Deends who re built it. But normally a re build is a good thing. Other things worry me on that car. But maybe some one from the area on here could help with a look see.
Good luck with the hunt.

Peters car should command a fair premium I would think....if I was looking I'm not sure I'd be looking any further. The fixation on G-50s you read is really quite amazing, the G-50 is a good tranny but should a 915 be a deal breaker? Nah. One of the comments from a poster said he had a G-50 because of his frequent use of the car in stop and go traffic, this is a fair comment. Used in this way the hydraulic clutch would be nicer to use than the cable system in the 915, which IMHO is less "progressive" (the pedal movement between fully engaged and unengaged is not very far).The 3.2s and SCs cars are pretty much the same as the original 911 designed almost 50 years ago so, you have to ask yourself in purchasing what you really want out of the car? Speed? Fun? Vintage cool? Comfort? "State of the art" performance?..... The newer the car, the closer to current levels of comfort, performance and unfortunately complexity. A 3.2 is a very fun car in any flavour but having been passed in very lumpy sections of track (where my 3.2 is "bump steering") by 993s I can tell you for sure that in the performance area, the progress has been huge. I would call my car quick by even modern standards (of normal cars, not performance cars) and it is certainly quick enough to have a lot of fun ( > 100mph in third gear).Choose the 911 that fits with your requirements Now get out there and drive some cars!

There is a reason that the 993 commands such a high price. It is the last and best of the air cooled cars. It did everything better than the 3.2 cars. Here in Southern Cal they sell on an average of $30-$35000 if you can find one. The 3.2 cars here are still affordable. If you take your time you can still find a super nice example for way under $20,000. You just have to take you time and be ready to buy. The reason is Southern Cal has more 911 cars than any other place in the world. I check our San Diego Craigs list all the time and I notice that there is always a ton of 1999,2000,2001 cars for sale. At a very low cost. The first water cooled cars had some problems!

I am feeling pretty good about the 3.2/SC cars and hope to drive one today.
As you might guess from the GTV & S2000, I'm not concerned with outright performance or practicality (within reason). I am concerned with looks, sounds, road feel and reliability (no typecasting on the Alfa - besides plentiful rust they are very simple & stout cars).

I have no problem looking at cars at a distance - adventure buying is almost a hobby of mine and my family might be disappointed if I found one around the corner - but like I said before it does seem more challenging with an older, more complex car compared to say a 2007 Ducati which was the last vehicle I did a fly-and-buy on. I will troll southern CA craigslist however and might reach out to you all if I find something.

My first question to the seller would be to ask about the "clear Texas title" with an Oregon plate on the rear. More history is needed. IMO.

It sounds like a nice SC would be the car for you. For under $20K you should find one that has been completely sorted and ready to roll. Very reliable, simple to work on, and easy to modify for increased performance.

E36 M3 - Without a doubt, the best bang-for buck fun car you're going to find. You can find a great, original example for $10k-$15k and use the rest of the cash to drive the wheels off. It'll outperform most stock 911s from the 80s, it has just as crazy a community, and it'll fit four adults with luggage while blasting AC stuck in traffic. After driving it around both coasts, I wound up selling mine to a friend and getting an E30 M3.

E30 M3 - Fun, raw, simple, delicious, and rare. They tend to cost more than a comparable G50 911 example. It will still move four adults with luggage while blasting AC in Summer traffic, merely at greater cost and poorer performance than an E36. I have zero plans to sell mine. The shape takes my breath away, and had a lot to do with why I bought one, but wives will tend to prefer the silhouette of a 911. I'm in the market for a 911, and have been to varying degrees for a decade.

964 - I think they're hideous, but they've managed to hold their value because they're excellent drivers, good-looking 993s are significantly pricier, and every 911 built since then has been ugly as sin (excluding the new 991 that nobody can afford). Some people convert gorgeous impact bumper models to look like 964s at great expense, so there's always a crowd for everything. I'd get an earlier 911, though...

