Pricing opinions needed

[Thrasher]

Well, I've had her for over 8 years, and we've had a great relationship, but I'm thinking it's time to let the old girl go.

I have a prospective collector interested, but I'm trying to arrive at a fair price.

I'm leaning towards removing some of the upgrades I made to return her more to as-sold on sticker condition - I have all the original parts and am thinking I'll re-install them and sell car as OE and then sell the parts... please comment on that strategy and pricing both ways. I think this will allow me to sell the car at a lower price and recoup (no pun intended) some of the money I spent on them



Gallery

Here are the stats:

1984 3.2 Carrera 911 Sunroof Coupe, nearly bone stock

• 171,xxx miles
  
• Straight body, clean Carfax, only minor body work done to my knowledge, all of it prior to my ownership.
  
• Schwarz/Black 2-stage respray (clearcoat) 2002 by highly reputable shop (Gapsch Bros. in St. Louis), minor chips only; paint is 8/10. just a few very minor dings that can only be seen from looking down lines(says a lot on black car). Paint has been cleaned/clay-barred/polished(3M Professional)/waxed (Zymol) at least annually and ALWAYS garaged.
  
• Fuchs 6's and 7's with polished rims and hand-painted center caps... perfect in every way. (I bought car with phone dials, two were just rebuilt and two were "good" condition. I ran over a piece of wood on interstate and one lip on one of the phone dial 7's needs some work, but I bought Fuchs insted... the "dials" are included.
  
• Interior in "Very Good" condition. Passenger seat (black leather) is a 10, Driver seat has a few minor issues, probably a 6 or 7 and could probably be easily made a 10 by a talented interior guy. Seats are non-sport manual version and have bee treated with Lexol 2-stage annually. Wheel is show as "Sport Wheel" on VIN lookup report, recovered with AGLA leather wrap (2007). Dash perfect except 1/4" (6 mm) long crack in the corner of right-hand defrost vent. Only 303 protectant used - NEVER Armor All or silicone products.
  
• Everything "works"; all gauges and lights (all new bulbs) Clock keeps PERFECT time since replacing capacitors; trip odometer rebuilt (I wrote the article) with new gear.
  
• does not drip any oil or burn oil excessively. Engine compartment neat and clean, not "blinged out". Fan and housing media-blasted and painted matte silver and flat black, respectively. Engine tin removed and painted (2007)
  
• great shifting 915 transmission with Swepco and new OE sport mounts; rebuilt ~ @ 150k miles and new clutch same time. rebuilt coupler ~ 155k miles.
  
• AC still installed and has pressure; compressor clutch works, but I have not recharged R-12 so doesn't blow cold. Should be simple recharge and you're back to sucky OE AC quality.

Optional mods:

• B&B Headers with heat and Single out muffler: sweet sound, no cracks and only a slight drone @2,400 rpm (also have OE cat/crossovers/hot dog muffler)
• Bosch H4 headlights with newer BRIGHT halogens (also have original Sugar Scoops)
• OE decklid with aftermarket fiberglass Carrera (correct) tail with OE rubber surround (also have original OE decklid that was on car when I got it).

Included Mods/upgrades

• OE front spoiler lip
• K&N Cone, always cleaned and oiled with K&N Fitercharger kit.
• Sucro Headlight relay kit
• Upgraded/rebuilt pedal cluster/controls
• JVC CD/MP3/HD-compatible stereo head unit
• MB Quart PK-116 6.5 in. front speakers

Notable/recent rebuilds/repairs

• rebuilt clock (8/2012); keeps perfect time
• New Neatrix rear bushings (2005)
• New Front Control arms (2005)
• New Boge shocks (all corners) (2005)
• All bushings on Sway bars replaced (2005)
• Replaced Alternator with rebuilt unit from Pelican (2005)
• New rotors, Metal Master brake pads rubber OE brake lines and ATE brake fluid; front calipers rebuilt and painted with correct matte silver caliper paint (2008)
• Lowered to sub-OE height (not slammed, does not scrape on driveways), installed anti-bump steer spacers. Corner-weighted to within 10 lbs on diagonals. Car drives dead straight, even under heavy braking, no bias whatsoever.
• OE Sport motor and transmission mounts (2010)
• New battery (2011)
• New heater hoses from Aircraft Spruce (2011)
• Full rebuild of tail light assemblies (2010)
• Ant-Sway Bars, belly pan, wire brushed and painted with corrosion-resistant paint while removed for suspension work (2005)
  

I do have full records and receipts since I owned the car, and going back to about 2000 from Reid-Vann in St. Louis, but unfortunately, RV's computer crashed before 2000 and all records were lost.

Thanks for the input.

[Hnichols]

Maybe $14K (?). If I were a prospective buyer my main concern would be the miles and the probable need for a valve job in the near future. Approx. how much oil does it burn?

It's a nice looking car. Good luck!

[Dave Colangelo]

I agree to about 14K. The valve job is defiantly an issue, and if it has never been opened up you may be looking at a top end or full engine rebuild some time soon. To a very uneducated buyer you may be able to get 16K-17K. One of the hold backs is the 915, a similar G50 can be had for 18K-20K and they are a bit more desirable although I enjoy my 915 in my SC. Your mods are quite standard in terms of things people do to these cars and IMO they are tasteful but dont alter the value much as they are just newer solutions to old worn parts. The receipts are nice but add little value. As said the miles would not scare off an educated 911 owner but an uneducated one will be worried.

