New Car Discussion

[shaunmbenson]

Hi gang

So after much shopping and pelican late nights I am again a proud 3.2 owner. I sold my last one 8 years ago and have been pining but not positioned until recently -- you will see the joy in my photos at driving such a car again.

1985, Prussian Bue/Navy Targa with 50k miles.
Car is getting alignment, new tires, new clutch and wipers and window switches out of the gate and I just placed my order for a driver's side Vintage Seats - Blue with houndstooth RS seat. My lady is gonna want the recline of the stock seats on our x-country cruises!!
Considering a Prototipo and H4 headlamp upgrade with chrome rings and some blue with white vinyl hood and decklid stripes but other than that gonna run stock for awhile.

I'll be posting the changes, mechanicals and roadtrips on this thread as I go

Oh -- and I was on the targa/coupe fence but 5 minutes driving it and I remember why I love the open top so much. I will track this car but it's a joyous long distance cruiser first and foremost.






Shaun

[Bill Douglas]

She's definitely good looking. Car I mean.

[wayner]

That's one clean looking car.

Congratulations on finding such a nice one.

[hbkramer]

Open road..... open top, I'm not a target owner, but I get it! Very nice.

[megerian]

Very nice - are you planning to have mismatched front seats??

[Uncle Enzo]

Congrats! Looking great.

[77Targa0912]

Awesome! I hope to be in your shoes enjoying my targa in a month with my SO! Picking up the rebuilt motor today and plan to install it in the next two weeks.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

She's definitely good looking...

And the car as well...

[shaunmbenson]

Originally Posted by megerian

Very nice - are you planning to have mismatched front seats??

Yes -- I am gonna start with mismatched seats - - I think the Porsche script on the cloth inserts may clash with the houndstooth but my lady - she likes the recline feature. And I don't see doing a rollbar so rear seat access is gonna be a plus for me. We will see - I think there's something pretty right about the single sport seat for the driver.

And thanks for the comments
Yeah -- it was a dealer find that I did over the phone essentially and when I went to pick it up the salesguy, who had suggested it was a US punt (in 2007 when they first sold it) and had no real records handed me an inch thick stack going back to the original window sticker, bill of sale, all weather car cover, all keys, tools, compressor etc and the interior/exterior is 9.5/10 with the slightly saggy interior headliner being the only so-so.
My patience really paid off.
Mechanically other than the work I suggested the car has leakdown of 20% across the board. The ppi mechanic and a second opinion at Hunter motorsports on those numbers suggested that across the board isn't neccessarily a problem and that I should drive a thousand miles and remeasure since it's a low mileage car. Whether there's a problem or not eventually I budgeted for opening the engine and would almost rather do that 'reset' on my watch.

And a quick bit of info about the market -- I paid $37 for an 87 targa back in 2003 from Weissach and $32 for an 86 coupe from them in 2004. At the time it was a premium and Otto/John Williamson said these were phenomenal cars compared to the SoCal ones he usually serviced. Auguste Lacourt - who ppi'd my current car (and who, incidentally, has said about 9 things to me already that could have come out of Otto's mouth) suggested the same on this car. I paid $25k.
Now the $40 and $37k dealer cars (and I mean targas) are out there and I was very close to a few of them but none of this is the insane jump over 11 years that other MY 911s are seeing. Granted I entered the Porsche game in 2003 at the high end of the 3.2 pricing. Not really theorizing about anything -- just giving info to our collective knowledge base on Pelican.

[kuba_kuba]

Congrats! Beautiful car! I'll give you a wave from my Marine Blue '88 Targa...

[tdw28210]

Nice...I have the M491 version of that car, same year, same color except with champagne seats. Enjoy!

[Dkennel]

there is no substitute! I agree on the H4 upgrade….don't like the look of those sugar scoops...

[Darkly-Noon]

Congrats! Targas are awesome, especially blue ones

Definitely get the Euro H4's when you can - it's my favourite mod on my car, it just looks so right. I got them with the chrome rings originally, but wound up getting the painted trim rings and I think it looks even better, since there's no chrome trim anywhere else on the car.

[shaunmbenson]

Let the slippery slope begin

Just ordered my Bosch H4 euro headlamp assembly with chrome rings. Gonna put on before a Toronto to LA (and back) road trip in 2 weeks. I went with the chrome cause my child brain likes the shiny. Don't imagine ever adding the painted cover ring. The chrome doesn't match anything except the polished lip, lug nuts and center cap on my Fuchs but I'm feeling it. I may eventually do chrome flag mirrors and a chrome decklid grill. Sort of a hint of the R gruppe Hot rod without being bound by any one era's aesthetic.

Almost ordered a Prototipo but thought I'd rather get my Vintage Seats RS installed (should be finished 4-5 weeks - navy bolsters and b and w houndstooth) and find my range to the wheel before I decide on Prototipo or Mod 07. It's been a second since I've had real seat time and will want a few track days before deciding -- thinking I may prefer the 07. Also had my hands on the Momo Race Evo wheel with the Alcantara inserts at 3 and 9 and it was surprisingly sweet - - again, not bound by any one era but I do want a unity as I go.

Headlamp install pics to follow.

[nickyclyde]

Chrome headlight rings will look awesome with H-4's

[shaunmbenson]

Nick that's fantastic -- I love that and it's exactly what I'm imagining. Just that hint of sparkle sets off the front

[shaunmbenson]

Well I'm a happy man -- picked up my car yesterday after being away since I'd bought it

It has a brand new clutch, tires, alignment, DME relay, driver's seat switches, window switches, wipers and I think that was all it needed out of the gate.

The first 300k day of driving was heaven and everything I remember about the 3.2s but better.

The targa was so the way to go for me -- although one of the front clips isn't seating in the front of the top's frame at highway speed - -I see a full rebuild in my near future.

I'm off to Mosport this weekend to meet more PCA guys near Toronto and see the metal fly around the track -- I didn't just miss the cars but the community around the cars

[OsoMoore]

Targa cruising is as good as it gets! I've been driving my targa for nearly three summers now, and it is always a blast. My roof was rebuilt by Dan of CarsInc, one of the few professional targa top guys.

You mentioned a prototipo wheel - I would recommend a 930S wheel. It fits my hands perfectly, looks sleek, and has excellent control. A previous owner installed it, but if I could have any wheel in the world it is the one I would choose.
Pelican Technical Article: 930S Steering Wheel Installation

[shaunmbenson]

Thanks Oso

Yeah -- was reading threads on Dan and his Targa top rebuilds -- will definitely do that soon.

I don't even know about the momo now -- my wheel is top notch condition and the navy blue is perfectly worn -- but thanks for the 930 link -- it's a stunning option

SB

[Flojo]

Ah, a targa not sold back to Germany ;-))

Enjoy!!