Hi,

I came across the following add:
-1988 Porsche 911 Carerra Cabriolet
-excellent condition - 128,000 miles, very reliable fun car.
A great looking car in Ocean Spray metallic blue.
Extras include:
- $1,000 Nakamichi sound system
-930 steering wheel.
- both short and full length tonneau covers.
-black leather Recaro sports seats.
Just purchased new rear tires.

--owner is asking 18,900. Reasonable?

 

Sounds like a fair asking price if the car is in good condition. 128,000 miles is reasonable use for a Porsche (8000 miles per year) of this age. $17k or $18k might buy it if the price is negotiable. That would make for a reasonable G-50 cab. But, the area that this car is in might affect prices too.

Unfortunately, the $1000 stereo shouldn't add much, if any, value to the car unless the new buyer desires that exact aftermarket equipment.

Jay
90 964

 

Check the top and the seals.... these can be pricy to replace. Factory Sports Seats are also a nice option... somewhat rare, but sit in them. If you are a big guy, they might not be comfortable. If they are aftermarket, make sure you get the stock seats.

IMHO I'd say this sounds like a great price... you hear of guys paying in the $20s for G-50 coupes. Condition is really going to be the factor....that can drive the price up or down significantly....only a PPI will tell.... and yes, stereo equipment has about zero impact on resale.... (although it is a plus as long as he didnt chop up the interior.....the factory stuff is generally garbage in my opinion)

 

I agree. Interesting that factory stuff is poor audio, yet a poor aftermarket install is even more detrimental to a car's value in some cases...

I guess the best is having the factory radio on your shelf in your garage and a high quality head unit in the dash done correctly with no major modifications to the car.

Check the thread on the 39,000 mile cab where there is talk that a car like that might be worth close to or above $30,000. If one were to get this car in this thread for $17-$18.5k, that would be a nice deal (even a hell of a deal) if the car is decent. You could put quite a few miles on this car with almost zero depreciation (if maintenance is kept up). The 39k mile car in the other thread will depreciate a bit if it's driven a lot and it's bought near or above $30k.

 

I paid 17k for my 88 Coupe with 120k. Car is in good condtion. Not a concourse winner but I buy my cars to drive them. I think the asking price is fair. I think PO would take 18k. Do PPI and drive the baby home!

 

Yes, problem with low-mile cars is you cannot drive them and keep them as low mile cars.... and more and more I am beginning to believe that there is a collector market forming around these super low mile cars purely because the mileage makes them rare... not becasue it is "better" than a higher mile car.

With a 128K mile car you can drive the crap out of, and if it is still in excellent condition, it will probably hold its value. So do you want $30K tied up oin a car you can't drive but might be worth $35K in 5 years, or have $18K tied up in a car that you can drive all over the place and will probably be worth $18K in 5 years?

No criticism of the low mileage collector buyer... but for an average Joe like me, the car has to carry its weight as day to day transportation, or I can't afford it.

 

18.9K is a bit high with that mileage. 17K would be more reasonable. This does depend on location with east coast cars higher. And remember, it will need stuff so leave yourself some $s.

Mine for comparison: 87 62K White Cab was $18K - needed ~ 2K of tires, brakes & etc to sort it

Ian

 

Thanks guys! I should mention it is a California (Bay Area) car.
Pics attached from the seller. Have yet to see the car but owner
is very nice and even sent me an article containing a buying guide
for older porsches and stressed the benefits of the G50 gearbox.

 

I forgot to ask.... how much $$ do I need to set aside for regular maintenance?
I understand from an '84 Coupe owner that his Porsche needs a major and minor tuneup each year, for a total of about 2k, is that true?

 

I ran my '86 about 7000 to 8000 miles per year when I owned it. I spent about $1000 to $1500 per year in maintenance and repairs on average (not including gas and insurance). My car had 91k on it when I bought it and 115,000 on it when I sold it. My major expenditures during that period were a new clutch, shocks and 1 set of tires along with other minor maintenance and repair items.

Some maintenance items are mileage dependant, some are age dependant. For example:

Valve adjustments are needed every 15,000 miles along with:

Plug changes
filter changes (fuel and air)
belt changes

I changed oil every spring and fall (before storing the car for winter).

Brake fluid needs to be changed every 2 years, regardless of mileage. I changed the transmission fluid every 2 years on my 915 equipped car. Service intervals might be greater for the G-50 equipped cars with synthetic fluid.

Oil changes are required by Porsche every 15,000 miles (if I remember correctly), but many people (including myself) change oil at much more frequent intervals. Oil should be changed annually regardless of mileage unless you are driving over 12-15,000 miles per year (then mileage would determine the change interval).

If you can do this work yourself, the 15k service is relatively inexpensive. If not, you can spend $500 to $1000 for this (depending on shop rates). It's mostly labor costs.

Good Luck,

Jay
90 964

 

I estimate my 84 costs about $1,500 a year. I've had it about 10 years or so... been so long I forget. I drive it alot. Rain shine and snow...Its my primary car.

Really, if you don;t track the car the routine stuff is dirt cheap... probably cheaper than a Honda. Brakes last, oils is cheap. 16 inch tires are almost a commodity prices... and they are not fiddly... they won't nickle and dime you to death.

What happens to me is that once or twice a year something expensive goes whoot... a starter ($600) alternator ($600), some electical transmogrifier ($600).... basically, everything that breaks is multiples of $600....

Or you'll go in cycles where the car just won;t break and then everyting hits... i put $8K in my car in one 18 month period... got the front clip painted, tires, brakes, professional redo on the targa top, starter, alt, battery, wheel bearings, shocks, clutch, new tail rubber... major service... yadda...

But I haven;t pit dime one in the car for a couple years except for routine stuff.... so it all seems to even out to about $1,500.

So you need a litle slush fund of cash ready when you get hit.... if you;re the organized kind, just put a $150/mo car "payment" in the bank, and you'll probably be fine.

 

Those don't look like sport seats to me.

 

JCP is spot on.
Regular mantainance is cheap. Tires, Oil, brake pads. But stuff will break.. Remember this is a 20yr old car. And when it goes it's expensive. And there is usually a lot of labor involved.
This is what happened to me:
-Alternator $600
- Fuel lines $400
- Head temp sensor $250
- Whilst the car is in the shop $750 (brake system flush, CV joints, new brake rotors/pads, valve adj)

Still as you can see it's in the $1500-$2000 per year you are budjeting. But don't fool yourself... your car will be needing a top end rebuild anytime soon. It can go to 150k, but it could also happen sooner. I say you have to budget that in, when u compare to say a 75k miles car for $3k more.

 

FYI ... looks like this car is still for sale again:
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/53076653.html
do y'all think it is worth a look?

 

I wouldn't pay more than $17K for that car.

The thing about the miles is this. Once you drive the car a bit, and put 30,000 miles on it, it will be a 160,000 mile car. Very difficult to resell once you get up to that kind of miles, and that's a lot of miles traveled, wear on all parts (bearings, paint, etc. etc.)

I'd rather spend a bit more up front and get an 80-90K mile car. I'd only consider a high mileage example like that if I got an absolute steal on it (like $13-14K).