Need some advice on classic 911s

[26jcd]

Hi there fellow P'hers, I'm in need of some advice about classic 911s i.e. 1970 to around 1988. I am currently selling my car and I want to go for something a bit different, originally i thought about an exige but realised this would be daft as the car I have truly always desired has been a 911 every since my dad had his first 3.2 911 carrera back in 88.

Now I have a limited budget to play with (12-14k) and I am looking for the best 911 i can get for that sort of money; before you say it I know i could buy a 964 with the classic looks and all the mod cons but insurance is a limiting factor (it costs too bloody much)

ideally I would like to go for something that would still bring a smile to my face in the acceleration department but also won't devour the oil reserves in the north sea!!

Also my the car would only be used on special occasions and weekends.

Does anybody have any advice that could help point me in the right direction?

Thanks

P.S. in my profile you will notice that i did work for porsche at one time but i was only dealing with later models (mainly the 996) and never really got the chance to see any classic ones.

[verysideways]

Something useable and fun at that budget that won't cost you a fortune to run and won't lose you much (if any) in depreciation and you're looking at a 3.2 Carrera.

3.0SC is alright, anything earlier isn't going to be galvanised, etc. etc.

Now you just have to figure out if you want a spotless 915 box'd earlier 3.2 (85/86/87) or a slightly less clean but still very very nice and presentable G50 box'd car (87/88/89).

Best advice i can offer is go and have a look at as many as you can before you decide to buy one, and try and get a drive in a decent example of each if you can (i know this can be hard).

Best of luck, and come back and ask us anything you like, we're always happy to help

Edit: if you stick to a coupe with leather in sensible colours (black/white/red/silver/blue with black or linen leather) you'll do just fine.
Something like this:



>> Edited by verysideways on Monday 22 May 22:51

[philelmer]

26jcd said:

ideally I would like to go for something that would still bring a smile to my face in the acceleration department but also won't devour the oil reserves in the north sea!!

Don't worry too much about the oil reserves, I'm on a rig offshore Angola and there's LOADS of oil under the sea here, so there's no longer any need for fuel economy.

[26jcd]

Verysideways, thanks for the advice.

I've actually seen something that has caught my eye while browsing through the PH classifieds (I don't know if it sounds too good to be true). There is a 1988 Carrera Supersport Targa in Carrera White with black leather and a 100k on the clock for £11k. Is this one that could be a bottomless pit for bills?

The Supersport has really taken my fancy because of it's flared arches and turbo wheels, could i expect to pick up a reasonable one within my budget?

Thanks

[james_j]

26jcd said:

I've actually seen something that has caught my eye while browsing through the PH classifieds (I don't know if it sounds too good to be true). There is a 1988 Carrera Supersport Targa in Carrera White with black leather and a 100k on the clock for £11k. Is this one that could be a bottomless pit for bills? The Supersport has really taken my fancy because of it's flared arches and turbo wheels, could i expect to pick up a reasonable one within my budget? Thanks

This sounds good - about the right price, but check it all carefully and I would suggest paying for an inspection (to include a compression / leakdown test). I would say that bodywork is the most important consideration; look for rust in particular around the front of the rear arches and for bubbles around the front wings, around the bumper. Although 911s were galvanised from 1976, they can still rust!

[verysideways]

That targa does look like a nice car, but Targa's are a little less loved than coupes generally so it won't be as easy to sell on when the time comes.
I was thinking more along these lines:
www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/78270.htm

Don't know the car, etc., but sounds like it's had lots of work done and is in a classic black/marble combination.

[ICSD]

verysideways said:

That targa does look like a nice car, but Targa's are a little less loved than coupes generally so it won't be as easy to sell on when the time comes. I was thinking more along these lines: www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/78270.htm Don't know the car, etc., but sounds like it's had lots of work done and is in a classic black/marble combination.

Actually, it's mine VS. Sadly needs to go but I'll be back in the fold ASAP.

[verysideways]

Oh no!
Don't worry, i had to leave briefly but i'm back now...

I know you pamper your car too, so i guess i was right that it's a good 'un

[gfreeman]

ICSD said:

verysideways said: I was thinking more along these lines: www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/78270.htm Don't know the car, etc., but sounds like it's had lots of work done and is in a classic black/marble combination. Actually, it's mine VS. Sadly needs to go but I'll be back in the fold ASAP.

That looks perfect!

[supersport]

Supersports are very exciting, and the targa looks really good in this form. I would have thought that £11K for an 88 is a little on the cheap side.

Here's mine, cost £14K this time last year! Its an 1987 LHD.



Have recently seen a RHD 88 Supersport coupe in light blue that required at least £1K worth of body work go for £18K, so £11K is well cheap.

I would have thought you should be able to get a good example in your price bracket though.

