Buying first Porsche

[Guest]

Hi all,

I wonder if you can help me please, i am starting to look at a few 911 3.2's in view of purchasing my first porsche. I recently viewed a 1985 3.2 Targa at a local Independant Specialist, the car had 72000 miles on the clock and was priced approx. £12000. I noticed that there was signs of corrosion bubbleing under the paint around the wheelarches and headlights. I would like to know if this is a common problem and to expect it whilst viewing other cars or this was just a poorly cared for example ? If it is a common problem what is the best way to tackle it ? I also noticed the car didn't have a rear spoiler but was fitted with the Sport equipment. Would the rear spoiler have been removed or were thay optional ?

Many Thanks For Any Assistance You Can Give Me

Matt.

 

[Guest]

My few penneth worth.

Neither my 1980 SC, my 1985 3.2 nor my present 1987 3.2 had/have rust.

I have regularly washed the cars, removed mud etc. from the wheel arches, and generally looked after them as best I can.

Luck ? Maybe.

 

[Guest]

Hi Mathew, 18 year-old cars can have seen a lot of action on the streets, even though the example you write of has a relatively low mileage.
These are common areas for rust. It's not in the worst places on the wings. Worse being the top areas close to the windscreen.
A good bodyshop can sand/bead blast the rust back to good bare metal, fill the area and repaint.
Can you tell if it's been painted before? A badly painted car will potentially bubble up in different areas over a period of time.
You could buy one with no visible rust and find bubbling appears in 6 months, because it has been poorly prep'd before painting.
It's a minefield. I'd recommend having the one you think you'd like to buy taken to an another independant and pay for an inspection.
Whatever you buy, you may need to budget for bodywork repairs too, unless you can see in the service history bills that it's had a bare-metal respray or was at least repainted by a reputable bodyshop.

HTH
Malcolm

 

[Guest]

I have recently bought a 1986 carrera with the same problems. I purchased a pair of wings to solve my problem only to find the inner wings were gone as well the joys of old cars.

 

[Guest]

I think that you can do better.

My recoolection is that if it had Sport Equipment, it should have the rear spoiler.

Do you really want a Targa?

Spizz

 

[Guest]

I meant to say too, that a real Sport model will have two gas rams (as well as sports seats and stiffer suspension) on the engine lid to support the extra weight of the whale-tail . I believe all Sport models had a whale-tail, but non-sport could be ordered with one as an option and of course people added them during the car's life.
Whatever way, if you have a whail-tail or tea-tray turbo spoiler, you should also have the front rubber lip spoiler too, as this evens up the aerodynamics of the car at high-speed.
If you look at the owner's manual, you can tell by the options list if you have a real sport model, as long as you can decipher the codes on the label. The same label is also in the boot, attached to the top of the petrol tank.

HTH
Malcolm

 

[Guest]

Matt

I was advised to buy an '86 or later car (and did so).

Why? Better corrosion protection, stronger G50 gearbox too. For a couple of grand more than your £12k budget you could get a sound car (a coupe, preferably - less rot-prone than targa) and ultimately save money.

There is a good article on used 3.2's in the June 2003 issue of 'GT Purely Porsche' (back issues - 01732 748084).

Good luck!

Sideways

 

[Helen Goff]

whats this sideways sidley writing a serious post?? i must have the wrong guy???

 

[Guest]

Thinking laterally, dear chap.

Sidewalls

 

[Guest]

Sorry - m'lady.

Sidewards

 

[Guest]

Hi Matt

I recently bought my first Porsche - a 1988 3.2 Targa with 64k on the clock, privately and for £12.5k.

I too was advised against a Targa, but I was also told from other sources that it is simply a case of a bad one leaks badly and a good one dribbles at worst. I went for it and mine dribbles slightly, but that's OK with me and at least I can get the roof off in the summer.

I did a lot of homework, I bought a buying guide and I had the car inspected and I seem to have bought a really good one.

My advice would be to do the same - take your time, use your head and you'll do well.

As far as the rust goes, mine has none and unless you suspect that a car has simply been tarted up for selling, I would suggest that you go for the cleanest car you can find as it demonstrates that it has been well cared for.

Also, check what the spec should be on the car before you buy it - originality and proof of history will pay dividends when you come to sell.

Good luck!

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Matthew911

Hi all,

I wonder if you can help me please, i am starting to look at a few 911 3.2's in view of purchasing my first porsche.
Matt.

Matt you use to be able to buy from PCGB, TEL:01189-303666, the equivalent of a Birth Certificate which would give you the history of your car ie Original Spec, any accident damage or parts required for the car etc etc. Just another source of info which may help when you find that car. Good luck it's an exciting venture buying your first Porsche [] Robert