Serious question about my future and my 911SC
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Serious question about my future and my 911SC
I've been taking a lot of time to plan out my career lately. I'm in the Army, so to a certain extent I can do that. In a few years I'm going to do a tour in Korea (I'm a Korean linguist, so it's pretty easy for me to go there), then spend a few more years in the states, then go back to Korea and stay there for 2-3 years, which should give me my choice of duty station afterwards (unless things change drastically), and I'll go spend the last few years of my 20 in Monterey, CA at the language school as an instructor, platoon sergeant, or drill sergeant.
Now, for where my 911SC fits into this. I could put my car into storage for a year or three at a time while I'm in Korea, but I don't want to let it sit there for two reasons: first off, I just don't like the thought of my car sitting for years at a time with me not there to make sure it's okay, and secondly, I don't trust the car storage places enough. I love my car, but I know it's not my perfect Porsche, so I will eventually sell it. However my car is very low miles (35K) and is in very good condition, so I want to keep it for a while, because I feel like it's an investment. So I was thinking of this: When I go to my first tour of Korea, ship my car out to Florida to my dad. He's a car enthusiast and a huge Porsche fan, and I would 100% trust him to treat my car the way it would deserve to be treated, and put only minimal miles on it. He would have it for a few years, and when I got back from my second tour of Korea and came back to the states for good, I would get my car back, and then sell it and use that money to buy my dream Porsche, which would be an 81 SC coupe with front and rear spoilers (I was born in 81, that's why I want that specific year).
Does this sound like a good idea, letting my dad take care of it for a handful of years and then selling it to get the 81, or should I just sell it before I go to Korea and go ahead and get a nice 81 and ship it to him and have it waiting for me? Either way my dad will be holding on to some Porsche for me, as I feel that's the safest and best way to keep the car for a few years. I know there's a lot of other aspects to this decision, and it won't all happen for a few more years, I just want to have my future nice and laid out. And for me, a nice 1981 911SC, preferably in blue, with a whale tail, is definitely part of my future.
Now, for where my 911SC fits into this. I could put my car into storage for a year or three at a time while I'm in Korea, but I don't want to let it sit there for two reasons: first off, I just don't like the thought of my car sitting for years at a time with me not there to make sure it's okay, and secondly, I don't trust the car storage places enough. I love my car, but I know it's not my perfect Porsche, so I will eventually sell it. However my car is very low miles (35K) and is in very good condition, so I want to keep it for a while, because I feel like it's an investment. So I was thinking of this: When I go to my first tour of Korea, ship my car out to Florida to my dad. He's a car enthusiast and a huge Porsche fan, and I would 100% trust him to treat my car the way it would deserve to be treated, and put only minimal miles on it. He would have it for a few years, and when I got back from my second tour of Korea and came back to the states for good, I would get my car back, and then sell it and use that money to buy my dream Porsche, which would be an 81 SC coupe with front and rear spoilers (I was born in 81, that's why I want that specific year).
Does this sound like a good idea, letting my dad take care of it for a handful of years and then selling it to get the 81, or should I just sell it before I go to Korea and go ahead and get a nice 81 and ship it to him and have it waiting for me? Either way my dad will be holding on to some Porsche for me, as I feel that's the safest and best way to keep the car for a few years. I know there's a lot of other aspects to this decision, and it won't all happen for a few more years, I just want to have my future nice and laid out. And for me, a nice 1981 911SC, preferably in blue, with a whale tail, is definitely part of my future.
#2
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On a side note though, I do plan on eventually getting another car as a daily driver, probably an old 3 series, so maybe I should just keep my car indefinitely since I managed to get such a nice one. I could always just get a 1981 3 series to fill my desire for a neato car from 1981.
And for the record, I'm also a big BMW fan, so my daily driver WILL be a BMW, either a older 3 or 6 series. If you look at my avatar, you can see my old E36 behind my Porsche.
German cars ftw!
And for the record, I'm also a big BMW fan, so my daily driver WILL be a BMW, either a older 3 or 6 series. If you look at my avatar, you can see my old E36 behind my Porsche.
German cars ftw!
#3
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35K miles is very low for an SC - if its condition reflects that, then I would think very carefully before ditching it for an '81. The differences amongst the SC years are quite minor.
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Very true. And really the only reason I want an 81 is because I was born that year, and I've always wanted a car from 81. Maybe the better idea would be just to keep my current one since its so nice. I can always buy a spare trunk lid and install a whale tail on that, so I'll have the option of returning it to stock. After all, the 78-79 SCs are lighter, and the 81 has that horrid 85MPH speedometer.
