To buy or not to buy,

[les richards]

Had a look (and drive) of a RHD 1981 SC Coupe today. Current owner has had the car for the last 9 or so years and is selling to finance a house in France. His cousin works in his father's garage and intended to have the car himself but decided it would not get the use it deserved but reckoned it went very well when he collected it from Clavering in Essex and took it back to Suffolk.

Circa 121K miles with loads of paperwork (wont say history as didn't have too much time to scrutinise properly). Apparently not used for the last 12 months or so (they'd gone to France) the car was MOT'd 3 weeks ago, failed on fog lights and bulbs, and now passed. Also has a sunroof.

Interior retrimmed in leather; has had a respray during the current owner's tenure; has 4 excellent Michelins; new heat exchangers about 2 years old; hydraulic tensioner mod; got to see underneath using the garage's pit and all looked OK, particularly around the front torsion bar mounts; slight oil leak from engine. Apparently the clutch has been done in the not too distant past.

Problems: rev counter not working; heater motor reluctant to run and apparently smokes!; small rust bubbles under headlights; some rust around striker plate on driver's side; appeared top be some sort of corrosion on offside inner wing under carpeting near what looked like a sound deadening pad; slight wheel wobble, believed to be due to needing either new discs or skimming the existing ones.

It appeared to drive OK given I've not driven that many and it was slashing down. Gearbox if used sympathetically seemed OK too. Heating and ventilation "" naff.

Generally it was very presentable, my concern is the obvious rust signs. The guy selling on behalf of his cousin has done loads of work on 911s and 944s for the locals and thinks they are a doddle to repair"¦"¦..!

Price was £10K as it stood (i.e., with the faults as above + those still to be found); no warranty. For what it's worth, this garage comes highly recommended by my contact but I guess there's always a first time to sell a duff one.

How does this sound to you SC owners? Is it worth pursuing and having inspected or do I stick with my 944 (which I would need to sell)?

Les Richards
944 Lux
5152 MU

 

[Guest]

This is only my opinion Les but it sounds about £3K too dear. For me, the interior would be preferable in original leather with some patina than retrimmed by aftermarket. The corrosion sounds serious to me too, you are definitely only seeing the tip of the iceberg. And an oil leak too...

Things that might add some value would be colour - is it metallic? Does it have Fuchs? If yes what size? Tensioner mod is a good thing. Is the sunroof factory fitted? Is the car naked or spoilered?

Still, I would think there are more original cars out there in better condition for less money.

 

[bones]

Sounds like a money pit, have a look around and be patient the good SCs are always going to be slow to come on the market now.

 

[Martin Perry]

I'd say be cautions, particularly about the rust on the B pillar behind the striker plate. I've been spared this so far, but looking at other posts this is often the sign of much worse below & behind. This is also a difficult area to work on bodywork wise.

I've had some experience of cars which have been laid up for a while, although not 911s. Nevertheless, I'm sure the same principle applies, namely that cars like to be used rather than not and 12 months of being stood still may well have produced lots of issues which you'll only pick up on once you start to drive the thing regularly.

If you really like the car, consider getting an inspection done by Peter Morgan or another specialist. At least you'll have a good idea what you're in for.

 

[engleflick]

Hi Les,

I would agree with John a car in that sort of condition should be somewhere in the region of £7000 - £8000.

Okay it depends how bad the rust is as to how soon it needs doing but the cost will be expensive - I know because I have to get my front wings and the area under the windscreen done when funds allow: but I new this when I bought it, so it wasn't a shock - well not too bigger one! Also the heater motor is about £60 and really isn't difficult to replace. (www.type-911.co.uk - where I got mine from)

Have a look in the classified adverts in 911 Porsche World or in Porsche Post, there are a number of SC's in there for sub £10,000, go and check out a few more to compare to the one you have seen, you may well decide that the one you have seen is the best of the bunch - even with the faults you list.

Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Cheers Dan.

 

[les richards]

Thanks guys, I think you've made my mind up.

It did have Fuchs, not sure of size. Sunroof looked like a factory fit and worked well. Colour was a light blue but not sure if metallic. Had whale-tail spoiler.

