Yes… I’ve gone and done it now…
I’ve crossed over to the Dark Side.
Today, I became the proud owner of a 1990 Porsche 964 Carrera 4 Cabriolet.
I know… I know… But an air-cooled classic has always been on my ‘Bucket List’ and this one popped up a few months ago.
It is a one-owner car w/ complete Dealer service history and 20,736 actual documented miles.
And tell me that Fate didn't play a role... the car's Build Date in 1990 was my birthday! This was destined to be
MY car!
Champion Porsche in Pompano Beach (World’s Largest Porsche Dealer) did the PPI on this car for me yesterday and passed it with Flying Colors. In fact, the Service Manager and the Tech who did the inspection got on the phone together with me and said it’s:
“The cleanest, most Original example we’ve ever seen”
The only noted deficiencies were a bent wiper arm and a bad battery (it was the original Porsche Factory Battery from 1990).
The Service Manager said:
“You definitely have to buy this car! The interior shows no wear at all, everything works, and there has been absolutely no collision or paintwork done to this car. It has all the proper stickers (even the original purchase sticker), Owners Manual, Maintenance Manual (with all Dealer stamps), and Radio Manual w/ Code Card. The Toolkit is intact, including the air compressor, and the spare has never seen the road. There is no curb rash on any of the wheels. It drives beautifully and it still smells like a new car!”
In addition, the car comes with a Bra, the Tonneau Cover and a Porsche all-weather car cover.
The Tech said the engine is intact, no leaks or noises. Compression, Fuel flow, Oil flow, Engine Electrics are all 100% within specification. Brakes are within spec and all tires are at 7/32” tread depth or greater.
And they have no vested interest whatsoever. This is a Private Party Sale and they have never seen or serviced the car before. It has lived in West Palm Beach and had all it’s service done at Braman Porsche in West Palm. Braman does not do PPI’s, so the owner, at my request, had to drive 30 min. to Pompano Beach to have Champion do it.
The negotiating was difficult as this was a Forced Sale. The Private Party was down on his luck (like many in South Florida) – 2006: Net Worth=$14M, 2010: Net Worth = $0. The negotiations were full of Drama and Emotion; clearly he did not want to sell the car.
The car had been for sale since March in an obscure location. I watched it over the months and even suggested it to a couple friends a month ago, but nobody bit on it, so I decided to chase it. The owner did not get his asking price, but it did sell near the top of the market as it is a special car. I got it for slightly less than the avg. market price of an ’03 Boxster S w/ similar mileage.
The 964 is not the last of the air-cooled Porsches, that was the 993. But it is the last of the original body 911’s and so it is bound to appreciate with time, hopefully as hot as the 356, 914-6 or the 911 T. But who knows, if it appreciates, great, but I bought it to enjoy it and I’m sure I will.
I’ll be flying down to West Palm or Lauderdale (then West Palm by train) next week to pick-up the car and then will bring it North over the next 7 days. Haven’t decided if I’m heading straight North, or going along the Gulf and turn right at Dallas. I may go through the Smokies, or up the Seaboard. Might even give the
‘Dragon’ another go.
That means I will be selling my 1999 Boxster. It will not be an easy parting, because it’s been a tremendous car and a joy to drive.
This is a virtually perfect car with all the ‘right’ accessories. The only issue may be that it’s a Tiptronic S. It has 27,8XX mi. on the clock. Everything works, Interior/Exterior virtually perfect. I have my wife’s boss interested in it and it will probably go to him.
But, in the event it doesn’t, I will offer it for sale. I have a fact sheet w/ pics available if you, or someone you know, may be interested. If you want one, email me at
98699@live.com. I am asking $16.5, which I realize is high, but this car warrants it. It is a no-stories car with no known deficiencies and will stand up to any PPI. Of course $16.5 is my asking price, the actual purchase price is still
TBD.
All this means that I will become a less frequent visitor to this site, though I promise to lurk occasionally. I want to thank Brucelee, Randall, and too many others to mention, for all your assistance and encouragement through the years. My parting is just another confirmation that the Universe is indeed in Flux and all of us along with it.
Wishing you all Free-breathing MAFs, leak-proof RMS’s and Robust IMS’s! Keep promoting the dream of Boxster Ownership and keep the shiny side to the Sun!
Cheers!