#5
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Keep the SC. Have your dad drive it every two weeks for a bit just so it does not become a garage queen, and then enjoy it when you return from Korea. Just my 2 cents.
#6
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The market (to sell anything for that matter) is verrry soft right now ...I think you'd be short-changing yourself selling a nice 911 at this time. That, and if your car is in good shape you'd be hard-pressed to get another in like condition ...and once you found one it'd cost you more than if you had just kept your car.
Compound all the above with the fact that your Dad could be enjoying your car! What better way to bond ...every time your dad drives it, he'd be thinking of his son, his son's commitment to the nation, and how much pride he has in his "boy" who is overseas sacrificing for his country. Honestly, the opportunity to share this with your father is enough in itself to seal the deal ...IMHO. (Of course if I am totally off base, forgive me for my presumption).
Edward
Compound all the above with the fact that your Dad could be enjoying your car! What better way to bond ...every time your dad drives it, he'd be thinking of his son, his son's commitment to the nation, and how much pride he has in his "boy" who is overseas sacrificing for his country. Honestly, the opportunity to share this with your father is enough in itself to seal the deal ...IMHO. (Of course if I am totally off base, forgive me for my presumption).
Edward
#7
I'd keep what you have, and find an '81 Bimmer for the DD. Then, you'd have a realy nice open-top Porsche for play and an '81 DD car for your "birth-year." Win-win? A low-mileage SC is a jewel. You'd risk losing a fine ride for an unkown potential replacement. Bird in the hand ...
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#9
Here is the problem: 1.You were fortunate/skilled to get an exceptional buy on your first try. 2. You may not have not had the benefit of looking at 20 or so ratty 911s to understand that you were were fortunate/siklled on your first buy. 3. You may not have the time or access to resources to understand that this is a shrinking supply market. Europe is taking many of the SC cars out of this country, and guys like myself will buy up and store what we can.
My advice based upon playing with cars for 53 years and selling off what in todays world would be zillions of dollars worth of desirable collectables (abarths, alfas, healys, TC,TD, Peerless, many jags, two 356s, first honda sport car 1965?, etc,etc,------ keep this car. Save your buck and if you find the 1981, buy it and keep both.
My advice based upon playing with cars for 53 years and selling off what in todays world would be zillions of dollars worth of desirable collectables (abarths, alfas, healys, TC,TD, Peerless, many jags, two 356s, first honda sport car 1965?, etc,etc,------ keep this car. Save your buck and if you find the 1981, buy it and keep both.
#10
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When my brother went on deployment for 6 months he left me with his 944. Cars need to be driven a little and gas needs to run through them so they don't develop problems from storage. So if you keep the car, letting your dad care for it is the best option.
On a side note, I was also born 1981 and I have a 1981 SC targa and a 1980 BMW 320i. Funny. My other car is Mazda RX-7 convertible. I appreciate the convertible and the engineering of the Wankel engine but the build quality of the car is just not there like it is on a german car. So, it has got to go. I would not particularly recomend the 77-83 3 series. They make decent cars and if you like them for yourself to keep forever then it would be great to have one and fix it up. The issues arise in that none of the performer e21 were sent to the US and the cars have very low resale value. The e21 has some improvements over the 2002 but loses the enthusiast following and the performance. The e30 makes mush better improvements over the e21 but moves a little further away from the rarity and styling of an e21 or 2002. My personal opion is the the e21 is sort of a misfit. If people learn the appreciate the comprimise of the e21 then it may become a collectible.
On a side note, I was also born 1981 and I have a 1981 SC targa and a 1980 BMW 320i. Funny. My other car is Mazda RX-7 convertible. I appreciate the convertible and the engineering of the Wankel engine but the build quality of the car is just not there like it is on a german car. So, it has got to go. I would not particularly recomend the 77-83 3 series. They make decent cars and if you like them for yourself to keep forever then it would be great to have one and fix it up. The issues arise in that none of the performer e21 were sent to the US and the cars have very low resale value. The e21 has some improvements over the 2002 but loses the enthusiast following and the performance. The e30 makes mush better improvements over the e21 but moves a little further away from the rarity and styling of an e21 or 2002. My personal opion is the the e21 is sort of a misfit. If people learn the appreciate the comprimise of the e21 then it may become a collectible.
#13
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Exactly.
Don't let go of a good thing.
Don't let go of a good thing.