Bought my first 911

[r-mm]

After a nation wide 3-1/2 month search process I just picked up a great two owner 100k mile 1987 Carrera. The car was listed on ebay with 4 lousy pictures and didn't get a single bid. I saved the auction and eventually got in touch with the seller, a nice older man from upstate NY who has had the car since 1992. It was rather difficult to find a shop to inspect the car but pelican members hooked me up with a small sole proprietor shop who looked at it for me. All this took months and during that time I nearly closed on another car only to have a bidding war erupt and find it sold for 10% over asking.

I want to say thanks to everyone here who has given me advice - this seems like a great community I'm excited to be part of. Since I now have a tiny bit of experience with buying I'll offer my thoughts - the market is sort of nuts right now. The best thing about my purchase experience is that the owner told me plainly he was not going to re-list it if I didn't buy it. He actually seemed surprised that I got in touch with him. This made for a very slow, honest and considered transaction. His price was fair and entirely non negotiable, which was a huge relief after
-insane asking prices
-varied experiences getting PPI's performed only to find owners were non-negotiable
-trying to improve that provess by asking upfront what owner's thoughts on price reductions following a PPI were only to be told, basically "you don't know what you're talking about goodbye"

Good luck to those in the hunt and buy a car you're comfortable with. While it seemed like torture when I lost a car I wanted or when no good coupes were being listed, looking back it was only 3.5 months of looking and there were several great cars that I drove. They're out there.

About the car:
At first GP White wasn't my favorite color but the timelessness and practicality of it has already grown on me a lot. In addition the car has full "special" leather in bright crimson red, which I absolutely love. The red leather with a black "belt" dash and headliner are a really wonderful combination - they feel special but livable. The bright red interior really effects the exterior appearance of the car as well. This car is going to be a driver - replacing my Acura for what little daily (more like weekly) driving I do. I commute by bicycle or foot and drive maybe 5-8k a year.

I'm also restoring an Alfa GTV so the plan is to keep the Carrera pretty much stock and drive the hell out of it. The one thing I will be doing is upgrading the A/C. The compressor / rear condensor were removed from the car but included in the sale. Even though I reviewed the HVAC diagrams before buying the car, the heat/vent controls are just plain insane. I had an interesting hot/cold ride.

A few questions...

1. The seller gave me the rear wheels w/o tires and is running 4 front wheels on the car now - they are all 205's. I think he's doing this so he can rotate them. Is this a really bad thing that I need to fix asap? I'm presuming the rear may be a bit more willing to step out with the narrower rears... but is it catastrophic?

2. The small piece of trim @ the center rear of the rear windscreen was being held on with some sticky goo that looked like a wad of black chewing gum. How does this center piece typically attach? I can get a picture later.

3. As you can see in the pics, the car has black plugs where the whale tail was. I was given the tail but do not want it on the car. Does it make more sense to sell the tail with the orig. decklid, or get the orig. decklid patched and painted and sell the tail alone? If anyone is interested in a GP White tail, holler.

[DRACO A5OG]

congrats, and welcome to the madnes.

btw, what are those holes on the lid from?

[r-mm]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

congrats, and welcome to the madnes.

btw, what are those holes on the lid from?

They're from the whale tail which was removed by the PO.

[Justin@Athens]

love a can crimson interior!

[DRACO A5OG]

she is beautiful, love the red interior.

try some scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner and seal wil Lexol conditioner, try a small area, you will love the outcome, a little trick upholstery shops use

[Storage Man]

+1 congrats!
On the lid. Reassemble the original with the tail and keep it for originality. Purchase and additional lid for look if you prefer the non tail look day to day.
Just my .02

[Arne2]

Re: the tires. No panic, you can run the four narrow tires as needed. Will be better with the wider on the rear, but not an immediate problem.

[O'Grady]

Totally in how you are going to use it but you will enjoy the stability of the "correct" tire & wheel combo and the tail-smile combo. To most it's worth it on aesthetics alone. $.02
P.S. love the red!

[Winter]

If you run the tail, you'll really want to run a front spoiler. I'm looking at your pics on my phone, and it doesn't appear you have one, but the photo is small so pardon me if I'm incorrect.

Congratulations on the purchase and good luck with it. This forum is definitely the place to learn about these cars, welcome!

[dshepp806]

Get the tail back on it (just M.O., but I'm a tail-freak). Whatever you do: don't rid yourself of ownership of that tail.....just saying.

Congrats on the find,..I think she looks great,.....you'll get her sorted. ENJOY!!!!

BEST!

Doyle

[911dean]

Welcome to the club...love the color combo!

[r-mm]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm positive I don't want the tail and don't think it was original based on the lack of front spoiler. Wondering how to do the least harm to the car getting it tail-less, and if the market for a tail+lid is better than the market for tail only.

[azzarule]

yes the GPW and Red interior is beautiful, that's what my 85 Carrera Marilyn has. I have another GPW 911 coupe with the black interior and there is no comparison really, the red just adds so much more to the interior.

Congratulations, and have fun. There a few threads on spoilers without tails and tails without spoilers, and how it effects the handling etc, you should do a search. I wanted to take the tail of Marilyn but it grows on you after a while, but would still like a plain decklid without the tail to change the look occasionally, might pinch it off Pusha the 72!!!

[DRACO A5OG]

I would get a new lid and re-spray it GP white and keep the other when you find a great deal on a proper Carrera Tail or when you get the AutoCross Bug but you will need to add the front lip for proper areodynamics.

In the meantime enjoy her and get to know her especially around corners, always remember "SLOW IN, FAST OUT"

Jim

[ivangene]

sweet --- love the dirty look!

regarding the tail wars..... you are right that a tail without the front is not a good idea and the factory most likely did NOT allow that out of the doors that way

as for the strange trips to the garage to "check" at weird hours of the night - dont worry, those are normal

[jzdu]

Great story, love the color combo

[James Brown]

spoilers and tails only work north of 70 mph. the car weighs enough to keep it on the earth, looks good without the tail. now get out and drive! you need some seat time.

[Josh D]

You have great taste in cars. Love the Alfa!

[vtdriver]

That is a great car. You will love white. My vote for tail delete. Plug the holes and respray is easier than finding and fitting a new one. Good luck!

[MrBonus]

Nice, that's my favorite color combination. Enjoy.