911 - '78 SC to G50 M491, the prices vary wildly and there are personal favorites everywhere in between. The 915 shifts like a VW of the same era (well), and the G50 shifts like a 944 (perfectly). I'd prefer the G50, but I wouldn't turn away a 915. I'd prefer a 3.2, but I wouldn't turn away a 3.0. I'd prefer to pay less, but I wouldn't turn away an example with a good owner and known history. I'm only in the market for a wide body car as they stop my heart to look upon, but many find them gaudy (or even deceitful if not a Turbo). $20k will find you a higher mileage G50 or a mint-perfect SC without too much fuss if you're willing to travel. Coupes tend to get a bit more. Add $5k-$10k for a factory M491. It's hard to go wrong with these things. Just make sure you choose your favorite color combo and body style. Start sniffing around the Pelican marketplace every day like the rest of us, and don't buy the one I'm looking for.

In any event, you're in good company.

I just bought an 87 targa this summer for just under $20k. The car is mechanically sound, but the body has a few minor dings and the AC doesn't work. Usually in Canada cars are more expensive than in the states, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to find what you're looking for in your price range. But from what this thread is saying, the market might just be different down there. Good luck, post pics if you find one!

Good to see there's a few Montrealers on this forum. I might us it next summer to get us together for some rides around the city...

Gotta find my 911 first. :eek:

Do it, Nico! There are a few of us on here, even though I'm technically on the south shore. We'll go for rides next summer!

Great summary - I'm with you all the way even though I've never driven an E30 M3, I can do the math and you description sounds about right.

I just drove a one owner 88 911 Targa special commemorative edition. Here are my thoughts:

-WAY quieter than I was expecting. Very little wind noise from the targa top, less engine noise in the cabin that I expected (and wanted).
-Excellent door closure and overall feeling of quality
-Excellent brakes - have the linear feel of an unassisted brakes but clearly more power.
-No problem with heating but blower did make squeaky sounds
-Steering way heavier at speed than I would expect. Car was on stock 15's with relatively recent tie rods so I think I got an accurate impression. When I say "at speed" i'm talking about 30mph+ this did make the car feel less 'tossable' but it did have fantastic tracking and feedback. Might be that the car comes alive at 50+?
-Not as torquey as I had expected. I knew the S2000 I drove to see the 911 had more peak HP, but was surprised to find less grunt at 2-3k than I was hoping for. And with a 6k redline I felt a bit like I had to shift just when things were getting fun. Would be interested to hear everyones take on whether the stock 3.2 USA motor is considered 'strangled' and if so if its easily 'liberated'. I realize one key difference to the Euro car is compression ratio which is not cheaply fixed unless a rebuild is already in the works.
-Do not love the targa. The top itself is not a satisfying object compared to the rest of the car and I do think it spoils the looks a bit.
-Got looks for the entire test drive and had a hard time walking away. Just a very pretty car whose design has aged splendidly.

Overall this particular car was not for me - but it was an excellent looking one owner garaged car with lots of records. If anyone's interested:
1988 Porsche 911 Targa, $19,500 - Cars.com

Agreed, the targa look is not the greatest. However, they are cheaper than the coupes and driving around with the roof off is a blast.

Good for you r-mm. Going out there and driving some cars will help you determine what's good for you.

Funny 'cause I also drove a 1988 coupe commemorative edition about three weeks ago, but the car was not in a good condition.

Keep us informed. Looking for a 911 is almost as fun as owning it !!!!

Nico

Great info here...
 

I sold a few Alfa's (rough '71 and a '74 GTV and an '85 GTV6) to fund an 911 myself.

Not much to add to all the good advice posted here. I took a year to find a good (albeit high mile) SC that I have been driving while I save up for a rebuild.

On the PPI - I will add to be sure to carefully screen a car that you are very serious about for a PPI. A good PPI is not cheap - keep that in mind, or you will run out of money while looking for that perfect 911! If you are not sure about the color, mechanicals, etc., don't waste your money!

Good luck with your hunt, when you find the right one it should "speak" to you...

This post actually does a great job of summarizing my feelings on the heaviness of the steering and lack of a feeling of tossability. Interesting that the poster found that a modified 79 SC gave him what he was looking for. In general I'm all about enjoying cars as the factory intended but maybe its worth giving slightly modified cars a look to capture a bit more edge.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/304938-3-2-g50-driving-impressions-heaviness.html