best investment today ?

[Jeff Winter]

I like longshots. 8-))


I`m always looking for a `bargain`.

[Jeff Winter]

Forgot or neglected to tell you.............

- rubbed out the paint
- rebuilt the carbs ( float adjuster bent )
- took out the wrong distributor(009) and replaced it with the O.E.M. unit ( that came with the box of spare parts )
- set the ignition timming & adjusted the valves
- 82K original miles........was in storage for 15/20 years
- trans shifts like butter, engine purrs like a kitten
- $3,00 purchase price

I`ve always got my eyes open............ 8-)

[trader220]

Well thats not really an investment you're going to happen into very often. How often do you think you can find a 3000 dollar car in that good of conditition which just happens to have a box of parts which you'll need that comes with it? Not to mention your time and expense in rebuilding a set of carbs.

Not sure what you mean by being conservative, you either did or didnt sell the car for 300% mark up including time, parts, and tax.

[Jeff Winter]

"Well that`s really not an investment............." Are ya whinning now Trader?? 8-)

A. my time didn`t cost me anything
B. there were no parts costs

I was originally being `conservative` by not mentioning my true purchase price the first time around.

Bottom line............. Keeping your eyes and ears open can pay off.

Some of us just don`t have $30-$50K to start investing with.

Power to ya though. Have a great New Year! Jeff

[trader220]

No whinning lets just call a spade a spade. Its not really an "investment" which can be duplicated. Time always costs money but thats a whole nother conversation.

Have a great and safe new year yourself!!

[glenndeweirdt]

Let's not forget that nasty four letter word-RISK. Jeff had a great deal at $3K for a car that had been in storage for 15 years. It just as easily could have been a $15K nightmare. Great buy Jeff, but don't discount the value of the counterpart four letter word_LUCK

[gsjohnson]

Clearly a pre 74 912 is the hands down best opportunity at 10K or under. Now buying a good one is the challenge.

[onboost]

Originally Posted by gsjohnson

Clearly a pre 74 912 is the hands down best opportunity at 10K or under. Now buying a good one is the challenge.

Huh? Pre-74? You mean pre 70 right?

Ok I know I may get flamed and I've been trying to keep my mouth shut. The 912market is very small and these cars are special to those that own them and???
Just because they are early SWB & LWB Porsche does not, and in my opinion will not make them desirable.

To me they're basically a hybrid between the 356 & the 911.. and I'd take either or...unless I was buying the 912 as a parts donor!
Oh, don't get me wrong.. there are some really nice 912s out there, original cars and beautifully restored ones.. but that is such a niche market. In other words.. the guy who buys one specifically wants a 912.. there aren't many of those guys!

There are many other cars that one could purchase for the same money that will do a lot better than the 912 over the long haul.

[techweenie]

The key here is the concept that 'my time costs me nothing.'

For most of us, there's "opportunity cost." IOW, the money your time could bring if you were doing something other than searching, repairing, dealing with logistics, and yes, dealing with buyers.

I have a friend who bought a '70 911 for $1,000 and sold it for $9,500, having put 2 hours' work into it... plus flat-bedding it to his house. That's a good ROI.

Like the lottery, someone has to win. There are 2-300 people scanning 'cars for sale' listings where I live, every day, looking for just such a deal. But for every one of those big wins, there are dozens of folks who have unhappy surprises. I personally have experienced 1.) seller did not actually own the car, 2.) "clouded" title, 3.) DMV record errors identifying the car as a stolen motorcycle prevented title transfer, 4.) seller pilfered parts off the car after purchase, 5.) landlord of storage location quit paying rent and my car was seized as an asset, 6.) well disguised but faulty chassis repair... I could go on.

The point is there is risk. And while I've come out well ahead on the net of all my Porsche 'investment' adventures, the biggest mistakes I've seen have been by people who lucked into a great return first time out.

[gsjohnson]

Originally Posted by onboost

There are many other cars that one could purchase for the same money that will do a lot better than the 912 over the long haul.

And just what are those many other Porsches for 10K or under that would do better?

