The allure of a cheap 986 as a project

[Codfanglers]

On 10/5/2023 at 3:30 PM, wasz said:

Theres loads of boxsters go through copart very cheap.

Lots of unrecorded ones, mot failures / laid up cars / whatever you can check that easily.

I'd pick one of those up. I was planning to but mine came up.

The key to "making money" or "not losing money" is to buy it cheap in the first place.

These cars have usually been left to rot , sorry "laid up without an MOT" because they failed the MOT or were knackered. Either way, uneconomic to repair.

You can tart them up, scrape them though an MOT, then flip them to make a few quid, but I certainly wouldn't want to run one long term.

If you have the room, can be bothered and have time to do it, the easiest way to make money from "desirable" wrecks is to dismantle them and sell the bits on eBay/FB.  

Then buy a decent car, keep on top of the maintenance and enjoy it.

[Gunscrossed]

Paid £3k for mine, spent a few bob on it but expected that, service, wheel speed sensor etc. Suspension will probably need a refresh soon but I use it daily and it’s great fun 👍

[Everywhen]

3 hours ago, Gunscrossed said:

Paid £3k for mine, spent a few bob on it but expected that, service, wheel speed sensor etc. Suspension will probably need a refresh soon but I use it daily and it’s great fun 👍

It will feel like a different car when you refresh the suspension.

[wasz]

3 hours ago, Codfanglers said:

These cars have usually been left to rot , sorry "laid up without an MOT" because they failed the MOT or were knackered. Either way, uneconomic to repair.

You can tart them up, scrape them though an MOT, then flip them to make a few quid, but I certainly wouldn't want to run one long term.

If you have the room, can be bothered and have time to do it, the easiest way to make money from "desirable" wrecks is to dismantle them and sell the bits on eBay/FB.  

Then buy a decent car, keep on top of the maintenance and enjoy it.

 

 

The guy wants a cheap project, if he buys a decent car there will be nowt to do!

 

Copart is the cheapest place to get a project! Anyone can see the MOT history, when you have an account you can see the reg

[PaulZR]

On 10/5/2023 at 4:51 PM, Menoporsche said:

Joined 2017, 8th post, you're not kidding!

Glad you're out driving it more than talking, that's the way it should be  

Yeah, I’m not what you’d call prolific 😁

[Nobbie]

39 minutes ago, wasz said:

 

 

The guy wants a cheap project, if he buys a decent car there will be nowt to do!

 

Copart is the cheapest place to get a project! Anyone can see the MOT history, when you have an account you can see the reg

I think most cheap 986’s will be a pretty good project without scraping the bottom of the barrel at Copart. Best to start with something half decent or you may well lose heart before it’s brought upto spec. Mines a decent car, but I could easily spend loads of money and time getting it A1 if  could be arsed.

[½cwt]

9 hours ago, ½cwt said:

Oh, yes, high and low tone horns £80....

And an ABS sensor... that was a pain to drill out, deoxidise the hole so the new one fit flush.

 

I think we're there with current project to retro fit door speakers I'll be in for about £12k and it will still only be worth £6k.  But a hobby that cost £1200 per annum over 5 years (plus regular running costs) and having a Porsche to drive whenever the fancy takes me think ain't all that bad.  Watch, now the exhaust will go next week.....

[Terryg]

I totally agree with @Nobbie (I don't plan to make a habit of it), whether you like it or not, any affordable 986 will be a project, mine looked really good for its age but I still spent £2000 at a specialist immediately, I would imagine at least £1000 of that was labour so that will give you an idea. The money was spent on.................. suspension, (no surprise there) and was well spent, it was like a new car afterwards.

[wasz]

Absolutely get your point.

But if you buy a dirt cheap basket case around £1500

Buy all new suspension arms from autodoc, eBay etc not genuine and not specialist price

Source new or low mileage shocks springs and top mounts

New clutch and engine mounts

Cuprinol brake lines, textar pads.

Fit them yourself, don't pay specialist labour except for alignment.

 

You'll end up with a worthwhile project, and be driving round in a car that drives like a new one for under £4k

 

Or you could spend £4k on one, and have 80% worn suspension, end up replacing the arms one by one over a couple of years and never having a car that drives like new

Edited October 7, 2023 by wasz

[Nobbie]

1 hour ago, wasz said:

Absolutely get your point.

But if you buy a dirt cheap basket case around £1500

Buy all new suspension arms from autodoc, eBay etc not genuine and not specialist price

Source new or low mileage shocks springs and top mounts

New clutch and engine mounts

Cuprinol brake lines, textar pads.

Fit them yourself, don't pay specialist labour except for alignment.

 

You'll end up with a worthwhile project, and be driving round in a car that drives like a new one for under £4k

 

Or you could spend £4k on one, and have 80% worn suspension, end up replacing the arms one by one over a couple of years and never having a car that drives like new

I suppose it depends what you’re after. If you want a car that just drives well then your approach may work, but most want a car that looks nice as well, and this is what can really suck up the £££, particularly after it’s been kicking around Copart on a forklift😬. If you can pick up a car that is cosmetically good but needs some mechanical fettling, you can probably do most of that yourself over time. Depends on what the OP is after, but definitely worth considering carefully before buying something.