hajimoto

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a 911 with 53000 miles, vs a 964 C2 with 76000 miles, with rebuild (due to oil leaks) at 60K miles. the 85 is about 6 grand less.

regardless of price, which one do you think would be a better drive? I am new to the porsche world (or will be once I BUY ONE), and like the 80's 911s, and 964s alike.

Anyone wanna throw their two cents my way?

thnkas,

hajimoto

Rick964

Depends what you want the car for. The C2 is a more luxorious car, better a/c, heavier and would make a great daily driver. The 85 is a more raw car, but IMHO better suited to being a weekend toy or a track car. Depends where you live whether or not the a/c in the 85 would be sufficient for daily use.

Gary R.

To me the 964 is the perfect blennd of "raw" and modern luxury, but you need to be sure the "issues" of early 964's have been addressed. Do you know exactly what this "rebuild" entailed?

LuisGT3

If the 964 passed a PPI, it is worth the extra 6 grand IMO.

Jay Gratton

I have a '85 and I LOVE THE CAR!!!!! However, the 964 C2 is a wonderful car and if you can swing it and it passes a PPI I would probably go with that. Bruce Anderson (911 Tech Guy) always says buy the newest Porsche you can afford. Seems like a good rule. If it was a C4 I would go with the '85. Either way you can go wrong honestly. Both outstanding cars! Best wishes - Jay

LuisGT3

Agreed.

zms325i

Go with the 964 unless you want to modify the car for the track. The 964s are better cars in every way for daily driving. They are faster, more comfortable, shift better, etc. The maintenance is more expensive, but other than that, if the rebuild was done correctly, you should have no problems.

JCP911S

Drive both and make your own decision.... the cars are distinctly different in feel. Personally, I prefer the more involving and sporty feel of the 3.2 Carrara, but it is very much an acquired taste.

g-50cab

How much was the engine rebuild on the c2? That will tell you the extent of the fix (like if pistons and cylinders were replaced or cylinders were machined)

That said - I think the c2 is much more car. my 1990 c2 was about twice the common maintenance that my carrera was - lots of electrical crap - until of course the 3.4 upgrade on the carrera...

The 1990 is a good first porsche. Then I have found that most either continue with the latest greatest or go older...

LastAirCooled

I agree unless you're really looking for something raw. If you haven't yet driven both then do so. The 964 has a lot more torque and you can really feel the difference. It also has better suspension, brakes, A/C, power steering... That said, I love the 3.2 era cars and they are a blast to drive. It really depends on what exactly you want out of the experience.

84_Carrera

The 1st one I looked at & drove was a '90 C4 Cab. Pricing was actually cheaper than the '84 Cab I ended up buying. Mileage was nearly identical, in fact ('84 = 50k, '90=76k).

Both had minor things wrong, but nothing major. Items I noted:

• Manual vs. power top (power = more convenient, more expensive to repair)
• 964 was stronger, but was pushing around more weight.
• Power seats were nice in the 964.

In the end, I have absolutely no regrets passing on the C4 & going older-school. I absolutely love the feeling of this car.

To me, a 911 is an emotional car, and one you want to be attached to. Assuming that both cars check out, go with the one you are more drawn to on a personal, emotional level - they're both old, used cars at this point.

Best of luck with your choice!

bmcallister

I love my '85 Carrera and use it as a daily driver. It is a very raw car (as noted by several others) but I can live with it fine. My very easy to drive and very cushy Volvo S80 has been collecting dust since I purchased the 3.2.

I find that many 964, 993, and 996 owners really get a charge out of seeing a nice condition old school 911 being used as a daily driver.

I offer the advice a friend gave me: "Figure out which model you want and buy the BEST one you can afford. Once the deal is done you will forget about what you paid for the car (as long as you got a quality PPI and leak down) and focus on how happy it makes you."

Good luck and post a pic once you have made a purchase.

911Dave

Indeed! I acquired the taste the very first time I drove one.

4sound

84 to 89 are great cars. 84-86 had the 915 trans, 87-89 had the G50. G50 is a stronger and easier trans to shift, however the 915 in the 85 is a good trans also.
He is my opinion. The 85 will cost you a ton less to keep up. If the 1990 has the early style piston and cyl, where there is no gasket on top of the cyl, you will end up replacing them sooner or later. Also the dual mass flywheel on the early C2 / C4 had issues. Quite a few of them were replaced under warranty when new. The 1990 is famous for oil leaks. Brakes are more common to make noise. Of course any of these issues, if any can be corrected, but it will cost you a few dollars.
I believe the 85 is a better car. Upkeep will be a ton less than the 1990. 85 is more dependable. Sure, the 1990 has better AC and can have a softer ride.... also has power steering.
If this is your first Porsche, I'd tell you to buy the 85. Of course this is based on the fact that you will get a PPI on any car you consider to buy. If the PPI shows the car to be a ton of problems, then regardless what year or model it is, forget it. Take your time and find the car that is right for you.
Good luck !

ThePointman

I LOVE my 85! It created my addiction ...