[Jeff Winter]

GS, That`s what I thought I asked originally. 8-))

[onboost]

Originally Posted by gsjohnson

And just what are those many other Porsches for 10K or under that would do better?

I didn't necessarily say Porsches did I ?


Personally, I buy what I like if I feel the price is right.. and not because some goof-ball automotive writer suggests that "its the next hot car", or it's the latest fad or trend. However, I've been fortunate in that many of the cars I've bought, owned and driven have become sought after over time or driven by speculators and wan-to-be car guys.

On the other hand, like trader220, there have been some that I've bought right , used the hell out of them, and resold for profit or break-even.. usually later model mass produced stuff. Timing is everything with that.

Buy what you like, buy it right and enjoy it.. if you make money when you sell it, that's a wonderful thing.

[gsjohnson]

Your off topic now

[Fishman7]

Interesting, there are a lot of people in this world or on this board that would be happy with any sort of positive return on their investment, 20 percent of something is better than 20 percent of nothing.

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

The biggest issue with this thread is that even at 100% ROI, the money is so little that it makes no real sense....if you were talking 50K or 100k or 1M, then the return matters...but 10k, without sounding like a *****...it just doesn't do much for you.

[techweenie]

Wacky.

Any time I can get 15-20% return on my investment (real net) in 6-7 weeks, I'm happy. I've done that three to five times a year when I've had the time to focus on it. Do the math.

[Macroni]

There are plenty of people on this board that make their living dealing Porsche services, cars or parts. They will readily identify themselves. I mean Wayne drives a 959....

Is the question here from the hobby perspective? Which car can I purchase, enjoy, upgrade and sell without paying a "porsche tax" much like the early car enthusiasts of the last three years? Cars purchased for $19,000 and sold for $90,000.

If that is the question I would look to what ever is a limited quantity. Given your limited investment budget of $10,000 I would follow the advice of the thread; 924 Turbos, 951s, 914s, 928s, & 912s. These are all cars that can be purchased within your premise price.

[smlporsche]

I think one of the most important considerations is to buy a car in as original condition as possible. Once the PO starts modifying this and that it goes down in value..

[POORSH]

I have been following this thread, and I think a point to be made here is investment vs. below market finds. I agree with the philosophy that car investment is not necessarily the best long term strategy, but if you're looking for a quick buck, find an underpriced car and flip it (that is exactly what you did with the 912). Sure, it requires a buck. And yes, it requires skills. And last but not least, it requires risks. But lets all think about the last point. Who in this world would give you a buck for sitting on your a**? It just doesn't happen. If you want to reap in the rewards, you have to put forth your time and money. And then the question is how much time and money to put in. That is another thread. Most people don't do this for a living, rather it is a hobby and an adventure. Doing it as living can leave you living on the streets sooner rather than later. You win some, you lose some. C'est la vie.

Back to the point of which Porsche to buy. I think you should look for the most underpriced car you can find. Don't limit yourself to any one specific model. Also, a $10k deal can be a bit difficult to find. Most recent "Automobile" issue had a '76 914 auctioned off for $11K (I think) as a "best buy". Just my two cents.

[Fishman7]

An old friend has a saying and it goes a long way in buying and selling "buy it right and you have it half sold"; does not matter what year or model P car we are talking about.

[onboost]

Interesting stuff..

In my opinion.. just because a vehicle is limited in quantity does not make it a candidate for future appreciation. There are many other attributes to be.. and that are considered as drivers to the market. Performance, desirability, and aesthetics are but a few. With some cars, the relation to racing history is another factor.

With many of the early cars that have taken off in the last three years, performance, and limited quantity have both, in my opinion, led to the desirability of these cars. This also hold true for cars of other marques.

However, I just don't see this happening with a number of the cars as mentioned! Several are lacking in performance, aesthetics are clearly not appealing to the masses, and desirability of some has never really been there.

The 914-6, 2.0, and appearance group cars, certain 928s, and maybe the 951..

Oh, and I did forget reliability as a factor..

But hey, that's just me....