Hi, new to forum. Just had a PPI done on a 1980 911 Targa SC with 155K miles. Leakdown at 3% or lower on all six so engine is great. Problem is there is rust on front suspension that will require reweld ($1500-$2000) and the paint job isnt great (2000 variety) but doable for what Im looking for. Seller was asking 11,500 and I would have offered 10,500 before finding out about rust and that car is not original color. What do you think is fair offer based on above?! Just looking for a weekend car and not needing anything spectacular.

Thx

 

Assuming you think it is worth $10,500 in good condition, etc. then:
It depends on the rust: exactly where and how critical, etc., and is the car driveable at all now (not saying you should drive it home or anything, but will it go around the block, etc., or not.

If not, there could be a lot of minor things wrong with it even if the motor starts and it looks like it will run, so maybe $5000: even with a PPI it could still have gobs of tiny problems that cumjulatively kill you. If it can drive around the block and seems okay on a docile drive (I would not push it with the suspension problems) with that and the PPI, I'd guess maybe $7500.

The rust would bother me a lot and I would not trust any estimate. I've seen situations where even good faith estimates by an expert tunr out to be wrong - until you grind down to clean bare metal and find enough to weld to well, you can't be sure you know the extent of the problem.

 

thx...its an AZ car and rust came from battery overflow - not salt. It runs great - leak down on all 6 cylinders less than 3%. Only issue is the rust in front.

 

It might be a reasonable good car to get then since it is in good condition. It's been repainted once in a non-original color I understand, so unless you spend vast amounts, it will never be concours. But putting that aside, otherwise it could be a very nice car to own and drive. One thing to think about is that while you can live with its present color and paint, etc., since it is not its original color the damage has been done, and you would not be doing any further harm to its value by re-painting it a third color - whatever you want most - if the fancy strikes you.