persian Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Hello Porsche lovers, I am new to this forum and as i am sure you all are i am a long time lover of the Porsche, basically i am making my first attempt to search and purchase my Porsche I basically love every 911 model ever made, but budget wise i am looking more at the 930/964's Being a newbie at this if i could gather some info on average price? what i should be looking out for? if i should buy something in top condition or go for the fixer up? just a bit of advice so that i can feel confident... i am no rush so i have time to search around thanks a lot in advance for any advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webrest Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Fixer uppers can be very expensive unless you know your own way around. You can be lucky and pick up a successful cheapie but after 40 years at this and growing up in a garage owning/dealership family I can safely say say that owning special interest vehicles is going to cost you somewhere along the line. It is really a matter of whether you are able and have the desire to do so to keep playing the game. The only real honest advice is be prepared to spend your money. They will cost no matter what route you choose. As a rule of thumb an honest original car will more than likely be a better long term friend than a fixer upper that is constantly playing catch up. You will receive all sorts of info from many directions but the general rule is buy the best one you can with the money you have at your disposal. That all said Porsche's are very rewarding to be around and are generally very reliable for a high performance vehicle. Welcome to the game and good luck with your projects PS. I would think very carefully about a 930 as your first Porsche purchase they have a lot of components that are not as common as the more mundane they can be quite a bit more expensive to run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBGr4 Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Welcome and good luck with your search, I am sure that lots of folk will exlain that all the air cooled 911's are gaining in value pretty much on a world wide basis. That said 930's in particular (for a good example) are getting silly prices. It becomes a matter possibly of what you want the car for, is it a straight up drive car that you dont need or want to do anything to. If so the question should become largely what the service history is and what you are happy to pay to have it parked in your garage. Is it a car you can feel happy spending some money on to bring up to whatever standard you are happy with or ... the fixer upper.... In which case whatever you think it will cost multiply it X 2 to get close to the probable final cost ! Find a good Porsche specalist workshop and talk with them as they might have a customer who is looking to sell something that could be of interest you. Try to take your time with selecting a car (I know its hard) have an inspection done by a qualified Porsche specalist and when its all done and you have a car, drive it, use it, enjoy it, thats what Porsche made them for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Thanks heaps for the advice, ye i have heard that about 930's i think I'm looking more into the 964's anyway.. I basically want it for a cruiser car, not an everyday! just absolutely love the cars and want to own and learn as much as i can about them are there any general issues with 964's? I've heard they leak a lot, besides that I've heard only good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 What's your budget? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 964's are great every day cars and weekend cruisers. buy the best you can afford, you wont lose any $$$$ on depreciation and it will save you $$$$ in the long term dont be put off by the 4, they are fanbloodytastic,,(biased comment).. but seriously they handle sublimely and go hard AND they are still more available and cheaper than the 2 they have the classic P shape morphed with the evolution of the 993 which is now in the realms of unobtainable. good luck and please try to get a ppi hughesy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webrest Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 What's your budget? It always comes back to "what's your budget." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 It always comes back to "what's your budget." Its the million dollar question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Its the million dollar question! Well its not 100% set, but id be thinking of something around the 30,000 - 40,000 mark? please don't call me stupid aha! hows that sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Im based in Adelaide where would i get the best ppi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5032 Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Buik Automotive for a PPI, they are very good i had a good experience when buying mine sight unseen I relied on their advise before biting the bullet and flying in from Melb to pick it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 yes I've heard of them, awesome good to know! thanks a lot what do you guys think of my budget? can i get something decent with that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Not sure you'll find a decent 964 under $40k ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 PS. I would think very carefully about a 930 as your first Porsche purchase they have a lot of components that are not as common as the more mundane they can be quite a bit more expensive to run Plus they will apparently try to kill you unless you know what tricky habits they have.... But good advice from Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamr Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Not sure you'll find a decent 964 under $40k ?Unfortunately, I have to agree as above .....Since the rise in prices, you would be lucky to find a 930 under $80k ..... and I mean really lucky ( although you might find a left hooker or a converted one for $50 - $60k ....)You might need to go back a bit further to the G series (impact bumper) for the budget you have ..... they are the '74 -'89 cars. You will be hard pressed to find an Aussie delivered model, so will probably need to look for an import.Just for your information, a decent Aussie delivered SC will start from about $45k and go up .... a decent 3.2 Carrera will be $50k and up.....Good luck in your search .... Don't let me or others scare you off ... there are always bargains to be found if you look hard enough ... always ask questions and listen to your gut .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Well its not 100% set, but id be thinking of something around the 30,000 - 40,000 mark? please don't call me stupid aha! hows that sound? Unfortunately your going to be scraping the bottom of the air cooled 911 market for anything under 50k. You may find a tired but honest early SC (if your very actively searching or lucky) for sub 50k but the prospect of a 930 or 964 is highly unlikely - well nothing that's going to require anything less than 30-40k to get right (very easy to spend that sort if $$$, it all adds up pretty quickly!). If your looking for a Porsche for around 40k take a 968 or Boxster for a spin - I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed. If your only interested in a 911 then you maybe able to pick up a 996 carrera as they are fast becoming the 911 bargain of the century. Don't mean to burst your bubble, just being honest. Unless your really confident and capable on the tools (+body repairs) you won't get much for your 40k in an early 911. Now your on here use it to your advantage and meet the other SA members, spend some time around the cars and their owners and maybe think about broadening your search criteria. All Porsches are great, whilst I love the early air cooled cars myself I can honestly say that there are some later model bargain to be had - I'm sure others will chime