Thoughts on pricing for an '86 Carrera?

[2cam]

Hey Team,

I'm thinking about selling my '86 Carrera and wanted to get your thoughts on the pricing.

The car isn't perfect, but it is a nice driver.

Overview

• 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Coupe w/sunroof
• 111K miles (I’ve added about 15K in the last 4.75 years)
• US market car
• Meteor gray metallic with black partial leather (the paint has a nice shine to it and regularly receives compliments whenever it’s taken out for drives).
• Spoiler package
• Original, #s matching motor and transmission
• Originally sold new in Dallas and has been a Texas car (Dallas/Austin) its entire life – mostly garaged.
• Rust Free
• It has the original paint as far as I can tell.
• Black interior has a crack-free dash, nice/supple leather seats with light wear (no holes, rips, or undone stitching), nice headliner (a few water stains near sunroof), nice carpet, nice door panels, and nice sunvisors. The interior is complete with nothing missing.
• It has an aftermarket stereo, but the original Blaupunkt Reno is included. Aftermarket speakers (Alpine) in the original locations in the doors. They have generic black covers to provide a stock appearance.
• Original 16” Fuchs with newer (2016/7K mile) Continental Extreme Contact DW tires
• Has the original toolkit and air compressor
• A few extra parts are included – valve cover gasket set, oil filter, etc. Also have a set of new rear speaker grilles.
• New shifter bushings, valve adjust, motor and transmission mounts, filters (gas/air/oil) and fluid (motor and transmission), and belt changes in the last 4 years. Last oil change was 8/18 @ 109K miles.

The bad

• Non-functioning A/C but all of the parts are installed and present.
• Non-functioning cruise control. All parts present, but haven’t bothered to fix it.
• A few dings around the bodywork.
• A dent on the lower front valance (passenger side) from bumping into a parking block in a parking space. Hard to see unless you’re at the correct angle.
• A bit of sun fading on black plastic parts.
• A small patch of peeling clear coat on the rear spoiler.
• A torn right rear sway bar mount. I have a new sway bar mount but it needs to be welded in.
• A couple of small oil leaks (less than the size of a dime on the garage floor after a long drive).

Also, there are no real maintenance records prior to my ownership. The prior (2nd owner) managed to misplace them in a move. The car had been serviced previously by a couple of well-known shops in the Dallas area. Perhaps I should reach out to them to see what records they might have on file.

Given the pricing that we've been seeing for 3.2 Carreras recently, with the issues mentioned above, I was thinking $35K would be a reasonable price. I'm planning to put it up for sale after the holidays "as is" for $35K OR fix the items mentioned above and put it out on BaT and see how it does there.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

2cam

[trader220]

I suspect you'll be bombarded by people who want to pay you $35k for it right now.


I would start it in the high $40's

[Matt Monson]

I wouldn’t say high 40s, but low to mid $40s. $35k will go to a flipper.

[996AE]

Beautiful car.

I would think you could sell quickly at under 40k.

I am always aware that at some miles somewhere someone is going to buy a top end or more. If you can do regular maintenance yourself these higher mile cars are a blast to drive and own.

But keep in mind someoen will evidentually on 3.2 Carrera buy a top end and while your in there bills can get spendy.

leakdown and a solid PPI will tell the new buyer what is needed now and what to plan for.

Good luck.

[SalParadise]

No way high 40s. I say $37.5K as-is. Lots of work needs to be done, like welding on a sway bar mount?!?!?

1986 was the banner year for all aircooled 911s. They made more 911s in 1986 than any other year. Still a nice car, but high and mid-40s? No. Says nothing about valve guides or anything else.

[trader220]

The sway bar mount is not a big job. No way I would sell it for anything in the $30's

[specialtyoneinc]

Sounds like a upper $30s to low $40k Carrera. $35k would be a very good deal.

[2cam]

Yeah, I was thinking that mid 30s may be about right given the needs that it has and the lack of records. It shifts well (no crunches) and runs strong, but I have no idea what has been done to the car maintenance-wise prior to my ownership.

A couple of dealers have already messaged that they're interested @ $35K. Here are a few more pics...

[specialtyoneinc]

Sell that car for $35k to a dealer/flipper you'll see it listed at $45k in a week.

[Matt Monson]

Yep. If dealers are interested at $35k that’s a wholesale price.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by trader220

The sway bar mount is not a big job. No way I would sell it for anything in the $30's

A 1986 Carrera with:

1) NO maintenance records
2) NO records at all
3) NO proof of any engine work - as 1986 was known for the imperfect guides that were known to go from anywhere as low as 60K miles to 140K miles (depending).
4) AC not working (no surprise here, but would be great if it worked).
5) Misc issues that would take $4K to fix if someone did not do it themselves.

Sorry, but I don't see the value in this in the 40K region. I believe the owner is smart and is fair at $35K but I would ask $38K.

A lot of work for a flipper to buy this car at $35K and maybe get $44K on a great day when everything is sorted. I just do not see it.

[996AE]

Truth

[Matt Monson]

Sal,

I can’t speak for Trader, but I’m giving the car a $3-5k bump for color. So your $38 really isn’t far off my $42-43.

[Macroni]

color sells I'm part of the $40K crowd.....

[Nick Triesch]

Some of you are being kind of hard on this car. I think it is in fantastic condition!!! The AC never works in these cars anyway. Speed control
Is an easy fix. No one uses it anyway. Car is beautiful inside and out. 40g easy. Holy smokes!!!

[2cam]

Thanks for the feedback so far. I'm trying to decide whether it would be best to sell it as is, or spend a bit of time after the holidays to fix the AC (as best it can be fixed), chase down the small oil leaks, fix the cruise, replace the aftermarket radio with the factory unit (actually it's a Monterey, not a Reno as previously stated), fix the sway bar mount, fix the dent in the front valance, have a good PDR guy see what they can do for a few of the dings, chase down as many of the old service records that I can from the previous shops, give it an incredible detailing job, hire a good photographer to take pics of it, and slap it up on BaT to see where it would go.

Here are a few more pictures...

[2cam]

[2cam]

[Nick Triesch]

By fixing those items for hundreds it could mean thousands for you when you sell . I have a friend who has an 87 of the same color. Just amazing!!!

[Nick Triesch]

Clean up the fan with some scotch bright! Will take 45 minutes.