7hazi Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 Hey, I am looking at buying a 911, however I am limited by my budget. Basically, I was just wondering if the cheaper, early 911's (I wont go into a specific models as if seems to vary in the price range) you see for sale in the 20 - 25k range are generally decent or basically money pits. I know it seems like a stupid question but I really have no idea so I thought I'd ask some people that should know. I am just trying to figure out if it feasible to look at buying one yet or whether I should put it off until I can afford it... So any information regarding this would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnr356 Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 generally money pits better off saving some extra $$ and buying something decent best to get a pre purchase inspection ,when you find something,before committing or you can find yourself way over your head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 Have you got an idea of what you want. Year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7hazi Posted 24July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 Thanks for the reply's! Unfortunately I am not very familiar with all the differences between different 911 models yet (other then major stuff like exterior trim/engine size/etc). Like I said, I am basing my search more off what I can afford as opposed to what I'd want. However, having said that, the models available at the bottom of the price range are what I have been looking for anyway as I have always been a fan of the of the early 911SC look and even earlier 911S look. Are there any particular year models/etc to avoid or be cautious of? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Morris Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 Thanks for the reply's! Unfortunately I am not very familiar with all the differences between different 911 models yet (other then major stuff like exterior trim/engine size/etc). Like I said, I am basing my search more off what I can afford as opposed to what I'd want. However, having said that, the models available at the bottom of the price range are what I have been looking for anyway as I have always been a fan of the of the early 911SC look and even earlier 911S look. Are there any particular year models/etc to avoid or be cautious of? Thanks again! I'm currently down the same track after absence for 23 yrs - been researching here & other forums and 3 things ring clear 20 - 25k are either donor car material, someones Rat Rod, or of very very dubious background It is all down to personal choice in what you want it for, Daily Driver, W/end special or "TrackMeister" Buy the best car you can afford with an inspection,even then be prepared for all the usual joy's of a 20 - 40 year old car Otherwise read all you can - this is one of the better resources on the net & keep an open mind - but above all use your head, not your heart when buying these beauties - as any woman is capable of, she can, & will break your heart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesnowdrift Posted 24July, 2011 Report Share Posted 24July, 2011 personal preference... mine is a huge money pit, but i knew i would have to spend money on her... lesson i have learnt, don't TRUST supposed highly mentioned so called experts...the aren't all theives but be aware... this forum has been a huge help, guys here are fantastic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-banger Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 As a general rule I reckon a 911 in that price range is likely to need more money put into it. Pre purchase inspections are definitely the go, unless you are very good with cars. Keep looking though, you might be lucky to find that bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted 25July, 2011 Report Share Posted 25July, 2011 I have always been a fan of the of the early 911SC look and even earlier 911S look. Are there any particular year models/etc to avoid or be cautious of? You should be able to pick up a good 911SC for 35 to 40K. As mentioned earlier, get it checked out beforehand no matter what car it is. I can understand the temptation to buy a restoration project but odds are that it ends up more expensive than buying a good car to start with. Better to cop the financial pain early and get that decision out of the way and then just enjoy the car. Glenn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myred911 Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 My experience with my 1980 SC is thus:- Money pit... BUT I could not expect to find a pristine 30-year old car for the price I paid and still deliver that stunning performance. My SC is work in progress while I continue to enjoy her. I have rationalised the repairs as merely the cost of ownership and just add life to my enjoyment. Cam chains and tensioners were replaced, a broken head stud fixed, warm up regulator repaired and new clutch fitted "while I was there". Next on the list is to get some body work done and I would very much like to re-paint it petrol blue - her original colour. Looking at 911s in $-terms is one-dimensional (sure buy the best you can afford) but to do so based on purely monetary issues you may miss out on THAT engagement with the car! We are very lucky to understand these