BAT anxiety

[Djs36345]

Thinking of putting my car on BAT but i'm leery of the comment section. It's an 87 911 3.2 with 45,000 miles. The car belonged to my father since new. When people see such low mileage car they get skeptical and start to doubt the true mileage. Unfortunately I'm missing about 20 years of service records, 1989-2009. The car is in phenomenal shape and the carfax reflects no odometer fraud. My concern is that a vocal minority of skeptics in the comments section is going to scare away potential bidders from my honest car and I just have to take the abuse. Hopefully i'm just being paranoid, what say you guys?

87 911 3.2 cabrio $51,000

[christiandk]

Post some detailed pics of car and documemts here. Sounds interesting.

[epinfren]

BAT is an enigma. I don't know it how continues to occur but cars seem to sell there for maximum value all the time, in many cases well above market value. I honestly can't figure it out.

I would list it there and ignore any comments you may receive. Due to people losing their minds while bidding on BAT you'll get a far higher final bidding price there than you would on fleabay.

[COLB]

Show pictures of the pedals, driver's seat bolster, gear knob, carpet where the heel sits -- and the other places that show "wear" with driving. That will pre-empt some of the nitpickers.

With legit 45k, they should be pretty clean -- unless dad was 300lbs, drove in cowboy boots, and had really sweaty palms.

If the interior is significantly worn, and you have no paperwork to prove the mileage, how do YOU know that dad's odometer didn't break at some point?

The key to BAT is full disclosure -- if the mileage is legit, and the car looks like it, the actual bidders will pay some premium regardless of what the peanut gallery says -- but not as much as if there were paperwork to support the claim.

[SalParadise]

Well, since it's a cab you should be hesitant. The market is very funny on these unless it's a 1983 and has that mileage. They are an acquired taste. People seem to take them even less seriously than Targas.

What did one sell for new in 1987? I'm sure it's sweet.

Everything is a roll of the dice, so before putting it up on BaT, why not take some time and take some real photographs and put it up here with a nice description. Since it's a 'family' car I would take the time. Don't just throw it up on BaT. Right now even in this forum we're working with nothing but your words and no photos...

[sugarwood]

Does anyone think $51k is a stretch ?

[Farrell]

46k-Mile 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa | Bring a Trailer

51k may be a bit much considering its a cab. but i bet its not far off. BaT will let you know what its worth.

I just got accepted to list my car through BaT. Hoping it goes well, based on what I've seen, i should be sitting pretty when I'm done.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Does anyone think $51k is a stretch ?

Yes it is. It's beyond a stretch. No way.

I'm shocked that Targa went for so much.

It's a cab, it's almost Halloween, and I'm sorry I just don't see that number on this car. It's not rare, it's a cab, and we'll see what happens in the next three months. Trying to sell a cab in winter isn't good. Even trying to sell a cab for big $$$ compared to a coupe in summer isn't good. If I were interested I'd wait a couple months. They are out there, and get nowhere near the press of a same year coupe.

[epinfren]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

Yes it is. It's beyond a stretch. No way.

I'm shocked that Targa went for so much.

Agreed on all counts.

[SalParadise]

Looking back at the BaT auction for the high price on the Targa - the high price makes sense.

The white Targa was a specific model that someone had a sentimental attachment to and wanted to replace that feeling in their life.

It was an ideal transaction for the seller. He couldn't have found a better buyer. Someone who 1) knew what they wanted, and 2) had the money and most importantly 3) the wife's permission (as she was gonna drive it).

If I were the seller of that white Targa I would be very happy.

Sorry to say that not all white Targas in that condition and that mileage are worth that, now that the buyer is out of the market looking for one.

[trader220]

I thought the price was a bit high but not off the charts. It appears to be a nice clean straight 89 targa, in good colors. I thought it was like a $45k car but all it takes is the right two buyers in an auction to jack the price. A cab probably doesn't trade as high as a targa and neither trades as high as a coupe.

[sugarwood]

I think the cab is in an entirely different category than a targa.

I don't think you get top dollar with 20 years of no service records.
Maybe an exception would be original owner, and the understanding that nothing's ever been changed.

[specialtyoneinc]

$51k isn't to much of a stretch if the vehicle is original, in great condition and is a rare color. Get a through PPI done before your list it and post the results. If it's a common color, has aftermarket items, and needs some TLC expect way less than $50k.

[Flynt]

Fix any nits and put any non-stock stuff back to stock, get a thorough PPI through a reputable shop with compression and leak down numbers (spring for a valve adjust and ensure no broken head studs while you're in there - make sure it's documented in the PPI), run a paint meter on the car and post the report, run a carfax and post in the auction, pull the speedo and show that the date stamp matches the production of the car, and shoot all the photos COLB listed.
You'll still have to deal with a lot of (negative, and positive) chatter from the peanut gallery, but at least you'll have your ducks in a row. Cheap insurance.

I'm of the $51k is strong money/daydream camp, but two buyers could really want the car - set your reserve at a price you're comfortable with and be cordial as possible to the trolls with their commentary.

[NYNick]

Prove the 45K miles any way you can. Pix, oil changes, condition. If it's accurate and the car looks and drives that way, I'm betting someone out there is willing to step up and pay the 50 large.
That's low mileage for one of these things. Good for you.

[McLovin]

I've sold 3 cars on BaT, all without issue, and all got way more than I expected.

You have to have good pictures, and a lot of them. It's odd, but when you're selling on a site like that, you're actually not really selling the car itself (because 99% of bidders will never see the car before the end of the auction), but are selling the pictures and the words.

The comment section is nothing to be afraid of, but you must shoot straight and you also must have some expertise and knowledge about the car.