80s 911 targe purchase advice
Discussion
Evening,looking at buying into my first Porsche,love this era.Seen in Classic Cars for sale(ref-DIY1023137) a 1986 red restored example with a g50 gbox,stacks of paperwork.Wandered what Porsche gremlins I should look for.And maybe would it be a bit of an investment.Thanks for any replies
Rust, rust and a bit more rust. Generally the G50 is more hardy than the 915 gearbox. If you can find a rust-free one you've pretty much won the battle. Check the kidney bowls, B-pillars, sills, etc. A couple of visible bubbles in the door shuts means it will need major surgery. It might look like a little scab, but the rot will have set in. Not that it can't be fixed, but it won't be cheap.
G50 3.2s are desirable.
But needs to be priced correctly - Targas are much less popular than Coupes, mileage is factor - over 100k and the price curve drops, and yes, rust is a big issue. Originality, colour combo, history, condition etc all have an impact on prices.
Nice cars start at £40k but the very best can be a lot more. But beware - lots of costly rubbish around chasing silly money
But needs to be priced correctly - Targas are much less popular than Coupes, mileage is factor - over 100k and the price curve drops, and yes, rust is a big issue. Originality, colour combo, history, condition etc all have an impact on prices.
Nice cars start at £40k but the very best can be a lot more. But beware - lots of costly rubbish around chasing silly money
Get yourself a buyers guide, the Adrian Crawford one is good. Go look at a good number, no two are the same.
Rust is the expensive killer, and it's not always possible to find it all, one thing that is probably guaranteed though, if is not rusty now, one day it will be unless it's already been well sorted. As said above, any bubble in the wrong places only come one way, it's not surface etc it has come from the inside. The targas can hide some nasty rust around the roll over bar.
If you don't know what you are looking at, get it inspected, probably get it inspected anyway.
Mechanically these cars are pretty strong, but they are 30 years old so you are going to be replacing something most years, but they are not too bad to run, and many things aren't that expensive, although clutch, gearbox, suspension aren't cheap, but then you will only do them once.
You will hear people talking about they all need a top end at 100K which isn't necessarily true. They do have a habit of breaking head studs though, and then the top will need doing at around £3-£4K.
But as a 30 year old car, you can just jump in and use and use properly. There is no need to treat with kid gloves, can't be many cars of that age that still be used properly. They are extremely reliable.
As for investment, who knows. Buy something you can use and enjoy, it's a car and needs to be driven. Buy for reasonable money and you shouldn't loose anything, or not much at least. I don't think they will really go back to where they used to be, but I can't see them going up too much more either, but could be completely wrong.
Don't buy an expensive low mileage garage queen, the value is in it not being used and therefore utterly pointless.
Rust is the expensive killer, and it's not always possible to find it all, one thing that is probably guaranteed though, if is not rusty now, one day it will be unless it's already been well sorted. As said above, any bubble in the wrong places only come one way, it's not surface etc it has come from the inside. The targas can hide some nasty rust around the roll over bar.
If you don't know what you are looking at, get it inspected, probably get it inspected anyway.
Mechanically these cars are pretty strong, but they are 30 years old so you are going to be replacing something most years, but they are not too bad to run, and many things aren't that expensive, although clutch, gearbox, suspension aren't cheap, but then you will only do them once.
You will hear people talking about they all need a top end at 100K which isn't necessarily true. They do have a habit of breaking head studs though, and then the top will need doing at around £3-£4K.
But as a 30 year old car, you can just jump in and use and use properly. There is no need to treat with kid gloves, can't be many cars of that age that still be used properly. They are extremely reliable.
As for investment, who knows. Buy something you can use and enjoy, it's a car and needs to be driven. Buy for reasonable money and you shouldn't loose anything, or not much at least. I don't think they will really go back to where they used to be, but I can't see them going up too much more either, but could be completely wrong.
Don't buy an expensive low mileage garage queen, the value is in it not being used and therefore utterly pointless.
It comes down to what you start with and what you end up spending. It's quite hard to buy well. And if you end up spending on the substantial things, you can spend a lot of money.
So for example, I bought an 81 SS two summers ago with a set of 'known' issues at a good price was good and nothing has come to light that is a surprise.
But once I have had the kidney bowls and associated rust done both sides, a gearbox refresh, new shocks and a top end rebuild (hehehe), it will probably just about be worth about what the total cost has been (plus or minus some man-maths). It's a project and I have other stuff to drive as well so it should be fine.
But if you bought a 911 at a proper price and had to do that lot, you'd have your head in your hands.
Do loads of reading on the subject and whatever you do, get a proper PPI done from someone with a good reputation and preferrably a personal recommendation (not all 911 inspections are equal).
HTH
Bert
So for example, I bought an 81 SS two summers ago with a set of 'known' issues at a good price was good and nothing has come to light that is a surprise.
But once I have had the kidney bowls and associated rust done both sides, a gearbox refresh, new shocks and a top end rebuild (hehehe), it will probably just about be worth about what the total cost has been (plus or minus some man-maths). It's a project and I have other stuff to drive as well so it should be fine.
But if you bought a 911 at a proper price and had to do that lot, you'd have your head in your hands.
Do loads of reading on the subject and whatever you do, get a proper PPI done from someone with a good reputation and preferrably a personal recommendation (not all 911 inspections are equal).
HTH
Bert
Just looked at the ad. It's a top price and described as a top car. If it is what it says it is with all the new bits on, checks out under inspection and the price suits your budget could be good. Especially if you drive it and enjoy it 
What's your experience in driving 911s so far? The different generations differ a lot in the driving experience. Make sure it's what you want before you buy. For example I bought a 930 Targa Turbo. It looked the bollix, awesome. But actually it was a dull old boat to drive, not enjoyable at all! Hated the turbo lag, nasty. In comparison I have an 89 nat asp 'hot rod' with about 350 bhp and mosty turbo bits in the brakes and suspension and it's a real hoot. I could have modded the turbo targa to get close. But I would have spent a lot of money and taken it away from being a super duper low mile original car.
The moral of the story is get in there and drive a few.
Bert
What's your experience in driving 911s so far? The different generations differ a lot in the driving experience. Make sure it's what you want before you buy. For example I bought a 930 Targa Turbo. It looked the bollix, awesome. But actually it was a dull old boat to drive, not enjoyable at all! Hated the turbo lag, nasty. In comparison I have an 89 nat asp 'hot rod' with about 350 bhp and mosty turbo bits in the brakes and suspension and it's a real hoot. I could have modded the turbo targa to get close. But I would have spent a lot of money and taken it away from being a super duper low mile original car.
The moral of the story is get in there and drive a few.
Bert
g7jhp said:
This one?
Find out who did the work and who's been servicing it and ask them about the car.
Personally I wouldn't pay £45k for a targa, better to get a higher mileage coupe.
Gone up £5k since this morning and different photos!Find out who did the work and who's been servicing it and ask them about the car.
Personally I wouldn't pay £45k for a targa, better to get a higher mileage coupe.
Same car and description, different website, price and pics.
Edited by supersport on Wednesday 17th August 23:18
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