fbfisher

I came across an 87 Targa - red - one owner with all records with 20,000 original miles. It is at a used car dealer that specializes in Porsches. They want $27,900 for the car. They just bought it and it has not been marketed to the public yet. I had been in the market for a 993 cab but don't want to put out that kind of money right now. I have searched the archives and read about the '87-89 and it seems like a good vintage to buy but don't know as much about them. I know that it is a little like apples and oranges but is this a good comprimise? How about the Targa - is it dry? Any particular issues/repairs I should prepare for? Is $27.9 a good price? The car runs very strong and smooth. All input would be very much appreciated.

JackOlsen

That's overpriced.

Dean/O

As a strange coincidence, I also have a Guards red, 1987 Targa with 17,100 miles (garage queen)

Sorry, it's not for sale!

On the other hand, I think that a $27k asking price for a low mileage 87-89 Carrera is reasonable. The market is strong for the G50 models. As an example, Bruce Anderson's monthly "Readers Sales Reports" in the October, 2002 issue of Excellence reported a 1987 911 Carrera with 12,670 miles selling for $30,000. There was also a 1983 911SC with 24k miles that went for $23,750.

I read the PML (Porsche Market Letter) each month and ultra-low mileage 87-89 Carreras are getting pretty rare.

My advice is to buy the car if your heart says so! The rate of depreciation on these cars is so minimal that I think that its a low risk venture. Keep in mind that there will always be another buyer out there for this car.

Dean

dimitri_P

Chances are when they offer it to the public it won't be for 27,800.

There is a 1986 red coupe in my neighborhood for 18.5 for the last two months and has not been sold.
If you are really looking for a low milage car then price is not really all that important. Spend it if you have it.

If however you are like most of the rest of us and
what you are looking for is one in good condition, to drive around and have fun with, let someone else pay the premium for the 20k miles on the odometer.

I won't be surprised if the car doen't get sold for a while - for the 27.k price.

Dimitri

(still looking for the one)

HankN

I bought a 88 coupe 15 months ago with 36,000 miles and paid 28K. And I flew 2/3 rds of the way accross the US to pick it up in Canada. A like new car, but the real attraction was it was special ordered without a sunroof, which my tall body can not live with. This car is a cream puff, and I would say the 27k price is pretty much in line, if it is the car you want. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Ted Ritter

Sounds like a cream puff but not driven much which may not be all that wonderful. Offer $23K and see what happens. I paid over $11K LESS than what the dealer is asking for my 86 Targa. You said the dealer "bought it" which means at auction so I would guess will make a profit if you offer 23K.
Happy negotiating.
Ted in So Fla

David911

That price seems reasonable for an almost PERFECT car from a dealer. I thought I was buying one like that.

Please have a PPI done, and do not use a mechanic recommended by the dealer.

Cosmetically, pay very close attention to the car. I missed a really bad scratch that had been touched up. I would recommned pretending like you are washing the car to see all the little imperfections.

My guess is that these two items will turn something up for you to negotiate with. My hunch would be that the dealer would have paid less than 20K for the car, but I could be wrong.

In my case, the PPI showed up a problem with the engine, which I used to negotiate an additional $4k off the price.

Good luck,

David

Schuey

Too much! But that's what I'd say if it were my money...

Rick Lee

If the car were totally perfect, that's an ok price. But I'd say 20k miles is underdriven for an '87. Can you imagine only having done 6 or so oil changes and maybe 2 valve adjustments in 15 yrs.? In 1987 I was in high school, dreaming about Porsches and hot women. Now I have both and I've done 4 oil changes and 1 valve adjustment in the last year alone. The valve guide wear usually happens at 45k-65k miles, if it's going to do so. You could have that in your future. You also have a guaranteed clutch update coming too, if you buy that car.

I put 500 miles on my 911 today. Porsches are meant to be DRIVEN - not gawked at in concourse shows or mid-life crisis victims' garages. Get a car with 80k miles on it, an updated clutch and good leakdown numbers. The rest you can handle as it arises.

nostatic

Depends on a lot of variables. In general, targas have a lower resale value than coupes...but if you like a targa, then it isn't an issue. Premature valve guide wear can happen at any point in the engine's life (although it generally shows up between 40-60K). Also the clutch in the '87 does need some updates, and a new clutch isn't cheap. A good PPI should turn up any other issues. Figure any of this into the purchase price. With the clutch you are really looking at a $30K car, and it seems like no matter how nice the car is, you'll drop $1-2K into it right off the bat fixing little issues and updates.

