911 virgin

[Guest]

Hi folks.

I'd like to buy a 911, and it's most likely to be an SC. I've wanted one for a long time now, and i think it's financially possible for me to realise my dream. I've been reading up as much as i can recently, and am lucky enough to live 2 miles from Autofarm, who i intend to get to inspect any car i'm interested in. My question regards modified cars. I see some advertised with different bumpers, different wheels etc. Some of these cars can look really good, but should they be avoided? For example, i looked at an SC that had been mildly modded to look like a 3.2 Carrera, which seems to me to be ok, cos it's not much of a change. Making an 2.7 look like a 964 may be going too far though. How do such mods affect values? Do you pay more for a standard car, or more for something non-standard?

Regards

Marge

 

[912UK]

well all I know there is a nice red 911SC for sale in the forsale section It's Gavin J's mates who looks after the 912 section..

 

[dugsud]

ORIGINAL: marge602

For example, i looked at an SC that had been mildly modded to look like a 3.2 Carrera, which seems to me to be ok, cos it's not much of a change. Making an 2.7 look like a 964 may be going too far though. How do such mods affect values?
Marge

As you have probably noticed it's more common now for the opposite to happen now eg: a 964 or 3.2 backdated to look like a pre 73....tipically a 2.7RS.

It seems to be much more acceptable than updating. Whichever car you buy the most important thing to look for in a pre 89 car is RUST!! Forget what you read about galvanized bodies etc, they still rust....big time!!

(Not mine by the way [])

 

[bones]

A modified car is worth what anyone is willing to pay for it. You may find that some of the modified cars are the worst of the worst, a project that ran out of cash for instance, the polish and spoilers covering up the rust and crud but on the other hand you might find a car that has had thousands spent on it with bills to prove. Whatever you choose buy a car of this age on condition with a sheaf of bills to back up any claims of work done. Almost all SCs and earlier have rust somewhere on them so get an expert to find it for you.

 

[sbloxxy]

I wouldn't be put off by a tastefully modified car but I think condition is everything. There are certainly quite a few tarted up cars around and I've seen a decent handful where the money was obviously spent on gilding the lilly rather than on essential maintainence.
That said, in my opinion, a sensitively modified car shouldn't be worth any less that a standard one.

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys. The rust in that picture is horrendous! Is that the dreaded kidney bowl? Would you say that any rust has to be dealt with by a specialist, or could it be a DIY job? Presumably finding new panels can be a challenge?

Marge

 

[bones]

If you have never done one before leave it to an experienced restorer. Panels are still available at a price.

 

[Alan Woods]

How do you mildly modify an SC to look like a 3.2 apart from

 

[dugsud]

Plus the spotlights of course []

 

[Guest]

Hello,
If an SC is what you have dreamed of (as I did) then stick to it, try to get one as near as was when it left the factory you wont regret it.
There are plenty to choose from so it's not like you are trying to find a do'do and I would suggest that looking can be very enjoyable especially when you find the one.
If its cheep then it's cheep for a reason so be very careful, when you find one get an expert to check it out for you before you buy.
The club shop has buyers guides and the 911 and Porsche mag did a very good buyers guide for the 911SC so call them up for a copy.
Good luck
John

 

[Alan Woods]

Plus the spotlights of course

You know what, I actually never knew that (and we used to own an SC)[]

Hello,
If an SC is what you have dreamed of (as I did) then stick to it, try to get one as near as was when it left the factory you wont regret it.
There are plenty to choose from so it's not like you are trying to find a do'do and I would suggest that looking can be very enjoyable especially when you find the one.
If its cheep then it's cheep for a reason so be very careful, when you find one get an expert to check it out for you before you buy.
The club shop has buyers guides and the 911 and Porsche mag did a very good buyers guide for the 911SC so call them up for a copy.
Good luck
John

Excellent advise from John there!

 

[Guest]

Thanks again. To Alan; that's exactly how it was! Carrera badge on the back, spotlights on the front, and i recall it had a different rubber lip to its (tea-tray? whale-tail?) spoiler, which looked more like the Turbos one. It also had a private plate with 911 on it, so i couldn't tell how old it was til i asked. Gonna furnish myself with a good buyers guide next. Must be time for another visit to Autofarm...

Marge

PS. Anyone know how many mpg i can expect?

 

[dugsud]

ORIGINAL: marge602

PS. Anyone know how many mpg i can expect?

I get 25-28mpg on a run which is all I ever do...not sure about urban driving.

 

[bones]

Dugsud obviously has a light right foot. I get 25mpg at steady motorway speeds, 18-20 mpg round twon and 15mpg or less when I cane it.

 

[Guest]

I agree with Dug, mine does the same and I have 113,000 on the clock!
Not bad for a 3ltr built in 1983.
As Dug I only use the car for pleasure on the open roads and I do use the power.
Cheers
John

 

[bones]

The later cars are definitley more economical.

 

[dugsud]

I think that's true Bones, I've spoken to quite a few people about this and the post 80 cars seem to do a couple or three MPG more! We took ours through Germany (probably 90ish on most Autobahns) then caned her round the Ring and still averaged 27mph []

What changed in 1980?

 

[bones]

that's remarkable, mines a sporto too so it is a little bit thirstier.

 

[bruceb]

ORIGINAL: dugsud

I think that's true Bones, I've spoken to quite a few people about this and the post 80 cars seem to do a couple or three MPG more! We took ours through Germany (probably 90ish on most Autobahns) then caned her round the Ring and still averaged 27mph []

What changed in 1980?

compression ratio increased and this helps overall engine efficiency, hess less mpg and more hp up from 180 to 204.

Prices of decent SC's seem to be at a fair discount to equivalent 3.2 carreras, seems a bit harsh really as there's a teeny weeny performance difference.

The red one for sale on here at just over 10k looks a good buy as long as it checks out, worth a look IMO.

 

[Porker993]

This month's total 911 does an excellent SC versus 3.2 comparison. The SC comes out best, for the following reasons.

1. Lower price (obviously)
2. Lighter (SCs tend to have fewer options than later 3.2s e.g. aircon, spoiler) hence just as quick sub 100 mph.
3. Engines less prone to problems with heads, barrels etc - more bullet proof (providing later tensioners have been fitted) and go on for longer. 200,000 without rebuild not unusual.

Certainly made me reconsider an SC for the missus - particularly a chrome one, although that would tend to be pre-1980 180 PS model.