Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Talk me out of this please (ratty old 911 content) 1 2

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  May 27, 2010 6:02 p.m. M030 HalfDork

  I've got the opportunity to trade my 90k mile 1997 Boxster for a truly awful 1983 911SC Cabriolet...and I'm seriously considering it.

  The Boxster is fun to drive and I appreciate the real heat & A/C. However, I don't use it as a DD, and the longer I have it, the less it's worth. The larger issue is, though, that compared to the 911s I've owned ('67, '72, '84 Carrera and a '76 912E if that counts) the Boxster somehow feels less special, more like 'just a car.'

  I had no plans to sell the Boxster at all, but this really ratty 1983 911SC Cabriolet with a horrendous Strossek-style fiberglass body kit found me. Part of me really wants to 'save' that old 911 and to return it to the stock bodywork.

  Boxster pros: real heat + a/c, can use as DD if desired, doesn't beat the crap out of me on long trips, wifey likes it, if I want to HPDE all I need is a factory hardtop. Easier for me, as an amateur, to drive quickly and autocross. It won't rust.

  Boxster cons: I hate OBD II, it's red, and the refinement I enjoy is also what makes it a little antiseptic compared to an old 911. It's still depreciating.

  911 pros: CHEAP!, black/black/black (my favorite), that incredible sound 911s make, the telepathic steering, and that sound. No rust. Everything I do to fix it up and/or return it to stock will increase it's value.

  911 cons: it's a convertible so no HPDE, feeble heat, no A/C, wifey won't ride in it, crappy shifter, high mileage, this particular one needs LOTS of bodywork to be put back to stock and has cheap all-vinyl 924 seats in it.

  I know the obvious answers are

  1. sell the Boxster and get a nicer 911 than the one offered to me. Can't do that for a lot of reasons (it's personal).

  2. Miata.

  So, what sayeth you wise GRM readers?

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  May 27, 2010 6:08 p.m. Streetwiseguy Reader

  Easy button: http://saskatoon.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1979-Porsche-911-SC-W0QQAd...

  Nice car, belongs to a friend of mine.
  Its only money, after all.

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  May 27, 2010 6:15 p.m. bludroptop SuperDork

  M030 wrote: Boxster pros: real heat + a/c, can use as DD if desired, doesn't beat the crap out of me on long trips, wifey likes it, if I want to HPDE all I need is a factory hardtop. Easier for me, as an amateur, to drive quickly and autocross. It won't rust.

  As someone who has sold a perfectly good car to buy a crappy POS more times than I want to admit, that's a pretty good list of 'pros'.

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  May 27, 2010 6:23 p.m. oldtin Reader

  ...Or consider my crusty old 911 (85 targa - shameless plug). Crappy paint, straight body, 3.2 runs strong - but will need syncros in the forseeable future...targas are ok for hpde - at least nasa midwest. It's now in FL and I've put maybe 500 miles on it in the last 2 years.

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  May 27, 2010 6:59 p.m. BoxheadTim Dork

  As a 911 owner, the words '911' and 'bodywork' in the same sentence scare me.

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  May 27, 2010 7:21 p.m. Teh E36 M3 Reader

  And the "convertible".... I'd hold out for a tin top.. or spend the $19k for that sweet one in Canada.

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  May 27, 2010 7:26 p.m. spitfirebill Dork

  I think you've lost your mind to even consider this.

  You asked.

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  May 27, 2010 8:14 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  I know it's an 83, but I'd be concerned that a car with a fiberglass body kit may have started it's life as a Targa. Of course, Porsche even gave their blessing to Cabrio conversions for a few years, but if I wanted a Cabrio, I'd hold out for the real deal.

  I'd only consider a project 911 if it had perfect mechanicals, as in "new" engine and transmission and zero rust.

  Run away.

  This is the sort of thing that people who like this sort of thing will really like.

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  May 27, 2010 9:13 p.m. M030 HalfDork

  In reply to spitfirebill:

  I did ask. Thanks for givin' it to me straight.

  I think I'm sufficiently talked out of it. I'm not trading Porsches.

  - Brian

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  May 27, 2010 9:36 p.m. turboswede SuperDork

  Here's a similar thread:

  http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=32477

  Basically reached the same conclusion.

  I would suggest a ratty 911 if you weren't planning on keeping the engine (or were starting with a 912) since you'll likely be swapping in a different motor. The rest are relatively common parts (transaxle excluded of course)

  "I can pretty much guarantee that when you were in both lanes sideways you didn't have your turn signal on." - engineerd

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  May 27, 2010 10:39 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

  [slap] You know better. Never trifle with a 911 that you know needs body work. Can you imagine the things you don't know yet?

  walterj, playing with the 'preferred username' feature

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  May 27, 2010 10:54 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork

  

  This is the only 911 I would consider over a Boxster. 911s suck. Unless you add 19....(do the math, you will get it)

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Current Cylinder Count: 47

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  May 28, 2010 1:17 a.m. triumph5 New Reader

  You KNOW what you want: a project 911 to play with. Obviously you want one. Do daily e-bay search under project vehicles. There was one a couple of hours ago... And yes, current 911s are much more powerful, but feel more like appliances than the early ones. The early ones kept you involved in DRIVING not piloting...

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  May 28, 2010 4:29 a.m. Jay Dork

  Sell DD-that-is-not-Boxster, buy ratty 911, keep Boxster and use as DD. Problem solved, and you'll make your Boxster happy too.

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  May 28, 2010 5:08 a.m. M030 HalfDork

  Solid advice, Jay. Thanks.

  Now WTF do we do about the "ping_2012" canoe?

  - Brian

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  May 28, 2010 6:22 a.m. Feedyurhed HalfDork

  Awwwwww. I was kinda hoping you guys would talk him into it. Cooler heads prevailed.

  I have always wanted a 911.

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  May 28, 2010 6:28 a.m. 924guy Dork

  actually, the crappy 924 vinyl seats were originally sourced from the 911 parts bins ...

  ~~~~~ducks~~~~

  who am I and how did i get here?

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  May 28, 2010 8:16 a.m. M030 HalfDork

  

  pirated from the "terrible rabbit" thread

  - Brian

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  May 28, 2010 8:19 a.m. Woody SuperDork

  So, now that you're not buying it, at least post a photo of the car.

  This is the sort of thing that people who like this sort of thing will really like.

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  May 28, 2010 8:28 a.m. poopshovel SuperDork

  911 pros: CHEAP

  [slap #2!] No such thing!!!

  Build a man a fire, and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll stay warm for the rest of his life.

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  May 28, 2010 8:32 a.m. slefain Dork

  The 911 has soul, that's all I got.

  If I had a signature I would probably put it here.

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  May 28, 2010 8:37 a.m. maroon92 SuperDork

  and as Billy Joel once said, "It's all about soul!"

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Current Cylinder Count: 47

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  May 28, 2010 8:37 a.m. M030 HalfDork

  

  - Brian

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  May 28, 2010 8:38 a.m. M030 HalfDork

  

  - Brian

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  May 28, 2010 8:38 a.m. Chris_V SuperDork

  Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: [slap] You know better. Never trifle with a 911 that you know needs body work. Can you imagine the things you don't know yet?

  As a bodyman, a 911 needing bodywork is about the only way I can afford to buy them. In fact, after my expereince, I'd rather buy on that was advertised as needing bodywork before one that says it's in perfect condition, as "perfect" is often hiding something.

  I know a thing or two about 911 bodywork:

  

  Not afraid of bodywork, like on my Fiat:

  http://home.comcast.net/~cvetters3/fiat_spider.htm

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