Driver G50 value

[thepenguin99]

I have been looking at a G50 car recently and am trying to correctly value it. It is what I am looking for in that it is a non-common color (not red/black) and doesn't have the carrera tail.

The mileage is good at around 80k but the car is probably a little rougher than a really well kept 80k car would be. The drivers seat has a small tear in the bolster leather. Mats seem to also have pretty significant wear. The rest of the interior looks nice. The paint is good with normal rock chips on the front. The car doesn't look to have ever had paint work done. It could probably use a bumper/valance respray just to get rid of the paint chips. The car comes with some maintenance records but not all. Their are no records regarding a clutch or top end. The top end doesn't really worry me because a PPI will catch that if I proceed but the clutch is probably on its last leg if it hasn't been done. The current owner pretty much figured out he didn't need/want a Porsche after he bought one. He has put very few miles on it during his short 1-2 year ownership. 3 owner car.

I think I can get the car to my door (shipping and PPI included) for 20k.

[sm70911]

PPI may not get tell you if it needs a top end. 80K is right around the point valve guides get really bad. Does the owner have any idea of oil consumption ? Does the car still have the cat on it ?
What records does it have with it ?
A car that's almost 20k and may need 5-10k worth of work ...

[thepenguin99]

I think a leakdown would tell the tale as far as top end wear goes but I may be wrong on that. As far as the owner knowing oil consumption. I doubt it. He has only driven it a few hundred miles while owning it. I know if the guides are worn and the clutch is on its way out the car isn't really worth the $$$. I am thinking this is going to be more of a case where the parts aren't bad yet but I can look forward to addressing the issues if I keep the car for a few years.

[COLB]

Cars as you describe are probably selling in the $16-19k range -- with dealers asking $22-25k.

A new clutch is pretty easy to account for in price.

If the car has not been driven much, the valve guides are not your only worry, and it is something you can defer for a while if your oil burn is not too bad, and you keep it full. If the car is in very good condition you could pay $17k for the car, then lay out $7500 for a clutch & top end and still be financially sound, if maybe a little underwater.

This is a different matter if the car also has broken gauges, corroded brake calipers, rotten hoses, aged bushings, tired suspension, and a Motronic FI system that will give an amateur fits -- bad fuel pressure regulator, worn AFM, crank sensor, etc. On a regularly driven, maintained car most of that stuff is pretty well sorted.

On a ratty car, it is all bad -- and big dollars and long hours to get it into running condition. If you are not looking for a DIY project, these are cars to be avoided. If you ARE wanting a project, they can be a reasonable deal.

What color is it?

[CountD]

Please remember that these last years were big years for 911s...meaning that they sold a lot of them, and imported a large number of them. That does not mean they are not valuable, but they are out there. The price seems high...

[thepenguin99]

The car is brown. Probably not a great color resale wise but I like it. I think the car was probably at least somewhat regularly driven before the current owner got it. Really wish it had records from the 2nd owner though. Would make the decision much easier.

[trader220]

An 80k mile G50 Coupe to your door with PPI for $20k ? Unless its a total POS and been banged around hard then its probably a good deal. The PPI will tell you all you need to know.

Show me another 80k mile G50 coupe for under 20k ?

CountD... I guess we differ on what "big years" are? I am pretty Sure that 1986 was the biggest selling year. I am also pretty sure that 1989 was not a big selling year by any measure. Either case we're talking about a few thousand cars tops. IMHO thats not a big number.

[CountD]

Originally Posted by trader220

CountD... I guess we differ on what "big years" are? I am pretty Sure that 1986 was the biggest selling year. I am also pretty sure that 1989 was not a big selling year by any measure. Either case we're talking about a few thousand cars tops. IMHO thats not a big number.

Sorry, it's not a few thousand cars tops.

1985 Model Year - 5000 cars (USA ONLY) 8000 Cars ROW = 13,000 Cars total
1986 Model Year - 6600 cars (USA ONLY!) 10000 CARS ROW = 16000 PLUS CARS
1987 Model Year - 8000 cars (USA ONLY!)

Sorry, these are big years. Historically, the biggest years in 911 production, a number that will never, ever be topped in aircooled years. I don't know what math you are using, but these numbers are real numbers from two sources, and 8000 USA 911s for the H program in August 1986 to 1987 is really, really a lot of cars, and '85, '86, '87, and '88 (Just as big as '87) these are ridiculously large production numbers for a sports car, much more than 'a few thousand tops.'

We are talking sometimes almost 17,000 911s made PER YEAR for the world market. That is A LOT of cars. Sorry, IMHO that is a very large number for Porsche production.

For example, your 'rare', a few thousand tops '87 Targa, they imported 8,101 911s to the USA, and that's not including Turbos.

These are huge years for 911s, and if you think G50s are rare out there, you've got to be kidding. Clean ones, sure, but these numbers don't lie and if you are thinking 2000 cars tops per year, you are kidding yourself. Next you'll be telling me your ST4S is as rare as a 750 F1.

[trader220]

Are those total cars we're talking 911's and in 89 we're not talking about the 964.

My point was "big" is a relative term. Porsche is pushing to sell 200k cars world wide per year now. So the sub 10k numbers are small in that persepctive. Where did you get those numbers from?

Who mentioned bikes? Last I checked this forum was about Porsches.


Here is what another source says:

From Corlett's book total 911 Carreras sold world wide:

1984 12,888
1985 11,320
1986 14,584
1987 13,956
1988 12,164
1989 9,114


Thanks

[techweenie]

Probably $15-19K, based on what a PPI discovers.

Not all 3.2s need valve guide work. Some do. Generally the need reveals itself as early as 60-70K miles. I've seen 3.2s with 180-190K miles that have never had any engine work done.