I'm a newbie to rennlist and am looking at buying an '85 911 Targa in Houston. I live in Seattle, and if I come to terms with the seller I'll want to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic prior to flying down to pick it up.

The added twist is the auction closes this evening (Friday), so I'd need to find someone willing to look at the car on Saturday.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

Don't buy the car without an inspection first!!! Why are you going all the way to Houstan when California has plenty of pristine 911s?

 

The only reason for Houston is that it looks to be a pretty good deal. $15k for an 85 3.2 with 79k mlles all records and new paint (which I know decreases the value, but I'm just looking for a commuter car). I'm cofirming that it's also a local car, which would mean it's been raised salt-free. Finally, it would be hoot to drive up from Houston with my teenage sons for New Years.

And.. it's highly likely we're not going to win, in which case I'll pay more attention to CA.

 

Just be careful Usually if it seems too good to be true, it is.

 

Peter, if you spend any time with us here you will find we think all 911's are $20,000 cars and we are fearful of a dealer in Texas. ....and we are really scared of cars sold on ebay. Put all three togeather and we cry for our mommies. a sub $20 price says trouble, then sell it in Texas, and then do it on ebay and get the PPI after the fact and we really go nuts.


tell me it's not at Victory, please....

EDIT: oh nevermind

 

If I were you, I'd be looking at this car...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=380574

 

I think it might be.


To the OP, Just search the dealers name here and on pelican before you make up your mind, he has an interesting history.

 

Impulse Buy

Just paid $ 15,000 for this 82. Miles are high but seems good so far. All 20k cars sounds good to me...

 

whenever I hear Houston I cringe

 

+1
beware of the eBay "good deal" - Google "Porsche 911 craigslist" and try for something you can go see with someone familiar to the cars - PLEASE - plenty of good deals available from folks that are just trading out cars. My 2c worth.....

 

And by the way - "salt free" - houston is right on the coast and has been hit by hurricane floods

 

I would bet the a Houston car would be a couple grand cheaper than a California car. We just don't have the same money in the Midwest as in CA. Houston only bothers me in that it's gets really hot, so unless all the oil coolers are working perfectly or have been upgraded, the SC is going to run very hot there. An easy test would be to drive the car in Houston when it's hot out before the sale.

There are downside to a California car, but only a few. Only if the car is never garaged will the paint get eaten up by the power of the relentless sun out there.

Then there are the east coast cars, which see winter and salt. Good thing these cars don't rust.

 

Hate to disagree, but these cars do rust. Any car exposed to the northern salt will show the effects eventually. The later cars are a huge improvement over the older cones, but I personally had to replace a front suspension pan on an '85 Cabriolet that spent its life in Ohio. Never again!

David Nolen

1970 911T

 

when was this? i've been in houston for 10 yrs and haven't had any hurricane floods.

also, i've sat for 2 hrs in houston traffic with a stock SC and not gone past 210. for several months i drove it to work in 1.5 hr stop and go, no problem.

if a car is truly a houston car and not in the sun, it will be as rust free and perfect as a car can be.

 

Im in houston as well. It doesnt get as hot here as people think. it got to 102 a couple years ago in August and it was a record. Avg temps in summer is 90-93 for highs and 72-76 for lows. I also have never had any issues. I tend not to drive my Targa in the summer not because it overheats... my 83 Sc has never overheated... but because the AC sucks and i dont feel like sweating... summers in houston arent that much different from those in north carolina or atlanta except that they start in May and go to October. Actual temps arent that bad. Humidity is another issue... Eurowerks (eric) is where I get mine serviced. very good reputation. alittle less for a valve job than proteknic (another good shop). Both charge about $275 for a PPI. Both specialize in Porsche. Eurowerk will actually drive you to work if its not too far...