14K is fair (if its going to a fellow pelican), and if you have any interest in a partial trade for an 87 944, PM me.

Regards
Dave
Dave

[Thrasher]

Thanks for the info so far guys... I'm fairly certain the engine has had a full rebuild, and about 99% sure it has had at least a top-end done. I think Jon from Reid Vann told me it had a "valve job" when I was buying it, but those records were lost in their computer crash. My neighbor is a Pelican and knows the car... he agrees, but we're going to use his leakdown tester to be sure.

I know I've read on here that the best test for the Carrera valve issue is to redline it, then let off the gas and watch for smoke... I've done that many times and NEVER seen smoke. It burns the normal quart per 800 or so miles, not excessive oil consumption by any means. It had Mobil 1 in it when I bought it and dripped a bit. I switched to Dino oil (Brad Penn) and the seals swelled right up and she's bone dry now, so any oil loss is burning at a normal rate.

[Thrasher]

BUMP: nobody else has an opinion? On this board???

[Arne2]

I bought my '84 11 months ago, paid $15k for it. Mine had fewer miles (154k at purchase), full records, documented top end job at 115k, and transmission rebuild w/clutch at 148k. Mine has mostly original paint, so it probably shows more wear than yours. M&K pre-muffler and SWong chip. Nice interior, uncracked dash.

So comparing the two, I also feel that somewhere in the neighborhood of $14-15k is reasonable, assuming good leakdown and lack of valve guide smoke.

[Thrasher]

Thanks for the data point Arne. I'm guessing the (sight-unseen) $12k offer I got is a bit low from the responses I've received so far.

[Cairo94507]

Unfortunately, without any documentation I would consider the engine original. A leakdown test would help you make the deal more desireable. I think that $14K is about right for this car. I think the mods are minimal and would not hesitate to sell it as is. GLWTS

[Rot 911]

I agree on the $14K. I think the mods you have add value to the car and I would leave it as is. Craig I hate to see you sell the car, but I know how lives change. To any potential PP buyers, Craig is an honest, stand up guy and the car is as nice looking in person as it is in the pictures.

[Thrasher]

Thanks Kurt... and yes, it is not totally by choice. Let's just say if you were working in the area, I would have retained your services by now... I'd actually like to consult with you briefly if you have any time, please PM me your number.

I still have your old sensors in a box! I feel badly about that... And my old alternator is your's to get a new regulator if you want I'll send them all to JCMO.

With three kids, a turbo-diesel SportWagen is going to have to suffice for a few years, and my motorcycle for my childish need for speed. I still love the car and took a date on a winery trip over the weekend and we had an absolute blast in the twisties. You know as well as anyone, it took me years to get the car dialed-in and every little thing working properly. It absolutely sticks to the road and is hands-free straight on the interstate. Obviously, I'm bummed. The car let me just down one time in 8 years and it was the flywheel position sensor... 30 bucks later and all was good and has been since. No smoke on startup, fires up in any temp... Remind me again why I'm doing this?

It probably wouldn't be hard to talk me out of selling... I'm doing a good job myself of it.

[CCM911]

I get the impression that you are looking for someone to come up with a value higher than $14K. No offense, but that is probably all the money for this car. I too drive a 3.2 and although my miles are lower, I would be looking at about the same, as mine is a Targa. I am sure your car is in great shape, but the unfortunate part is these are just not that rare.

Best of luck. Personally, I would keep it for a while longer and see what the market does.

[Thrasher]

Christopher, your impression is inaccurate. Not sure why I'd publicly ask for market value in the same forums in which I intend to list the car... would be hurting my own bargaining position.

I'd be happy to get 14k for it. I paid significantly less and have hundreds of hours of my own blood, sweat and tears in it. If not for this community, no way I would have been able to do that, so I'm not looking to pillage the Pelican community in any way.

One other tidbit.. this is a "Jon Voigt" convertible type of story. My car was purchased in 1984 by Tito Landrum of the STL Cardinals. Tito had quite the rep of the Latin Playboy, and rumor was he was traded for knocking up a teammate's wife and also philandering with one of the Busch (of then team owner Anheuser-Busch) wives. I'm 99% sure the car was in Busch Stadium when the cards won the '86 series and a thorough DNA scrubbing would probably reveal that Tito did some "off-field playing" in the 911. The book is full of his name and stamps from Spring Training in FL and Winter ball in AZ.

[CCM911]

Thrasher - Why don't you hold on to it for another year or so? I will bet the farm that prices will rise.

And I didn't even think of anything devious at all. I just think now is not the best time to sell.

[Thrasher]

Actually, just found out my other, other car '99 Jeep Wrangler is valued at almost $10k, so I may just dump it instead and keep the 911.

That would give me an all-German stable, anyway. Ja!!!

[CCM911]

Now you are thinking like a champ!!!!

[SilberUrS6]

An interesting set of answers. I would have thought that a well-kept Carerra would go for closer to $20k, due to desirability. Heck, decent SCs are going for mid- to upper-teens.

Yes, some Pelikaners get deals, but still...

[KNS]

Thrasher,

Don't sell that car - hang on to it somehow! Perhaps you can store it for a while and come back to it at a later date.

[Beau]

PM sent.

[Beau]

MINE!



Well, after I drive up to get it in late October/early November, anyway. Man, I can't wait! Such a beautiful car.

[Beau]

Nothing to be said about a first-time 911 owner, buying from a fellow Pelican?