Which 911 to get?

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:41 pm

Hello,
I'm after some advice on 911's. What is the best 911 for me?

I am looking for something I can maintain myself. I am fine at 'older' mechanics - but not good at fuel injection and jazzy electrics.

I competed in a classic rally in a lovely 356C - a superb car to drive, easy to maintain but a little small - hence my desire for a 911.

I have been looking at early cars - pre 1972 to be precise (But that is mainly to avoid paying road tax). I see that the later cars (Mid 1970's) were fully galvanised - which appears to be a very good reason to have one of them.

As long as it is reliable and great to drive - excellent. I am not looking for the fastest car on the road. I do get a little carried away at times and read that the later the car the more stable they are due to axle location, width, weight, spoilers etc.

Any advice on which air-cooled 911 will suit me and how much it should cost will be much appreciated.

I am looking for a good solid useable car, not a project.

I look forward to hearing from you
Thank you
Jules

Mike Usiskin · Post by **Mike Usiskin** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:47 pm

Budget?

oh.... and welcome to the DDK

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:48 pm

Hi Jules and welcome

You will get lots of advice here but I will jump in first. It's all down to budget, If you have £20K - £30K (preferably quite a bit more) then you can get into a decent early 911 (up to 1973) but if your budget is only half that then all you will buy is a rusty project. That same money will get you a lovely late 80s Carrera 3.2. Perhaps not with the classic looks of the early cars, but probably more rust free (forget about a so-called galvanised car being protected from rust) a far better drive and more reliable. Now I will wait to be shot down in flames!

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:04 am

Thanks for the responses.

Budget is up to £20,000-ish.

If the early 911's are much more expensive than the more modern versions, I will look more closely at the more modern cars.

I was talking to a modern 911 owning friend and he suggested a Boxter - good hairdressers car he said, but that they are very good cars and available in the region of £10,000, perhaps less - blinking cheap for what you get.

I read a review of the Boxter (Clarkson) and he said that they are very good cars, but that in the mind they simply lack the special quality the 911's have.

Hmmmm.
Being the skinflint I am 'saving' £10k is very interesting.
The petrolhead in me does not want to miss out on that 911 special quality.

Another day of research ahead!

Jules

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:08 am

First things first - get out there and drive a pre 74 car, a late 80s Carrera and then a Boxster and see which one you connect with. Then weigh up the usage you're looking to undertake.

PS - welcome to the forum

PPS - go for a 911

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:21 am

Not being a hairdresser I really don't get Boxsters. Beware leaking RMSs (rear main seals) although they should all have been fixed by now, and you can get an early Boxster for not much more that £6K now.

Budget is up to £20,000-ish.

You might even get into a decent 993 at that level, many DDKers own them, Bootsy and myself included. You will get a perfect RHD 80s Carrera 3.2, a half decent LHD 70s 911T

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:37 am

nick-moss wrote:You might even get into a decent 993 at that level, many DDKers own them, Bootsy and myself included. You will get a perfect RHD 80s Carrera 3.2, a half decent LHD 70s 911T

Wise words. Have a look at a 993 and drive one - superb cars.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:45 pm

Thanks Gents.
Looks like it is test drive time.

Been out in a Boxter as a passenger. It seemed to accelerate and stop very well, but I must admit to not being keen on convertibles.

Had a rather hairy ride while 'sitting' across the rear seats of a modern 911, not a good way to get a feel for the car.

Looks like it is going to have to be a 911 - or 993.

Is there any great difference, or is the 993 simply another title for a version of the 911? I think I picked up that the 993 is the last of the air-cooled cars (Want air-cooled)

Time to try out the important seat - off 911 hunting I go

Thanks again
Jules

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:14 pm

Hi and welcome to DDK

The early 911 (slim bumper) is so different to the later cars (3.2 etc) it's almost incomparable. While all the basics are similar the execution is very different.

As others have mentioned you have to try before you buy

For reasons I can't really put my finger on the early 911 (even a little T!) makes me feel alive after a short drive even when the stress of work and life seem too much. It's like it sets a new baseline for the connection you should have with driving each time you take it out. I checked the trip computer today on my Audi and it politely mentioned I had spent 158 hours driving it since new. Not a single moment registers in my memory. Every moment of early 911 driving registers. There has to be something to be said for that!

Go early, you won't regret it

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:41 am

Is there any great difference, or is the 993 simply another title for a version of the 911?

All are "911". Model years are precied as follows:

1964 - 1965 = 901
1965 - 1973 = 911
1974 - 1989 = 911, Carrera 3.0, 911SC, Carrera 3.2: The impact bumpers
1990 - 1993 = 964
1994 - 1997 = 993
1998 - 2005 = 996 - water cooled

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:24 am

Hello Nick, thanks for the model years - most helpful.

Hello Gary, I am a bit of an older car freak. I do drive some modern cars, but do find them soul-less - or it is necessary to drive well over the speed limits to make it any fun.

I am more of a motorist than a driver and it is more about getting there than arriving that does it for me.

After a few test drives it is quite likely that it will have to be an earlier car.

Thank you
Jules

Nick Moss · Post by **Nick Moss** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:45 pm

I have just been offered a 1994 model 993 coupe in Midnight Blue metallic with grey leather. 60K from new (1/1/94) with history. £19,950 if you are interested