stark

Will be purchasing my first 911 soon, budgeting 14 to 16k for the car, I will be doing basic maintenance and repairs myself. Which model would be best? I have read several books on these vehicles and would like to hear from owners for their experiences/nightmares. Thanks in advance.

Chuck Harmon

You cannot beat a SC for your first Porsche, especially in that price range.
You can get a desent SC for around 12 and have some money left over
for goodies. Sc's are easy to work on and there are lots of aftermarket
parts and a good supply of used parts as well. I had just over 250,000 miles
on my SC and the case had never been split. It was my daily driver for
3 years, it had 150,000 on it when I bought it. Really enjoyed that car,
I kinda miss it, I have a 89 Carrera now, the SC got totaled last Christmas.
Good Luck !

JackOlsen

The Carrera is a better car, in my opinion. DME is less trouble than CIS. Torquier motor. Better brakes and suspension. Fewer snapped headstuds.

On the other hand, you've got premature valve guide wear problems with the Carrera, and it weighs more.

(See Peter Zimmerman's book, too.)

Peter Zimmermann

Jack: Good comments! However, I prefer the SC, especially for town driving. It has a lively feel, and is more enthusiastic at low revs. Perhaps, if I drove highway miles 80% of the time I would probably pick the Carrera, but I love SCs. I do agree that Motronic is more reliable than CIS, but once the SC injection is properly set, and professionally fitted with a late airbox, it's truly a drive it and forget it car for tens of thousands of miles. Yes, like the 3.2, the CO% should be checked/set at each 15K mile major maintenance, and both cars should have the oil changed every 5K miles (based on miles driven in SoCal!). It's good that you mention valve guides (Carrera) and head studs (SC) - so right! And both jobs cost about the same to perform! That's a wash! The clutch is the same for all SCs and '84-86 Carreras, so that's a wash also. All the cars from '78 - 86 have the 915 trans, that's a wash! Decisions, decisions...
Stark: Where are you at in the country? Prices do vary, I'm told that in some areas "nice" coupes can be found for less than $13K, but in CA that's not gonna happen!
Pete

r911

DME also runs better, and gives better performance than CIS

The later car will also usually have fewer miles.

You can remove some of the junk from the later cars to lose a little wt.

neither is anywhere near as good as an early car..... IMNSHO.....

epbrown01

I'm with Jack on this one, and I own an SC. There are fewer issues with the Carrera, and it's not like the SC doesn't have its own (head studs, tensioners not standard, CIS). They're both about the same to work on - which is easier than the later models, not as easy as the long-hoods. I love the early cars, but they don't make sensible daily drivers in the snow belt. I drove my SC year 'round the first couple years I had it.

Emanuel

jaeger86

If you can get a 84-86 carrera I think you will be better off. They did not have the valve guide wear problems of the later models and they are also much lighter than the later models. If I am not mistaken the 88 and 89 carreras were the heaviest normally asperated models porsche made. The 84-86 have the dme system which just run great with a minimum of maintenance. Curt

r911

Yes, snow/cold weather is an issue. You don't say where you live. The real question is what premium you will have to pay for a newer car in the same mech. cond. as the SC....

Edward

With a 14-16K budget, I'd go for the SC and find the best one possible as that amount of money might make the Carrera a bit of a "compromise" car since their prices are a bit higher. If I had an extra 3K on the base to spend, then I'd say Carrera, but I always like to have a bit of cu$hion left over for the inevitable expenses that come along with buying a new 20-year-old car. Whatever you buy, make sure it is properly "sorted out" as the cost of fixes and updates can easily exceed the amount of money "saved" by buying the cheaper car. ...BTW, LOVE my SC!!!

Edward

g-50cab

Long hoods rust, SC's break head studs, Carreras have weak valve guides (which usually show 40-60K miles). Pick your poison.

ked

& at this point, we usually remind ourselves of "Bruce"s Dictum"; ... buy the newest example, in the best condition that you can afford... I would add; be patient, drive numerous examples, get a second (& 3rd!) set of eyes on your choice (before you stroke the check), & enjoy the hunt.

Dan Cobb

problems here, problems there, problems with nearly every model made, but I do LOVE these cars!

Your best bet is to buy a 911 that is in the best possible condition with the options that you find necessary for whatever your budget is.
You can always find a 'better deal' or a 'nicer car' if you just look and never buy. Someday you will find the one, and you will know.
Drive as many of both types as you can and make sure yu get a PPI on the one that feels right.
Make certain it feels like the car you want before sending it in for the PPI (no sense spending $$ on a PPI unless you are 100% ready to buy it if the inspection comes back good).

911

I love both cars, but given your budget I'd go for a better SC versus an average Carrera.

Doug&Julie

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a Carrera 3.2 is a better option for quick "bolt on" hp upgrades. (..right?) I'm thinking a good chip and a free(er) flowing exhaust and airbox can give you...what...20hp? ..25?

Is there an easy way to "bolt on" hp in the SC motors? I'm talking about w/o breaking into the motor?

I'm curious because I may be in the same dilema this spring/summer if I sell my Boxster.

84_Carrera

I have a K&N panel filter & a Weltmeister DME Chip on my 84. I recently dyno'd at 204hp at the wheels. When asking performance product companies about exhaust mods, etc to up the power a bit, the reply was "ok, but with those numbers, I don't think you're going to see a whole lot more", FWIW.