Saving a 911SC
08-08-2003, 10:38 PM
#1
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Saving a 911SC
I need to call on the collective wisdom of the forum. A friend of mine has a sister who is buying a new Mitsubishi and is trading a couple of cars in on the Mitsu, one of which is a 78’ 911SC Targa (why I don’t know). Anyway, the dealer is offering her $2500 in trade and she is thinking about taking it because she hates the idea of selling the car her self. Now it would be a shame for the dealer to get a hold of it at that price so I am thinking of making her an offer on the car but I don’t know what a reasonable offer would be, or If I should get involved.
Until today I was planning on buying a late model Saab as a second to my winter Grand Cherokee so I have some money put aside but I can’t buy both. Another issue is the car is a Targa and I have a car port but no garage, how much do Targas leak. Another thing is that I have a jeep for when we get hit by snow but I would like to drive the car in the winter, is that a reasonable expectation?
Now for the car, it is a 1978 Metallic silver 911SC Targa with 274,000 miles, the car has had two owners and is in fair condition. The motor was replaced 35,000 miles ago and the transmission was rebuilt 8,000 miles ago and (obviously) the clutch was replaced, the car has 85% Yokohama V rated tires on nice Fuchs alloys. The interior is shot, even the custom fit sheepskins are worn to the nub, the leather is coming off the wheel, etc, everything works though and there is no damage, just lots of wear.
As for the exterior the car is a California car (in it’s 1st life) and has never seen a New York winter so the body is surprisingly rust free. There are some paint chips on all the wheel rims which have been painted over, somewhat sloppily, with touch up paint. It looks like they might have a little rust developing under the touch up. The rockers are solid (magnet checked) and so is the undercarriage. The car has been hit but the repair was done well the only thing is that the headlamp bezels were replaced with chrome units instead of body color. Another body issue is that the rubber gasket around the windshield is starting to give way so it looks like the windshield is popping out of the corner of the frame?
The car runs and drives perfectly, the steering is light and tracks straight with no shimming, and the motor starts right up and runs at good temperature with good oil pressure and DOES NOT LEAK. The transmission shifts smooth and easy and the car drives a lot better than it looks.
What do you think, the car looks great at 20’ and mechanically seems o.k. but it will probably need a whole new interior eventually as well as a full respray with some minor rust repair.
What should I offer for the car, or should I tell her to take the $2500 and run?
Until today I was planning on buying a late model Saab as a second to my winter Grand Cherokee so I have some money put aside but I can’t buy both. Another issue is the car is a Targa and I have a car port but no garage, how much do Targas leak. Another thing is that I have a jeep for when we get hit by snow but I would like to drive the car in the winter, is that a reasonable expectation?
Now for the car, it is a 1978 Metallic silver 911SC Targa with 274,000 miles, the car has had two owners and is in fair condition. The motor was replaced 35,000 miles ago and the transmission was rebuilt 8,000 miles ago and (obviously) the clutch was replaced, the car has 85% Yokohama V rated tires on nice Fuchs alloys. The interior is shot, even the custom fit sheepskins are worn to the nub, the leather is coming off the wheel, etc, everything works though and there is no damage, just lots of wear.
As for the exterior the car is a California car (in it’s 1st life) and has never seen a New York winter so the body is surprisingly rust free. There are some paint chips on all the wheel rims which have been painted over, somewhat sloppily, with touch up paint. It looks like they might have a little rust developing under the touch up. The rockers are solid (magnet checked) and so is the undercarriage. The car has been hit but the repair was done well the only thing is that the headlamp bezels were replaced with chrome units instead of body color. Another body issue is that the rubber gasket around the windshield is starting to give way so it looks like the windshield is popping out of the corner of the frame?
The car runs and drives perfectly, the steering is light and tracks straight with no shimming, and the motor starts right up and runs at good temperature with good oil pressure and DOES NOT LEAK. The transmission shifts smooth and easy and the car drives a lot better than it looks.
What do you think, the car looks great at 20’ and mechanically seems o.k. but it will probably need a whole new interior eventually as well as a full respray with some minor rust repair.
What should I offer for the car, or should I tell her to take the $2500 and run?
08-08-2003, 11:36 PM
#3
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Offer her something above the $2500, maybe $2650, and she doesn't have to deal with the dealer. Of course, pending a pre-purchase inspection you pay for. Not because you want to use the results to negotiate anything, rather, to find out whether you're getting a great deal or a dog in disguise.
