ian

Well after the Charlotte Auto Fair last weekend I have started to think about a 911 as a daily driver, my 944 Turbo is going to be the track car, and is already a bit over the top for street use....

But anyway, I thought I would turn to this board to try and find opnions on which 911's I should steer towards, I am working with a budget here, so no thoughs of 964's or later, i'm thinking about the earlier cars, SC and earlier would be my guess.

How viable is it to daily drive a 911? I'm not expecting a car with that many years to be trouble free, but with proper preventative work I would assume that it is possibe....

any thoughts would be apreciated

Also my insparation for this is pictured below (three beautiful 911's, hard to pic a favorite)

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/klasic/caf911o3.JPG" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://members.rennlist.com/klasic/caf911y.JPG" alt=" - " />

George 911-V8

I would try to get a 1980 and up sc. It has a good strong motor that porsche purist say is one of the best. I think a sc is a good buy for the money good luck and find a 911.

George

Stuttgart951

I would second the SC - many people use them as daily drivers.

Derrick B.

I would go so far as to say that any of the SC's and 3.2L Carrera's would make a good daily driver. Much more important than which particular model you choose is the condition of the exact car you buy.

Where your budget intersects a well maintained car is where you should look. Don't buy a ratty 3.2 over a nice SC because you want the "better" model year. I drove a friend's '80 SC back to back with my '85 Carrera and was surprised how little difference the bigger motor and brakes made. (Didn't test his car to the limit, though).

I have been driving my '85 to work, to play, on errands and long trips, to autocrosses and D/E's since I bought it four years ago. I passed the 130,000 mile mark at 100mph on my way home from a day spent driving on the track.
(oops, did I say say that out loud? I mean at 65.0 mph on the way home ... :-)

I failed to follow my own advice and bought the ratty 3.2. Even so, I've never been stranded and never been hit with a surprise repair bill. No problems, no worries. 911's are awesome.

Derrick

Bryan Moore

Some inspiring cars there - especially the yellow Carrera.

I would second the recommendation of the '80 &up SCs as daily drivers. My '80 SC doesn't get driven daily but that's because of traffic considerations and parking security. In a more forgiving environment, I'd drive it much more often. The SC's are very durable. A neighbor has one which is showing its age a bit (cracked leather, faded paint, a little smoke on start-up) but it's always been parked outside, has received minimal maintenance, and has over 220,000 mi on the odometer.

That said, there are a few cautions:

Although they were among the top dogs in their day, SCs, at 2700 lbs and 180 hp, are relatively slow by today's (1/4 mi time) standards. Mine is plenty fast enough for me - except on track days when I can't help but notice how fast the 993's and 996's are.

They ride hard (the price you pay for response and handling when using 1970's technology). You can get used to it.

They're noisy. Learn to enjoy the sound.

The 915 transaxle is a little quirky and may require some getting used to. It's never bothered me.

The air conditioning is anemic - could be a real consideration if you're stuck in Charlotte's I-85 rush hour traffic in July or August. Check out the Griffiths web site - he has some good A/C solutions.

Good luck in your search.

RC

I would say go for the SC also. Why, mostly because I just went that way, purchased an 82 SC only four weeks ago. Love the car. Sure it smokes on start up, leaks a few drops of oil, unforgiving on bumps, but the sound of the engine, undescribable. The look on the faces of others who wish they had it, priceless. I am using and will continue to use it as a daily driver, I just hope I can make it through the summer here in Houston. I am saying all this just so you know, there are a few things that can be a pain, but the joy of firing it up, driving it, and just spending time looking at the curves, makes all the down sides worth it.

1FastRedSC

I'd also agree with everyone on that sc or carrera idea. I purchased my sc in logan, utah (the very top of the state) and live in las cruces, nm (the very bottom of this state). I had a 13 hour drive that included horrible shifting due to bad bushings, a vacum leak that contributed to a lot of popping from the exhaust, and a shot air regulator that was plugged and a reset idle screw to compensate for the air regulator on cold start up........etc. In a nut shell, with all these problems, it was the most enjoyable ride i've even experienced, and would do it again. Nothing sounds or feels like an old 911 and with all these problems the car didn't leave me stranded once (although now i am stuck in a massive overhall to fix these "little" problems). But what can i expect, i paid 9,300 for the car? Anyhow, if i had had any of these "little" problems with any other car i probably wouldn't have made it through the 13 hour drive. That's just my .02

Stephen Masraum

'88 Carrera ~15K miles a year about 145K miles total now, no major engine work. runs strong. about 18 mpg with me wringing it out mostly on a 25 mile one way trip to/from work on the freeway at about 80.

add gas and oil, perform maintenance

pretty much that easy

JeremyW964

86 or later carerra. The AC on the SC is akin to a hamster blowing over a snow cone. Not my line, but you get the idea. All AC in 911's is poor at best - the 86 and up at least had bigger vents.