Been thinking about the 12-month or so of not being used and the fact there was no mention of a service since "" not to say there hadn't been one, but no mention which I would have made a selling point had it been mine.

Factoring in a possible major service, rust repairs, discs sort out, rev counter not working and a pre-purchase inspection, which may have added a lot more, I'm not so sure this would have been a good buy.

It's at Stradbroke Garage near Eye in Suffolk if anyone is near and wants to take a look.

Thanks again.

 

[sib8292]

I think the body repairs alone wld be c£2k. Then all the other bits and pieces; £10k way over the top; £7k max..

Keep looking in Porsche Post; and come to Brands Hatch festival at end of August, where there may be some better examples to see!

You might be interested in my position as owner of a 944 as well as an SC; I wouldn't use the SC daily as I can the 944, through rain etc. The SC heater/demisting is poor; the 944's isn't. But the SC is more fun in the dry and its prettier...

 

[engleflick]

Do you use your 944 everyday?

My company car may be going back early next year and I am considering getting a 944 for everday use. (Please don't tell my wife!!!)

Cheers Dan.

 

[Guest]

For what it's worth I've been looking for an SC for months and have looked at quite a few cars, a few were similar to what you describe for around 7k.

 

[sib8292]

ORIGINAL: engleflick

Do you use your 944 everyday?

My company car may be going back early next year and I am considering getting a 944 for everday use. (Please don't tell my wife!!!)

Cheers Dan.

Certainly do; though not on days when its SC weather! 944 coupe is really practical for every day. I bought mine because I'm fed up with heavy depreciation on newish cars, so a good 944 I reckon should depreciate by no more than £700 or so pa; and repairs (don't count servicing because that would still be incurred on newer cars) of £1000 pa (more than I hope to spend but averaging out) still leaves me with depreciation equivalent of "only" £1700 or less. Whereas buy a 2 year old Audi or Merc for say £20k and you'll lose £4k in year one...

Show her this and she'll see it makes sense. Mine did.

 

[engleflick]

Show her this and she'll see it makes sense

Makes sense to me, but the old 'Porsche' name tends to fill her with dread!

When the company car goes I shall be posting again (hopefully looking for a 944) we'll wait and see...[]

 

[Richard Moore]

ORIGINAL: les richards

Problems: rev counter not working; heater motor reluctant to run and apparently smokes!; small rust bubbles under headlights; some rust around striker plate on driver's side; appeared top be some sort of corrosion on offside inner wing under carpeting near what looked like a sound deadening pad; slight wheel wobble, believed to be due to needing either new discs or skimming the existing ones.

Generally it was very presentable, my concern is the obvious rust signs. The guy selling on behalf of his cousin has done loads of work on 911s and 944s for the locals and thinks they are a doddle to repair"¦"¦..!

Sounds a little like parts of mine. The rust around the headlight will be the tip of the iceberg. I'd assume there's lots more below within the wing. It something you can probably live with for quite a while without it getting too vile but I'm presuming the whole wing will come off at some point. It's not exactly an unusual spot for rust. Re:Striker plate. Assuming we're talking about the same area (close to the door shuts) then this will be kidney bowls going. Press down on the the door shut and the "striker plate" and if it's crunchy then assume £2K per side. I know - I've been there <weep>.

Rev Counter - well mine's been intermittently faulty for the last year and c£7K miles

As others have said - I'd look at a lot more. The choice is buy right (cheap) and spend the money on getting the car you want or hold out for a good one and pay a chunk more. I suspect the former is more fun but slightly more risky. The latter approach is not without risk either but a good check by someone who knows what they are looking for is money well spent but not a long term guarantee of bites on the bum.

 

[Bazgillie]

Les
Managed to get B post done on mine for about £800 by getting new sill B post and kidney bowl from Bert Berlyn then removed all old bits myself with a spot weld removing drill.
Then fitted up all new panels including bottom edge of rear wing then got body shop to weld up and spray. Well pleased with result. Front wings are a problem though £400 O/S and £500 N/S of coure mine needs N/S soon. I have had mine for over a year now it is a bit of a love hate relationship but driving it makes up for it. A lot of magazines lately are saying go for the 968 about the same money will buy you a car with the same performance and handling but 10 years newer and it is still a Porsche.
Baz