1985 - Coupe - How many miles is too many
 

315K miles. 1985 red/black coupe. Straight body, no accidents. Clean carfax. Good condition repaint and interior. All original except the radio and rear speakers. Engine rebuilt 25K miles ago. Runs strong and tight. New clutch, brakes, tires and a few other items. Some records, but not of the rebuild. Asking $17.5k.

Seems like a good opportunity, but what issues await due to the high mileage.

Gearbox rebuilt?
Calipers rebuilt? Master cylinder? Brake lines?
How old are the struts?
Suspension bushings replaced ever?
Window and door and hood and trunk seals? Hood and trunk struts?
All the interior stuff is probably dry and delicate. Will likely need all new interior and dash in its future. Seats are probably packed out and flat.

Could be a great long term driver but there will lots of little things here and there you have to do. It's a car you should budget $5k a year to tend to what is going to come up.

Wow I was just about to post a thread about 300k+ Carreras (probably referencing the same car). It seems to me like the new crop of Porsche buyers wants nothing to do with them.

The white one with black sports seats also has 300k+ miles. If they check out I would gladly have either one as a daily driver.

But at 300k I would like too see some receipts for a little engine/tranny work. In my book 300k+ miles is substantial.

But it would be cool to take a 300k car to 500 and then to 750 and then for the 1.000.000 mls. :)

For a DD I think I'd rather start with something way up there in terms of mileage. In the last 18 months I've put 41k miles on my jetta and another 6k on my 912E. I mean let's say you buy a 160k mile car that has had one top end and one trans refresh. How's that going to hold up in regular service? I say save the 5k+ premium you'd spend on the average 3.2 and go with a very well maintained but high mileage example.

I have had a couple 200K+ mile air cooled Porsches: a 3.2 and a 3.6. I had a 2.4 that was claimed 499K miles (but I think the seller's wife wrote that on the title in anger - odos in those only have 5 numbers).

Would not hesitate to buy another at those miles or higher, depending on the feel of the chassis and drivetrain. Mainly because they are a bargain. That 300K car will probably sell for $12K because people are so afraid of the mileage.

There is one justifiable reason to fear the high miles, and that is that it's pretty much a lifetime commitment. As hard as it is for the seller to sell it now; that's how hard it will be for you.

For the OP's subject car: a rebuild without a receipt is an anecdote. Anecdotes do not add value.

those many miles wold be a def turn off to most buyers...but is sellable at some price.

but ---- I have a friend of sorts who bought a Dodge truck- diesel...with 825000 miles on it. He is getting close to 1,000,000 now. Still tows his camping trailer with it.

Words of wisdom right here. Right on.

Thanks. That would be my fear - a lifetime commitment even though the car may have all of the necessary maintenance, upkeep and repairs, as the miles rack the options decrease for future resale which is too bad. These cars are such a blast to drive and represent a bygone day of manual motoring that it is waste to limit their use for fear of racking up mileage. A some point if you want to get into one of these cars for the pure driving enjoyment then a high mileage car may be the way to go. Obviously, one with documented service history! The seller of this car represents it has been very well maintained as a daily driver with trans, brake and other work done. Perhaps a low offer may get it - then I will let my sons figure out what to do with it once I am finished.

High mileage cars do appear to sell at the right price.
So, make sure you buy with an appropriate discount.

This one has a salvage title at 167k and the seller can't even get a bid at $15k.
Car looks nice from 10 feet photos.
1978 Porsche 911 SC Targa | eBay

Obviously salvage is a different animal - regardless of the miles. For the right car, the fear factor of the miles could be the way to go for a driver in this market.

How are these two cars comparable, other than the fact that they are both 911s?

What do you mean?

Dude, HE'S TROLLING. Absurd comparisons are part of the game.

You have to go into almost any pre-90 911 (at least one you will drive regularly, a garage queen may be a different story) with an attitude that no matter the mileage, you will tinker and repair. A solid chassis and body is required and pretty much everything else is bolt on. I wouldn't hesitate on that car once I had a chance to inspect it.

Personally, I don't know how you can make the decision to own an older Porsche or any car for that matter if you can't do most of the work yourself. Unless you're rich of course.

Lots of miles can be scary. My SC has 220k, but runs ok. Little smoke. Lots of funny noises, but runs on. Pops out of gear once in awhile if shifting too fast. Typical old sports car stuff. I agree with Mr. PML that all high mileage cars can be desirable at a certain price. Don't think id touch a salvage though, unless it was a real cheap Turbo that was rebuilt nice.

Tim H

News alert:
1985 was 29 years ago. You want a car that was driven an average of 4-5K miles a year, you may be unrealistic.

Crap, now I feel old.

Maybe not. We're talking 911 weekend cars, not daily driver Hondas.

Umm…now…maybe. But more like daily "fair weather" drivers. They sure as hell weren't weekend cars in 1986.

Or 1990.

People drove the piss out of these cars when they were new, and still do. That is why so many of them have so many miles. Because people drive them.

Not sure you even think about what you post before you post it.

I'm starting to think the same about you.