Deposit down, PPI next up

“Unknown history and service history”? That’s kind of the norm, given the number of vehicles without a complete service history. The quality of the restoration is what’s key, not a questionable mileage. Most cars at Pebble Beach are restorations, so that’s not a bad thing. Just go in with eyes open and clear expectations.

 

"Otherwise, if it passes a compression and leak down, use all these "problems" to negotiate a good deal and get the car."

My view is the absolute opposite. If I got that PPI report, I would say, "Thank you very much" and continue looking. But, as you see, we have different opinions re such things...

 

No, it needs about 4 grand for the suspension and undertray to be a nice car that you can use and enjoy. It needs 25 grand to make it into a trailer queen that with no history (and without a low mileage) it will never recoup.

 

Hmmm... If the bushings are bad/need replacing and the undertray is bashed, are we to assume that everything else was properly maintained? That's way too much of a confidence stretch for me...

Yeah, I know there was a PPI - but the OP wasn't there. Who performed it? If it was anyone associated with the seller or the shop that may have done regular maintenance on the car (though it sounds like there wasn't any), consider the source.

 

Why?

Because every 3X8 has to be a 100 point car?

What if you want to USE it?

 

To me, your last point is the most important one; I buy a car to use it. I would pay more for a car in excellent condition BECAUSE I want to use it as opposed to it being in my garage or some shop for months (or longer) being worked on.

I have no issue at all with buying a clapped out car and restoring it and have done so several times. BUT, you have to be prepared for the time/cost of doing that, which almost always will cost more than buying a car that doesn't need the work in the first place. Note that the OP stated, "I plan on getting everything correct on the car and driving her on any Sunday!" Based on the info/PPI, this is likely to be a lengthy and expensive project. "Taking the paint to bare metal," alone is a significant hit on the bank account!

As a personal 3x8 history - in 2008, when I bought my '89 328, I specifically wanted a car in the best condition I could find with the specific idea of driving it immediately without worrying about it. I did so, buying the car the day after I first saw it and, two days later driving it across the US. Since then the car has made that trip twice more. Last year I drove it from MD to TX and back. In December I will drive it from TX to GA and back. For six years it was my daily driver - grocery store, hardware store, etc. The only thing the car has "required" has been routine maintenance. It has been far more reliable than any of the three much newer MBs my wife has owned.

So, again, if the idea is to get a great price KNOWING that there is work to be done...that's great. All I was saying was that based on the description in the OP's posts/the PPI info, I would not buy the car. That's just my opinion and all we are offering here on this site (mostly) are opinions which, as is often noted, are worth exactly what has been paid for them.

 

I get it.

What drives me nuts is the usual responses when someone is asking about one of these and after we finish with the usual predicted criticisms, they basically walk away thinking that it has to be perfect or don't buy it or if you do buy it you HAVE to paint it because of some flaws.

These things are 40 years old now. and they drive great with wear on the seats and some orange peel.

I bought mine 23 years ago last Sunday. It had 57,000 miles, a wrinkled dash vinyl, a non retractable antenna, some road rash on the factory big euro front spoiler, an engine misfire (bad plug) and some things were missing out of the tool kit.... Oh the horror!

How on earth have I enjoyed it so much for so long while putting another 70,000 miles on it???

I have broken every unwritten 308 rule!

 

Wow, putting 70,000 miles on a 3x8 is pretty darned impressive! I doubt there are many (any?) other 3x8 owners who have done that!!!

 

It has about 126,000 now.

Shows 120,000 but the sending unit has failed twice. Once with me and one time prior to my ownership based on the records. I know I put about 4-5K on it before I fixed it about 2 years later (based on my trips back and forth to Florida and Atlanta - I was driving it all the time).

I'm 52 now. I have lost friends early to illness. Another died from cancer last Friday just after 10 pm.

Screw staring at my cars in the driveway to keep the miles down for the next guy. I'm living my life.

 

Let's face it Tommy, you car is now with less than a Bugeye Sprite... which I just happen to have and will part with so that you won't be living in denial about the car. I'll take it and either destroy it or spend way to much trying too fix the wrinkled dash.

;-)

Lester

 

Funny thing but I was just thinking about this the other day. I recovered the seats and dash back in 01. The car was 17 years old then.

The material in there now is 2 years older now than the original was THEN. And It still looks new. I don't understand how.

 

The guy that did the PPI is my regular mechanic and is a former long term 308 owner. I don’t think he has any monetary relationship with Gary, and isn’t afraid to call a junk car a junk car if that is what he finds. We did a joint PPI on a Ford GT a few months ago.....trust me he is thorough.

 

Yes, we make decisions and move on. I tend to buy cars with needs, as long as the price to needs ratio makes sense. Then I take care of the needs at my pace. The Ford GT I was discussing earlier was like that. Instead of buying a 3k mile example, I saved about $100k and bought a 30k mile car, and Mark already addressed the biggest issue.

 

From the PPI , I would keep looking. Nothing worse than a "cheap" ferrari. Unless you are getting it for $50k and want to spend the time and $25k to get it right. The bushings alone will be $4000.00. I did a PPI at Ferrari in Fort Lauderdale and they only noted the horn and AC were not working and also that it was not 100% original due to the Italian Tubi exhaust (which from the documentation was put on by a Ferrari dealer in France). My car is a 1986 eurospec with now 12k miles and full documentation (from record of import to now). I even contacted the last 2 owners to ask them questions. First one had it 19 years second one 15 and now me. It's great to know the pedigree , so you can tell her story. There are plenty out there that are near perfect, if you can afford to pay top dollar do it, you won't regret. I drive it every sunday (weather permitting) and i always come home with a huge smile. Great fun Analog non assisted car. I paid top dollar because it was exactly what i was looking for and i don't regret one cent i spent. (my kids will thank me years from now).