Seat repair - is it possible?

[Matthias]

I am from Germany and I looking since 4 weeks for an excellent looking and technical 1 A Porsche 911 Targa from the 80ys. I had some offers, but the dealer said mostly that the cars where in a very good condition in and out. On the photos the cars look really good. But oh my good, after I got several carfax inspection reports from the cars, I donīt know what for a dealer a very good condition is.
The cars have oil problems, bad targa roofs, a/c would not work, bad paintings, many broken parts inside from dash pad to the door panels, from seats with broken Lever and so on. I donīt know if I could realize my youth dream and found a good car for my budget. By one offer and that is my special question now: Could a broken lever on right side of the passenger seat (used to push seat back forward for access to the rear seats) repaired or must I replace the complete seat? The seat (electrical) is from a 85er Carrera. The lever is seamless inside the seat complete broken up, it looks nothing more about the seat.

Thanks for information about repair possibility's.

Matthias from Germany

[1303RS]

Yes, the handle can be replaced without having to replace the complete seat. New or used parts can be found, it just depends on which part or parts need to be replaced.

[stevemfr]

Hi Matthias,
Are you trying to buy a 911 via the internet? Sight unseen?
I would seriously think twice before doing something like this. It's people who have done similar who approach me when they find out I'm American and tell me all about what liars Americans are/Americans don't know how to repair cars/we Americans are generally losers and would be even if Bush had never been elected. I can understand their anger, but it's directed in the wrong direction; they should be upset with themselves for being so stupid.

With the current exchange rate, by all means, buy a car in the U.S.! But either have a friend or relative/someone you really trust in the States help. Or fly over. Tickets are not cheap at the moment, but if you end up with a pile of junk, it will quickly cost much more.

Repairing the seat is not a problem. Ich kann Dir einige Adressen in Bayern geben, wo Du Porsche Gebrauchtteile - bis hin zum kompletten Sitz - bekommst.

Sei bitte vorsichtig!

mfG
Steve

[Matthias]

Hi Steve,
thanks for your message. It is a problem, to buy a porsche via Internet, sure. I hoped it could be safe tier, if I bought a car by a dealer who is since many years on the market. What do you think about the informations from the carfax Inspections and the carfax history reports. Do you know them?. Is there a safety way to get informations about the car? I get one, who said, that the car(at example a 85er Porsche Targa for 14.900,--$) is in a good condition in and out, with some smaller problems, the broken part at the seat is one of it. The inspector also drives the car and said it drives really good without problems. Most cars are seamless repainted. The dealers said no accidents and no rust. O.K. the sun in Florida or California is a little bit other than in Germany and for an 25 year old car it is not easy to hold the original color( the color could bleach out with the years).And if they are original repainted could be o.K.
What is the repair of the seat. Is it possible to strip the leather from the seat, or how could it repaired?
With the parts in Germany is o.K., but they are very expensive in Germany and so I mean the dealer have better connections and for me by the moment exchange rate is more interesting if he repair the car before shipping.

[Rikao4]

Welcome Matthias,
If, or once you have found your car, ask if a Pelican nearby could do visual.
Kommisch ,ich habe 8 jahre in Stuttgart gewohnt, leider hatte ich damals kein interesant in Porsche.
Jetzt auf der suche fur denn zweiten.
Viel spass und gluck auf der jagd.
sorry, no umlaut key
Rika

[3.2 CAB]

If you locate one around my area, I would be happy to help you out with checking the car for you. I am in Mississippi, about 90 miles from New Orleans, and about the same distance from Baton Rouge, Jackson,MS, Mobile,Al, and a little further from Lafayette,LA. A couple of questions, what year model range are you wanting, and what kind of money are you wanting to spend on one? So if you do fine one, it would not be a problem to go check them out for you, just give me a buzz. Good luck!! Tony.

[rick-l]

Matthias,

Don't all the cars in Germany have to pass some meticulous inspection that no 20 year old car maintained to US standards would pass. Things like no rust, no leaks etc? Will it be pretty expensive to bring it up to those standards?

On the other hand the Euro - Dollar exchange rate is pretty good.