cars, their ruggedness, their foibles and their involvement. So many other cars do not last the distance, do not engage the driver nor attract the same interest as OUR Porsches do. Who gets hot and bothered by an FJ Holden? If I had waited to find a car that suited my budget (what budget ??) I may well have purchased a car that looked A1 but was in fact dressed up by a clever seller seeking to get out of the car before it cost him too much or I would still be looking. Even buying a A1 car has its pitfalls. Reams of invoices and service documents in themselves mean little on a 30+ year old car - but merely give a prospective buyer confidence that the car has been well maintained. Who cares that the brake pads were replaced in 1998? It is no guarantee that things will not break. After a day couped up in the office, taking the SC out for a run is pure tonic... am off to Mallala this Friday to share a few laps with the Porsche Club SA fellas. That is all... rEd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7hazi Posted 26July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 REALLY appreciate all the comments and advice!! Thanks! Seeings at this price range the word 'money pit' is being thrown around a bit would anyone be able to share roughly what kind of money is involved with such a car? (example - how much does it generally cost to rebuild an engine for a 911/restore a gear box/other things that can/do go wrong?). At the moment I own a '94 Mazda MX5 (NA8) and I'd say I have spent probably 1.5-2x the value of the car just on repairs/restoration/modification. So I am quite familiar with the expenses involved in 'restoring' and maintaining an old Japanese car... I am just under the assumption that the same problems would cost a lot more when applied to an old Porsche. I am not really deterred when faced with the prospects of having a car that needs a bit of work as I am all too familiar with cars like this. Also, I have a feeling I will get a negative reaction to this... BUT - How do people feel about importing 911's from Japan? I have been having a look on importing websites like Jspec and they seem to be better priced then what you can find here (although RHD). They also say that they are able to arrange inspections with agents in Japan before purchasing. I just thought this might be a feasible option as the models I am looking at are earlier than 1988 so therefore importing is made slightly cheaper and easier. Once again, I am not really phased about owning a personal import as my MX5 is also a person import (yes... I see the relationship between my car being an import and a money pit - my car has been in the country for several years before ownership however and seemed to be fine before I bought it ). Any more advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for the help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 Everyone will have an opinion on imported cars. I personaly dont care if its an Australian deivered car or not. If like me you just want a Porsche 911, get the best one you can for the money you have. The down side of an import is the fact you dont get to look at it yourself. I think you can find something in Australia for around $35000 that will be a nice car, if you really want a porsche 911. Who cares where it came from originaly, as long as its in good condition. Leave all that detail to those who give a damn and have the money to care. Not all Porsche owners have or want a perfect original Australian delivered car, many of us just want a porsche. If you like to hot it up and work on it yourself, then a cheaper imported car is perfect. Remember we have plenty of these cars in Australia, so you dont need to run the risk of importing one yourself. The term money pit is fair, but needs to be kept in perspective. Plenty of people spend $70/80k on hsv holdens that after one year are worth half of that. My point is you can loose money on both spending and the loss of value. Avoid something that needs complete engine or gearbox resto as its the factory porsche parts that are expensive. You can spend $20000 on an engine rebuild and $10000 on a gearbox rebuild or more, depending on whats needed. Dont let this put you off, Porsche build the best cars in the world and reliability is a Porsche tradition. These cars are 25/30 years old, so expect to have some issues, its part of the fun. Learn to do as much work on the car as you can, thats the most fun. This is just my opinion, others will have theirs. Good luck young 911 fan. Let us know how it goes. Keep it as a weekender and have a cheap daily driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myred911 Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 Well said VAS, All early 911s (need to qualify what an early 911 is) have already depreciated and re-sale values have been heading north for a while as scarcity and inflation drives the market. Just look at those the replicas! Real RSs are too expensive so I will make my own! Even if an engine re-build cost $12k+, that engine will still be good for years to come, just needing regular use and servicing. These are well built motors and we can enjoy them with confidence 30 years later. Maybe those who have imported a car can start a new thread. I have not been down the personal import path but would love to buy a good SC or 3.2 in the UK and