Hows this one as a newbies Porsche?

[canoehead]

Hi guys,

I would appreciate any advice you can offer!

Ive been lurking around this forum for a while now and I am now seriously considering an older 911. Being that I simply do not have the time to constantly worry about and/or fix my car (even as a weekend driver), my main concern is reliability.

I am now looking at an 80' 911 SC being sold by a dealer in Wisconsin...he tells me that the motor has been disassembled, resealed, upgraded with new heads, new valves, new cams and an upgraded chain tensioner. It has about 125K miles on it. He is asking for 9K. The exterior is a solid 6 out of ten, interior as well a 6...and it has cloth seats (shucks!).
I plan on getting a PPI done before I actually buy it, but from the brief description, does this sound like a deal?

Any other basic questions I should be asking or big problems I should be looking for?

Thanks guys!

Jake

[GaryR]

A dealer that has just rebuilt an engine selling it for $9k, something sounds very wrong. Find a good shop where you can get a complete pre-purchase inspection done (ask here or search for "PPI in xxxx, Wisconsin").

[techweenie]

911SC is a very good first 911. You will want to have a very knowledgeable specialist shop check the car out. It could cost as much as $500 for a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) but that $500 could be the best money you've ever spent. Many of us on this forum have bad 'first Porsche' stories, including me. We would rather read a positive one. So check it out and let us know!

[azasadny]

Get the PPI and take a lopk at the cars for sale here if it doesn't work out...good kuck!

[techweenie]

Agree with Gary that the amount of engine work is likely over-represented.

[azasadny]

Oops, tough typing on the iPhone...

[jnewman]

Does the dealer have documentation of "new heads, new valves, new cams"? If not, don't factor it into your offer of $7500 .

Get a PPI. Good luck!

[AKA 930]

Originally Posted by techweenie

Agree with Gary that the amount of engine work is likely over-represented.

Then again he said both the interior and exterior are a 6... pictures would help us determine if the price is right.

[Joe Bob]

No paperwork, then the dealer is talking out his ass.

[Drisump]

IMHO an old 911, although as reliable as you can expect any 30 year old car to be, is fairly demanding as far as routine maintenance, compared to a modern vehicle. If you don't do too many miles per year on her and you are able to do most of the maintenance yourself this car can be a good fit. However, if you think you can treat her like an 08 Camry .....forget about it. 9K seems very cheap for a car with such extensive (and expensive) recent work done, I would want receipts to back up the claims. Good luck

[pete3799]

I'd be very leery of any dealer offering a 9000.00 Porsche with a fresh rebuild.

[5String43]

Re that $9k price - a top-end rebuild, complete with rings, valves, valve guides, new studs (which it most likely will need) and all the rest likely will cost at least $9k all by itself. Ask me how I know.... So that price does seem suspiciously low.

[Mitch Leland]

Jake,

Hold on, you said you don't have the time to spend working on your car, but you didn't say if you had the money to spend on repairs if it became necessary? The point is that there's a better than even chance you will either need to spend time or money in the near future on your new weekend driver. Or set aside some extra cash over the sales price of the car in the event some maintenance issues come up.

Now you might get lucky, but if you don't then join the club... but that's the reason most of us are here in the first place! Come join us...

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by pete3799

I'd be very leery of any dealer.

Fixed it for you.

To the OP: You want reliability & low-maintenance, buy a Honda. You either have to fix these cars yourself or pay someone (dearly) to repair them. The type/amount of miles your drive will determine how much you'll spend in maintenance/repairs.

[canoehead]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! I will definitely ask for paperwork to substantiate his claims of the engine rebuild.

When some posters say that I should know how to do some maintenance myself, does this mean oil changes, fluid changes and the like? Or are there heavier maintenance skills that I'll need? Im a pretty handy guy and I am sure I can learn my way around the engine, I just cannot plan on having the time....I have the money to pay for unforeseen repairs, but I would be ticked off if those repairs didn't contribute to the resale value. I would hate to get involved with a "money pit", as much as I love 911's, and I define money pit as investing more than what I paid for it over the course of a few years...is this something I should be expecting?

Thanks again for all your kind responses!

Jake

[plumb4u2]

.I have the money to pay for unforeseen repairs, but I would be ticked off if those repairs didn't contribute to the resale value.[QUOTE][QUOTE]

not to sound like a jerk, but the reality of owning any car is that you will usually not get extra resale cost out of money you put in your car....the resale market on these cars and most all older cars is determined at the time you try and sell them

[patssle]

Originally Posted by canoehead

I would hate to get involved with a "money pit", as much as I love 911's, and I define money pit as investing more than what I paid for it over the course of a few years...is this something I should be expecting?

Doesn't every old car teter on the edge of being a money pit? What if the tranny needs rebuilding? Or there's a rust paint bubble or two? Or the ignition dies? Or the exhaust rusts through in a spot?

The car could be perfect for tens of thousands of more miles. Or all that could hit you in the first 5k. You just don't know for the most part.

[canoehead]

I see...You all have very good points.
I still want one though :-).

On a different note, how much rust should be worrying? And where?
Ive searched but cant get any definitive answers...

[plumb4u2]

if you see any rust you should run... unless of course you want your "money pit"......these cars post 76 are galvanized and if you see rust this would mean they have not been taken care of

[Winter]

The Stealer. . .errr, I mean the "dealer" can easily fake the paperwork for the repairs. They are already misrepresenting the car, as others have already pointed out. That doesn't give me confidence, but might not matter so much to you.

I'd suggest you find a car for sale here, from a Pelican. Be patient. The right car might take a while to appear. The time will allow you to become more educated, learn about what you want and don't want and generally lead to a better decision making process.

Buy from your new stealer friend at your own risk . . .