08-08-2003, 11:44 PM
#4
Since the car drives very well, you could certainly offer her $3000-3500, spend $500 - $1000 on freshening up that interior (new leather on the front seats, new carpet set, new Alan Gun re-upholstered wheel, etc.), spend another couple grand on misc mechanicals and have a hell of a fun car for $6500 or less.
Or, if you don't care about cosmetics, you could just drive it as is for awhile until your budget allows for improvements on the interior and paint.
With 274,000 miles, the car might not ever sell for over ~$5000-8000, even in mint shape, so be careful with how much you would want to put into the car over the long haul.
The SC's were some of the best cars Porsche made, so getting 274,000 miles out of the car and still having a good driving car is not unusual.
If the Targa top has good seals and is adjusted correctly, you should not experience any leaking while the car is parked in inclement weather.
Just my $.02
Jay
90 964
Or, if you don't care about cosmetics, you could just drive it as is for awhile until your budget allows for improvements on the interior and paint.
With 274,000 miles, the car might not ever sell for over ~$5000-8000, even in mint shape, so be careful with how much you would want to put into the car over the long haul.
The SC's were some of the best cars Porsche made, so getting 274,000 miles out of the car and still having a good driving car is not unusual.
If the Targa top has good seals and is adjusted correctly, you should not experience any leaking while the car is parked in inclement weather.
Just my $.02
Jay
90 964
08-09-2003, 04:31 AM
#5
Buying that car for anything less than 5K will make it a steal. No, let me correct that. More like grand theft. Go check the price for a used SC flat six motor alone and you will see the deal you are getting. At that price, forget anything like a PPI. Who needs it at that price. Just make sure it wasn't hit and that there is no rust. I'd take it in a heartbeat, targa or not. Man, I haven't had a deal like that in years.
08-09-2003, 09:29 AM
#6
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Buy it you'll love it....I have an 80SC Targa and what a blast! Watch ebay for parts....for example I just sold an entire interior...perfect condition...out of mine (brown leather..hate brown!) for 500 bucks. So you can find the deals..just watch ebay, classifieds on here!
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08-09-2003, 12:49 PM
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Yeah... the dealer is robbing her blind!!! The dealer will make a killing reselling the 911... probably for over $10,000. $2,500 is surely way under blue-book value.
I don't have last month's Excellence 911 price guide with me right now, but they estimate the value of even a poor-to-medium condition example of a 78 SC Targa at over $10,000.
How many running 911's have you seen for sale at under $3,000? I dunno, can you even by a parts car (with the motor) for $2,500?
Under no circumstances should she consider this offer. If for some reason she doesn't want the hastle of advertising the car, and you are not interested... then she should check around a few used car places/brokers to see what they'd give her in cash for the car.
Also, the fact that they even made such an extreme low-ball offer to her makes me suspect the value (or lack of value) of the rest of the "deal" they are giving her on her new car.
You could give her two/three times that, and still have a good deal.
-MAS
I don't have last month's Excellence 911 price guide with me right now, but they estimate the value of even a poor-to-medium condition example of a 78 SC Targa at over $10,000.
How many running 911's have you seen for sale at under $3,000? I dunno, can you even by a parts car (with the motor) for $2,500?
Under no circumstances should she consider this offer. If for some reason she doesn't want the hastle of advertising the car, and you are not interested... then she should check around a few used car places/brokers to see what they'd give her in cash for the car.
Also, the fact that they even made such an extreme low-ball offer to her makes me suspect the value (or lack of value) of the rest of the "deal" they are giving her on her new car.
You could give her two/three times that, and still have a good deal.
-MAS
08-09-2003, 04:11 PM
#9
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steal
Ed's right!!
Tje engine alone is worth much more than that if it was done properly. You could part it out and make much more money than 2500. Buy a used interior for low bucks. This is a no brainer
What is the reason for your hesitation??
Tje engine alone is worth much more than that if it was done properly. You could part it out and make much more money than 2500. Buy a used interior for low bucks. This is a no brainer
What is the reason for your hesitation??
08-09-2003, 09:03 PM
#12
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Buy it! Buy it! Buy it! Save this poor car from making some swindly dealer a whole lot of money! And help your friend in the meantime! If it becomes too much for you, I'm sure you could find a buyer on this site pretty easily for at least as much as you're paying for it! Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!