Top end rebuild - recoup cost on resale?

logan2z · 04-27-2010, 07:11 PM

I'm on the cusp of taking my '87 Carrera in for a top end rebuild and was curious how much, if any, of the rebuild cost I might recoup when/if I go to sell the car. I know there are many factors that go into the selling price of a car, but I wanted to get some opinions on how important a rebuild is when buyers are looking for a higher-mileage 911, and whether a price premium would be justifiable. This of course assumes that the rebuild is done by a reputable shop and properly documented.

mickey356 · 04-27-2010, 07:41 PM

Being someone who is going thru a top end after buying an 83 SC last summer with a PPI I'd say depending on how much the rebuild costs you it's hard to tell if you'd recoup. If the car is tip top and the buyer is completely satisfied with the PPI (and the doc'd rebuild) I'd say you oould probably get a respectible price for it.
My PPI checked out and I'm doign a top end 9 months later. My car had a nice folder of mait over the years, etc.... and at 164K it was time. What I'm saying is I did what I was I supposed to do and "covered my bases" and it still bit me in the butt. I think it depends on the confidence and knowledge of the buyer, and the car itself.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Sell it the way it is....unless you can do it on the cheap.

bear924 · 04-27-2010, 09:51 PM

I once looked at a 911 that looked a million dollars however the top end was blown with no paper work or quotes, car couldn't be taken for a drive. Due to the number of unknowns I explained to the guy that I personally would expect a significant discount due to the risk of the purchase. The guy was a offended by this however as a buyer it's all about risk management.

Therefore I would only do a top end rebuild if it would be difficult to sell the car without doing so. I'm generally more interested in a 'steady' flow of maintenance work being completed on the car over a long period of time as opposed to a one off big ticket item. A big ticket item would be attractive however I wouldn't add the $2k (guess) to do the job to the base value of the car.

GarryW · 04-28-2010, 04:16 AM

Decide how badly you want to keep it. If you want to sell anytime soon just keep it as is and sell when ready. If you spend the money on an engine turn-around, you will just have to drive out your cost for it, because selling it will bring you little more in sale value (guess=40% of cost of rebuild, best case). Hope that helps you in your decision..........Garry

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

You don't recover the costs.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 04-28-2010, 05:00 AM

It all depends upon how you look at it. If you are selling the car, what does a lack of top end re-build mean to the buyer? If the car noticably needs the re-build you will have to discount the sales price in order to sell the car. If the top end is already done and has miles on it this becomes a selling point to some buyers. Some buyers will shy away from anything with repairs as they do not understand the nature of mechanical things and the need to pull periodic maintenance in order to keep things going.

I would not think of it as a cost to re-coup but how much less the vehicle will be worth if nothing is done. In some instances the value difference will be nill.

Jonesy78 · 04-28-2010, 05:00 AM

Doubt you'd recover the costs per se, but having documentation of recent work done by a reputable shop would move your car ahead of some of the others being considered.

Halm · 04-28-2010, 05:09 AM

FWIW, when I was looking, I preferred a car with the work already done, and I would pay a premium. But, it had a solid paperwork trail. And as you know I bought accordingly.

However, as MikeZ said, try to sell it "as is" first. If no takers at a price you can live with, then do the top-end, reprice and try again.

Monza_dh · Monza_dh's Garage

How many miles? Some look at 90k as high while others look at 160k as not that much. I bought my '88 for cheap because it needed a top end and with a PPI and two quotes I thought I would need to spend $4-5K. Once all said and done I was closer to $7K. So keep that in mind. This was a few years ago and I am in the NE so I'm sure in CA your factors will be different.

brads911sc · brads911sc's Garage

You car is worth 16-18k. top end rebuild is 5-7k. so unless your getting offers of 10-12k due to the need to do the top end... doubt youll get it back. Im with Gary on this one. 40% max...

McLovin · 04-28-2010, 07:56 AM

You certainly won't get much back, maybe 25% all things being average. But there's a lot of variables.

You took a long time to find that car, you seem to like it. The most "economical" way out now is to just get the top end done, the car will then be solid, drive the crap out and enjoy it for the next 10 years. That amortizes the cost of the top end job, and gives you a low "per year" average for the cost.

brads911sc · brads911sc's Garage

Agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLovin

You certainly won't get much back, maybe 25% all things being average. But there's a lot of variables.

You took a long time to find that car, you seem to like it. The most "economical" way out now is to just get the top end done, the car will then be solid, drive the crap out and enjoy it for the next 10 years. That amortizes the cost of the top end job, and gives you a low "per year" average for the cost.

Nine17 · Nine17's Garage

Anyone who intends to keep the car would prefer a "full" rebuild, so a "top-end" job isn't going to add much value unless the car is sale-proof as-is. If you plan to sell (993 got you spoiled?), why not split the cost of a full rebuild with the buyer by dropping the price $7K or so? Painful, I know, but you're thinking that way already. No less an expert than Jerry Woods hisself told me that top-end rebuilds on higher mileage cars invariably put strain on the other components and the cars come back for rod journals or crankshaft issues within a year or two.

Jesset100 · Jesset100's Garage

Search Motor Meister on the forum.

mca · 04-28-2010, 12:45 PM

This is just my personal opinion ... but if you rebuild the top, be sure to put some miles on it afterward.

Whenever I see a 911 for sale with less than 5k miles (not scientific) on a rebuild, I immediately think that the rebuild wasn't done right. Who in their right mind would want to get rid of a car after pouring so much money into it? Cutting their losses maybe? Bad rebuild?

Clearly this isn't always the case, but it is the first thing that pops into my mind. Mostly because I have been head over heels in love with my car since rebuilding mine.

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

+1, MCA. It surely ISN'T (always) the case,......

That "rebuild path" needs a good base of information. One is much better prepared on the sales process with good rebuild documentation/answers (specifically). Hell, my rebuild invoice (PPO) stated that they "installed new P&C's (well,..no sheeit,..which ones, jerk?)

Lotsa' ways to "slice-the-pie".....

Rebuilding is a very good thing, as long as it's done by people who know (exactly) how to do so,..preferably, people who do it day in, day ou, and at a professional level,..although there exists many DIY's who pay the strictest attention to detail and do (even) better in some cases. MUCHO experience is a great teacher, for sure.

Best,

Doyle

logan2z · 04-28-2010, 09:52 PM

Thanks for all of the thoughtful replies. I really like the car and am not thinking of selling at this time, but just wanted to get some opinions on recouping rebuild costs if/when I do decide to sell. The purchase price factored in an eventual rebuild, so I don't think I'll be too far under water once the work is done. Looking forward to getting the work done so I can enjoy the car for many years to come.