Steve 96C4S

The wife has finally given me authorization to let me sell my beloved 88 911 Venetian Blue/Blue 71k mi beauty and trade up to a 97 Polar Silver/Black C4S that I've wanted for so long. The odd thing is, everytime I go out to the garage and think about taking a pic of my car and posting it on a website somewhere, I get this sick feeling in my gut. I feel like I'd be betraying an old friend. I put so much time, energy, money, cleanings, and thought into this car, the only 911 I've ever owned (for the past 5 years) that it is going to be excruciatingly hard to sell it.

I really don't want anyone test-driving it for one thing. I don't want anyone other than the another Porschefile to buy it... It really pains me to get it ready for sale! I'm not even sure how much to ask for it. There is such a large-spread difference in pricing, from $17000 to $23000. What I do know, is that it's actually been a great investment. I bought a 95 BMW 740i 4 years ago which is worth $20k less than I paid for it. This 88 911 I bought 5 years ago is only worth about $6000 less than I paid for it!

I know I will love getting the C4S, it's just that it will be hard to have people come over and nit pick this or that about the car I love so much. The easiest thing would be to just keep it and enjoy it. Then I wouldn't have to deal with any used car buyers...ughhh. Plus, I'd have an extra $30k to play around with. But, the lure of owning a newer, nicer, more comfortable C4S is strong too. Guess I should find one to drive before I let go of my ole friend, STLABLU (Stella Blue, from the Grateful Dead song).

Has anyone out their jumped into a 993 and wished they hadn't? It IS worth the extra $30k to do this, isn't it???

Having a tough time in Silver Spring MD,
Steve (I know, I am blessed to have problems like these!)
95 740i 107k mi
99 XK8 her's

M Fig

A few years ago I was looking to buy a 87-89 911. I ended up talking myself up to a 993 and it was a great car. The unfortunate thing was it was just that...a car. It was too new for me to do any work on and too expensive if I broke something. So I drove it and enjoyed it and then sold it. Now I am looking for a hobby...either a good SC or Carrera. I will be doing drivers ed events and doing some simple maintanence too. I don't know if that helps at all, just my .02.

Mark

P.S. I do love the way the c2s or c4s cars look. very nice.

Good luck

schlag

I know what you mean.

After college when I upgrade to a 911, the 944 is going to a responsible relative.

Jay H

Steve:

Have you driven a 993 and found a car you might be interested in? If not, make sure you take some time test driving several 993's to insure that's the right car for you. The 911 changed quite a bit starting with the 964 series. They are much more refined, quiet and more powerful. That can be bad or good depending on what you want out of a 911.

Also, keep in mind that the '87-'89 3.2's are considered to be the best classic Porsche made. That's why test driving several 993 is important to make sure you can live with the updates.

If you do decide to sell, price the car on the high side to start with. You can always go lower. You can't start at $17k, change your mind and then ask the buyer for $23k...

Also, you could consider putting your car up for consignment at a local dealer. Some places will do that for a fee. Then you do not have to deal with test drives and nit picking. I bought my first 911 from a Porsche dealer that had the car on consignment.

I sold my '86 3.2 to get a '90 C2. While the 964 is a wonderful car, I miss my old 3.2 for its simplicity and all that soul and feel you get from those cars.

Good luck with your decision,
Jay
90 964

GrantG

Jay - The 87-89 911 is a nice "classic" 911, but certainly not unanimously considered the best - I'll take a 73 Carrera RS (or RSR), please.

-Grant
73 911S
88 944 Turbo S

Dean/O

As a 1987 Carrera owner, I have a similar perspective. Judging by the way you refer to your Carrera as a "beloved" friend, you will have even more intense seller's remorse in the future. The passage of time will make you nostalgic for your '88 911, and the memories of how great the car was will surpass the reality.

If you're in a financial position to keep the 911, do it. But remember, Porsche imported over 5500 Carreras in 1988 alone. Finding a comparable replacement for a 70k+ mile 911 won't be too difficult.

Dean

ked

Jay & everyone put it well; be sure you want the 993 for its driving qualities, ownership regimen, as well as its style. Familiarize yourself with it.

A friend goes through 911s about every 18 mos. Since he sold his '89 Cab (which he owned twice!), he has had a 993 C2S & now drives a 996 C4S. He longs for a 3.2 Carrera.

When I got my '87, I was determined to keep it for the long haul. When I get a newer 911, I will probably have to hold onto it.

Another Dead tune may be instructive, "... may be goin' to hell-in-a-bucket, but at least I'm enjoyin' the ride...". Whatever you decide, make sure you're enjoying the drive.

Ed Bighi

A good alternative to owning a 3.2 carrera is to own both a 993 and a 73RS or some replica of one. Which is what a friend of mine has in his garage. Great combo. With those two, you have all your bases covered. But maybe I have it backwards since the 3.2 carrera is a good mix of both with more comfort, but not too much and that a good dose of that raw 911 feel. Though not as much as an early 911. A good compromise which is why the carrera 3.2's are in such high demand.

Stuttgart951

Wow I thought I was the only one that felt this way. I actually refused a few VERY good offers on my car when I had it for sale... then I called Autotrader and asked them to remove the ad. Couldnt sell it.

Steve 96C4S

Man - you guys are blowing me away with your idea about reconsidering keeping my old friend, STLABLU. As Joni Mitchell says "you don't know what you've got till it's gone..." I guess I truly need to drive a few 993's before I take the plunge and sell this member of the family. I never thought I would regret selling the car till I read some of your posts about how great the 3.2's are.

