'94 cab, buy or not?
07-16-2006, 06:29 PM
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'94 cab, buy or not?
OK, so I often wish my car was a cab and occasionally do some dreaming about cars that get posted on rennlist or even autotrader... and now a local car dealership has something close to my car - as a cab! :-)
Question is, should I buy it?
It was bought by the dealer (Chevrolet, branching into used imports) via a wholesale auction. There are almost no maintenance records. The original maintenance book is included, with the first couple of stamps from the dealership were it was sold (in Maples Florida). The odometer shows 60K miles. It has a few minor dings showing in a quick inspection. I suspect it MAY have had something fixed in the rear-end (body panel-wise), but I'm not sure. If so, they must have done a pretty good job. Obviously, I will need to spend some time with the car and go through it much more carefully when the wife and I haven't left the kids at home by themselves while we ran for a quick gallon of milk. The option and VIN sticker is missing from the rear, as is the compressor, but the original tool bag is still there. They say they want $23K for it, but have it "on special" for just under $19K. It is guards red, with a black top and tan interior and the six-speed manual trans. The only other things I know about it at this point are that the top doesn't work (motor doesn't seem to work on the drivers side, the passenger side the top is going down, but then is starts going crooked, the drivers side doesn't retract at all. We stopped when the salesman and I heard a pop it went back up again, and you could continue to work the passenger side), the dealer says they are waiting on a part from Porsche to fix it. No information about timing belts, water pumps, pinion gears, clutch, etc. It has what I believe are boxster wheels on it (16"), rather then the stock 968 wheels, though they are Porsche wheels (have width and offset in the right place). It will need new tires soon. It has a bit more wear on the driver's seat bolster then I would have expected for its apparent low mileage, other then that the interior looks good. Though, again, its just been a surface exam at this point.
I was hoping that maybe it is in the 968 cab registry and maybe somebody knows more about it - though you can chime in with advice just based on the above info as well :-) I also need help on what to really look for on a cab.
VIN WPOCA2960RS840276
option codes: 331, 418, 454, 490. (got these from the sticker in the maintenance book - the VIN matched)
Does anyone know if the bit in the owner's manual (from my car, not the cab - its has been lost along the way) about putting the top up if the motor isn't working by loosening the nut and operating it by hand will also work for putting the top down? Or another way for putting the top down manually?
If I get too serious about this cab, I will be needing to liquidate a '94 968 coupe, six speed, non-030, guards red over black, 147K miles. My current car is in excellent condition and has been extremely reliable, sans the following issues. 1) cruise control doesn't work. Sunset Porsche said its the cruise controller box on the firewall, but since I don't use cruise much, I never fixed it. 2) The bumpre cover needs to be re-sprayed. This was done two years and 30K miles ago by the PO, but they didn't prep it correctly and every time I wash it I get flakes of red paint in the bucket or on the ground. I am probably going to get that re-done soon. 3) The sunroof quit working at the end of last summer. I just replaced the gears, but it needs another part where the motor connects to the tube the cable comes in. Part is being put on order ($90). Other then that, car has a couple of other very small dings that most people don't even seen unless I show them, and that's it.
Thanks for any advice :-)
-Brett
Question is, should I buy it?
It was bought by the dealer (Chevrolet, branching into used imports) via a wholesale auction. There are almost no maintenance records. The original maintenance book is included, with the first couple of stamps from the dealership were it was sold (in Maples Florida). The odometer shows 60K miles. It has a few minor dings showing in a quick inspection. I suspect it MAY have had something fixed in the rear-end (body panel-wise), but I'm not sure. If so, they must have done a pretty good job. Obviously, I will need to spend some time with the car and go through it much more carefully when the wife and I haven't left the kids at home by themselves while we ran for a quick gallon of milk. The option and VIN sticker is missing from the rear, as is the compressor, but the original tool bag is still there. They say they want $23K for it, but have it "on special" for just under $19K. It is guards red, with a black top and tan interior and the six-speed manual trans. The only other things I know about it at this point are that the top doesn't work (motor doesn't seem to work on the drivers side, the passenger side the top is going down, but then is starts going crooked, the drivers side doesn't retract at all. We stopped when the salesman and I heard a pop it went back up again, and you could continue to work the passenger side), the dealer says they are waiting on a part from Porsche to fix it. No information about timing belts, water pumps, pinion gears, clutch, etc. It has what I believe are boxster wheels on it (16"), rather then the stock 968 wheels, though they are Porsche wheels (have width and offset in the right place). It will need new tires soon. It has a bit more wear on the driver's seat bolster then I would have expected for its apparent low mileage, other then that the interior looks good. Though, again, its just been a surface exam at this point.
I was hoping that maybe it is in the 968 cab registry and maybe somebody knows more about it - though you can chime in with advice just based on the above info as well :-) I also need help on what to really look for on a cab.
