NJREALTOR55

Hey everyone! I found this place thru a friend (perry 951 in the 944 section) a while ago - and decided to join finally.

I am kind of new to 911's, even though my family had a 79 targa while i was growing up.

Now that I am a little older (26) I am not interested in racing jetskis or dirtbikes as much, and would like to start on a project 911. I am just married, and planning to have kids soon. I would love to pass down my enthusiasim (sp?) about porsches. It seems there are others on this board who are doing that as well - and I think it is a wonderful way to bond with kids. I know it worked for me.

I am looking into purchasing a 911 in the next couple years (got the house but gotta build a nice garage 1st) - and I wanted to get something like my family had when I was younger. I like the targa, but the coupe has great looks as well - it will be a hard choice when I start seriously looking.

My question is, what are the big differences in 911's from 78 - mid 80's? I have seen a bunch of models and I like the way they look, but I would like to know more about engine size, obtainable HP, model options, reliability & general prices.

jeff911

Welcome to the board. To answer your question, there is not much of a difference between the 78-89 models. The 78-83 car was named the SC. It has a 3.0 liter motor and a 915 transmission. In 84, the car was renamed "Carerra" and a 3.2 liter motor was new as was better brakes. The body is identical and the transmission is the same. The 87-89 models were the same as the 84-86 models with the exception of a new "G50" transmission. These are very desireable cars as most think that they shift better. But, a well sorted 915 transmission from a 78-86 car does just fine and is a bit lighter (if you have any plans to track the car). IMO, the best bang for the buck is the 84-86 cars with the updated motor and brakes. The 87-89 cars seem to fetch a premium that is not worth the extra (once again, IMO). The SC cars are wonderfull, but getting a bit old. If you can find one with a rebuilt motor and tranny, you could have a nice car for a long time.
All of the above listed cars are generaly regarded as the most durable 911's ever made. The 3.0 and 3.2 liter motors often go over 150,000 miles without a rebuild. The general advice that you will get is to find the most recent and nicest example you can afford. I would also advise you to drive a lot of cars to get a feel for what a good car feels like. It is absolutely essential that you get a pre-purchase inspection before buying one of these cars. They are durable but are not cheap to fix.
Best of luck!
-Jeff

Gary R.

Buy "Original Porsche 911" by Peter Morgan and "The Used 911 Story" by Peter Zimmerman. Those will answer all your questions and also serve as a Used Porsche buyers guide as well. Let me know if you need the ISBN #s.

NJREALTOR55

thanks for the info - i'll check into the books as well.

ChemMan

Just my two cents: You might want to consider avoiding a project car. I can tell you from personal experience that new dads dont have a lot of free time. You could get a pcar that would get you on the road right now and a few years down the line, get a project porsche to work on with your little one. Just a thought. BTW I love my porsche, but being a parent is way better!

DustinTarditi

x2 on the sanity check about the project car... these cars are wonderful, but the little goodies can add up - even when they're in good mechanical and cosmetic shape. The rough ones can really test your patience, available time, and finances.

There are solid, well sorted-out cars to be found... look around, ask questions, and drive anything you can get your hands on to see the differences (and nuances) between models, engines, trans, etc.

I started out looking for an SC, but ended up with a cherry "mid-year" car - a 1974 Targa - it's been a great car, and well recieved into the family.

Stephenwz968

NJREALTOR55 ,

I'm a water cooled fan, but still love to talk porsches of all types. I'm in Hamilton, about 5 miles away if you ever want to grab a beer. I'm 27 and getting married tomorrow, so I relate pretty well!

Steve