Would you buy this car?

Guest · Oct 12, 2004

Hi - New poster herefrom Australia.

I have found an '84 231 horsepower 3.2 Carrera engine only 80,000 kilometres Guards red / manual Black roof / black trim 16 inch Fuchs wheels. This car is in excellent condition and has passed a pre purchase inspection with flying colours.

The only problem is it was imported from Japan without any books or service history.

I have never owned a Porcshe before, but have done a lot on investigation and service history keeps coming up IMPORTANT

How important and what steps can I take to mitigate the lack of books.

cheers from Oz

Pagey

plhorner · Oct 12, 2004

Pagey,
Have a look at the state of the oil for starters, might given an indication if its had a recent service. Get a cylinder leak-down test done to check the state of the cylinders (however they can give misleading readings if the engines not seen regular thrashings to keep it 'cleared out') Age and condition of the tyres might give some insight as to wether the cars been stood for a while (apparently all tyres are date stamped, well at least in the UK, but I've not found it). Check for oil leaks etc and the condition of the oil lines and exhaust system etc.

A good car normally feels good, but you need to have driven a few to tell the difference!!

HTH

Martin Perry · Oct 12, 2004

Pagey

I'd say there are two issues here: 1. The car's actual condition and how it will perform mehanically during your ownership. 2. The car's status/provenance, or in other words how other people see it.

For 1. if you've had a proper inspection done by someone who knows 911s well then you're most of the way there. You'll know as much as anyone could tell you about the current state of the car. What you won't have is a record of servicing, and/or major work (such as top end rebuild), but then a servie history is no guarantee of a trouble-free ownership mechanically.

For 2. it depends on what you value, i.e. is it purely for the driving and enjoying of the car itslef, or do you like the idea of having a car that's got a known history. Many people do, myself included. It will certainly be harder to sell on if there's no history, and will be worth less than a similar one with all the records.

So I guess it depends on what you're after. If you do go for it, make double sure the mechanical advice and report you've had is informed and experiencd - if you buy a doughnut with no history you're likely to be stuck with it!!

Good luck, and let us know how it's going.

Martin

Guest · Oct 12, 2004

Phil,
The car just had a major service with tapets adjusted. I have seen the service record for that one.

Martin,
The car is for me to enjoy. I have negotiated a price cheaper than standard due to no records.

The car looks and drives like its been well cared for (nothing on paper), and as I said passed the PPI well.

Can a Porsche dealership/mechanic start a new service record, so at least my ownrship is recorded?

cheers from Oz
Pagey

Martin Perry · Oct 12, 2004

Pagey

Not quite sure how ownership and registration works in Oz. In the UK you could try to get a dealer to supply a replacement service book and start to stamp it from then on. However, it might be the case that '84 3.2 service books are no longer available. A new 911s book will specify different service intervals etc. and be irrelevant. Just keep a file with the bills/receipts for work done I suggest.

In the UK, official Porsche centres are not reckoned to be the best places for getting older cars serviced because their mechanics tend to specialise in much newer cars. There are lots of independent specialists in Britain and I think most 3.2 Carreras probably end up at one of those for servicing & repairs.

Are there any pictures of the car you could post on the site? I'd be interested to see a 3.2 in Japanese / Oz spec.

Cheers

Martin

Guest · Oct 12, 2004

Pagey,
Ge-day cobber, hows ya mum's chooks, ya bastard.
Struth mate, yuzze been havini a gekko at a porka, eh?
Don't worry about these Pommy bastards mate; ther'e all anal rententive!
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Yeah, I'm an Oz living in the UK, on the Isle of man. Its an island about 3 times the size of Phillip Island in Victoria. Long story.
Mate, if the car looks neat, goes like tihs off a shovel, then do the deal.
Check for rust: up under the front mudguards ( Poms call em "wings"), there's a ledge up where the guard bolts onto the sub-frame - most rust here - its a dirt trap. The Japs aren't as mad about gritting the roads as the limies are here in the UK. First sign of frost their out pumping tonnes of salt every where; something to to do with being unable to drive ( *&"!)
Where are you? The NSW Porsche club seems pretty good, at
http://www.porscheclub.org.au/
You say a manual black roof? How many gears....?
Coupe is best, with a sunroof ( maybe not such a good idea in Oz!). If you live in Queensland then buy a garage to keep a Traga in - they leak.
As for the service record: Keep every document/reciept you buy for the car, rego papers, insurance, etc. Keep it all in a proper binder. Then it looks like you give a tihs!
For the summer in Oz, make sure the car is running something like a 15/40 W oil or higher.
Whats the price of fuel in Oz now dude?
all the best,

ClubSport 911 · Oct 12, 2004

Pagey,
Ge-day cobber, hows ya mum's chooks, ya bastard.
Struth mate, yuzze been havini a gekko at a porka, eh?
Don't worry about these Pommy bastards mate; ther'e all anal rententive!

errr...who has my Babelfish ? I think I need it...

plhorner · Oct 13, 2004

ORIGINAL: peter915
Don't worry about these Pommy bastards mate; ther'e all anal rententive!

Yeah, we find it help when we're playing Rugby and Cricket ! [

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Guest · Oct 13, 2004

yeah, Yeah...!
Come in spinners! ( For those without the lingo (language) - "spinner" refers to the game 2up - played around Anzac day in Oz - involves spinning 2 coins and betting on the odds or evens - hence - "come on spinners") Was originally played in the trenches. Oh - and thats another story... bale out the pommie bastards... but I'll leave that for another day.

We (Ozzies) need to allow others to win occassionaly just to keep the interest going - otherwise its just plain boring. Plus, the bookies don't like it either. We left the Amateur world of sports years ago.[:-]

plhorner · Oct 14, 2004

Haaaaaa Haaaaaa Haaaaaa.........

Pete, and I thought you were a humble Aussie !!! Naaah, second thoughts, do they exist!!

Good to see some humour on here, needs livining up a little once in a while[

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Guest · Oct 14, 2004

Good on ya Phil, glad to see someone could see the lighter side.
I agree, for too long this forum has become a boring trite of " how do I polish my windscreen? or " should my oil smell"?![&:]
I've actually been tempted to come on as a non-member and post a question about fitting a towbar to a 911! I'm sure there would be a varied response - but the sad part would be the serious and "in-agreement "comments?!
Interesting part - the guy from Oz who posed the question has not come back? [8|]

Guest · Oct 15, 2004

Peter,

Im still here enjoying the freindly banter. this seems like a really good site and when I finally get my 911 I hope to join in with you guys.

By the way Phil I notice that the Poms haven't won much rugby since the World Cup 'accident', and Aust is proving that they still rule supreme in the cricket.

PS - I was actually born in Birmingham - yep I'm a Brommy boy.

cheers
Pagey

Guest · Oct 15, 2004

Pagey,
I wouldn't go round telling people where you came from... in fact I'd make up a story. I haven't seen all of the Uk yet, but Birmingham would have to be in the top 10 worst places in England: and we lived there for 2 years... what a dive.... Beruit must look better.[:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(]
Hope to here from you in the future dude,
see ya round like a rissole.