Quote:
Originally Posted by moose8
...is it a bad idea for a newbie like myself to start out with something like an older carrera? It just looks so sweet...
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That way lies madness. your 151K mile Carrera most likely needs valve guides. The length of time the valve guides have been bad is key, because it can lead to needing valves as well. And then there are the "while you are in there" updates, like rings or new pistons/cylinders. And, of course, once you're down to the short block, it's tempting to split the case and do the bearings; perhaps chains... you're on the slippery slope. Good used Carrera 3.2 engines are still in the $6K range, so finding one that doesn't need work and swapping it into the car becomes an attractive option (especially when you consider the cost of overhauling that Carrera engine). And then you become a seller of used engine parts... which not everyone is cut out to do.
Over-reaching in the Porsche world is something that few people do successfully. As I like to say (and you can quote me) "the most expensive car you will ever buy is a cheap Porsche."