I'd appreciate your thoughts on this PPI report
 

Hi,

I am looking at buying a 82 911 Targa with 194,000 miles. Here is a summary of the PPI inspection:

- Brake fluid reservoir is empty (leaking)
- Bad wheel shake
- Dead battery
- Load noise from windshield washer bottle (sounds like short circuit)
- High pressure headlight washer pump system
- Tint on window peeling
- Trunk panel is missing
- front hood shock pin is missing
- nuts in trunk missing
- wheel hub caps missing (fuch wheels)
- passenger window doesn't work
- brake rotors are rusted
- car has real poor cold start and surges for 2-3 minutes
- clutch pedal goes down too far
- alternator belt cracked
- rear sway bushings cracked
- engine mounts starting to go
- oil leaks on: engine crankcase, lower V/C, transmission shift plate

I'm a bit overwhelmed with this list, what should I do?

Look for another car. Even without pix you can tell it's been poorly maintained. God knows what problems lurk within.

Have you seen that big, ugly blob monster that hides under the bed commercial?

That.

Punt.

It doesn’t sound good, but if the purchase price is low, none of the issues are big deals.

Wheel center cap is missing.

Brake fluid is low and leaking, so of course the rotors are rusty.

How do they know about the bad wheel shake if it has no brake fluid, lol.

Given to a competent shop, I’d say you’re $1000 from a decent car, maybe not to fix all the issues but to get it safe and drivable.

they took it for a drive and reported on the brakes,

the shop is respected and recommended from Pelican

price as it sits is $29500 USD

A lot of those items are to be expected on a 36 year old car that has clearly sat for some time. What you need to come to terms with is how much you want to invest into an older car in terms of time and funds. If you're retired and have lots of time plus some mechanical skill then you will may a super cool hobby car...if you are expecting to drive this daily with no initial cash outlay other than the purchase price then you are likely better off with another car.

I'll say it again. They are all $40K to 50K cars.
Do you want to invest another $10K+ into this one or find a better car for $40K+.

You can find a much better maintained car for 30k imho. Offer 25 as is if you are a DIY. If you are a drop at shop guy keep looking.

I agree...OP should have a look at Matt's '86 Coupe, that will be an honest buy for $40k unless he's married to the idea of a targa.

what nick said. were the valve covers pulled to see if there were broken head studs? leak down? oil filter cut open to inspect? the high mileage is of some concern if none of what ive mentioned has been done.

you also don't mention your location so has it or will it pass smog if required?

punt.

Seems to have a ton of little stuff. Very thorough PPI. If the car is local, you might consider using that shop for service going forward. They point out a lot of random little stuff many shops might not even mention because it's not major mechanical.

If the seller spent $2-3k they could probably get their ask pretty easily. As it sits, sounds like a $25-26k car.

I am supprised there are no cosmetic issus addressed, I would guess that the poor maintenace indicated with the items you have listed reflect this car needs lots of love and guessing it would also have:

Crackes in dash,
afetrmarket/ crappy radio,
Seats in need of repair,
Tired window seals
Tired paint
Tired clutch
valve guides worn

Not my intention to beat up a car that I cannot see, Point I am trying to make is $2,900 to address the items you listed, another 2K-5K + depending on what items I have listed you address and another $2-4K for the suprise ....clutch job, valve job etc. All these after the fact expenses gets your price point to where you are better off purchasing a better car with solid ownership istory / service records. Good luck in your search.

I think this is a much better buy for 30k and over 100k less miles -matts points are spot on about the thoroughness of the PPI
https://rennlist.com/forums/vehicle-marketplace/1025899-fs-1983-911-sc-targa-73-000-miles-resto-mod-2.html

I agree that the aforementioned Targa looks very solid. With tasteful mods. Love the seats. If I were looking for a Targa, I'd buy it.

Sounds like it’s sat for some time. Unless it was an original paint car in a color I had to have I’d pass.

So, they took it out for a test drive with no fluid in the reservoir.

Which shop is this ?

I never know if you are an idiot or a troll. No doubt the shop topped it off. Any decent mechanic would.

Are you asking so you know which shop to avoid having do your service? ;)

not generally a targa, or a fan of black cars but that one is very nice. the interior has a bit more "tuck & roll" to the panels than I would have ever considered. my 996TT was black and it was the longest 10 months of my life.. at least it had good AC and a coupe top..

max does bring up a good point. my local shop does a PPI test drive last after looking over the entire car. if a deal breaker is found they contact you to see if they should continue forward. I would anticipate a simple low un-bled MC/system would be noticed & need to be corrected prior to any test drive.

Sounds like all the money (pics would help though)

I would keep looking and cut your losses unless you can bring the seller down a bunch.