VIN WPOCA2960RS840276
option codes: 331, 418, 454, 490. (got these from the sticker in the maintenance book - the VIN matched)
Does anyone know if the bit in the owner's manual (from my car, not the cab - its has been lost along the way) about putting the top up if the motor isn't working by loosening the nut and operating it by hand will also work for putting the top down? Or another way for putting the top down manually?
If I get too serious about this cab, I will be needing to liquidate a '94 968 coupe, six speed, non-030, guards red over black, 147K miles. My current car is in excellent condition and has been extremely reliable, sans the following issues. 1) cruise control doesn't work. Sunset Porsche said its the cruise controller box on the firewall, but since I don't use cruise much, I never fixed it. 2) The bumpre cover needs to be re-sprayed. This was done two years and 30K miles ago by the PO, but they didn't prep it correctly and every time I wash it I get flakes of red paint in the bucket or on the ground. I am probably going to get that re-done soon. 3) The sunroof quit working at the end of last summer. I just replaced the gears, but it needs another part where the motor connects to the tube the cable comes in. Part is being put on order ($90). Other then that, car has a couple of other very small dings that most people don't even seen unless I show them, and that's it.
Thanks for any advice :-)
-Brett
07-17-2006, 02:51 AM
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Brett,
The price at $19 might be OK "IF" they fix the top and they do all the belts. As you know - The belts need doing at 60k and there is no reason for you to bear that expense at that price. As for the top - yes it will come down manually - see the owners manual - tool kit has wrench and you pull plugs on both sides above rear package shelf and undo (loosen not off) bolts that lock top to motors. BUT ... That "Pop" you heard most likely was the cast upright breaking as the top twisted. It is a VERY expensive part and unless a very good shop replaces it - and the maybe bad motor or drive part on the one side - you are looking at very expensive repairs - and check the rubber seal - at $250 to $350 each these could really set you back. Having gone through this with a 964 and again with my 968 Cab - I would say this could be a $2000+ repair job. Add tires and the normal 60k service and you are spending close to $5000 on the car - assuming there is nothing else wrong. My 62,000 mile 968 Cab from Florida just cost me $2500 for an engine reseal to stop the 4 oil leaks. Sometimes these cars are better with high miles. I think the leaks on mine are just from High temps and low miles. And mine had all the maint records from day one. So as everyone says - get a good Porsche specialist to do a PPI and then negotiate.
Bottom line - My Wife and I just got back from a great top down ride and we love the car - and now we need to keep it 5 years + to amortize the repairs.
P.S. either way - hope to see you at Parade. & I am coming down to Portland for the ALMS race next week - will you be there?
The price at $19 might be OK "IF" they fix the top and they do all the belts. As you know - The belts need doing at 60k and there is no reason for you to bear that expense at that price. As for the top - yes it will come down manually - see the owners manual - tool kit has wrench and you pull plugs on both sides above rear package shelf and undo (loosen not off) bolts that lock top to motors. BUT ... That "Pop" you heard most likely was the cast upright breaking as the top twisted. It is a VERY expensive part and unless a very good shop replaces it - and the maybe bad motor or drive part on the one side - you are looking at very expensive repairs - and check the rubber seal - at $250 to $350 each these could really set you back. Having gone through this with a 964 and again with my 968 Cab - I would say this could be a $2000+ repair job. Add tires and the normal 60k service and you are spending close to $5000 on the car - assuming there is nothing else wrong. My 62,000 mile 968 Cab from Florida just cost me $2500 for an engine reseal to stop the 4 oil leaks. Sometimes these cars are better with high miles. I think the leaks on mine are just from High temps and low miles. And mine had all the maint records from day one. So as everyone says - get a good Porsche specialist to do a PPI and then negotiate.
Bottom line - My Wife and I just got back from a great top down ride and we love the car - and now we need to keep it 5 years + to amortize the repairs.
P.S. either way - hope to see you at Parade. & I am coming down to Portland for the ALMS race next week - will you be there?
07-17-2006, 03:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Brett951
Question is, should I buy it?
Originally Posted by Brett951
Does anyone know if the bit in the owner's manual (from my car, not the cab - its has been lost along the way) about putting the top up if the motor isn't working by loosening the nut and operating it by hand will also work for putting the top down? Or another way for putting the top down manually?
07-21-2006, 01:19 PM
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Thanks all for the advice and information. I just found out how little dental insurance pays for orthodontics (my son just got braces), so I won't be moving to a cab right away...
Seattle Jack, I missed the registration cut-offs for Parade, which really sucks since it is local. And I leave on the Thursday during for a Mexico missions trip with my church so I wouldn't be able to do much of the tours anyways, which is what I would be most interested in (schedule says the first tour is on Wed).
Seattle Jack, I missed the registration cut-offs for Parade, which really sucks since it is local. And I leave on the Thursday during for a Mexico missions trip with my church so I wouldn't be able to do much of the tours anyways, which is what I would be most interested in (schedule says the first tour is on Wed).