do "The Tour de Europe" before bringing her home. I can just dream... rEd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterP Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 Hi, For what its worth, I agree totally with Vas and rEd......I bought my 78SC about 5 or so months ago, and here's how it goes. You drive the thing and think its the Bees Knees, then you start the process of getting it in shape, and bit by bit, each time you drive it, it gets better and better. Sure I've spent money on it, but I knew that going in; but I wanted and have always wanted to own a Porsche, and god, its worth every cent. My wife can't understand why I drive in winter with the heater full on, and the window half down......just love that sound !! This one I hope will be the first of many, but i'll try and keep this one anyway. Find what you can afford, ask many questions,and prepare for the journey.......if you want cheap, faultless and bland, a corolla is probably a better bet Good luck, and can't wait to hear how you go. cheers Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f3nr15 Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 How do people feel about importing 911's from Japan? I have been having a look on importing websites like Jspec and they seem to be better priced then what you can find here (although RHD). They also say that they are able to arrange inspections with agents in Japan before purchasing. I just thought this might be a feasible option as the models I am looking at are earlier than 1988 so therefore importing is made slightly cheaper and easier. I bought my first 911 ~ 5 years ago, after having owned a string of Japanese imports, including FTOs, a 180SX, Turbo Starlet, Supra TT, and a WRX. Paid $28K for a locally delivered 1976 model. Didn't organise a PPI. Dropped the car of to Bob Whyms Auto for a service - it was leaking a bit of oil, and the gearbox was crunching. It required - complete engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, electrical overhaul, fuelling system refresh. Picked it up 9 months later. Paid $30K to Bob Whyms for his work. I love the car. It is quirky and cool and a blast to drive, and suits my personality to a T. However, the straight line performance isn't anywhere near the highly spec'd Jap imports that I have owned, although this is irrelevant to me (I must be getting old!). My strong advice to you: 1. Don't buy a 911 until you have driven (many of) them, and know exactly what you want - a 2.7L middie, 3.0L SC, or 3.2L Carrera - and what to expect of their performance. 2. Don't buy a 911 from Japan because it's easy to do over the internet - buy a local example that has an extensive service history, that is owned by an enthusiast, and that you can physically inspect/test-drive and organise a PPI on through a well respected specialist. 3. Don't buy a 911 that is cheap - buy the most expensive and well maintained model that you can afford, bec you will end up paying the same and more in the long run. I can think of at least 3 examples of gentlemen in your situation exactly, who lucked out when importing this vintage of 911 from Japan in the last few years. Each of those cars ended up being resold on eBay for practically nothing. Caveat: Buy the right car, and it will probably change your driving preferences and perception forever, in a good way! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnr356 Posted 26July, 2011 Report Share Posted 26July, 2011 sound advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7hazi Posted 27July, 2011 Author Report Share Posted 27July, 2011 Thanks again for all the help - seems like a great community over here in the Porsche world! Unfortunately it looks like my plans might need to wait a bit longer . Long story short, noticed my MX5 acting a bit funny lately and letting out a bit of smoke... Smoke smelt suspiciously like burnt oil so I suspected the piston rings might be getting a bit worn... What would you know, I went to my local MX5 specialist and it turns out I was right! It's time for an engine rebuild! So I guess I'll have to put the Porsche plans off for a bit - I suppose this will give me more time to save up for a more decent 911 however (I have been reading on other forums about the potential horrors of cheaper 911's also) as I have kind of been turned off the 'bargains' out there. Once again, thanks! Surely I'll be back here soon enough with pics of my newly purchased Porsche! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myred911 Posted 28July, 2011 Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 Hi there Hazi, Good luck, hope you get to enjoy a 911 soon. Don't wait too long... The term "Money Pit probalbly needs some perspective. These cars are well engineered and there has been a continual improvement process over the years so that these cars just got better and better. Porsche parts are expensive because they are well made and designed to deliver the performance and longevity we expect from our babies. Cheers rEd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vas930 Posted 28July, 2011 Report Share Posted 28July, 2011 Thats a shame 7hazi. To many people get turned off by "potential horror" stories. The bad stories are often the only ones reported. I know of a few good stories about cheap 911s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.