1978 911sc...value...good place to start?

[ghost1001]

Hi,

I am in the market for my first Porsche, vacillating between 928 and 911, price and ease of care are my 2 biggest considerations. The 911’s seem to be better as far as the care part (good shops in Northern NJ) but will cost more upfront.

There is a one owner, 1978, white on black, 911sc targa with 216,000 miles for sale near my house at a repair shop/dealer. I looked at the car and it looks like it needs to be cleaned up.

Dealer states:

"“Original owner car, well kept, solid driver. Condition of a car with less than half the mileage.”


They are asking $11.5. This seems high to me, but what do I know.

Would this be a good car to start with…can I learn to work on this car myself?

Any advice on a fair price, assuming no service history and the car runs/drives as stated.

Suggestions on what I should be looking for, other/better models to start with for around $10k.

Thanks
Kevin

[racer]

A 928 can be a nightmare to maintain. These were very expensive cars when new and need to maintained as such. CIS, Electrical gremlins, general scarcity are all issue with those cars. Now, some people love them to death and wouldn't want anything else (we call them crazies ) They are cheap for a reason.. much like 944s.. when you realize how many are poorly maintained and how much it takes to make them right, people just dump them.

911's are actually fairly easy to maintain because they are very hard to break! A '78-89 vintage 911 is very robust. Also be aware that most 911s are really $20K cars, no matter their asking price. Need a new clutch? theres $2k. Need a motor rebuild? There's another $6-15K.

You need to spend the time to find, again, a well maintained example.

Also
1) Will either of these be daily drivers or merely weekend cars for you
2) Do you intend to do anything like Autocross or DE events?
3) How mechanically adept are you?
4) Is $10K the entire budget? For any 20+ year old car, I would want at least $2-3K of available fund for the "oh shoot, no one caught that" issue that will come up.

While it pains me to say it (I am a 911/914 guy), Perhaps you should look for again, a well maintained 944 model. They can be had in the $4-8K range which will leave you money left over to address any short commings, except, perhaps horsepower.. (ie $1500 for waterpump/timing belt; $2k for a new clutch etc).

More importantly, spend time driving some examples. Even the $20K 911s you know you can't afford, simply to learn what a nicer one "should" feel like.

It is possible to find that diamond in the rough.. but it will take time to do so.

[psjoe]

caveat emptor with some of the NNJ p-car shops.

Check this one out, CL is a great place to look:
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/car/724211836.html

Good luck.

[ghost1001]

1, weekend
2, no
3, very
4, I am cheap, yes I have the money to put into it above the 10k...but that needs to be over time, I basically need to pry it from my wife’s hands.

I am looking to learn as much as i can about a specific model, and learn all of the maintenance and mechanics that goes along with it.

The 911 seems like the less complicated car and from what I have read, more durable.

I will research this car further and post more info and pictures.

Any thoughts on general price?

Thanks

Kevin

[GothingNC]

87 Carrera Cabrio in decent shape in my area for $10,000

Give the guy a call (in Durham)

No affiliation

THIS IS A 3.3 LITRE 5 SPEED CONVERTABLE, WITH AN EXCELLANT TOP, PAINT IS IN EXCELLANT CONDITION, GREAT TIRES, EVERYTHING WORKS, DRIVES LIKE BRAND NEW, HAS NO MECHANICHAL PROBLEMS, WHETHER STRIPPING IS NEW, THERE IS NO WATER LEAKS FROM THE SOFT TOP, NO RUST ANYWHERE, GARAGE KEPT, FRESHLY TUNED, MUST SEE TO APPRICEATE, THERE IS ONLY 1 FLAW ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES BELOW THE REST OF THE INTERRIOR IS IN GREAT SHAPE, HAS AN PIONERR CD/RADIO PLAYER, THIS VEHICLE HAS 218,000 MILES, BUT TO REMEIND YOU THIS CAR IS 21 YEARS OLD WHICH IF YOU DO THE MATH IT WAS ONLY DRIVEN FOR 10,000 MILES A YEAR , YOU CAN CALL ME AT 919-802-7300 TO SEE THIS 911 THANK YOU.