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New to the air cooled engines... Have a great lead on my first, but concerned with this year to mileage average. What to look out for and questions to ask during ppi...
Previous owner of my 3.2 had the car for 11 years and put in 6000 miles over that period. I did around 2000 miles in the first few weeks of ownership and no "lack of mileage" issues to report so treat it just like any other used car and look for maintenance history. If engine bay pic is anything to go on then its been looked after.
If ppi and leak down check out that sticker along with a few other "personal touches" gotta go...
If this one works out it will be averaging 5k+mi/yr so I am glad they just left it in the garage for 13 years waiting for me to drive it
At what leak down % should I walk away since this car is priced in the low 30's and a rebuild of top end averages 6-8k pricing me out and over what I should pay for it
If you are looking at the car as a long term keeper then a rebuild is a small investment in the grand scale of things. As for leakdown numbers, don't judge the engine just on numbers, does it smoke, does it pull strong .... If all else is good then a 20%er is not a biggie as it could give you another 10-15k miles.
If you are looking at the car as a long term keeper then a rebuild is a small investment in the grand scale of things. As for leakdown numbers, don't judge the engine just on numbers, does it smoke, does it pull strong .... If all else is good then a 20%er is not a biggie as it could give you another 10-15k miles.
Will have ppi and leak down results tomorrow and would love more comments on them.
Maybe pump out the gas and replace it, if it's really old.
But, if the car runs and idles, it would seem nothing major occurred from sitting.
I bought a car that got 2000 miles in 10 years.
There may be little things from sitting.
Washer fluid jets and valves may be clogged.
Tires will be dry rotted.
PPI is a good idea.
Have them check every bulb, etc.
Passed on it. Here's why:
Negotiated price to 33k after seeing a 6k bill for a list of items
Replace front calipers sticking
Replace front struts. Shutters at highway speeds...
Replace rusted heat boxes valves stuck in open position
Replace AC compressor
Replace spark plugs
Oil change....
Stopped and did not do leak down and compression test or have valve covers removed to check head studs...
Ppi was $75 bucks and outside of mechanical issues there was plenty of chips cracking... On the paint that was a respray if 2001. I anticipated this with a 30 year old car and would of been fine with exterior
If I paid the 750 for the additional in depth inspection and studs were crack pulled or leak down was horrific I would be out. On the the other hand say I paid the 33k plus did all the repairs I would be in this car with tax shipping...for 42k and hopefully all was good and no top end needed but could be up a 6-8k rebuild on top of that for a 93k mi 1986 911. I could not justify it. I am in TX car is in NH. I did not test drive it and for 42k i can holdout for a more local lower mileage one as they are still out there.
Such a dilemma trying to find a solid deal on a 3.2. Will I be kicking myself in a year? No, because the hunt continues
Wise move, what you want is a car that has been looked after but in this case what you are getting are signs that the car has not been looked after and that can be a big can of worms.
$32k is too much for a car that has been sitting for 13 years.
The paint issues are a $7000 problem.
But, the repairs seem perfectly common for any used 911.
I would not let this list deter you from an otherwise good car.
Replace front calipers sticking ($250/ea. if you send them out yourself.)
Replace front struts. Shutters at highway speeds... (The only real issue here. Could also be tires, or bushings, right)
Replace rusted heat boxes valves stuck in open position (Some Kroil and work them free?)
Replace AC compressor (90% of 911's will have this issue. Most don't fix the A/C. )
Replace spark plugs Oil change.... (Standard for any used car)
$32k is too much for a car that has been sitting for 13 years.
The paint issues are a $7000 problem.
But, the repairs seem perfectly common for any used 911.
I would not let this list deter you from an otherwise good car.
Replace front calipers sticking ($250/ea. if you send them out yourself.)
Replace front struts. Shutters at highway speeds... (The only real issue here. Could also be tires, or bushings, right)
Replace rusted heat boxes valves stuck in open position (Some Kroil and work them free?)
Replace AC compressor (90% of 911's will have this issue. Most don't fix the A/C. )
Replace spark plugs Oil change.... (Standard for any used car)
I agree they are standard issues just not for that price. With the entry price into a 915 car let alone a G50 creeping up to double what it was 3 years ago, most of the ones I run across are over concourse pricing or greater by the time I fix everything and don't have concourse milage or originality...
09-06-2015, 09:56 PM
1986 3.2 with only 7k mi in the last 13 years
