salomon

Happy Holidays
I am looking at 1986 911 Targa to buy in the Northeast. The seller is asking $11,000. Keep in mind that I am looking for driver, and not a show car. The odometer says 90K miles, but the seller says that the odometer might not be accurate. I checked CARFAX and the mileage has been documented as high as 180k miles and it is a U.S. car (obviously rolled back). The seller also does NOT have any service records.

The only modifications I noticed were a short shifter, MOMO steering wheel, and steel pedals.

I test drove the car and it seems to run tight and the interior looks clean.

Some issues:
1. Right fender will need to be repainted due to a botched BONDO repair job.
2. Targa top will likely eventually need to be restored.
3. I noticed a little rust above the windshield where the Targa top meets the roof line.
4. Front trunk lid and Rear engine lid has usual road rash, which will likely need to be repainted at some point
5. Driver and passenger side door pockets needs to be replaced.
6. A/C system is not running
7. The car is missing a couple of interior control switches and *****, i.e. cigarette lighter.
8. The top portion of the dashboard near the driver side is cracked.
9. The front and rear tire brands don't match
10. I would likely want to put back a stock steering wheel.

I have not yet gotten a PPI. I wanted to first gauge what the value of the car should be based on what I described above, before I got a PPI. Do you think $11k is fair price. Please advise.

SKYSTAK

Solomon,
Get a real PPI FIRST! i bought an 86 targa a few months back for 12K. It had 90K miles, no rust, old tires, A/c bad, worn out bushings, clutch going......anyway. I redid the whole front end with new struts, ER bushings, new ball joints, paint bars and ....and.....and now 8K more dollars (fixed a bunch of other stuff as well) and doing most of the work myself (really fun). I think I have a good car...that still needs the A/C fixed and clutch soon....
things to check
1. Engine compressions (8K to replace engine)
2. Tranny (if it needs refresh and clutch could cost 4K)
3. Rust (unknown cost, but look under the battery for sure)
4. Drive it (if it has issues or makes lots of noise, could be many things, but all seem to lead to new Ball joints, bushings, bad torsion bars, et al...can be 2K or more)
5. Targa top leaks (new seals without rebuilding the top cost about 600 bucks just for front and two side seals
6. Warped or destroyed dash and back deck (you can a decent used one for 450 $ and you will need about three hours of your labor for the job.
7. All electrical needs to be checked
8. A/C can be completely replaced if broken for about 3K in parts and labor from various sources

Other option is to ask people on this b-board if they are selling, or check Pelican Parts b-board. You can usually track the history of what the owner did there as well. PM me if you need more info

Ed Hughes

That car, as you describe it, is not worth 11k. It seems that it goes without saying-with the sketchy history- more surprises await you.

Ed Hughes

One other thing.....a decent Carrera in the $14-16k range will be so much less expensive on the big picture.

mck911

Should you purchase the car, I have a 9.5 out of 10 steering wheel for sale....

Marlon Targa 86

I bought a 1986 Targa with 42K miles for 18.5K with an almost flawless PPI (had to replace a leaky fuel injector). 11K for an 180K miles Targa seems not worth it.

Marlon

RL911

$11k is very low for a good 86 targa, but might be very high for a car that needs work as Skystak notes potential repair costs.

I bought my 86 Targa back in May/June w/100k miles full service history and everything works. Paid in mid-teens. Since I've purchased it, only thing I've replaced is the clock ($50) and recharged the AC (cost me nothing.) I've done basic maintenance on it (Fuel filter, dist cap/rotor, plugs, trans and engine oil changes.) Car runs perfect, doesn't smoke on start-up (unless its sitting for weeks, and then just for the first few mins.) I didn't do a PPI and appear to have gotten lucky. Car hasn't spotted a drop of oil, but I do see weeping around one of the rear cooler lines as well as from the left chain cover...pretty much par for the course.

I changed the tires, upgraded the brake pads and in January will replace rear rotors and rear shocks... pretty tame in terms of cost.

If I were a prospective buyer, I'd immediately get in touch with my local PCA and seek advice.

DanS911

ask the seller about oil consumption. These cars likely will need valve guides (top end rebuild) at some point.

markaria1

imo based on your description if you are interested in the car and willing to put time and some $$$ in it I would offer the owner 8.5k tops and walk away at any more than 9k

BigLou

Yeah, I would walk away from that one.

LaughaC

I would get a PPI and offer $9,500 if nothing is wrong beyond the obvious you described.

Rust is not my friend, so I would also budget to replace those parts and consider that math carefully.

Ed Hughes

Rust on an '86 scares the heck out of me....what you see is only the tip of the iceberg.

whalebird

Sounds scary. There is no cheap way into a 911.

BLEW911

So.... it needs to be repainted ( front, rear deck, fender, rust repair over windshield), new targa top, new dash, new door pockets, assorted interior bits, steering wheel, and A/C repair. Sounds like a project car. Is that what you want? Fact is if you spend a little more money (a lot less than what this car needs) you can have a nice car that doesn't really need anything right now. That car sounds like an $8000 beater. ( a car from the northeast with a LITTLE rust and a rolled back speedo???)

salomon

Thank you all for your responses and advice. It looks like I will take a pass on this car. I plan on test driving a better conditioned '87 Targa this week.