TB 88 S4

I was considering making an offer on a 911, M. Y. '82, low mileage ( 30 K ), Guards Red/Black and the asking price was $ 25,000.

Then last week I saw another beatiful low mileage car. '78 SC, Blue/Tan with just about 11,000 miles on it. The asking price was $ 27,000.
I havent called about it yet - maybe it was sold maybe not.

But have two questions:
I was wondering if the newer '82 had any significant improvements over the 78?

Also, If the asking price of 25k ( 82 ) and 27k ( 78) are in the ballpark or high numbers?

Tom

Tom F

I assume that these are both US market cars. If so, then the '78 motor will feel stronger, but the '82 motor should be more dependable and have better driveablility. I've owned a '79 and '83, both Euros, and an '83 US car. Also, had extensive time in a '78 US and another '83 US car. Though it probably doesn't matter on such low mileage cars, the undercoating is better on the '82. Also, you might want to check whether the A/C, if present, is factory or aftermarket, dealer installed. The '82s all seemed to come with factory A/C (good), while many of the early SCs had dealer installed (some okay, much of it horrible). So, that's my 2 cents' worth. It sounds like they're both great cars, so I think that it would come down to options and color, plus what you can bargain the sellers down to. Both prices strike me as being a little on the high side. Can you verify mileage by confirming the date code on the speedometer (very easy to change on a 911) and by service records? If the mileage is not 100% confirmed, then I would say that the cars are definitely overpriced.

Tom Frisardi
A vicarious purchase is much less stressful.

gerry100

Those prices may be in the ballpark if you add on what seems to be a reasonable amount for low mileage but...

Why have these cars been driven so little?
Less than 500 miles per year for the '78 and 1500 for the 82? I've put 3000 miles on mine over the winter and I have three other cars and work in my home. Don't they like Porsches? Even if there is a credible explanation for this and the mileage figures and cars are bona fide there are other issues..

Flat 6 engines are prone to leaking seals and corrosion when sitting. Both probably have the rubber centered clutch which is prone to sudden failure (>$1000 to fix),and will need the chain tensioner upgrade(>$1000). There could be multiple thousands in repairs needed in spite of/ because of the low miles.

Once you start putting miles on these cars they will start to depreciate quickly.

If they are indeed perfect low mile SC's I believe the market price is somewhere south of $20K, I wouldn't pay more than that under any circumstance. If they turn out to be anything else I would walk away.

If I had $25-27K to spend I'd get a beautiful,well loved and maintained '87 or later model.

Good luck

Bill Gregory

If you haven't already, you may want to look at the 911SC FAQ at <a href="http://tech.rennlist.com." target="_blank">http://tech.rennlist.com.</a> The model differences are covered, amongst other information.

Carrera51

$25-27K for an SC. I am not knocking SCs but those prices are way too high, even for a low mileage car. There are plenty of nice Carreras in the same ballpark, and even some 964s, some posted on this site in the classifieds. It seems to me that 911s are like boats, the less they are run, the more you spend on them.

Jdub

I own an SC and agree completely that those prices are top dollar. I love the SC line: tight and lean, with amenities, but for 25K I would certainly take my time, in Winter months, searching for a Carrera to make a lowball offer on.

Jw

Chris Martin

Are you looking for a concours car? If not I suggest getting a newer car, you are touching on c2 territory in the mid-high 20's. I love me SC, but it's 21 yrs old now, no amount of low mileage can change that. Also, the market is much smaller for such a low mileage, high priced car. SC's seem for go for 10-15k with very few exceptions.

But, if money is really no object, go for it! I would love to have had my car when it was brand new; although I was only 6 at the time. Properly cared for one of those cars might be the last Porsche you ever drive.

RC

I to have been looking at couple of SCs, both over $24,000.00. Judging by the comments regarding the top-end problems with Carreras, which can cost up to $8000 for rebuilds, I think a good SC may be the way to go. I mean, you figure in maybe $1000 for possible blown airbox, $1000 for tensioner upgrade, and $1000 for rubber clutch replacement, which I think was replaced in 81-82 by Porsche according to Pete Zimmeran in "The Used Porsche 911 Story. Those upgrades and problems total $3000, factor in a little more for miscellaneous expenses, and its still shy of the top cost for top end rebuild.

I have had the pleasure of driving an 88 Carrera and an 83SC, back to back. I know I won't find to many agreeing opinions, but I like the feel of the SC better. Most people talk about the smooth operation of the G50 tranny, but I for one like the 915. It just feels more sporty to me, the G50, while admittedly easier to drive, seems to take away from the excitment for me.