I DID drive a few 993's 3-4 years ago and thought them to be very modern in feel in comparison, and almost dare I say - Japanese like in their almost blandness, newness, and perfection. Sacrilige? Maybe. It's just the impression I got. After each test drive, when I got back in STLABLU I felt the rawness again and feel for the road I craved a bit. Maybe I was crazy. Why would one crave a bit of discomfort and rawness and the ability to feel every bump and lump in the road? Expansion strips are hell sometimes... I've just gotten used to it. This 88 fits me like a glove. I guess I need a long test drive in a 993 again, especially a C4S as I've never driven one.

The other cool option here is to simply upgrade my OTHER car, my 107k mi 95 740i, which was the plan anyway, just 2-3 years down the road later, after the C4S. The "plan" was to get an Imola Red (yes - that bright red - it looks killer on a huge "7") 740i sport, 2001 model with the black interior and every option. New they were $67k but now they are going for $45-48k.

I originally thought getting the C4S first would be the smarter move because the Porsche would depreciate less in the next 3 years, whereas the 740i Sport will drop like a lead weight pricewise to about $22-25k in 3 years.

And the last option of just keeping my 88 911 and buying the C4S too is out. No space and I need the money to upgrade to the C4S.

Hmmmmmmmmm,
Steve
95 740i 107k mi
99 XK8 her's <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Jay H

Grant:

Thanks for correcting me. I should have written that the "'87-'89 3.2's are considered to be ONE of the best classic Porsches made." Not THE best. Everyone has their own favorite. I'll take a '73 RS too please...

Steve:

Things I miss from my old 3.2 was the sounds at low rpms while daudling through town or cruising on the freeway. The sound from the fan and valves clicking away just can't be beat. Most of those sounds are still in the newer cars, but they are definitely muted. I miss the unassisted steering as well.

But, the newer cars offer quite a bit of tangible improvement in power. There's a ton more torque in the 3.6 motors.

So, again, since you really enjoy your current car, make sure you spend quite a bit of time in several 993's to insure you want to make the move. A 20 minute test drive may not be enough time....

If you have not already done so, you may want to post the same question on the 993 board. Many of those guys sold 3.2's to go to a 993. You may get a different perspective.

Best of Luck,
Jay
90 964

ZCAT3

Hi Steve - you wrote:

"Has anyone out their jumped into a 993 and wished they hadn't? It IS worth the extra $30k to do this, isn't it???"

I sold an 87 Marine Blue Coupe a few years ago to "upgrade" to a 993 C4 Cab. The dealer I bought the C4 from could tell how much I loved the 87 and actually suggested a few times that I keep both. He had offered me a good trade in and really wanted the 87 (as they are one of the best resale cars for dealers) but told me he would honor his offer in the future if I wanted to keep both cars for the short term. It seemed silly to me at the time to have 2 911s, so I just turned over the 87. I regretted it immediately and spent the next 18 months wanting it back. The 993 is a great car, but there is something about the 80s cars that stuck in my mind (the posts above cover this). I ended up selling the C4 after a year or so when I realized I wanted a coupe, not a Cab. We really do like the 993 line, so we bought a really nice 993TT. I still missed the 87 Coupe - even with a Weissach modified 500HP 993TT sitting in my garage. So, a few months ago, I stumbled across a really nice 87 Coupe for a good price and bought it. I drive it all the time and enjoy having the 2 different vintages.

Moral of the story - keep both for now. You can always sell the 88 later, but once it is gone, it is gone.

GrantG

Well, here's my experience. I have owned a very nice original 73 911S for a few years now. I also have an 88 951S for the track that I bought a year ago. Last year, it became possible for me to afford a new Porsche. I had never owned a new car in my life (the 88 was the newest car I'd owned to date. In fact, most of the cars in my life were purchased for less than $1,000 - lots of early 70s american cars with big V8s).

Anyways, I went into the Porsche dealer last New Years Eve and bought an 02 996 C2 right off the showroom floor. I got a great deal, since they wanted to move it before the end of the year. It was fast, it was comfortable, but it wasn't quite what I expected. It had lots of rattles (worse than my 30yr old 911) and the driving experience was so softened. I added ROW M030 sport suspension and that helped a ton, but the 73 was still more fun (if much slower). I loved the manual steering and brakes and the sound of the 73.

Anyways, when it came time to sell a car, it was the 996 that left the garage. I don't miss it that much either. I would miss my 73S terribly though. I am actually on the waiting list for a new 996 GT3 and I'll be confronted with a terrible decision (well, not so terrible) if I can afford it when it comes out in the Spring. I'd have to sell one (or both) of my other cars to make it work. Selling the 73 makes the most sense, since I wouldn't want to make the GT3 my main track car (too nervous with a car like that). So, having two 911s doesn't make as much sense as having a track car (951S) and the GT3. But, I'm prepared to regret my decision if I sell the 73.

Maybe, I should sell the 73, forego the GT3 and just get a 73 RS

Anyone have any advice? Sorry, if this comes off as pompous. I know it's a choice many of us would love to "have" to make.

Thanks,
Grant

dgcate

I sold my '87 Targa and went "Porscheless" for 3 years and I regretted selling it everyday. Then I test drove a 993 for maybe 45 min., it drove well with pwr steering and brakes, and I bought the car. Not long after buying it, driving it from Charlotte to Knoxville I realized if it was luxury I was after, this sure ain't it. I sold the 993 back to the dealer that sold it to me. Now I'm back in an '89 Targa and I never find myself wishing for anything else. (Except maybe a 993TT). Even then, I plan to keep my '89 financially possible. Previous posts are correct, TEST DRIVE, and you can always "go back". Decisions, decisions...Good luck.

dgcate

About those "test drives". I think I had to own the 993 for a couple of months, and drive it several hundred miles before I realized that it wasn't giving me what it was that I had been missing in my older porsche. If you're like me, all of these cars are so nice that you'll almost have to own the one "you think you want", for at least a little while, before you'll really know for sure if it's what turns you on or not.