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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 13
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Should I buy > 200,000 mile 964?
I have found a nearly perfect condition, but very high mileage 964 C2 that is on it's second owner. 2nd owner uses as daily driver.
My basic question, As clean as it looks, and without having a PPI yet, what dangers are there in this possibly good opportunity to get a truly clean car at a decent price? I'm willing to replace the engine if need be, or do a rebuild. But what else wears out on these cars that have to be replaced after > 200,000 miles? I have visited with, inspected, and driven the car. I took a ton of photos. The car is a freak of nature. It is completely dry underneath. The interior is extremely good, not perfect. The paint is extremely shy of rock chips for the mileage. Owner put it under a paint measuring device (according to him) and it shows no resprays or extra paint anywhere. There are maybe 8 small chips repaired. Engine is very clean inside. All doors and lids have original matching Porsche stickers on them. Original tool kit, and compressor are in the front/bonnet. Run flat has been used but is present and in great shape. Floor of bonnet is clean but for a bit of rust around battery. All bolts still have original factory paint marks on them. Front glass is a bit pitted, but not bad. Rear brake light panels and Porsche panel are a bit sun worn and spider-cracked, but not bad. Interior driver floor panel has quite a bit of foot wear in the very thin bit of rubber/canvas sound proofing that exists in this car (under the newer floor mats), but no moisture. Cloth seats are in great shape, but driver seat is a bit thin on the bolster. I'm new to Porsche, but love this model. What am I missing here? What are the dangers? If I can get I to this car for 10-15k cheaper than the other cars of this vintage with lower miles, what am I not thinking about? |
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a.k.a. G-man
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,614
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nearly perfect condition does not mean all of the beneath, IMO...
Code:
Owner put it under a paint measuring device (according to him) Code:
a bit of rust around battery Code:
Front glass is a bit pitted, but not bad Code:
Rear brake light panels and Porsche panel are a bit sun worn and spider-cracked, but not bad Does not sound too bad for a +200K car though. Get a PPI, no way around it. Rebuilding or replacing the engine is costly, keep that in mind! Get pics, post them here. Code:
Interior driver floor panel has quite a bit of foot wear
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Сидеть, ложь, Переворачиваться |
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Registered
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,088
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Rebuilding a 964 engine can easily cost more than you will pay for the whole thing. Clutch? Windshield? Seats? Tires? Pedal box? Steering rack? Exhaust? Cats? Rotors? Alternator? Injectors? Windshield wiper regulator/motor? AC pump? Ignition switch? Lotsa potential wear items at that mileage...PPI needed to answer the question unless it is $6K or less. IMO
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1988 Carrera Coupe |
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more PM's than Posts
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Besides the wear on the engine/trans, consider that the suspension has 200k on it also and will probably need some refreshing as well. How do you plan on using the car? Obviously it would need extensive preparation to be ready for the track, but as a sunday cruiser that wont break the bank you might be in good shape.
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Cats, injectors, rack, pedal box, ww regulator, ac pump (a/c ran strong though), ignition all need pro inspection. Rotors: not sure but looked to be new. Need to be mic'ed (miked?). Windshield: in very good con. Seats: very good. Rears too. Tires: fronts are ok. Rears need replacing soon. Do I plan on tracking the car - yes, but light use. So, yes, suspension may be a concern. Ok heres the other thing I was not entirely forthcoming about: it is a 94 RS America - only 84 of them made. So it is truly a collectable (actually - let's debate that, is it?). The range for those is $32.5 - $45k for a good to very good car. I've seen excellent examples go for more. He's in the high $20s. Does this make you ask a different set of questions? |
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston
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I say go for it!
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Ole Skool - wouldn't have it any other way |
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Yes, that is different, but a PPI is absolutely required.
Give him a deposit, and get your ducks in a row. |
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a.k.a. G-man
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,614
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Quote:
You made a bad first impression on me, but don't let it bother you... Why would you lie?? Other than being considered a liar, what did you expect to gain by doing this?? I lied too, it's perfectly safe to go ahead without a PPI... Buy it on sight and give the guy 10K extra just to make sure These engines almost never need a rebuild, and if it does, in another 500K miles or so, it won't cost much, 'bout 25 dollars, certainly not more...
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Сидеть, ложь, Переворачиваться Last edited by Geronimo '74; 10-27-2010 at 03:26 AM.. |
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Schleprock
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Frankfort IL USA
Posts: 16,639
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RS Americas are overrated IMO. Although I will say I love the seats (have a pair myself in my '87)!!!!
If you can get it for a song, then go for it since a 200K car is a hard sell for only the most well-informed, do-it-yourself mechanic, or someone looking to buy a donor for a race car. The wear with respect to mileage is actually sort of debatable. If it's been used on long drives in good weather and parked in inclement weather or stored for the winter each year, then it's wear is much less than a stop & go car that's seen a lot of short trips throughout its life. No reason to not be forthcoming about the car's details right from the start. It's not like you posted a for sale link that somebody else could look at, then potentially "steal" the car out from under you whilst you debate whether or not to buy.
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Kevin L '86 Carrera "Larry" |
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confused about your initial deception.
![]() Also, another point of confusion is the original paint, yet stone chip repairs? Is it original paint or not? Oh here is the ad: www.RSAmerica.net: Market Place/vehicles Anyways..... what records does the seller have on maintenance? Though more rare, it appears RS America's are not as collectible like other RS's in the Porsche family. They are very similar to a normal 964. I think the engines were hand - picked as one of their better engines from dyno testing, sport suspension and had a tail. What are the other differences? Why not buy a very nice 964 for 1/2 the price with reasonble miles? High 20ks for a very high mile RSA does not seem like a deal too good to pass up. But, maybe you could whittle the askign price down to low $20ks. If so, maybe that's a good deal. just my opinion. Doug
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This thread just got really awesome.
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Quote:
As far as the car you're looking at,.. 200k miles, high $20's I say pass. There are better 964's out there for that amount or less. Oh, but not an RSA's.
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RGruppe #180 So many cars.. so little time!! |
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RSA's are completely overpriced and overrated. You can buy a low mileage C2 for $25K or less in excellent shape. If you find a completely (OE) stripped RSA (No AC, no sunroof, no PS) with low miles for the same price I still wouldn't buy it over a regular C2 as a driver as the steering effort sucks. My shop found a cheap one to race and they actually installed PS in it to make it more pleasant to drive. The RSA was created to try and get US sales up by offering an ultra-base model, not because it's some sort of road going cup car. No hand picked motor, no custom chip, no seam welding, no special suspension.
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Gary R. Last edited by GaryR; 10-27-2010 at 07:15 AM.. |
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Crusty Conservative
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Remember that it will always be a 300K + miles car. Looked like a fair selection available with lower miles.
Rather have a normal 964 coupe with less use for that money, myself... ![]()
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How is it possible there only 8 paint chips and a pitted windshield?
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Gary R. |
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While you haven't stated the price, it appears for about the same dollars you can buy a high-miles rsa or a really nice lower miles 964. I'd rather find a nice 964.
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Gary R. |
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Do people actually believe the mileage on 1980s and 90s Porsche odometers which show less than 100K? Porsche odometers are notorious for breaking and very easy to set at whatever you want. You can't trust the mileage of these cars. At least the owner in question is honest enough to show true mileage. If a car has been taken care of, and engine rebuilt, the high mileage is meaningless anyway.
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