Insurance wise it costs me £325 a year on a classic policy garaged, cat 1 alarm for a 36 year old + wife in York. This policy requires no noclaims either which is good. Got it through RH Specialist Cars www.rhclassicinsurance.co.uk/ and they are amenable to mods, it has been lowered + strut brace and sports stainless exhaust = not extra cost. In fact origionally they had it down as a turbo and this didn't change the cost.

>> Edited by supersport on Tuesday 23 May 12:23

[26jcd]

SS, that looks stunning

That would be my perfect 911 (I could live with LHD). I am just stunned that you picked it up for that price; the colour looks fantastic!

i hope I can find one like that.

How does LHD affect insurance premiums?

What insurance group is the Supersport under?

Thanks

[rav]

Try looking on : www.impactbumpers.com. This is an excellent resource for earlier 911's.
Rav

[ICSD]

verysideways said:

Oh no! Don't worry, i had to leave briefly but i'm back now... I know you pamper your car too, so i guess i was right that it's a good 'un

That's the saddest thing really - gonna struggle to find another one as nice I think. Having said that, the next one I get will be purely a fun car so I'll be tempted to go the 915 route and see what the "True" Porsche box is like - apparently a goodun is a peach.

[Paul Dishman]

james_j said:

26jcd said: I've actually seen something that has caught my eye while browsing through the PH classifieds (I don't know if it sounds too good to be true). There is a 1988 Carrera Supersport Targa in Carrera White with black leather and a 100k on the clock for £11k. Is this one that could be a bottomless pit for bills? The Supersport has really taken my fancy because of it's flared arches and turbo wheels, could i expect to pick up a reasonable one within my budget? Thanks This sounds good - about the right price, but check it all carefully and I would suggest paying for an inspection (to include a compression / leakdown test). I would say that bodywork is the most important consideration; look for rust in particular around the front of the rear arches and for bubbles around the front wings, around the bumper. Although 911s were galvanised from 1976, they can still rust!

Also check for rust at the bottom of the windscreen pillars. My 79 SC went there and it was a £2k job about five years ago

[supersport]

26jcd said:

SS, that looks stunning That would be my perfect 911 (I could live with LHD). I am just stunned that you picked it up for that price; the colour looks fantastic! i hope I can find one like that. How does LHD affect insurance premiums? What insurance group is the Supersport under? Thanks

Cheers! The car is marine blue, one of those Porsche colours that looks completely diffrent dependant on light conditions. In bright sunlight it looks black, but in the garage it is blue.

I think it was relatively cheap as it is not completely original, has had new front wings, but all done properly and the paint job is brilliant. Just had a major service done and I know it is in good nick, so was almost a bargin at that price.

I never had an inspection done when I bought it, I trusted the dealer, I think there was a slight rush of blood to the head. Next time I will get a PPI done.

Don't get me wrong I am well happy with the dealer, but a PPI could reveal any hidden potential nasties, not that it has any. I would recommend it just for peace of mind so that you know exactly what state the car is in.

I don't think LHD makes any difference to insurance, but am sure that some companies will through it in your face. Having just renewed my insurance, you can get quite range of quotes, and some were pure fiction!

All the 911s are in group 20, so it really is a case of "on application" and dependant on a particular insurance companies ideal customer profile, you really do have to shop around.

With the classic insurance, you don't seem to get any discount for PCGB membership, and it isn't necessarily cheaper, so shop around.

I have found that a LHD car is just as easy to live with as RHD, in fact I regularly swap between the two with out any problems. It takes a very short amount of time to get used to.

I would recommend that you get out and look at a good few cars and get a feel for what a good one is all about. ALthough given their age, I don't suppose any two cars will feel the same.

[verysideways]

LHD driving position in air cooled 911's is definitely better
RHD have squiffy offset pedals and slightly offset steering wheel.

[supersport]

verysideways said:

LHD driving position in air cooled 911's is definitely better RHD have squiffy offset pedals and slightly offset steering wheel.

Oh definitely, also if you are tall, I am 6'4", you get more leg room and appear to get more head room too!

[26jcd]

Thanks for the advice vsw and ss; lhd seems now like a perfectly viable prospect.

That colour looks the business though

I've looked about on Autotrader and on here and can't really find my ideal supersport, is there any companies that could source from Germany? This would be a last ditch option otherwise I'll just have to be patient and wait for good one to turn up.

Thanks

[Fugatso]

www.pistonheads.com/sales/70909.htm

Mine is for sale, mechanically perfect and enough left in your budget to make it spot on cosmetically

Just a thought!!

[911addict]

I wouldn't worry about Targas. They are still very desirable. If they sell for a K or two cheaper, then they are also cheaper to buy! Buy what you will enjoy. And never make resale a prime consideration- these cars are for enjoying (and most of us kold on to them for a very long time!) Good luck.