Ebay Hype and Prices 74 - 98 911's

[spb350]

So I have been looking for a 911 recently and I have been watching Ebay which I believe has an international appeal and reflects the actual market value due to the wide audience. The cars I'm watching are between the years 74 - 98 and I have noticed the asking prices are mostly over $35K and many well over $45K. But, when I check the completed items, there is a 1/25 ratio of sold to not sold. Most of the cars sold are selling for $25K or less. So I think there is a lot of hype going on mostly by the dealers, they did the same thing with muscle cars. So are the prices that people are paying going up or only the prices that people are asking? I know the super rare, the turbos, the ultra low mileage and the early cars are selling for more and rightly so but what about the 100K miles and plain-jane cars?

[Arne2]

This thread might best be moved from the Technical forum to Marketplace Discussion.

FWIW, I don't link eBay with the real world...

[Eli W]

Ebay is more for flippers and dealers. But these cars have taken off.

[Nachtfalter]

Porsches are a "touch and feel" purchase. EBay is a good advertising tool, but most Porsche buyers want to touch, feel, and drive the car before purchase. EBay does not lend itself to that. Thus, sales seem flat, but all reasonably priced air-cooled cars find new homes to local buyers that see it on eBay or distant buyers after a PPI.

I have bought a few vintage cars off eBay with zero problems but a 78-89 911? No.

Just remember, nothing is more expensive than a cheap 911.

[spb350]

Originally Posted by Nachtfalter

Porsches are a "touch and feel" purchase. EBay is a good advertising tool, but most Porsche buyers want to touch, feel, and drive the car before purchase. EBay does not lend itself to that. Thus, sales seem flat, but all reasonably priced air-cooled cars find new homes to local buyers that see it on eBay or distant buyers after a PPI.

I have bought a few vintage cars off eBay with zero problems but a 78-89 911? No.

Just remember, nothing is more expensive than a cheap 911.

I think most classic car buyers would like to personally inspect a car or pay for a PPI before buying it. I know I would want to before I released any large amount of money. I see a few cars on the East coast or in FL I would be interested in but I am leery to buy because of the distance. I have been checking every publication and internet site for a while now and the prices all seem similar to Ebay and the higher priced cars are not selling there either. I guess I will just keep looking I know there are some reasonably priced quality cars out there someplace.

[Nachtfalter]

Originally Posted by spb350

I think most classic car buyers would like to personally inspect a car or pay for a PPI before buying it. I know I would want to before I released any large amount of money. I see a few cars on the East coast or in FL I would be interested in but I am leery to buy because of the distance. I have been checking every publication and internet site for a while now and the prices all seem similar to Ebay and the higher priced cars are not selling there either. I guess I will just keep looking I know there are some reasonably priced quality cars out there someplace.

I have been lucky and vintage Fords are pretty easy to deal with if something is slightly wrong. A bottom end noise on a 3.2 Carrera you bought sight unseen off eBay would be a kiss of death.

Your local craigs should reflect a real market price by people that need to sell. But I assure you, if it is priced right, any air cooled Porsche will sell within hours.

[techweenie]

eBay is 'court of last resort' for many cars that cannot easily be sold locally. While some of us (including me) have used it as an international platform for advertising, I've had cars sell after listing expiration. In more than one instance, at a reserve not reached in open bidding.

Additionally there is a percentage of cars in the 'completed' section of eBay that were never paid for. In my experience the excuses - in order of frequency: a. wife vetoed it, b. could not get the funds together, c. mistyped my bid, or d. bidder was a shill...

One more thing: a bid on an eBay car is not a binding bid like those on other items. The vehicle can still be subject to inspection and rejected if not as described.

[SilberUrS6]

eBay pricing for cars, like TW has explained, is purely fiction. Looking at pricing and bidding, you really have no idea what the car will/did sell for.

Or even if it actually sold.

[techweenie]

BTW, I never understand what people mean when they use the word 'hype.'

[wildturkey]

I suspect the top end cars are dragging up the low end mass produced cars.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by techweenie

BTW, I never understand what people mean when they use the word 'hype.'

It's probably because folks don't understand that "hype" is short for "hyperbole", and incorrectly use the term (either or both).

[NYNick]

Ebay is a crock. Good to get the word out, but bad to check the market price.