lfe132

Hello everyone.
Between 1984 and 1989, which is the best year for a Cabrio.
And if you have a pic of your Cab please attach it.
Thanks.

nkgosselin

No true "best year." Buy on the best condition you can afford.

BUT, the first year 1983SC or last year, 1989, could hold a tiny bit more value/desirability in the future.

Marc Gelefsky

87-89, G50 transmission.

84_Carrera

My 84 has a manual top, which I like the sound of mechanics-wise. Too many times I hear about motors going, etc.

Although, it would be convenient with a power top when it's working well...

justinsrx7

+1...for the minimal effort it takes to put the top up/down, I think a manual top is much less risk than power.

Jaws911

+1 for the manual -no real issue to put it up & down, doesn't break, & i think its lighter as well ( i have an '86)

Vino

I have an 87 G50 with a manual top which from my understanding is somewhat rare.

Believe me, as these cars get older a lot of things hold up well, but the electrics IMO are questionable. Having a Power top go bad is almost near the same cost as having the top end done on the motor. Probably the one thing that would make the pocket book pissed as it really is a BS repair.

If you do get a power top convert it to manual.

Otherwise like the others have said, 83-89 pick one and enjoy.

I looked for a coupe forever and came accross a low mileage cab and couldn't be happier, top down 911 is sweet as hell, like having 2 911's in one!

scarceller

I have 84 with manual top, I preffer the manual top.

Also, agree on the G50 trans.

In addition to this keep in mind that the 84-85 cars had a conservative DME Chip and thus less HP.
The 89 cars had the most agressive DME chip thus more HP
86-88 cars where somewhere in the middle

Good news is that a simple chip upgrade to a early 84 car (with the 89 chip) is possible.

In the end if I bought another Carrera it would most likely be a 87-89 G50 trans car, I'd simply look for the best one for the money. But +1 on the manual top.

flatsixnut

'82

911Dave

On the manual vs. motorized top issue - why not just get a later one with motorized top? If it works, you're golden. If it doesn't, you can always operate it manually anyway (or can't you?), and you have a G50 transmission to boot.

Vino

In a way you are correct but I don't think anything improved from the time the motorized tops were introduced from 84-89 or whenever the earliest date they introduced them.

You need to be on top of them like a hawk, and make sure the tension on both sides are equal. When they fail it just fails and it's hard to prevent.

It's just insurance to get a manual top. If the design was perfect I would love to have a power top, but honestly you have to zip the window down anyway to relieve some tension on the top, plus you save weight and a future $3k headache, so why not a manual top?

shaynes

My 491 cab is an 87 and it has a manual top, ordered that way, and of course the Speedster has a manual

jwilson95

What is the proper maintenance/"watch for's" on the power tops?

Guess which one mine has...

diamondcarrera

Keep them lubed well and you will have no probs - have had my car for 6 years and the hood is sent up and down a lot (it rains lots in the uk so I have to) I use an AFN product and the hood (touch wood) has nevetr had a prob, maybe the regular use has a part to play in its reliability.
my car is 88MY and has the short shift (factory fit) and I love it.... so due to my bias its the best year!! (for me).

jwilson95

I'll ask my local indie repair shop guy about it.

One reason I bought this car and sold my Boxster S was lack of big ticket surprise maintenance bills, so I don't like this thread! I guess I can go manual if I have an issue as the others suggest.

Cheers,

Jeff