[techweenie]

Mark brings up a point that's often overlooked. I call it the 'butt gauge.'

It is possible for a 35+ year old car to be tight and solid. Easier if a coupe, tougher if a Targa. I tell the people I advise on 911 purchases to step up the offer if the car has an extraordinarily solid feel. Just 3 months ago, I test drove a '73 S Targa for a prospect and advised him to pay what many armchair critics here would consider "over market" because the car just felt, literaly, new. My client did buy the car and as he was having some details looked at by a highly reputable shop, they all remarked on how little the chassis flexed on the lift. And you could feel it on the road. I'd call that a 95th percentile Targa.

If the car doesn't feel tight, it's not likely you can ever 'put it back.' So yes, the claim that good driving cars are worth more stands up in my opinion.