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That cab looks very familiar ... i'm pretty sure i sold that to the owner a few year ago..was a cool one, one of the only 2 cabs i've ever bought cuz it had a nice aggressive look
@Tarek307 Yup that car is from you, we talked about that over coffee and that you are a very trusted source for great and very solid cars.
I know this is a Targa thread and I love my 964 Targa but I recently bought an '03 SL55 AMG for the second time. Wow - talk about allot of car for the money. I found one with 34,000 miles. 493 HP, 516 lb ft or torque $21k. That kind of money would have bought an early Boxster. I think the early SL55's might be the 964's of the future. Really cheap right now but folks will be saying "why didn't I get one of these . . ." That's how it was with 964's - particularly Targas. Remember when 964 Targas were cheaper than cabs? Now they run side by side with coupes and 964's are selling for 993 money - maybe more. I bought my first 964 Targa for $23k and it was a beautiful car. Flawless paint, 54,000 miles, everything working, etc. Kept it for years and sold it for $23k - thinking I'd done so good on that "deal". Imagine buying a really clean 964 Targa for $23k today. Well - the SL 55 is possibly that kind of car. The issue with them is they were $120,000 new so there's lots of old tech that can create expensive repairs (kind of like early 964 cylinder heads). And, they are the opposite of a 964 Targa - heavy and complex as opposed to light and simple. But - a timeless design, great lines, fun to drive, and currently priced like the 964 of 15 years ago.
I know this is a Targa thread and I love my 964 Targa but I recently bought an '03 SL55 AMG for the second time. Wow - talk about allot of car for the money. I found one with 34,000 miles. 493 HP, 516 lb ft or torque $21k. That kind of money would have bought an early Boxster. I think the early SL55's might be the 964's of the future. Really cheap right now but folks will be saying "why didn't I get one of these . . ." That's how it was with 964's - particularly Targas. Remember when 964 Targas were cheaper than cabs? Now they run side by side with coupes and 964's are selling for 993 money - maybe more. I bought my first 964 Targa for $23k and it was a beautiful car. Flawless paint, 54,000 miles, everything working, etc. Kept it for years and sold it for $23k - thinking I'd done so good on that "deal". Imagine buying a really clean 964 Targa for $23k today. Well - the SL 55 is possibly that kind of car. The issue with them is they were $120,000 new so there's lots of old tech that can create expensive repairs (kind of like early 964 cylinder heads). And, they are the opposite of a 964 Targa - heavy and complex as opposed to light and simple. But - a timeless design, great lines, fun to drive, and currently priced like the 964 of 15 years ago.
Love the SL55s and easily on my short list for a future car. I think the challenge with those are 1) they never came in a manual and the 3 pedals are what's generally driving prices higher (look at tiptronic 964s as an example) and 2) these were produced for longer and in higher volumes than the 964 so these aren't scarce. You also have SL63 and SL65 variants to add to the mix. Not to take away from your enjoyment of your new car, which as I said and agree with you, is a lot of car for the money, but I personally don't see them taking the same path as the 964 with regards to valuation nor desirability.
Love the SL55s and easily on my short list for a future car. I think the challenge with those are 1) they never came in a manual and the 3 pedals are what's generally driving prices higher (look at tiptronic 964s as an example) and 2) these were produced for longer and in higher volumes than the 964 so these aren't scarce. You also have SL63 and SL65 variants to add to the mix. Not to take away from your enjoyment of your new car, which as I said and agree with you, is a lot of car for the money, but I personally don't see them taking the same path as the 964 with regards to valuation nor desirability.
I tend to agree, although no one 15 years ago would have argued 964s would make a good investment (obviously if we all knew what would happen to the car market we could have invested in 993s and 964s and made like a 200-500% return). So who knows, the SL55 could become a collector's car, although lack of 3 pedal is a ding. In any case, they look like awesome cars, enjoy!
For Targa content, I've started debating selling my car eventually and getting a 993 Targa. Totally different car but I like to mix things up every few years, and the giant pano sunroof in an air-cooled 911 is actually kind of appealing.
For Targa content, I've started debating selling my car eventually and getting a 993 Targa. Totally different car but I like to mix things up every few years, and the giant pano sunroof in an air-cooled 911 is actually kind of appealing.
yeah, I just dont think that the glorified sunroof in a 993 or 996 Targa is quite the same
yeah, I just dont think that the glorified sunroof in a 993 or 996 Targa is quite the same
It's definitely not the same, agreed. I just like the idea of the big glass sunroof in an air-cooled 911. I love my 964, but I've just put the top in storage since driving the top on is pretty rough (squeaky and windy), and therefore there are a bunch of times I haven't taken it out since it was a bit wet/foggy (we live in a coastal town).
For posterity posting here: This car is currently being offered for sale by a dealer. VIN WP0BB2960RS440064. I have no affiliation with the dealer. However, I owned the car for about a year and did all the recent work to it. I currently have no affiliation with the car either.
If anyone is seriously looking at it, feel free to PM me and I can give you a snapshot of what was done to the car during my tenure with it. I also have relevant paperwork that will happily mail to the new owner after purchase, so just PM me for that as well after purchase only.
I noticed it just went from one dealer to another.
Im on the hunt for a super low mile 964 Targa and would have snagged it but Ive already got one in that color.
Beautiful car, but wait until the ABC suspension starts acting up ask me how I know
I'm actually familiar but I think about some of my older Porsches. I owned 2 different 944 turbo S's. Both acquired in very nice shape, both require about $6000 in engine work to be reliable for street/DE use. One went through a ring and pinion gear (replacement transmission), the other a delaminated timing belt (rebuild the head). Both were a blast to drive/own and I kinda wish I still had one. Thinking about what's been said - the SL55 might continue to be a depreciating ride that just needs to be appreciated. I'm not selling my 964 Targa or my 996 GT3. The SL is a great for now car and a good date night car with the better half.
It's definitely not the same, agreed. I just like the idea of the big glass sunroof in an air-cooled 911. I love my 964, but I've just put the top in storage since driving the top on is pretty rough (squeaky and windy), and therefore there are a bunch of times I haven't taken it out since it was a bit wet/foggy (we live in a coastal town).
The 993/996 Targa is getting some more recent love. BUT, I've heard those sliding glass "targa" tops are complex. Pretty reliable - but you don't want one to break. Something like 163 parts in that top mechanism. The old targa top is a leaky, noisy little bastard but it never really breaks. One thing to consider - I remember my first Targa top was all the bad things they say about targa tops. I rebuilt mine and read 2 pieces of advice in the process that seems to have made a difference. One was to measure the diagonal opening of the car's roof and match that to the dimensions when assembling the top. The second was to make sure the top material was pulled down in front and back (stretched) far enough so that the front and rear seams of the top would be below the windshield frame in front and the targa bar in back. Also helps to replace and lubricate the plastic on the spikes that go into the front window frame. My top was actually pretty quiet at the front and back. Then you start with the side window adjustments
07-20-2023, 11:34 AM
