ROW-Grey cars

[Bash]

Everyone,
this may have been covered in another post-if so please point me in the right direction but:
1. What's the deal? They have been here now for 20 years...
2. I guess its all about previous ownership? If they have loved it does it really matter where it comes from?
3. Shouldn't all good Porsche mechanics be able to work on them? I get the parts challenge but does pelican carry?
4. If I live & plan on living in a "smog free" state, South Carolina then the smog point is mute?
5. How many owners of these ROW cars have been burnt? Should be the same as Us/Canada cars no?
6. Ownership stories both good & bad-especially major work...
Bash

[Matt Monson]

Condition, care and mileage.
It was the US dealers who stigmatized them. Treat them like any other car.

[whiterabbit]

I have always bought ROW cars and paid more for them. In fact right now I am actively looking for another excellent condition ROW cab in the US. They are better than US models (faster/lighter) and appreciating faster. Just make sure they have not been molested during importation and inspect properly. I have just finished putting the correct headlamps back on my most recent ROW and love the car:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/800418-stock-row-front-end-restore.html

[pors1968]

I do prefer ROW car as early car import to canada were the same as euro.

[wgwollet]

I generally do not like ROW cars.

Mostly because of false odometer readings. The cars are bought to the US in kilometers and then converted to mph speedos there you never know how it was used or the true mileage. I know they must do correct conversions but they don't.

The notion of lighter and faster....umm very marginal at best...all these cars act differently.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by whiterabbit

I have always bought ROW cars and paid more for them. In fact right now I am actively looking for another excellent condition ROW cab in the US. They are better than US models (faster/lighter) and appreciating faster. Just make sure they have not been molested during importation and inspect properly. I have just finished putting the correct headlamps back on my most recent ROW and love the car:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/800418-stock-row-front-end-restore.html

Jesus Christ it is beautiful - Love the seats.

The yellow fog lights are original to cars delivered out of France, Luxemburg etc.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by wgwollet

I generally do not like ROW cars.

Mostly because of false odometer readings. The cars are bought to the US in kilometers and then converted to mph speedos there you never know how it was used or the true mileage. I know they must do correct conversions but they don't.

The notion of lighter and faster....umm very marginal at best...all these cars act differently.

The 87 RoW Carrera (231) was night and day faster than the 87 US (217) Carrera I had. Felt more like 50 hp difference. The RoW was even a Targa.

Both wew low miles cars.

[wgwollet]

So, only 14 hp......I have owned many Porsches and faster is relative to condition of motor and driver. Now if you say a 930 is faster then a 912...yes of course...

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by wgwollet

So, only 14 hp......I have owned many Porsches and faster is relative to condition of motor and driver. Now if you say a 930 is faster then a 912...yes of course...

Point taken...I did not clock them. The RoW just FELT much faster.

[whiterabbit]

ROW has different gearing as well. In terms of weight I think about 120lbs lighter.

As for false miles: sure some are not correct but its the same with US cars. If you have an ROW that was imported within weeks of being registered in Europe I don't see a problem. Mine for example was shipped less that a week after CH registration. It had its first service in the US. I am not too worried

These days its all about the condition and history IMHO.