New Member Intro
 

Hi Everyone,

I've been a lurker for about a month now and hopefully a 911 owner in the next year or so depending on how aggressively the prices keep climbing! Ideally I'd like to spend $10k-$15k and work on it over time. Knowing that my price range is towards the bottom of the scale, I'd much rather have something mechanically sound / drivable but look like a turd (minimal rust but bad paint and interior are totally fine) than the opposite.

Alternatively I've been thinking of a 944 Turbo S which I can get for $10K or less and much sooner so thats very appealing but I have the feeling I would still yearn for a 911.

I'm very much in the pre-purchase, dreaming and researching stage so if you have any valuable resources that I should know of, please fire away.

Thanks!

Matt

Welcome... I would hold out for the 911. I say go for an SC but I may be biased. Also prepare yourself. It is an addiction and so is this site.

If you want a 944 don't buy a time-bomb turbo, get a regular 944, 944S, or 944S2..

Perhaps you should drive a 911 first. Your opinion of the 944 might change even though it is a fine handling car in its own right.

Also, with your budget, consider a 912 with no drivetrain. Insurance will be cheaper and you can bolt up a 911 drivetrain with its t-bars/shocks and be good to go.

I would also suggest that you stick with the 911. It does become an obsession and once you own one, the idea of owning anything else makes you shake your head and wonder what you were thinking. Especially if the 911 is a car you have been dreaming about, then for sure, nothing else will be suitable.

Take your time and drive as many as you get the opportunity to drive. In my experience, the SC and Carrera are still within your price range. Be patient and something will come along! Good luck and have fun!

Its a fun experience to look for a car. I spent about 6 months looking until I bought mine last April. I kept a spreadsheet and added cars to it and tracked all the info I had there.
I recommend picking up a book like Zimmerman's Used 911 Story. It has some good info and tips that can help you pick the right car and avoid costly traps.

It is also highly recommended that you get a pre-purchase inspection before you buy your new car. It may look and drive great, but be only months away from overwhelming expenses.

Thanks guys, it's so great there is such a welcoming and comprehensive resource on the web for 911s. Frankly that's one reason I settled on a Porsche instead of a comparably priced sports car.

The 911's in your price range are great cars if you are a DIY type. I LOVE my SC.

My first Porsche was a 944, now I have a carrera...no comparison...get the 911, you won't be sorry. Tim

^^^this is very good advice.

just purchased Zimmermann's book. How much commission do you guys get?

+1, I help another Pelican aquiring is 1st Porsche. He was going for a 944 because of cost but always dreamed of a 911. We found an one (911) for the money he had and never look back.

Once you have your car we will teach you the secret fist bump and you can start earning commission too!

Your first commission will come in the form of jelly beans and stickers. After that, you can qualify for magnets and key chains. I think I have enough pelican stickers to laminate my tool box.

Welcome. I would try to drive the cars of your choice and then look from then. If a 911 is what you want then hold off and get it. Thats what I did and love every moment of my car. As Andy911sc said you will know about the jelly beans very soon. LOL.

P.S. BEWARE THE SLIPPERY SLOPE.

Thanks for the tips guys. One question, a lot of auto classifieds are sort of aggressively saying "no tire kickers" or must have cash. I can totally understand not wanting a bunch of people to drive your car if they have no interest in purchasing but that's sort of tricky to find one to drive when I'm still a bit away from purchasing.

+1, hold out, you won't regret it, I had similar choice back in the day, wish I chose the 911 over the 944s, I blew the engine to coolant gasket on the 944, not a happy camper then.

WELCOME TO THE MADNESS! :eek:

Good luck on your search - I did the same as you a year ago, and I've totally enjoyed working on and learning the car. I'm in the thick of a top-end project right now (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/729856-87-drop-top-drop-n-top-end.html) hoping to have it back on the road by the end of the month.

As far as the tire-kicking goes, many ads say that, but you owe it to yourself to see enough cars to get a feel for what's out there. You may only want to test-drive the ones that you're serious about buying once you get past your initial inspection. Determine what your show-stoppers are, and move-on if you find one.

I ditto the posts above on the Zimmerman book, and I would add that all of these cars need to be checked for rust, especially under the battery and the front suspension pan.

Keep searching this forum for advice on purchasing, there's a ton of wisdom here, though finding pertinent posts can be a little time-consuming.

See you on the Hutchinson Pkwy!
GK

You might want to consider going to the Hershey, Pa., Porsche swap meet on April 20 (maybe even hitch a ride with someone from your area). You can learn a lot from talking with fellow enthusiasts who've been there and done that. You can also check out the for-sale car corral as well as follow the latest trends regarding used parts prices.

Brian

I've had both,

I really appreciate the 911 because it is a challenge to drive, and is a much more engaging experience.

also resale is much better with the 911, someone always wants a 911, but the 944's not so much