Help with an 88 911sc

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Bassalt997tt

The way I see it, it looks nice enough to take to car shows, qualifies for antique plates/insurance and has enough miles that I won't have to feel bad about driving it. I just have to figure out what is reasonable to pay...?

Don't mind Christian. If it doesn't have the service book from New or is missing the compressor he discounts the car 20% He'ss probably hitting this one for being guards.

[Bassalt997tt]

So, is everyone else, other than Christian, in agreement about 42-44k? That's actually where I was comfortable initially, but he is really stuck on 47k.

[Matt Monson]

You have a relationship with him. Pay his ask and negotiate 2 years of maintenance on the car. Plugs, wires, oil filters and changes as needed. Cap rotor. Brake pads if required. The value in the deal is the "free" labor. Look at it as prepaying owning the car for a couple years.

[Bassalt997tt]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

You have a relationship with him. Pay his ask and negotiate 2 years of maintenance on the car. Plugs, wires, oil filters and changes as needed. Cap rotor. Brake pads if required. The value in the deal is the "free" labor. Look at it as prepaying owning the car for a couple years.

That's a great idea and even though he is semiretired now/sold his shop, I had planned to take it to him anyway for yearly review.

[RD911T]

Creative thinking Matt! Great suggestion!

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

You have a relationship with him. Pay his ask and negotiate 2 years of maintenance on the car. Plugs, wires, oil filters and changes as needed. Cap rotor. Brake pads if required. The value in the deal is the "free" labor. Look at it as prepaying owning the car for a couple years.

Super idea! Just a sidenote, I love s GR Carrera. So choise!

[Matt Monson]

I have my moments. They are few and far between.

[NYNick]

Gawd, I guess we're at mid to high $40's for 88 coupes with close to 100k on the clock? Looking back, my son got the deal of the century on his 88 with a quarter of a million miles on the clock with a rebuilt motor at less than half that price.

I still think $47 is still too high, but I'm not buying or selling.

[Bassalt997tt]

Originally Posted by NYNick

Gawd, I guess we're at mid to high $40's for 88 coupes with close to 100k on the clock? Looking back, my son got the deal of the century on his 88 with a quarter of a million miles on the clock with a rebuilt motor at less than half that price.

I still think $47 is still too high, but I'm not buying or selling.

LOL, we are down to mid 40's. 2 years ago this was a 55k car. That's when I quit looking. Keep in mind, this is a babied, "near" one owner car that spent it's life in a climate controlled garage of a resort community. Other than missing the factory blaupunkt, it's original and near perfect. I would't pay mid 40's for a 250k mile rebuilt driver. I had a chance for a similar car 5 years ago for less than $25k. With only 40k miles (clocked 40k while I test drove it), even that car had seat bolster wear, dull/sun aged fuchs, a few deep scratches on the roof, dull exterior plastic, needed tires, etc. I just need to decide what this car is worth to me.

[specialtyoneinc]

That car is $45k all day if that paint is 100% original with no scratches, rock chips, dents, as you described. That is truly an amazing feat in itself for a car with 94k on the clock - Especially one that is 30 years old basically.

[HugoBear]

I think around 45k is the right number.
But as others have said, if you love the car and trust the seller, you may not want 2k to get in the way.

[HugoBear]

I put over 2k into mine within the first 6 months of owning the car, so if it is dialed in and is what you want, do it.

[brianz426]

Originally Posted by Bassalt997tt

So, is everyone else, other than Christian, in agreement about 42-44k? That's actually where I was comfortable initially, but he is really stuck on 47k.

For what it's worth here is my story and opinion. I've been a muscle car guy all my life and still have my first car a '69 Road Runner that I bought in 1980 when I was 16. From then until now there has been a lot of buying, selling and some keeping. Even back then I always lusted after a 911. Last month I bought my first, a 1988 80,000 mile Sunroof coupe with factory spoiler package, alarm, limited slip, and extra cost nougat brown paint, etc. I bought this car from the original owner who loved it and it really showed. Beautiful original paint, 4 rock chips all repaired by me and only one still noticeable. I had a PPI done and the leak down numbers were 2% and under. Seller was a mechanic and maintained the car to the highest degree. Clutch was replaced 6 months before I bought it, one oil line was seeping and that was replaced before I picked it up. This was a rare find (based on it's condition) and I knew it.

I also watched the 911 prices explode and I thought I missed out, then I watched them come back down (not as much as I hoped). I clearly remember watching the same thing in the muscle car market back in the 90's. Since that time there has been ups and downs, but the falls never went back to the previous low levels. Based on what I witnessed with muscle cars I decided to get serious about finding my 911. So I looked for 8 months until I found this car. I wanted to pay high 30's with a max of $40k. Their asking price was $49k and I offered $40k (in my mind ready to go to $42). I had some previous data and stories of cars I missed out on, so I thought my number was reasonable. They told me they turned down an offer of $43k. We had a nice chat and I told them I would give it some thought and call them in a few days. On my flight home I started thinking about some of the really good muscle cars I had passed up over a couple thousand (even a couple hundred) dollars and the later regret because of the way the values climbed.