in! Cheers, Hugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveF Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Persian, there are some 996s within this price range but remember to factor in costs for an IMS replacement if it hasn't already been done. Keep your eyes peeled as good Aussie delivered cars do come up from time to time and usually end up on this forum pretty quickly as we are all happy to help with the search. As the guys have said do your research, meet the PFA crew in SA, talk to people and drive a few cars to work out what you like and can afford. It will take some time but will be worth it in the end. You will be much better informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Just my thoughts Maybe start off the Porsche journey with something else, like I have with a 912 (if you can find one) and go from there. They're practically the same car as a 911, but with a 4 cylinder fitted (and handle better), which is cheaper to maintain or have rebuilt if things go pop. Or as I have just learnt, I can buy a new motor with all the bits for $10k. If you find one now for the right price, with some TLC, it will be worth more than you paid for it in a couple of years or less by the way things are going with global values! As the much more experienced guys have mentioned above, you'll be hard pressed to find something good in within your budget, yet as I look at Carsales and practically every other site selling Porsche's every day, you will have to buy something that definately needs some work. I suppose it depends how fussy you are. If you want a real good air cooled 911, sorry, but you just won't find one within your budget. if it needs paint, theres a minimum of $10k for a repaint without bodywork. Interior trim, there's $3000, top end rebuild, just give them your credit card and cringe at the next bill! Newer cars, yeah, you will probably find one that needs to be sold by the owner, yet any problems with water cooled motors, you will spend probably half of your initial purchase price rebuilding it. I don't mean to be rude here, but can you afford that? Porsche specialists arent exactly cheap I want an air cooled 911, yet with prices going nuts, I'll stick to my 912. As Hugh mentioned, maybe try a Boxster if you have to have a Porsche (and why wouldnt you?) i drove one recently, and I quite liked it. I'd put some big wheels on and lower it though I know enough to get me by from what I have learnt in the past 18 months from researching on the net, this forum and my mate here,JNR356 but I am no Porsche expert by far, yet I personally would aim a little lower with your expectations, or raise your budget by $10k if thats feasible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamr Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 I know enough to get me by from what I have learnt in the past 18 months from researching on the net, this forum and my mate here,JNR356 but I am no Porsche expert by far, yet I personally would aim a little lower with your expectations, or raise your budget by $10k if thats feasibleAgain, I have to agree with the above, although I would have to say the budget by another $15k.When I took delivery of mine, it was the unseen things that got me .... New brake pads and new brake lines ... All 4 calipers needed to be rebuilt ....4 x new tyres .... The essential full service for peace of mind .... etc. Add transfer fee and there goes another $5k .... Still needs a couple of engine mounts and other minor bits and bobs so it all addsup ..So, $50k for a decent car and $5k as above ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Or something like this perhaps? http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/wannanup/cars-vans-utes/1980-porsche-911-coupe/1063889506 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Thanks heaps for everyones input, hopefully you can all help me in my purchase! I am really in no rush, but good to know ill need a lot more money then that! Does or has anyone driven a 912? i love the look of them great classic car, why are they cheap for such a classic porsche? and what to they drive like? And LeeM a 911 like that is awesome aswell, looks like that one would need some work I'm guessing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Having been through this entire process myself recently...let me give you my advice. - set your budget realistically and don't try and reach once you have. Be tough on yourself. - your budget is exactly the same as mine was - work out what are deal breakers. You will be making compromises on the dream Porsche, but work out what excludes a car from contention. For me that was non original modifications like wheels, seats, motor swaps, LHD-RHD conversions, nada do it had to be a 911. - as per above, work out if LHD is in the frame or not. For me it was ok and is the easiest way to get into a better car, because most people run like a vampire from garlic when the wheel is in the other side. Factor in this in case you need to sell. - forget about a 964 or 930. You aren't even close in budget unless you get very lucky and turn up a barn find with a clueless seller - spend a few minutes every day looking at eBay, gumtree, carsales etc - go to meetups, cars and coffee and things like that to get an idea of the true state of the average car so you can judge a car against its peers when you look at one. - budget in for a PPI and be very specific on what you want done. If you are looking at an air cooled car, then prioritise the known weak points of head studs and gearbox condition, and get a compression test and don't waste money getting a tech to check the lights and radio works, which you can do yourself. It's tempting to skip this but read these pages and see the cost and effort that go into engine removal and tear down for head stud replacement. Ask yourself if paying someone a couple of hundred to do a preventative check is money well spent. Finally there has been advice here that you can't get a decent 911 for less than 40k. You may not get a pristine Australian delivered car wit stamped books for less than 40k but it's not true that decent cars don't sell in that range. Remember advertised price is different to sale price. Good luck and settle in for the long haul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Would you do a 912 Left Hand driver? Just happens to be a member on our forum could either help you out there or point you in the right direction.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persian Posted 27December, 2014 Author Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Coastr, thanks heaps ill use that checklist and all of that into consideration! very good to know And Niko, i was looking more into the 911 but now everyone has opened my eyes with budgets etc.. I've always loved the 912's also, so i guess i would be interested.. I've heard great things about the 911's not much about 912's? are they just as great to drive? you can knock the classic look Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted 27December, 2014 Report Share Posted 27December, 2014 Have to say I have never driven a 912, but the blokes that have give them good reports, obviously not as powerful and as quick, but you still have everything else that is iconic about that shape. Value for money....I think they can only go up in the future. And you can get them at a "reasonable price" now. (left hookers in particular I am talking about) FIG is on our forum and extremely knowledgeable on the 912's, might be worth you giving him a PM. Personally....I like them and the beauty for me would be that I wouldn't be as timid working on a 912 as I probably would with a 911 whichever series your looking at. An obvious saving in maintenance if you can have a go at stuff yourself. Always plenty of advice on this and other forums before you would tackle anything anyway. Hmmm yes I would have one without doubt ..... Good luck with it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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