What the? The engine's in the wrong place!

[seamore2001]

After a months long search, I've found a replacement for my 968. Picked this up and drove it home last night. After I'd gone about three or four miles down the road, I realized I was grinning ear-to-ear.

[Caferacer]

Wow. Purty! It's been six months of ownership for me and I'm still grinning ear to ear.

[daepp]

How did you like the 968?

[masraum]

Wow, 2 sweet 3.2L targas freshly purchased with tails posted at nearly the same time. You guys are making me jealous!

[GH85Carrera]

I have owned my 85 911 for 16 years and I still grin big when I drive it.

[mclmk8d]

It's been 2 weeks for me! I'm enjoying it more every day. It's a weekend car for me, ut here in my school district, all of us teachers are off this whole week, so I've been driving it everyday...love it, love it.

[Bob Kontak]

Seamore - good for you! Nice car.

Here is a car that fits your title.

[plumb4u2]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Seamore - good for you! Nice car.

Here is a car that fits your title.

Bob what is that anymore pics?

[plumb4u2]

seamore many here will tell you to get rid of the tail cause you have Targa DONT listen I think it looks awesome and so does everyone else who sees my car

great find congrats....tell us more bout your car

[Bob Kontak]

944 - Loaded in "944 with 911 engine" into google search and then clicked on the images option. AMazing what you can find. I'll get the website and post

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/924-931-944-951-968-forum/454112-ferrari-in-porsche-3.html

[mystro]

Blasphamy,....Targa tail power.... Welcome to the best car you will ever own.

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

seamore many here will tell you to get rid of the tail cause you have Targa DONT listen I think it looks awesome and so does everyone else who sees my car

great find congrats....tell us more bout your car

Targa tail power.

[seamore2001]

Thanks for all the compliments! The Whale will stay - I don't care what anyone else has to say.

I loved the 968. I loved its appearance, its smooth power, its tight handling, its clean almost spartan interior, and the fact that it was in perfect stock condition really made me happy. After it was totaled, I initially intended to replace it with another 968, but didn't have much luck finding one that fit my requirements and pocketbook. I continued to look for the right 968, and even for a 951, but since we already have a 944 S2 Cab, I decided that maybe it was time to look for something different.

I started to look at 996's but couldn't find one that fit my criteria and could also pass a PPI. The more I read/heard about RMS/IMS failures the less willing I was to consider those. I finally started looking at the 911 SC and 911 Carrera 3.2 after a lot of research convinced me that those might be the best original 911 models. I looked at a number of cars, and was disappointed with many - it's astonishing how many folks told me their cars had no, or minor rust and were in great shape, and when I came to look at them I discovered rust throughout the cars or other major problems.

I ran across this car last week. At one time the car had some rust, around the bottom corners of the windscreen, and the paint was worn. The PO spent a small fortune to restore the exterior, and added the whale tail. I wasn't looking for a 911 with the WT, but it really does take me back to when I was a kid!

Given the reasonable price I paid for the car, I was nervous that something was in imminent danger of failing in a very expensive way. However, a PPI by Charles of C&C Eurosport* was very positive. Charles told me that "the car presents well, and is a really good example" and while it has some issues that need to be dealt with, it is a good buy. Charles also told me that the PO spent more on the car than he could ever hope to get out of it - sounds like the story of almost any decent restoration. Luckily for me, the car, even with the issues that were uncovered by the PPI, will still come under my purchase budget, so I'm very pleased.

I put a few pictures from the PO's restoration in my Pelican garage.

I'm just thrilled with this car. It's totally different from my 968 - completely different character. But it tracks through corners so well and feels so solid and planted, it has loads of power without the need for high revving as with the front-engine Porsches, and the sound.... I'm looking forward to what I hope will be many years of fun with this car.

One funny thing - in my black 968, I was fairly anonymous. I don't think the same can be said of this car. On the drive home last night, a kid in an old mustang paced me for a while on the highway, trying to get me to take the bait before zooming off. Pulling up at a light, a couple of kids on the sidewalk turned and stared. The cop whom I pulled up next to in a parking lot stopped and looked. A woman at the gas station this morning had to come over and ask about why I was putting gas in the front of the car. The 911 is a real head turner, and uncommon enough to make others take notice. I'm not much of an extrovert, but I have to admit to getting a kick out of it.

All in all, I am as happy as can be! I can't wait to get out and go for a spin this evening....


*Charles did one really weird thing that kind of made me angry. His PPI was very thourough and identified what I would need to do to make the car perfect. However, he also gave the PPI to the seller without telling me, which I thought was bad form, given that I had paid for the PPI and had not told him to give it to the seller.

[kidrock]

Seamore, looks like you scored. I love the GP white, one of my fave colors on these cars.

Please don't tell me you are from the Outer Banks, I don't think I could stand the envy.

[Hugh R]

THAT is one sweet Targa.

Mystro, I saw your pic and had to go out in the garage and make sure mine was still there.

[KarlCarrera]

Targa's are the fastest........:>)

Karl
88 Targa

[mtech325ic]

Is that standard business practice to give the buyer and the seller a copy of the PPI?

[green95ss]

7 years and still grinning like a 5-year old boy who just watched the Dukes of Hazzard on TV... Drove her to work this morning and sure, new Honda Accords come with more hp, but this car is art with a soul.

[KNS]

It might vary from one shop to the next but the PPI should stay with the guy who pays for it. I think it's reasonable for the seller to ask for a copy and then the potential buyer can decide what he wants to do with the report.

[seamore2001]

Originally Posted by mtech325ic

Is that standard business practice to give the buyer and the seller a copy of the PPI?

No. The PPI is essentially a service or product that the buyer keeps and can provide, or not, to the seller as the buyer sees fit. Since it can be used as a negotiating tool by both the buyer and the seller, it really belongs to the person who paid for it, unless both parties have agreed before hand to share the PPI.

In the case of this car, it really didn't matter that much - the price of the car was extremely reasonable given its condition. In fact, as I review in detail the records that came with the car, I'm simply delighted with what I bought. This is exactly the car I wanted, and in the condition I wanted. However, I was just a bit torqued when I found out the shop gave away the PPI, because based on it, an unscrupulous seller might have decided to revise the price agreed on for the car upward. In this case the seller was a gentleman and didn't try to revise the selling price to his advantage. I consider myself fortunate, and will remember, in the future, to be explicit with whomever does a PPI for me that I expect it to stay with me unless I say otherwise.

BTW, This car is soooo much fun to drive. I can't believe I've been missing out on this for all these years!

[seamore2001]

Originally Posted by green95ss

7 years and still grinning like a 5-year old boy who just watched the Dukes of Hazzard on TV... Drove her to work this morning and sure, new Honda Accords come with more hp, but this car is art with a soul.

Its funny you say that about the Honda Accord. I've got a two-year old Accord that my wife usually commutes with. After the 968 burned up I started driving the Honda - it has power, but the handling..., well, what happened over and over is that I'd accelerate into a curve as I would in the 968 and then find myself scrambling to avoid ending up in the ditch because, duh, it didn't handle like a Porsche. Finally I just switched to driving the truck full time since it didn't encourage stupid driving. Incidentally, I flat hate the Accord.