89 Carrera 3.2 coupe - MIGHT need to sell

[billydeakins]

Hi all.....wife and I are beginning to look for our first house and the $$$ I have tied up my car would provide a nice bump to the down payment. I'm trying to avoid having to do this as I looked for my car for quite a while, but sometimes the best decisions aren't always the easiest decisions. Here's the basics:

1989 Carrera 3.2 coupe
Guards Red over black interior
125K miles
Sport seats
Factory LSD
16"x 7 & 8" wheels
New RS carpets/door panels
Seats recovered with German vinyl seat covers
PO had car fully gone through and replaced all hoses/belts/lines, turbo tie rods, larger torsion bars, new brakes/rotors, all fluids flushed, and basically any maintenance item it needed ($8K receipt for the work)
Paint is all original except the rear decklid. I swapped the Carrera tail out for a smooth decklid as I prefer that look. I still have the Carrera tail for it which has original paint.
When I bought it, it had IROC front/rear bumpers on it along with headers and M&K 2 in-2 out exhaust. I received the stock bumpers and headers with the car and recently had AASE Motors change the bumpers back, put the stock headers back on it and I had them put on a Dansk Stainless steel exhaust as well. Oil change service done at that time too.

The car was in Denver when I bought it and I had it PPI'd at Storz Garage, where it passed with flying colors. Leak-down test was good and I can post the numbers....just don't have the copy of the PPI with me now. The car leaks no oil whatsoever and needs nothing mechanically.

Body is in great shape but has a few minor imperfections - rock chips, a couple of very small dings and one slightly bigger one on the passenger side rear wheel arch where somebody brushed against it in a parking lot...it didn't break the paint at all, just pushed the metal in. I was quoted $175 by PDR to have it removed but just haven't done it yet.

Interior is like new and I just added a new set of Lloyd's mats and new shift knob. Has a MOMO Prototipo wheel with it. I have the original door panels, rear seats & belts, parcel shelf and steering wheel. OEM steering wheel is not in the best shape however.

Only things I have left to do is redo the audio system. PO bought a Blaupunkt deck that has an aux input for ipod/phone, but had Best Buy install the amp and speakers, which is beyond me! They bolted the amp to the floor of the passenger footwell and there's a bunch of wires zip-tied up by it. Speakers don't have covers on them either....my next thing was to have those all redone and move the amp to under the passenger seat so it's clean and tidy.

When I changed the decklid, I left the A/C condenser that was attached to it on. I think I need to swap out the condenser to the one on my factory Carrera tail as the new one leaks and lost the charge. When I bought it, I had the A/C serviced at Stevenson Porsche in Denver and they said there were no leaks and the A/C blew cold (as cold as one of these can blow in stock format anyway!)

I don't have the tool kit or books for the car and am missing the service records prior to the PO, so basically only have them for about the last 8-9 K miles. I was told by the PO that the top end was done at 79K miles, which he was told by the guy he bought it from. The guys at Storz new the car and did say that it had been done, but they didn't do it. I'm trying to get in touch with them to see if they know the shop that did it so I can get a copy of the record.

I love the car and really hope I can avoid letting it go. If she does have to go, what do you guys think is a fair asking price? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

[MrBonus]

I would ask $45,000 and settle for a few grand less.

[kreeshp]

If it were me, I would do everything possible to keep the car. There's a very real possibility that you will never be able to or it won't make sense to buy it back at the then-current values, when you decide that you want to get back into an air-cooled 911. If you like the car now, you will miss it after you sell it.

Everyone should be fiscally responsible and you need to set your financial priorities straight but will the extra $45k really make a significant dent in your down payment? Money is cheap to borrow these days...how much would it cost to borrow the equivalent value of your car? If you can't afford that financing cost, you definitely need to sell the car.

[specialtyoneinc]

Awesome optioned 911 and tastefully modded. Keep it if you can.

[Nachtfalter]

Only people on this board don't like red..... most everyone else loves it. That is a gorgeous car. I agree with low 40's.

[billydeakins]

Thanks all for the input.....it is a fantastic car! I know if I do sell it, I will have a very hard time finding one as well sorted as this one. I appreciate everyone's input.

[G450X]

Originally Posted by Nachtfalter

Only people on this board don't like red..... most everyone else loves it. That is a gorgeous car. I agree with low 40's.

I think of red, black, white, and silver as setting the "base" value for the car, but condition (IMO) is more important. A similar year & condition vehicle in an interesting color will usually bring a premium to a select few - but usually that select few has deep pockets! I think it's actually a bit easier to sell a red, black, white or silver car, even apart from the obvious higher production numbers of 911's in those colors.

That appears to be a fine example of a last year 911 Carrera. If I were in the market for a nice Carrera 3.2, I'd love to park it in my garage. I'd say the valuation is spot on.

If I were in the market and it was an '89 arrow blue coupe, I would bite hard at $45k - and I might stretch to $50k...

[LakeCleElum]

If it's any help: My attorney just bought a one owner '86 Widebody Cab in the same color. Has 79,000 miles and he paid $50K......I'd say low 40's for yours?

[Matt Monson]

Another ask $45k and be ready to deal down a few grand.

[pepebaja]

Was this car originally from ca?
Did it have black dipped wheels and advertised on cg?.

[billydeakins]

pepebaja.....no, it is absolutely not that car. I know which one you're talking about! It was originally from CA but was in CO for a few years. I brought it back from there a year ago this month.

[racer]

Ask her if she'll sell her wedding ring to buy the house instead. Keep the 911. Houses are over rated!

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by racer

Ask her if she'll sell her wedding ring to buy the house instead. Keep the 911. Houses are over rated!

Well at least in Cal they are. My property would be triple the price there. Its why I left.

[Colour me gone]

Hi Billy

Now I'm a Canuck and I'm lucky enough to have an 87 Targa and an 81 SC. And to be honest I wouldn't sell either one to buy a house. Buy a cheaper house or WTH rent a I house I or buy a tent but don't sell the Carrera. Nothing like that Carrera investment is giving you any return like that Carrera.
In Canada I could get $60-$65 cdn for that car. And even then I wouldn't sell it

Keep it until you're too old to drive it

Good luck. John

[Winter]

I sold a car once to buy a house.

Best decision I ever made.

Still miss the car, though.

[shaunmbenson]

My brother just told me yesterday that the $40k he scraped together for his first condo has returned him $600k in home equity
We are all porsche nuts but sometimes the straightest line to 3.2 dreams is selling it (low 40s) and buying another when we are wealthier that will have a higher price tag but actually 'cost' less. I'm in a similar position in that when the time comes - I will sell my perfect 911 for down payment money. It's not my first IB 911 and won't be my last
Happy house hunting and happy porsche shopping cause the day you sell it you will be online for the next

[Skwerl]

Wonder how many PMs the OP has gotten from interested "enthusiasts..."

[Macroni]

Given the interior, AC issues and the fact that Serge had a real time of it selling his G50 G Red coupe, I estimate on the high side that this is a $40,000 transaction.

If you sell ; IMO a House will bring a lot of pleasure. G50 is just a car.

[NYNick]

Kids/family first, houses second, cars third.
You can move around one and two, but the third stays the same.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Winter

I sold a car once to buy a house.

Best decision I ever made.

Still miss the car, though.

I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't sold my first 911 to finance the purchase of PowerhausII's assets.