deal..
It is straight and clean and runs well, better than spending $15k now and $5-10 K later!!!
I love the color!
Congrats!

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."