You are paying a premium for the low miles, but only you can determine if that is worth it. I just bought a '79SC w/40K original miles. I paid near the upper end of the SC price range (but under $20K), and I know I will lose some value in depreciation since I"m going to drive it rather than let it sit in a garage. BUT, it is like a new car in many ways...I'm getting the best miles of the car. While there are some very nice 100K mile cars you can buy, someone else got the first 100K, while you get the 2nd 100K. Sure, then engines will go pretty much forever, but everything else wears with miles and age...but more so with miles imho.

I finally decided to buy the nicest one I could afford, not worry about depreciation, and drive it. Now I just gotta fix a few electrical gremlins

Rick C

I have to disagree with the general concerns here, though I encourage you to be as careful as possible. I wanted a Targa and bought a red 87 with 23K miles on it last year for a little MORE than that. It IS higher than market price, but after looking casually for 2 years and hard for 6 months, never saw anything as nice. I've never felt bad about the couple of extra $K I paid during summer drives with the top off. I did get a PPI even though I was pretty sure I knew what I was looking at - why take the risk?

I'm not rich, but plan to keep the car forever, and will do almost all the work myself. Showed the car at a local event two weeks ago and talked for a long time to a recent 993 owner with 26K on his car. Everything he needs to do to maintain the car is difficult or impossible, from changing the sparkplugs, etc. Nothing I can forsee about valves, clutches, etc., seems ridiculously hard to fix, and no modern electrical gremlins are likely to creep up as the wiring is pretty straightforward.

I drove the car from Chicago to Kansas City and back for business last fall on local Missouri and Illinois roads (recommend the river road south of Hannibal, MO for thrills!). It likes to be driven, but even at 3K a year, it will be nearly 2010 before I need to worry about valves, etc., should they become a problem. (Have my wife's car for winter, my son's car for emergencies and take the commuter train to work in Chicago, so I don't get to drive that much).

About all the Targa leak stories, I'm happy to say that normal rain does nothing, nor does a hose when washing the car. During an absolute downpour I got caught in while driving one day, I did get an occasional drip right near the front latching mechanism - but years with Fiat Spyders and a Triumph TR8 Conv. taught me to keep a towl around. As soon as the wind/rain let up, no more leaks. Good news is that it doesn't seem to leak getting rained on, but only when moving/flexing during a real storm.

Don't advocate wasting money, of course. Push the dealer and see what happens. But if it's what you want, the price will be forgotten long before the fun runs out.

Jim Michaels

The price does seem a little high, unless it's almost perfect and has recieved the utmost care. That would include being garaged, and serviced every year regardless of milage. If I were really interested in this car, I'd contact the previous owner even before getting a PPI. What the previous owner says about the car's history (including the very low milage part) may save you the money for a PPI. I'd want to know how/why such an apparent cream puff came to be sold at a dealers' auction, and what the previous owner got for the car, although that may be confounded by using it as a trade-in on a newer car. The more common avenue for such cars seems to be for the owner to sell them privately to some seemingly (in the eyes of the owner) deserving soul. If you take the time and effort to carefully research the driving and service history and current condition (from PPI) of this car, you will know whether the price is too high for you or not.

Note: I don't know why we don't have as many Porschephiles promoting previous owner contacts as we do promoting PPIs. I've bought only used cars for decades, and feel that one is just as necessary as the other. The dealer may or may not want to help by supplying the PO contact information, but I'd still require PO contact. The information is probably in the owner's manual (along with the service history) in the glove compartment. What; no owner's manual and service history? Red flag.

The '87-'89 Carrera prices have held up fairly well in recent years. Word has spread that these are desirable models; and the last of the traditional and evolutionary 911s. I sold a very nice '88 coupe with 64k miles over 4 years ago for $25k, and still see asking prices in that range.

Good luck.

Rick C

Good point about the car being at a dealer. Every nice, well-maintained car I saw was offered by the owner. They took care of it and knew what it was worth. See if you can talk to him/her.

JamesR

After three months of off an on dealing with a
used car dealer, I bought my first 911 Coupe(88 Guards Red)this past January. It had 106k an some very minor hood dings. I had a PPI done before purchase. The dealer wanted $23,900. We settled
on $19,600. I know how hard it is to wait. Let them come to you. The low miles are appealing-be
patient. There is a Porsche out there for you!
By the way, my 88 runs very strong,has no oil leaks an still turns heads!
What kind of oil has the 3.2 had? Just curious...
JamesR

Biotron

If the PPI looks good and you really want the car, go for it. You may pay a little more up front for it but , the first time you take it out you'll know why you did it. I paid 24K for an 88 targa with 57K miles on it 13 months ago and I now have 73K on it. I never take it over 4K RPM until it's warmed up. I keep fresh Mobile one in it and there is no sign of oil usage, leaks, or smoke. The only issue I have with it is I always get to where I want to go before I'm ready to be there......