911 SC, talk me out of it..
911 SC, talk me out of it..
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Discussion

Takeflight

Original Poster:

41 posts

225 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Just come across this whilst browsing ebay.

It looks so very tempting; I've always liked these. However, seems cheap at the price?

Plus I really shouldn't..

heebeegeetee

30,124 posts

277 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Stap me, that is an interesting car at an interesting price, and an interesting ad too given the feedback level and the seemingly accurate ad.

I wish I had more money/space/time. smile

Crimp a Length!

5,697 posts

252 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
As a driver i would say its great value.
I owned an SC 9 years ago same colour same wheels (better with fuch wheels)
They are nice little cars, although as he says a new B Post is cheap (part price) to have one replaced is well over £1000/side and i would say that if the B Posts are shot the inner sill (under outer sill cover) will be shot too, so if you wanted to make mint £1000's

You could leave alone and just thrash about in it for a couple of yrs and then sell same money (cheap motoring in my book)
The 3 litre lump is a revvy unit and great fun past 4k rpm.
Check it has had the Hydraulic Chain tensioners added as an upgrade, most SC's have.

Good luck fella

www.impactbumpers.com

bridey0

2,961 posts

214 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Loads of cheap fun there

bridey0

2,961 posts

214 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all


Edited by bridey0 on Sunday 13th May 19:19

bridey0

2,961 posts

214 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
But maybe not original

Chris71

21,549 posts

271 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Very tempting. There's a reasonable level of detail in the ad, which is encouraging - it suggests the owner knows what he's talking about.

If you were seriously interested it might be worth seeing if you could arrange a trip to a local Porsche specialist for a quick inspection. If it's sound then it seems like a lot of car for the cost of a two year old Fiesta.

Catpuddle

114 posts

199 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Superficial rust spots like that on an old 911 will hide major structural horrors beneath, the kidney bowls will be shot, you'll be lucky if the torsion bar tubes and the floor pan are sound. Avoid.

xftdr

1,069 posts

233 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Catpuddle said:
Superficial rust spots like that on an old 911 MAY hide major structural horrors beneath, the kidney bowls MAY be shot, you'll be lucky if the torsion bar tubes and the floor pan are sound.
Alternatively, like my old SC, it was some minor bubbling that was easily and cheaply cured. You can't tell this type of stuff from PH photos. A proper inspection is worth it weight in gold; Catpuddle may be right but might also be scare mongering unnecessarily. I happen to think the car looks good value and is worth an inspection.

rubystone

11,254 posts

288 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
xftdr said:
Catpuddle said:
Superficial rust spots like that on an old 911 MAY hide major structural horrors beneath, the kidney bowls MAY be shot, you'll be lucky if the torsion bar tubes and the floor pan are sound.
Alternatively, like my old SC, it was some minor bubbling that was easily and cheaply cured. You can't tell this type of stuff from PH photos. A proper inspection is worth it weight in gold; Catpuddle may be right but might also be scare mongering unnecessarily. I happen to think the car looks good value and is worth an inspection.
I would wager that your spots would've been in other areas. This car exhibits all the signs of structural problems. Kidneybowls, inner sils, scuttle....

As someone else said, smoke it around for. A couple of years and flog it on. Also get shot of those wheels. But do get an inspection if you are serious...

Takeflight

Original Poster:

41 posts

225 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Thanks for the input on serious potential rust issues - what are the giveaway signs?

I'm going to have a look later in the week. I'd see the car as a couple of years fun rather than a lifelong keeper, but I'm not interested if its going to give me rust nightmares!

Al W

591 posts

256 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Most 30 year old cars are likely to have some rust, including my own SC.
However, how many 30 year old cars would take me to Spa, spend the next day on track and still get me home in time for last orders? it happily did 130 miles round Goodwood a week ago too

It amuses me that some on here have probably lost more in a couple of years depreciation on a modern Porsche than my car cost outright, yet are quick to brand an older 911 as a money pit.

