Going with the hooker theme that silver car is Pretty Woman. I'd hit that and bring it home to mom.

At the risk of adding fuel to the fire, I just bought an 87, specifically to avoid the 915. I've owned a 72 and an 86 911, bookends of the 915 era, so I've experienced it in-depth at its beginning and at its end. I think it's a lousy transmission for a performance car. No doubt the 86 is tighter and smoother than the 72, but it's still not what a car like that should shift like. In the 72, I don't mind it so much, because it's an older car with lots of character, and the transmission goes along with that. With the 86, it just didn't seem right.

And for the record, neither of those gearboxes are in bad shape. I rebuilt the 72 transmission maybe 6 years ago and the 86 915 had been recently opened up to replace 4th gear. Both were/are properly adjusted and in good condition (the 72 in like-new condition).

Talked to the wife tonight. I'm going to expand the year range, but I also got approval to at least consider more expensive cars. But, for example, that silver coupe on eBay is at a dealer. With tax and fees in CA, I would be almost $49k out of pocket I think. Still probably fair for what it is, but a long way from my current maximum.

Don't ever pay full price at a dealer.

But more importantly you solved the wife issue in advance. You have no idea how many deals go south when a buyer utters the words,"I'm ready to buy your car but I need to talk it over with my wife".

The little paint issues wouldn't bother me but two things that concern me with that car is that the option sticker looks moldy and the trunk carpet has been replaced.

Have you posted WTB ads here, Rennlist and PCA / Pano? Like this...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-wanted-wtb-wtt/871040-wtb-g50-m491-911-a.html

..I'm still looking for 1 in ~100 M491 G50 coupes and will regret missing (I got a hold of the seller as he was dropping the car off to a PPI for the new owner) that '89 coupe for the rest of my life. Or... at least until i can afford a 1989 930. :(

Also, save an eBay search and opt for the daily email update. I get '87 - '89 911 results emailed daily. Damn, there are a lot of Speedsters for sale!

I'm looking forward to connecting with you Friday morning. Admittedly, it's a cab, but it's a smoooth shifting G50 with 57k miles on it and new OE bushings 5k ago. Mmmmmm... butter.

Here's my tip o' the hat to the 901 transmission and a picture I re-staged yesterday, ~25 years after I took the original...


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1456326766.jpg

You'll notice that the car does have a few issues. At $40k, G50 cars aren't going to be perfect.

You ever met a hooker that didn't have a few issues?

I will not answer this question in a public forum. ;)

YES, SO many people have said this to me and i never see them again. when someone says that, i don't hold my breath.

That mold scares me! Plus the Carrera badge is way off. Looks like that vehicle sat outside for sometime.

1988 911 silver coupe

I was in the OP's position since last summer and had effectively shelved the idea until I received a call from one of the indy's here in town who know I was looking. Ended up with an 02/89 slate grey on black 911 Carrera that was originally sold here in Vancouver which I snapped up. Point being, and as many others have said, the gems are not typically found at dealers. Get to know your friendly mechanics, ply them will beer and I bet they will think of you when they hear of cars that their clients are interested in selling.

Will there be any complaints if I turn this into a, "What do you think of this car?" thread? If not, this one just came up:

1986 Porsche 911 Coupe G50 COA 2nd Owner Original Paint CA car

Other than the fact that they randomly throw in the word "G50" which a) it probably isn't and b) they don't even explain what that is, it also doesn't mention the mileage. Was the Carrera script on the side an option in 86? I thought that was only a feature of certain 70s models, but I have seen it twice now on later ones.

Also notice not one, not two, but three different center caps on the wheels...

If it's an '86, it's not a G50.

I like the color combo, but not the wheels. The price is right if a PPI suggests the mechanicals are in good shape.

This one looks nice. I'm sure you can get him down on price a little.

1986 Porsche 911 Carrera: fresh valve job and syncros! for Sale in Redwood City, California

That looks like a decent car. They didn't do a great detail job on it (see dust in sunrof photo) but on the whole it looks solid. I would want to see the undercarriage and engine of course.

Yes, the Carrera script was optional. I have it on my 86. It was also something sold in the aftermarket so anyone could put it on even if it wasn't original to the car. I don't see it on the COA. And if you look the COA says it was a rear script delete car. 2nd owner added that and the side script most likely.

I would go test drive it even though it requires a journey out to the desert. If it was kept indoors if could be in really nice shape. That is my favorite 3.2 color.

That looks great and is close to me. Does seem like the price is pretty optimistic for an '86, but I'll definitely see if I can arrange a drive.

I'm in San Francisco so it's too far for me to just go down for a drive. I may give them a call though...

Oh, sorry. I thought you said you were in SoCal. Be sure to look out in Stockton and Sacramento. I've seen a number of cars in the Central Valley over the years and there's a couple good shops for PPI in Sacto. Ron Kain at IPB comes to mind.

I grew up in Foster City and Oakland/Berkeley. Lived there until 2001.

