Ballpark Value?

[Avanti]

Finally saw the car. Not as nice as expected. Updated description below, still trying to post pics. Attachment button does not do anything when I click it.

• 87 sunroof coupe.
• 290k miles.
• One owner
• Engine tired but runs and drives. Mechanic says needs a rebuild.
• Has had a good life and maintained but it looks like maintenance may have fallen off in recent years.
• Paint and interior is a 6/10.
• No accidents, mostly original paint.
• SoCal car, no rust except for large spot at base of windshield (pic)
• Dent on right door, shallow 8" round
• Minor dent, damage on rear wheelwell arch.
• Paint thin/buff mark through on roof
• Tires bald and showing inside wear - Likely needs suspension work.
• Drivers seat bottom worn/tear

[specialtyoneinc]

$25kish

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by specialtyoneinc

$25kish

I agree...$20-25k

[Avanti]

I appreciate the feedback. I was thinking closer to 15k due to high cost for an engine rebuild. Even if I do the work myself, I still have to consider my time.

Another reason is recently, I have seen more than a few nice cars much lower in mileage linger on the market and selling for low to mid-30s. Signs of a "bubble" deflating?

Plus I haven't driven the car yet so the transmission is a ?? Seeing the car this week

After the engine is rebuilt, then its still a car with almost 300k which IMO hinders its value even if its well sorted. Bottom line I just want a good project to work with, however, also want to have something to sell in a reasonable amount of time when trading up and not take a bath. P Cars could be different, but my experience has always been that high mileage cars are purchased by only a select few and for a significantly lower price.

Thanks

[Matt Monson]

Yeah, 20ish. They are a bit harder to sell at that mileage but guys will still buy them if the tub is solid. 1/4 million mile 911s aren't that uncommon.

[RDUNCe30]

To Matt's point regarding mileage, for those of us with or considering higher mileage cars (mine is an 82 SC that rolled over 209,000 on Sunday), is there a mileage point of no return for common cars like SCs? By that I mean, is there a point where originality is out the door as a factor due to high miles?

I have heard all of the points of view - keep it original at all costs, do what you want - don't drive a car for the next owner, and everything in between. I am putting about 6k a year on my car. I have made slight changes but retained all OEM equipment. I understand some bye some day might want the stuff.

My car was well cared for by the PO and I am trying to take care of it, too. I am just curious if the consensus is that at a certain mileage (50k, 100k, 150k, 200k, 250k...) it doesn't matter what you do as long as the car is straight, solid, no rust with good operating mechanicals.

And do I hold onto OEM stuff for the future or sell it off? I intend to keep the SC and my E30 as I approach retirement later this year.

Thanks for any perspective you all can provide.

Sam

[Rick Brooklyn]

I:d rather have an all original SC than a funky repaint with flares and sparco seats and momo wheel at any mileage point...

[specialtyoneinc]

Originally Posted by Avanti

I appreciate the feedback. I was thinking closer to 15k due to high cost for an engine rebuild. Even if I do the work myself, I still have to consider my time.

Another reason is recently, I have seen more than a few nice cars much lower in mileage linger on the market and selling for low to mid-30s. Signs of a "bubble" deflating?

Plus I haven't driven the car yet so the transmission is a ?? Seeing the car this week

After the engine is rebuilt, then its still a car with almost 300k which IMO hinders its value even if its well sorted. Bottom line I just want a good project to work with, however, also want to have something to sell in a reasonable amount of time when trading up and not take a bath. P Cars could be different, but my experience has always been that high mileage cars are purchased by only a select few and for a significantly lower price.

Thanks

$15k is a steal for running 87 Coupe (even if it's in need of a rebuild). Without pictures and more information it's really hard to put a value on it. I initially said $25k-ish thinking it was somewhat sorted for a high mileage car. I do know allot of folks are specifically looking for 87-89 coupes right now.

[Matt Monson]

I've always seen 200k as the tipping point, though I think many people out it at 150k. The last 5 cars I've bought or sold have all been TMU. I honestly have no idea on any but 1 of them. Never was an issue for me as a buyer or for the people I sold to. They were just old cars.

That said there us some truth to what Rick said. RS door cards? Sparco seats? An hour. Weld on flares? A backdate? That's welding and paint. Not straight forward to reverse and may limit the buyer pool. I just look at it that the higher the miles the less value no matter what you do, so really do make it yours.

And sell the used parts. Be an organ donor to a nicer lower miles car than yours.

[pnut_lee]

Even a purchase at $15k will result in a $30k+ car by the time OP is done. That estimate doesn't provide a lot of wiggle room for misc. 300,000 mile parts that are tired on this car and slowly on their way out. For $30k you can buy a nice relatively low mileage car. I'd pass unless the car was really special and/or you want to build a hotrod in which case a car like this is perfect.

[pmax]

Anyone selling their G50 coupes for $15K, please contact me.

Seriously.

[RDUNCe30]

Thanks, Matt. Rick and I had an offline discussion about this and my original intent when buying the car was to do as he suggested - get it back to original. But with the miles and my intent to keep driving the car, I have drifted away from that plan.

In addition to driving the car, I am learning by lurking a lot here. Part of my plan in buying the car has been to get my hands dirty. Reading PP makes me wonder about mechanical mods... Suspension was refreshed by PO.

I don't have a Sparco seat, but so far I have installed Nurburgrings from Stefan, and I changed out the stinky original door cards and warped OEM cardboard door storage bins. I swapped the OEM wheel for a Momo. After my wife struggled with the OEM shifter, I installed new bushings, a Seine and no more struggles. I swapped sugar scoops for H4s from Suncoast Porsche. The car had a Glasurite respray about ten years ago. Original exhaust, cat, passed NC inspection in May, 2015.

I have done a couple of oil changes and about to flush brakes and change gearbox oil. I just changed out the omega spring and adjusted the clutch cable. I intend to clean up the underside of the car after finding a mess created by a split CVS boot.

The car is Guards Red, which has grown on me. With the exception of my air cooled friends,it seems that every 911 in my immediate area is either gray or silver or dark blue.

It may be old and red, but it is still a heck of a lot of fun.

Sam

[Matt Monson]

Sounds like a winner to me.

[HugoBear]

red car looks awesome

[techweenie]

High mile Carreras give you lots of possibilities. I bought this one for $9K and [partially] backdated it.

[RDUNCe30]

Techweenie - I could have gone all week without seeing your car. This is a dangerous place.

Was not trying to hijack - just calibrating my thinking regarding high mileage cars like the Carrera mentioned by Avanti (and mine).

Sam

[Avanti]

UPDATE:

I saw the car and updated the condition in post #1, however, I can't figure out how to load a picture (even though I have done it before).

[Ferrariguyma]

I bought a 1 owner 1986 Carrera coupe, paint to sample, 315k miles, 4 inches of factory service records, no signs of wear interior, paint. Strong compression and leakdown, paid $30k even and felt it was a fair deal all around. Great car.

[Ferrariguyma]

as the outside is

[CountD]

Wow, 315K miles. Awesome. That past owner must of had a blast. I wish I could put that amount of mileage on a 911. Car looks none worse for wear though. Looks great. Goes to show that these later cars last a very long time if cared for.