912e owners what is a fair price?

FenderGuy · 09-20-2004, 11:09 AM

In my search for a 912e, I have noticed that the price range from the reasonable to the overpriced range. So what is fair price for a 912e? I know that these were limited cars were and under 2099 were made. More then 80% of these 912e's out there have high milage and have suffered from what I can see. I found a 912e that has 76,000 original miles and has had the ac up to par, sunroof and looks very clean, the seller is selling this car for $10k which I think is reasonable, but what I found unreasonable are the cars for $7500-$9000 range needing work on the ac or engine. Lets see buy a car in that range pay for the fixes and you could have a nice SC for that price range.

COLDBASS · 09-20-2004, 12:28 PM

Well, I paid $9600 back in xmas of 2001. Paint was rough, but very well maintained. Here my 2 cents...

$4-6k (semi) daily drivers, carb conversions, no a/c or not funtional. Rough paint

$6-8K Occasional use, some service records some upgrades average - good paint

$8-10k - Occasional to limited use, good service history, well maintained. Working a/c Nice to exceptional paint. All parts on or with car (Heat Exchangers, Thermal reactors, OEM Muffler).

$10k + - Original or second owner, very limited use. All OEM equipment, never wrecked, etc...

Again, my 2 cents. Hard to get top dollar as the 911 market is very soft...

Bob

david c. · 09-20-2004, 12:36 PM

A 912E is not a lesser alternative to a 911SC, plain and simple. If you're looking for a cheap way to find a 911-look then you're going to be disappointed. They ain't the same thing.

That said, I paid $6500 for mine in 1998 and have put somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000 through it (not into it, "through" it if you know what I mean!) since then.

If you want a truly original 912E then you're sorta in the same boat in terms of logic that goes along with the early 911s. In short, a cheap car is not a good idea. You'll quickly have more invested in it than an original one is worth. You'd be better off paying top dollar for a car that is beyond reproach.

I think 10k should buy a decent, original 912E. The problem is actually finding one. Patience is a particulary important virtue if you're on a 912E hunt.

The other thing is that, in my opinion, an original 912E isn't all that much fun to drive. You're talking about a relatively softly sprung car, at US ride height (like an off-road vehicle), underpowered, with potentially finicky fuel injection. Some guys have their injection sorted out and love it. Others, including the 914 guys with similar injection, have spent much time pulling their hair out over it.

So, I'd encourage you to drive an "original" 912E after driving a nicely sorted one because I'll bet you'll quickly lose the desire to pay a premium for the original one when you realize the money you'll be spending to modify it anyway.

Good luck!

PorscheDV · 09-20-2004, 04:36 PM

i totally concur with dave...

i paid 5000 for mine in 2002 in california. the car was in INCREDIBLE condition. no complaints whatsoever! i got lucky. fresh new high dollar paint. and it ran like a champ. the color i wanted. in every way EXACTLY what i wanted. no rusts. i couldnt have been happier. the guy just wanted to unload it after buing a 3.2 g50 car...

that said. finding the typical cheap ones is a bad idea. like dave said. its like buying an early car. buying a high dollar one (10,000 is what i'd consider high dollar) gets you a 4cyl 911!

i'd rather put 10,000 into a 69-73. you really have to just love 912e for what it is. its quirkey. thats it. if you want a 912e in great condition because you WANT a 912E, then 10,000 (after ppi ofcourse) should get a pretty nice example...

now do you want a 912E or a porsche? 10,000 will get a nicer 69 912. or decent 69-73 911's. as much as i love the 912E for what it is, those are a better drive imho.

now there are guys who body mod theyre 912e's. ive seen wide body turbo bodies. ive seen 964 updated. i think those cars are worth the price of the rolling shell.

a stock motored 4cyl 912E with 964 body, wide turbo body, or 993? isn't that webster's definition of rice? stick a type R sticker on it while you're at it.

i looked for almost a year. and found what i wanted...i know you've been looking for a while. but the PERFECT one will come around!

i know of one that needs to be put together (he pulled the motor. its in pieces. $4000k he'll probably negotiate). im debating on buying it myself...but if you'd be interested...i can pass along the info.

PorscheDV · 09-20-2004, 04:39 PM

hey dave! jus noticed, you're in san clemente?! welcome! you *ahem* didnt happen to bring that old beat up 912 did ya?

tell you what..i'll offer 4000 (put that extra 500 you DIDNT get from your brother away and do something nice with it)

i'll even pick it up

if i must

914Ghost · 09-20-2004, 05:00 PM

why must it be a true 912E?
Why not buy a clean'ish SWB 912 (maybe cheap with a blown engine?)
And build a good 2.0 or larger displacement engine and shove it in there?
THats my plan- just rebuilt the original engine in my 68' but I'm going to a 2.1'ish type4 and swap the 902 gears in the tranny for 901's, sometime in the future.
Same thing in the end eh -- maybe better than a 912E for fun-ctionality? Except THEN you never have to smog your car and you don't have to worry about keeping it stock- a 912E is a fairly 'rare' car so people yell at you for screwing with them to make them (subjectively) better or at least usable.
If no time for the project is the answer, I understand....otehr than that get to work! :-)
-Bob O

