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What To Do, What to Do....Deciding on my first air-cooled 911.
So my prior experiences so far with Porsche has been a 944, 2.0L 914 and a 997.2 C2S. Those are all gone now and I have freed up enough money to buy my first aircooled car without the wife getting upset about it. I keep going back and forth between a 84-89 3.2 911 with some mod's or a mostly stock 69-73 911T. I know the G50 transmission is a lot of peoples choice, but honestly I loved driving my 914 and had no issues with the transmission so I don't feel like I would hate a 901 or 915 transmission.
I'm looking at a budget of about $70k all in ($75k after sales tax). Should I look at the cheaper 84-89's and have the extra cash to make some mod's or do you all think $70k would get me a decent non-rust bucket driver 911T? I plan to never sell this one and to leave it to my kids to fight over, so I am really not worried if I put a little more in the car then it's worth on paper. My main goal is to have a good reliable driver that will produce several years of good memories.
My intent with the car is just a fun driver for cars & coffee's with my kids, sunday drives and an occasional 400-500 mile long weekend road trip. I honestly doubt I ever track the car. I would like to think low end torque is more important than top speed. I got that out of my system with the 997.2S.
You should be able to get a good long hood at top end of your budget but that is really hard to answer. You've got to drive a few to get the feel- after having several different varieties over the years I wanted to have a long hood and wanted a '72 for the one year oil tank etc. Obviously didn't mind a 901 gearbox as I've driven my 914 for over 49 years and don't mind the '72 has the first year of the 915.
Not sure I'd want to take the '72 on a 400 mile trip even though it would do fine. Put over 110K miles on my '71 914 but almost all of those were in the first 10 years or so and I was in my 20's!!
No good answer- just enjoy the search!! Get ready for hours and hours on BAT!!
You have a good budget.....I looked at a bunch of cars. I would suggest to look at as many as it takes to get the car that is right for you. I decided on a G50 Transmission Coupe but that was because of the car over all. Not specifically because of the transmission.
I agree with the above if you want a car based on comfort, NVH and easy to shift (G50)
I like a a real sports car with nimble steering feel and drive it mostly on weekends - a few trips of up to 1,200 miles in my '73 and the '75 I used to have.
As you get older the cars are likely to get younger and more comfy. By the time I hit 90 I may drive something like a Cayman...
There is also WAF to think of
It's all up to you and there is no law saying you can only have one Porsche (tho some cities are limiting single-use take out straws... so who knows)
Do you live somewhere that will require AC to enjoy the car? If so, I would go later year car.
It gets sticky here in the summer, but I never minded getting a little sweaty in the 914 tearing around the back roads with the top off and windows down. I think for the 2-3k miles a year I will probably drive it that I can handle no AC.
I agree with the above if you want a car based on comfort, NVH and easy to shift (G50)
I like a a real sports car with nimble steering feel and drive it mostly on weekends - a few trips of up to 1,200 miles in my '73 and the '75 I used to have.
As you get older the cars are likely to get younger and more comfy. By the time I hit 90 I may drive something like a Cayman...
There is also WAF to think of
It's all up to you and there is no law saying you can only have one Porsche (tho some cities are limiting single-use take out straws... so who knows)
I think I am looking for more feel then comfort. Although the factory seats on a 911T do look big and comfy. May make up for the uncomfy no AC situation, lol.
Does this look a little hinky? My 914 had metal all the way up to the jack point but I’ve never had an early 911 to compare it to. Sorry for the terrible photo, but it wouldn't let me right click and save it.
Go drive some cars first. Find some local guys that have the early cars and will let you drive them. And good examples of them. Really well sorted examples.
Then drive some of the 3.2 cars you are looking at, and again, good examples. Figure out which one of those gets you most excited. Then start chasing.
I have a 964 and a 1970T coupe. Totally different. But both great fun. But.....some people like some, and some people like others. Hard to say which you should do; everyone is different.
I will tell you, getting rid of the comfort seats in the T and installing the ST seats from GTS Classics, was a game changer....
The 87-89 make great entry drugs to the air cooled addiction. I just sold my really nice example and your budget of 70k is good for a nice g series car. They are a car you could daily. Feels more modern, but also heavier and doesn’t have the classic early car look. They are very reliable.
The early cars, honestly, 70k gets you a decent t but you will be spending 20% at least marking it sorted and yours. They have a look and feel that is unmatched in the later cars. Please ensure you get a full inspection by someone that knows the early cars.
Another thing to consider is the body body structure and safety of the later cars is improved and better possibly for carrying the kids around strapped in the back seats. It was maybe 87 the rear seats have shoulder belts vs just lap belts. Something to consider.
87-89 The 69-73 are the best to look at , but if you want to drive one, definitely 87-89
I have owned and driven well over a dozen P cars and I agree.
My 88 911 is a blast to drive. So much so I dropped 25k into the car and had, at 155k mi complete engine rebuild and suspension refresh. Car was running but top end was needed (wouldnt pass CA SMOG) but in my typical fashion I decided to go all in and passed on just the top end and did the whole thing.
Easy and fun to drive.
If could only have one 911 it wouldnt be a CAB but I am fortunate to have a coupe too!
05-15-2019, 10:03 PM
What To Do, What to Do....Deciding on my first air-cooled 911.
I keep going back and forth between a 84-89 3.2 911 with some mod's or a mostly stock 69-73 911T. I know the G50 transmission is a lot of peoples choice, but honestly I loved driving my 914 and had no issues with the transmission so I don't feel like I would hate a 901 or 915 transmission.
