Amber Gramps

1986, you have met the best of the best. God wrote one Bible and Peter Wrote the other...pick up his book and buy the sc

1983 standard body colour "moss green metallic" (20c) is the only "green" on the list.

Edward

Hi Pete,

Wow! I had no idea that values have risen ...and I was hoping for "stable."
FWIW, my 82 SC Trackmeister has been an absolute joy for me! I bought it about 3 years ago and then, thinking at $14K I overspent, I am thrilled now with more than a few track miles under its belt that I clearly paid a great price for what I got: a strong-running SC that has so far been a rock-solid performer. True for any car but perhaps more so for 911s, buying a good example today yields dividends tomorrow. Not that cars are by any means an "investment" but if one could quantify 911-joy, the return I've gotten would make any stock analyst jealous Thanks for the perspective and the reality check, Pete. As always, you're a great resource!


Edward

Daniel Dudley

If you like the car and can drive it, that is a fair price. I would do the PPI to ensure you keep your friend. Lesser cars could cost you more in the long run.

You should go for a test drive with your friend. He should start out, and after you see him drive it, you should take over. The PO of my 81 SC wasn't happy about selling it to me until he saw me drive the stick. Then he wanted me to have it. Mine had more miles than yours, and cost more. It runs like a clock, and sat all winter without peeing on the floor. Started first turn of the key.

Your buddy is giving you a fair price, But you should drive a later Carrera so you know what's up. I totally knew what I was getting into with my SC, and had originally wanted a G50 Carrera. If your friend is like me, he will be in no hurry to sell, and will want the car to go to a good home. Make sure the car suits you.

Pedro356C

The problem is: A Boxter's value would be zip in 5 years and a well sorted and maintained SC would worth the same you paid 5 years ago...or maybe more...I'll agree with Pete...SC prices are going up...the bullet proof (as they say) engine plus the basic Porsche spirit are adding consistency to this lovable model... I'd pay $18k for "The right one"...

Peter Zimmermann

Thanks for the nice words and support! And then I open my May '07 copy of SCM and find an article written by their Porsche expert, Jim Schrager, about... you guessed it - SCs! Jim wrote, "The 1978-83 911 SC remains, for most people, the absolute best way to enjoy most of the 911 experience at modest cost, with the fewest possibilities for disaster." Jim calls $16K the "sweet spot" on the price scale, and for that money a buyer can expect "a rust and accident-free chassis, very nice (although not concours) paint, very good to excellent interior and fully updated mechanicals." The article goes on to discuss a few glitches, that an SC can suffer from, and closes with a couple interesting comments. "...the 911 SC remains in a unique position to introduce new members into the (911) fraternity with one of the most durable and vice-free high performance sports cars ever devised. The golden age of the SC is now..." I've owned four SCs (one of them twice) over the years, and, in general, they've really delivered the goods.

Pedro356C

James Schrager is a avid market watcher...I'd take his opinion seriously...his book on 356s is , in my humble opinion, the best ""356 beginner's book"..."Buying, Driving and Enjoying the Porsche 356"...if anyone is interested...

I like the $16K price theory as well...sounds right on...

Jay H

I'll also agree with $16k being close to top dollar for this car in question. $18k gets you into a very nice 1984 or 1985 3.2 Carrera. It takes $20k to get into a nice '86 and over that for the G-50's. $16k seems to slot in nicely for a late SC in very nice shape as compared to what it seems the early 3.2's are bringing. People love SC's, but the 3.2 Carreras typically command more money from just being a newer and more advanced 911.

$18k to $25k should buy a concours ready, low mile (to ultra low mile), well maintained SC.

I feel that this car would have to be mint, fully documented, nearly ready to show and pretty solid mechanically to bring $18k. That's a lot of coin for an SC, even with a relatively hot market right now. You can spend $2000 in a hurry fixing minor mechanical issues and/or cosmetic issues and then you're in it for $20k right off the bat... Let's face it, 99% of the cars we see for sale need something or other and $2000 worth of repairs and/or maintenance is nothing on these things.

The goofy colors hurt. While I personally love freaky color combo's (and would love to see pics of this one), most buyers will shy away from that color combo and the car would be more difficult to sell verses a Guard Red, black, white or silver car. Colors DO affect resale value... I've got a brown 911 that I bought cheap to prove it...

No flames intended. Just some good discussions by everyone once again.

Best,

Jay
90 964, 84 3.2

911scTarga

A quote from a 993 thread today by a former SC owner: "The 993 is by every definition a better car than the SC but there is something about the older cars I really miss."

Unless you turn wrenches yourself AND you are very good at it, I don't really see how you can overpay $2K for a super clean, professionally maintained SC at this price point. $2k will not go far fixing an interior, tracking down pesky oil leaks, replacing oil pressure switches, major services, etc.... on an "above average" 911. My $.02

Jay H

911scTarga makes a good point that $2,000 plus or minus isn't really that much in the grand scheme of things. If the car is mint and exactly what you want, then passing up the car at $18k verses loosing it because you'll only go to $16k because somebody like me on the internet thinks you should pay $16k tops is foolish. Buy the car at $18,000 and enjoy the heck out of it.

However, if you're sitting on the fence and the car isn't exactly what you want, then pass it up even at $16k and buy what you really want.

Clipboard

Wow! I guess isolation up here on the farm has its points, but I can't believe the SCs have gone up like that (altho a price change comparison in Euros would be an interesting perspective). I bought my 83 Schwartzmetallic SR coupe for US$10k in 2002 and put 5k more in it making it 'mine'. It's still under 60k miles (and under 10k on a complete engine/transmission rebuild). No back seat, a/c, radio, or sun visors; vinyl sport seats; Autopower roll bar; 6&7x16 Fuchs + 8x16 and 9&11x15 Gottis; etc., etc.
I would have felt lucky to get my original 10k out of it. Ha! on me.
john

1986951

What's the old saying? "In for a penny, In for a pound"???
Well I'm in for more than a few of each, but what the heck.. the Dow just crossed 13K, so I'm in an UP mood!
The car really IS that nice! Just turned 58K miles. Clean the fender wells and it's concours ready! Well, okay the motor could use a bit of spit and polish, but really, really nice! And, the color turned out to "Champagne Metallic"; it has a slight greenish cast in certain lights...guess that's what I saw in the garage fluorescents...I like it much better now in the Sunlight. I will try to get some photos loaded... Again, thanks for all of the very good advice!
BTW, NEW Clutch due to hub failure (rubber disc???), New Alternator and battery, New Air conditioning, with R134 (roll the windows down!), and fairly new Dunlop SPM40's. Nice Options included Sport Suspension, the 16" Fuchs, Sunroof, full leather seats, etc. Full tool kit, pump, Manuals, and so forth are still intact...Service records from the two previous owners from today back to 1985...car was driven only sparingly in the first few years of it's life, and not a whole lot since... Oh, and a Valve Adjustment done at 56.5K miles... Mechanic checked the Head Studs and all are fine.

911scTarga

Congratulations. Now you know the market price for the car! Post those pics.

Jay H

With the additional information (much more desirable champagne color, fresh clutch, good head studs, almost full records, verifiable low mileage, A/C conversion, manuals, tools, tire pump, 16" Fuchs, valve adj already done, and that rare, original SC spoiler) changing the picture a bit, this car could have brought $20k or more to the right person. You just don't see too many SC coupes with relatively low miles, original paint and all the stuff this car comes with...

Nice job!

Post some pics!

Jay
90 964
84 3.2

Svaha

Beautiful car, love the color!

Pedro356C

Congrats...and I think we deserve better pics!!!!