FenderGuy · 09-20-2004, 06:05 PM

Well guys thinks for the thoughts, I agree not to buy a cheap car that needs a lot of work, I know the prem cars are worth the buck, but my biggest complaint are the cars that are overpriced and needing more work, I mean do the sellers really think they are going to get top dollar for these rough gems? I think having owned a 914 2.0 I think I have the feel for what a 912e would feel like slow and slow, who cares it would be my daily driver( which by the way my current daily driver is no rocket ship) this 912e would hold me over untill I get a g-50 cab , which is what I plan on doing in the future. Who needs a rocket ship to get to work? the slower the better

Porsche DV pass along the info might be interested if the car is in decent shape.

david c. · 09-20-2004, 07:24 PM

Well, my 912 is thankfully going to stay in the family one way or the other. I really never wanted to sell it and I'm glad I didn't.

San Clemente is beautiful. I went on the 911 fun run down Ortega yesterday and it was a blast. I was fortunate enough to ride in Ryan Williams' SC Targa with the 3.6 transplant. What a ride. Perhaps his awesome car is the perfect car to show you that a 912E is by no means an alternative to an SC!

I think it's worthy of restating that a 912E has its virtues. The reason I have kept mine throughout my ownership of a 3.2 Carrera, a 928S with a five speed, a Lotus Esprit Turbo, etc. is that it's just a riot to drive. You can really wring a 912E out and still be at legal (sorta) speeds.

Also, my own personal favorite reason for owning a 912E is that it is classified FSP for SCCA solo racing. That's the absolute bottom of the barrel class for Street Prepared cars, meaning if you had a 1984 Jetta or a Yugo or a friggin' Buick Century in Street Prepared you'd be classed against my 912E. I think that's great. I firmly believe a well-sorted 912 (and even a heavier 912E) is a ringer in FSP. I have put up some great times in the 912E, faster than some serious 911 and 914 drivers when I get lucky. The 912E has great balance and makes ham-fisted drivers look good whereas a 911 can make an uninformed but good driver look really stupid in the blink of an eye.

COLDBASS · 09-20-2004, 09:08 PM

Frank,

I've said it before, there is a huge gap between rare (2099) and desirable...some of the owners (like myself prior to seeing the light) assume, that just because so few were built then these are are in the same category as an "RS".

Hmmm, next to the 70 911 T, that I just purchased, was a yellow (resprayed) E. I'll ask the shop if its for sale then PM you...I like the yellow but it was a bright early 70s 911 color and the E yellow...looked great with the black interior...

Bob

Dave,

I am about a month away from completion on the E then I shall take you for a spin...

FenderGuy · 09-21-2004, 06:08 AM

Thanks Dave,

Going to the L.A on friday with a buddy of mine to go doing some sight seeing at the bars

Any leads before then would be helpful

COLDBASS · 09-21-2004, 06:25 AM

Fritz, That's it...

david c. · 09-21-2004, 09:01 AM

Sounds great! I've never ridden in another 912E although mine has been like 12 different cars since I've owned it, during its various stages of evolution (devolution? ha).

FenderGuy · 09-21-2004, 12:28 PM

Prime Example of what is over priced who pay this amount for this car? for that price a SC comes to mind

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2490723953&category=6429&sspagename=WDVW#mainImage

david c. · 09-21-2004, 01:23 PM

Well, the buy it now price is pretty high but, again, this car is not going to be purchased by someone shopping for an SC. This is a car that falls into Coldbass's fourth category with the added premium by a dealership. It's never been repainted and it's a pretty sweet rare color to boot. I'd bet this car sells for over 10k.

FenderGuy · 09-21-2004, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave cardone
This is a car that falls into Coldbass's fourth category with the added premium by a dealership. It's never been repainted and it's a pretty sweet rare color to boot. I'd bet this car sells for over 10k.

This Porsche has had a major tune up within the past year and runs excellent. WOW that is a added premium by the dealership, this car has been on Ebay over the few months and every time the buy it now price is met it comes back on auction.

david c. · 09-21-2004, 01:51 PM

By "premium" I didn't mean added value. I meant they jack up the price to make a profit.

FenderGuy · 09-21-2004, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dave cardone
By "premium" I didn't mean added value. I meant they jack up the price to make a profit.

I know I was being a smart ass, that compnay sucks for even thinking they will get that much out of that car

david c. · 09-21-2004, 09:40 PM

well, let's get a little betting going. Like I said, I'll wager this car sees 10k or higher. I'll go first and say it will end at $10,853.97.

914Ghost · 09-22-2004, 08:08 AM

May go even higher- the one in up here in seattle 3 weeks back- Black and VERY nice went for $17k or something like that.
I can't afford to buy nice cars- I buy crappy ones and make them nice (subjective!) so I think it's great that the prices are jacked up.
Bob O

david c. · 09:38 AM

So, what's your guess? It's up to almost 9k already.

If it's between 10k and 17k, I guess the seller is right and the values of 912Es really are independent of 911 values all together. As they should be ~ different cars entirely.