The question is whether it is better to spend top dollar on a good SC or get a Carrera, which could also be a money pit just b/c it is newer. I guess you can see where I stand on the issue. <img src="graemlins/icon501.gif" border="0" alt="[icon501]" />

JackOlsen

I'll be more blunt than the other posters, here. Anything in the neighborhood of 25K, is about double the going rate for an SC in great condition. Unless you've got money you're looking to throw out the window, you should do some shopping around before you spend that kind of money on that model of 911.

I won't win many fans with this sentiment, but I don't understand the appeal of either the SC or the Carrera if you've got 25-30K to spend on a Porsche. They're both very capable cars, and can offer great value. But if you think a Carrera is too soft, then an SC is only going to be marginally less so. They're both heavy, and they're both on the underpowered side, by contemporary standards.

If you're after power, torque and the G50 -- and you've got 25-30K to spend -- then C2s offer better value and more muscle.

As the years pass, there's less and less advantage to the middle 911's. In terms of engine performance, it costs an arm and a leg to get them anywere near the output of a stock 3.6. And there are hard limits on the ways in which you can modify them, given smog legislation (at least in California).

If you've got 25-30K to spend on a Porsche, then I'd suggest building a 'perfect' 911, by taking an early, light frame from a pre-impact-bumper 911 and combining it with the no-excuses grunt of an air-cooled 3.6 (Gee, I wonder why I suggest that?). Or, if the sportscar-specific virtues of nimbleness and power aren't what you're after, get a C2 and enjoy all the fancy trimmings with a car that at least has the power to move all that luxury at a decent clip.

SC's and Carrera's handle great, and -- in the 10K to 20K price bracket -- are hard to improve on. But if you've got more than that to spend, then I don't think they're the best starting point among the 911 models.

And with regard to whether an SC is a better long term investment than a Carrera because of Carrera-specific problems like premature valve guide wear? Consider the fact that most of the SC's you test drive probably have at least one snapped head stud. All things considered, Porsche spread the model-specific shortcomings out pretty evenly across all the different 911 variants.

Jack Olsen
1973 911T 3.6 black coupe
<a href="http://members.rennlist.com/jackolsen/Jalopy.html" target="_blank">http://members.rennlist.com/jackolsen/Jalopy.html</a>

jlkline

Unless these 2 cars are somehow very rare editions or unique in some other positive way, these prices look out of line.

Please tell me where you are located, so I can buy a bunch of very nice, rust free SC's here in Texas at nearly half these prices, and re-sell them at reasonable profit,and still undercut these prices by 20-25%.

For the prices of these 2 cars, an '87 to '89 Carrera with a G50 would be my choice.

Chris Martin

I see your point about the SC being a good alternative to a valve job on a Carrera. SC's are known as being reliable for a long time, but they are not perfect. These cars are getting old, rust can be an issue. Not just on the body, but head studs can rust, not cheap. I am slowly replacing window, seals, door seals, misc. trim. Not cheap. Dry rot can be a major problem with a car with few miles as well. If my SC had ~50 more horsepower I would be in love. Know what that costs to get? I think you can start at 8k. If you are going to compare the potential costs of owning a 20+ year old car get your pocket book ready.

I wish I was in your shoes though, I might buy a Carrera and a 951. Best of both worlds.

Martin S.

One of the big problems of paying a $10,000 premium for a low mileage car, if you like driving it, in a short amout of time, the low mile will be gone. Just because it has low miles doesn't mean you won't have problems with oil leaks, etc.

If you want to spend $25,000 on a SC, the one that continues to appear to command a premium is the 80 Weissach coupe. They came with a front and rear spoiler, sport suspension, leather interior with special trim, 7" and 8" X 15 wheels. I had one...great car.

In 1980, Porsche went to Lambda Sond and an improved cat, higher compresion (smaller intake runners) and got rid of the air pump. 80 and later, great cars...my 80 passed smog with a gutted cat.

Nader

I agree that you're quoting sky-high prices for the stated cars. Low mileage in an SC isn't much of a benefit, as they will practically run forever. And where in the world does a valve guide job cost 8K?

turbocarrera.

jeez for 25-30k you can pick up a early higher mileage 930, then you have it all.

Tom F

Note on head studs: They break in 3.0 and 3.2 motors, and apparently at random. I know of an 18,000 mile '87, always babied, with a broken stud.

Everyone who responded here is right, to some degree. Overall point is that these are old cars and they will have problems. I also agree that it will be hard to have fun with an SC that you paid over 20k for. Unless you're going to trailer it to concours events, and there are people who enjoy that. Your money will be better protected in a cabriolet, too.