If you keep your eyes open, have it inspected and accept you're likely to pay some refurb costs (rather than depreciation), an SC could give you a lot of fun for a modest outlay

Edited by Al W on Monday 14th May 21:07

graemel

7,225 posts

246 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Al W said:
Most 30 year old cars are likely to have some rust, including my own SC.
However, how many 30 year old cars would take me to Spa, spend the next day on track and still get me home in time for last orders? it happily did 130 miles round Goodwood a week ago too

It amuses me that some on here have probably lost more in a couple of years depreciation on a modern Porsche than my car cost outright, yet are quick to brand an older 911 as a money pit.

If you keep your eyes open, have it inspected and accept you're likely to pay some refurb costs (rather than depreciation), an SC could give you a lot of fun for a modest outlay

Edited by Al W on Monday 14th May 21:07
Agreed with what Al W says. At face value if it all stacks up it looks a good buy for the money.

BillyB

1,436 posts

287 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Given the cost of hidden rust repairs, and given what you can see on this car is 99% certain to be just the tip of the iceberg, I am amazed that so many of you are recommending it, even at £8750. Drive it for two years, leave the rust, leave the (just wrong) wheels and you'll have a rust- bucket that no one wants to buy at any money IMO, rather than a cheap smoker you just off-load having lost a few hundred quid on depreciation.

If the owner had stripped the offending rust areas back showing the likely extent of the rust, it would be advertised as a "project" with precious little interest, I'd have thought.

Chris71

21,549 posts

271 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
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Paddy_N_Murphy said:
irked

Goddamnitwhyyouhadtogoandshowmethat !

I had talked myself out of 80's 911, in favour of a Chimera !

but now.............
Very different cars.

I say this as a TVR owner, but if you're having to think about it you probably want the Porsche. They're much better thought out as normal transport, so unless the noise and theatre of the Chim has a profound effect on you it's probably better to go with the 911.

Rakoosh

347 posts

199 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
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Do it - its not a lot of money and if you decide its not for you - you should be able to recover it I would assume.

I had a '79 911 SC and that car had the best steering until I got a lotus... in fact I would love to drive an old 911 to compare the two to see if the lotus is indeed better...

It doesn't have the power it deserves though so if you're used to quick cars you might find it a little sluggish.

rubystone

11,254 posts

288 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
quotequote all
BillyB said:
Given the cost of hidden rust repairs, and given what you can see on this car is 99% certain to be just the tip of the iceberg, I am amazed that so many of you are recommending it, even at £8750. Drive it for two years, leave the rust, leave the (just wrong) wheels and you'll have a rust- bucket that no one wants to buy at any money IMO, rather than a cheap smoker you just off-load having lost a few hundred quid on depreciation.

If the owner had stripped the offending rust areas back showing the likely extent of the rust, it would be advertised as a "project" with precious little interest, I'd have thought.
Thing is, take a look underneath and if it isn't full of holes in the usual places.... "if"...then you could get away with running it for a couple of years and before offloading...sorry...selling it, treat it to some plod 'n paint.

But I am on your side - why is this guy flogging it so cheaply if it only has a few spots of corrosion?...




e30m3Mark

17,478 posts

202 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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Excuse the thread bump but am going to look at this later and wondered what peoples thoughts were? I love the look but a 911 is an itch I am yet to scratch, so am nervous about landing myself a pup. It just strikes me that an 80's SC is most likely the cheapest way into an air-cooled 911.

BertBert

21,221 posts

240 months

Thursday 14th September 2017
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It's impossible to say without getting it mega inspected.

If it's rusty it's rusty which it will be. If it's fall apart rusty then you can't even run it until it if terminal. If it's just rusty and you don't mind, then that's OK.

Same with the rest really. If the shocks and bushes are shot and it drives like a heavy old barge, do you mind or will you want to refresh the suspension?

And so on, there are many expensive things that might be needed and likely to be in a cheap 911!

If you see it love it and it drives brilliantly, then take a punt. But in my view there are so many things that could be wrong, you may get to know the true meaning of money-pit!