Did I want to let this car slip away? No. So I called the owners a couple days later and asked if they would accept $44k, Inside I was ex-tactic when they said yes. To this day I couldn't tell you what I would have done if they wanted more. Initially I didn't want to go to $44k but I also didn't want to repeat some of my previous mistakes.

Back in June my 16 year old daughter and I flew out to pick up the car and drive it home 5 hours. It was my best car buying experience ever and this car is a keeper. Part of me is mad for not buying one of these before the bubble but then I wouldn't have this car or met and gotten to know the previous owners.

Here's some perspective for the future. I clearly remember watching muscle cars go up and how ridiculous I thought it was when people were paying $45,000 to 6 figures for Road Runners when they made over 80,000 of them in 1969 alone. Then I hear long time Porsche guys say SC's and Carrera's will never be collectible because they made too many. That's like saying 65-66 Mustangs aren't collectible because they made to many.

I'm just glad I got my 911 before the next run up. Popularity of cars are based on demographics. I'm in my early 50's and I just bought my dream car from when I was in my 20's. As time goes on more and more guys my age will have the disposable income to get their 1980's dream car, whatever it is.

Sorry to be so long winded, I hope this helps in your decision making process. Don't miss out on a good one over a couple thousand dollars if you can afford it.

[Bassalt997tt]

Originally Posted by brianz426

Don't miss out on a good one over a couple thousand dollars if you can afford it.

I see your point and you are not the only one to suggest this. I can afford it. Spent a lot in the last 6 months remodeling 2 houses and a little cash poor/asset heavy at the moment, but I can still write a check for this thing. One of the next projects actually includes a garage expansion. That is the other issue. If I get this, I will have to, for now, leave it in Horseshoe Bay at my lakehouse, leave a car outside at home, or put one car up in a storage unit and play musical cars for a while (which I did that last time there were too many cars). I'll get it figured out sooner or later...

[86 ssinit]

47k and 2 years maintenance Matts a genius. This is the deal. Get it in writing. He gets his price you get free maintenance. Not sure where the bubble is but that car is very nice looking and will sell quick. I believe there were under 10k of these cars built in 88 and that's combined Targas,cabs and coupes. If money is there buy the car. You will leave your kids something they will leave there kids.
Guards red is the best 80s color. The most popular color a 911 was repainted in the 80s and 90s was guards red. Think that says it all. Yes there are haters but fact is fact. Nobody repainted a guards red brown.
Hope you buy it and can't see you losing money on it. Insure it for 55k agreed value.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by 86 ssinit

47k and 2 years maintenance Matts a genius. This is the deal. Get it in writing. He gets his price you get free maintenance. Not sure where the bubble is but that car is very nice looking and will sell quick. I believe there were under 10k of these cars built in 88 and that's combined Targas,cabs and coupes. If money is there buy the car. You will leave your kids something they will leave there kids.
Guards red is the best 80s color. The most popular color a 911 was repainted in the 80s and 90s was guards red. Think that says it all. Yes there are haters but fact is fact. Nobody repainted a guards red brown.
Hope you buy it and can't see you losing money on it. Insure it for 55k agreed value.

Are you the sellers wife?

[Bassalt997tt]

Originally Posted by 86 ssinit

47k and 2 years maintenance Matts a genius. This is the deal. Get it in writing. He gets his price you get free maintenance. Not sure where the bubble is but that car is very nice looking and will sell quick. I believe there were under 10k of these cars built in 88 and that's combined Targas,cabs and coupes. If money is there buy the car. You will leave your kids something they will leave there kids.
Guards red is the best 80s color. The most popular color a 911 was repainted in the 80s and 90s was guards red. Think that says it all. Yes there are haters but fact is fact. Nobody repainted a guards red brown.
Hope you buy it and can't see you losing money on it. Insure it for 55k agreed value.

I get the guards red thing. My favorite color is the diamond blue metallic or whatever that anniversary color is called. But for enjoying car shows and investment value, red is the way to go. It looks good too...

[Bassalt997tt]

I'm still having some heartburn over the price, or maybe that's the mexican food from last night, but I'm trying to find a good day to go drive and inspect the car some more. It's currently 2.5 hours away from where I live and 40 minutes from my lake house. I think I will propose the earlier suggestion of asking price with some contingency on repairs/service if the car has issues in the first 2 years.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Bassalt997tt

LOL, we are down to mid 40's. 2 years ago this was a 55k car.

Can you show us an auction where a 100k mile car sold for $55k ?

[sugarwood]

It sounds like you're not ready to pay top dollar for this car.
My vote is to let it go. This is not the last 911 in good condition you will find.

When you are comfortable dropping $45k on a toy, then start shopping again.
This is the top of the market, and that is the easiest segment to buy.
If you wanted a $25k deal, then you'd have to look for a while.

1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe | Bring a Trailer
1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe | Bring a Trailer