briand

Hi everyone. I've been reading this forum for some time as a non-registered user. Today I finally registered!

I have read through all of the posts or request for buying advice on mid 1980s 911 Carreras. I was wondering if any of you might take a look at the car I am thinking of purchasing? I'm going to drive and have the car inspected on Saturday. I would like some initial impressions from the wise and experienced here

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/ctd/1846298271.html

Thanks in advance!

face-ache

Not saying that I'm that wise & experienced Always hard to tell from pics but it looks clean, sport seats are nice. I would lose the sugar scoops. lower it. what size fuchs? 15"? subject tp price and inspection of course could be a nice car. Don't like the look of the Targa's myself, but if it floats yer boat get it!

whalebird

Not a bad looking car at all. It is a grey-market "euro", or RoW(rest of world)car that was imported to the US after it was sold (probably in europe). These cars seem to run between the two extremes of really nice or really poor. They need to inspected by a very experiance Porsche shop. There are a few subtle differences between the euro and North american cars. One upshot is that they make a bit more power with differently tuned engines, should have a transmission oil cooler, and sometimes lack comforts like AC and a sunroof (read lightweight). The down side is that they lack comforts like AC and sunroof, have been disassembled to install DOT compliant safety braces, have had their original speedometer replaced with one reading MPH (unknown milage), and have a long spooky paper trail of records where things like VIN# and milage have changed. I like RoW cars, but I suggest a VERY complete inspection ( few people know these cars better than franz Blam in Atl.). Keep an open mind and don't hesitate to look elseware.

cali4sun

looks nice, here's the mystery price

http://www.palmerdodgegeorgia.com/us...2c8ce6f03d.htm

'89 928s4 GP White/Black
'76 912e Silver/Black

MUSSBERGER

I'm always suspect of gray market miles.

MUSSBERGER

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national

Here's one for sale around the block from me. I don't know the guy but I've seen him washing it. Been up for sale for a while

whalebird

and Porsches at Dodge dealers. That car is on it's way to or from the wholesale market and every salesman, sales manager, and technician has driven it to lunch with a newport cig in the corner of their mouth...full throttle/grinding second gear. Such a car is better purchased from a private owner with verifiable ownership and service history.

pingman

Briand,
I have an '87 Targa, blue with dark blue interior, in good shape, USA version, with 119,089 miles, good interior, good carpet, well maintained, nearly new hp Michelins, for $12,700. Drop me a pm if you are interested, and I can forward pics. I am also in the middle GA area, which is close to Roswell, (130 miles or so). If you think you may want a coupe, I also have an'86 in triple black for $14,000. Let me know. By the way I am not a dealer or broker, just love Porsche's!, Mark

briand

Wow!! I cannot thank all of you enough.

The dealers claim it is from a great client who was the original owner. They claim they took it on trade from him because he says he has full service history and all documents, etc. I said "Great. Let me see them." They can't get them until Monday (whatever) and "besides, this car will be gone Monday."

And to top it off, they don't know how to operate the Targa. They were asking me all about the rear fog, engine questions etc. Noone there knows a thing. They think its worth $15,400 and will sell for that. From the home work I did (and from what you all have shared) an RoW without proper docs is a no go.

I gave them an offer of $13,500 out the door provided (1) they show me all the docs and service history on Monday and (2) it gets a great check up from my Porsche guy.

Pingman, thanks for your offers! If you have pictures, would you mind emailing them? You can find my email here: b...@g...l.com

briand

Mussberger, thanks for your link too. It looks like a great car.

I'm a fan of grey market cars. As long as the documentation and service history are there. I like Euro-spec on older cars.

whalebird, thanks for the info about the car. I did a VIN lookup using some website VIN lookup form and it told me its an F spec, RoW car (231bhp, right?) production number 0431.

More about the car from my seeing it and the girlfriend and I went for a test drive:

The engine sits straight in the engine bay, there is no heavy or untoward vibration or rattle at idle or any other speed. I hear what sounds like a slight tapping noise. No smoke or burning or oil smell. One little blueish/white puff at startup but thats it.

It certainly needs an experienced Porsche mechanic to give it the twice (or thrice) over. If I get it inspected, mind if I report my findings here?

Thanks again for all the great info (and links to great cars!!). I know we'll join this family soon, just a matter of finding the right car.

Ed Hughes

You'd think a dealer would be obligated to state the car being a gray market car in their ad. Further proof they don't have a clue. I'd be curious to see if they could come up with svc history tomorrow.

FranzBlamRacing

Thank you for the recommendation, whalebird. We really appreciate it.

whalebird

I know what I know, FranzB. When Hurley plugs you guys like in the latest Pano - that says something.

briand

Whalebird, thanks for the reco of Franz. I'm going to see about getting an inspection done by him if I decide to go for it.

Ed, they tell me the previous/original owner is the 3rd in command at UPS and that he travels a lot. As such he's hard to get in touch with. But in the same sentence they told me he and his buddy are buying new cars every month. If thats the case, wouldn't they see him about once a week? I asked if they could have one of his helpers (they portray the guy to be so wealthy that it sounds like he has a staff of employees at his house) bring the documentation, or at least hand it to someone from the dealership when they swing by his house.

I stopped in yesterday and spoke to the co-owner of the dealership and told him I felt like they were playing games with me and got the impression that this was a problematic vehicle that they were just trying to dump on someone.

I was hoping to get $13,500 out the door because of

• its an RoW car and whalebird brought up good points
• they claim to have see a huge stack of documents but still have not received them
• oil pressure gauge doesn't seem to function properly
• my visual inspection (based on the 911 Buyer's Guide , 2nd ed book) notes that the spark plug wires and distributor cap need replacing as well as possible the fuel lines
• Targa top doesn't seem to be fitted properly and no one there knows how to check it
• they evacuated and recharged the A/C with HFC 134a refrigerant, however the vents in the center of the dash don't seem to be blowing. From my research, that is a common problem on 1985 911s.

So far their best offer is $14845.75 out the door. Without seeing docs, I'm not sure I even want to bother countering or getting an inspection. What do you guys think?

Also, no one has offered to find out any answers to my questions/concerns. They just want to sell the car.

ivangene

I think they are lying

stick to your offer and original plan, you may want to lower your offer after inspection...or not