Already sold :( He might have an '88 coming into stock in a week or two, said to call him back.

Also look in Reno. Reno Rennsport can do a PPI for you.

I can't imagine a scenario where my wife comments on, or is involved in what I spend on cars. If you need her blessing, you are cutting it way too close and do not have enough savings for this.

Oh, and you're right, that gorgeous blue 86 with the crappy 915 is optimistic at 40K, what are they smoking?

Night farter, I doubt your Slavic mail order bride would understand you anyway. If you are married, I guarantee the wife has more to say about the money than you. I guarantee....

You just bragging again tough guy.

Of course its already sold. Spring time is right around the corner and buyers are coming out of the woodwork now looking for their car. The good ones will be gone by the time you see the add if your not hot on it. I dont think that seller was being "that" optimistic at 41 K at all. A lot of work went into that car. Any car or anything for that matter is worth exactly what one buyer is willing to pay for it.

Tell the dealer to call YOU the second he knows when the car is coming in. Or that one will be gone before you see it too.

Why did Silber get banned???

Mmmmmm, Slavic Wooomaaaan - gimmie suuuummmm!!!

https://www.cqmi.ca/images/le-style-...-l-est_500.jpg




Scott, see the last page(s) of the locked thread for details of brother Eric's situation. :)

Sacrificed himself for the cause. Bissy-B came back and Eric led the charge into the brink

Ok i saw it LOL. At least Matt gets 2 weeks of peace now. I looked at that thread in the beginning but didnt follow it through. i had no idea you guys got ahold of it and did the usual dismantling of it or I would have.

I kept my direct involvement with Boats to a minimum and just concentrated on slinging smut at folks that don't mind getting splattered by it! :D

I don't even understand why he came back and started in again. He had been gone for a week of peace. I kept my approach civil and left off the insults and name calling. I wasn't going down with him. Just no point.

This will be a huge blow to his ego...having been punished and suspended by a kindergarden teacher no less, on a website full of unruly smut slinging disrespectful little twits

Smart move expanding your search to 84-88. Focus on the condition and ownership history of the car. I would not include the gearbox as part of your non-negotiables such as body type and color.

Here is a premise worth considering. You say you are used to a Honda gearbox, and that's why you prefer the G50. I'll suggest that the entire point of getting an air cooled 911 (and paying top dollar for the privilege) is to have a vintage driving experience. No power steering. Mechanical clutch. No nanny controls. The point of buying an old 911 is that it's nothing like your Honda. Something you're not used to. If you want a modern gear box, then you should be in the market for a Honda, or a 964/993/996, right? In that regard, a 915 gearbox may be more authentic than a G50.

A correctly adjusted and serviced 915 is a perfectly good gearbox. It was in production for the better part of 2 decades. It is not defective. It was not recalled. It was not subject to lemon laws. Remarkably, it actually does shifts the gears. Are you going to be shifting with lighting precision where every 1/10 second counts? I doubt it. If you were, you wouldn't be looking at this car in the first place, and you'd be driving a modern car with PDK, like the pros. If you get a 915 and it's worn out or needing adjustment, just get that fixed.

Here is a nice quote floating around online:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/869014-can-you-drive-915-transmission-hard-true-british-cars-better-made.html#post8657476
915 Series Porsche Transmission
915 gearbox: Can you handle the truth ? - Rennlist Discussion Forums

I'm sold, I'm sold, gearbox is negotiable! If for no other reason than it is becoming clear I need to open up the field some more. I never thought I would hate a 915, just assumed it would be easier to find the right 87-88 car for me. I'm actually relieved to see my options opening up more, as folks said they would, now that I'm open to older cars. Thanks!

Did you see the red 89 targa in Seattle that just posted in the for sale section here? $29,9k asking and it looks pretty sweet.

I can't do an '89 because if I move to Australia next year and bring the car with me, it has to be more than 30 years old or they would make me convert it to right hand drive (total non-starter).

That's because I'm such a fookin' sexy beastly beast!

Hey autojack, check PM.

915s shift like butter!!! Racing derived, light weight, smooth as silk. Just a cable adjustment away from perfect. Wevo coupler, new shifter bushings, properly adjusted, made mine seem like a magic box, shifting into the next gear with a thought.

None. :confused:

I've been somewhat removed from the stock rebuilding world for more than half a dozen years now. I manufacture and sell race gears and differentials. While I do stock synchros to sell in conjunction with my new gears, I'm not the guy people call when they are doing a rebuild.

Back when I was in the trenches, there was way more 915 stuff than G50. But then it was a 14 year production run versus 6, if you count the 964s too. Just plain volume of production makes 915 more. There were also a lot of 915s that got bandaid rebuilds in the 80s and 90s that were starting to need proper complete jobs done on them.

A G50 will last longer between services, but when it needs major work it costs more. Throughout the long term 10 or 20 years of ownership I think they are close to a wash.