SPDRacer

I have to agree with the others on the everyday practicality of the SC over say the 911's in your picture. They too are great cars, just getting along in age. Watch the maintence records to make sure a good deal doesn't turn out not so good. In my case, I wish I would have talked to the mechanic who rebuilt my transmission while it was with the previous owner. I might have to use the soap on this one <img border="0" alt="[soapbox]" title="" src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" /> .
Any way as long as you stay away from the 2.7L then generally it is not so bad. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

George 911-V8

There is a bunch of upgrades for good working cold a/c. I live in the swamp and its hot and wet at the same time. I have tried all the a/c tricks out and found one that worked for me.

George

andrew911

People seem to say 80 and up sc, but I would push that back to 78 and up. No differences in US models that I can think of from 78-80. If not, go pre '74 to avoid the 2.7 liter motors, and also because you seem to like the earlier lighter cars pre-safety bumpers. If you are worried about a '73 or before as a daily driver, get it and keep aside $1,000 for a reliable beater for the bulk of your commuting (like a 150,000 mile corolla or something that will take a licking but keep on ticking) !

Ed Bighi

78 and up sc and carrera should be fine. I drove my sc daily starting in 92. I completely stripped the interior of everything and kept driving it daily until 99. I was 29 then and felt that I was getting older and needed a proper car for daily duties. So I grabbed an Audi V8 quattro. But I still used the sc for out of state road trips with my wife. But in the last six months I felt myself getting old driving something so civilized. Life is too short. So I have been driving the track car daily again. No ac, radio, carpet or anything that can spoil the nature of the beast. As for the Audi, I just sold it. I hated to part with what is a rare car, but I just miss driving a track 911 daily. Besides, it's better on gas and cheaper to maintain.

As far as ac, no two 911's are equal. The air in my sister's 84 Carrera is actually pretty good. And it's stock with the exception of a tail which helps the condenser. The problem with 911 air conditioners is not the size of the vents or air pressure coming from them. It's lack of condenser size. Put in a condenser big enough and you will not need big vents nor the highest speed setting. I once drove a 911sc with an undercar rocker to rocker condenser that was keeping me ice cold while idling in a July afternoon in Miami.

hoffman912

ok, i know youre gonna want to flame a way, but at least let me speak my peace....

you could go with a 912. (in the first pic at the top, mine is the burgandy one peeping its head in the back ground, just above the silver and orange 911s, to the right of the guy in sunglasses looking at the silver one!) theyre cheeper easier reliable and fun. also cheeper and easier to work on. if you get a 69, you can do alot of upgrades on it (suspension and break wise). and if you want more power, just throw a 6 banger into the back. if youre engine blows and you cant afford a porsche 356 engine, or a rebuild, you can always buy a beefed up type 4 engine to get by or have fun with (or even better rebuild and beef up your own type 4 or porsche 356 engine!). ive seen t4's go up to 2.7, maybe even 3L, and be very reliable.

just thinking a little more economical, if you wanna try an early 911 (style), and cant afford anything too over the top. plus you can probably afford a better beater car as a back up. plus the gas milage isnt too bad either. also youll have more fun upgrading somthing if thats what youd do, (not that you cant do it on an sc). of course you'll probably get dogged by everyone for havin a 912 but being a 944/951 owner, im sure you youve heared stuff before. besides, most people dont know anybetter and you always get great looks for having an old porsche.

then again what am i talkin about.. maybe you should just go with an sc. (id get one in a sec if i could afford one).

ok guys go ahead flame away <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

zxandy

just to stick my oar in. I use my 1971 2.2 as a daily driver - always starts first time, never had problems with it - only issue in the long term is that it will rust so after this year it will become a "summer only" daily driver and I'll use my old Escort for the winter.