Hello,
I currently own a 944 and am thinking about purchasing a 911 later this year. Is there anything in particular I should look out for, and what years, options, do you guys think would be the most reliable? Please keep in mind that I will probably still be 18 years old. I am interested in buying this car because I have always dreamed of owning one of the most recoginized and prestigous sports cars of all time.
Thanks in advance,
Justin

 

What's your budget and what's your mechanical inclination level?

 

All this is depending on your budget...but...

Like Bruce Anderson says..."buy the newest 911 you can afford"

The most reliable and affordable of the 911's is probably the 1978 to 1983 SCs and then the 1984 to 1988 Carreras.

--If you go for the SCs just make sure it has had the chain tensioner update.

--Beware of shoddy bodywork. If it doesn't look right or your gut is telling you something is wrong...then walk away.

--I have a few tests when I look at 911s, They are:

1.) open and shut both doors, hood and engine lid...they should all shut like a true Porsche...almost to NASA standards. Or like almost any German car...very solid, air tight sounding closure.

2.) Secondly I start the car, make sure it doesn't blow a puff of white smoke..if it does it either needs a valve guide replacement or its been over filled with Oil...you can check the oil level of the car after its warmed up.

3.) During the test drive, I try and shift the car into 1st gear while going at least 15 mph...I don't let off on the clutch...I just want to see how easy or at all if the car goes into 1st. This is a sign of Synchro Wear if it doesn't go into 1st(somewhat expensive job) but you can live without the good Synchro if your patient in your shifting.

4.) Befriend a fellow 911 person in your area and get them to go with you and/or take it to an authorized Porsche shop and pay the $300 for the inspection. They will even tell you if the windshield washer fluid is low.

All this will help you factor in a "fair price" for the car. Also, goto the "911 FAQ" that is on this forum for a printed out checklist.

I am sure many others will make some suggestions...

--Brian Kiser
I too have migrated from the easiest handling 944...what a great car and what a steal for the money. Welcome.

 

Well as it seems the budget I will be dealing with is about 15000, and I have seen a really sharp 83 911SC with the 996 wheels on it in Medina, OH. My mechanical inclination is decent and I have access to people that know what they are doing.
Justin

 

Justin:
I was in your position 2.5 years ago, though I was 29 at the time. I liked my 944 but had to have a 911, after driving my dad's at the track.

My advice: be patient, look at several 911s. I looked for 9 months before finding the one sitting in my garage. I too was looking for an SC or Carrera. I ended up with an 84 Carrera. Get a PPI done on any car you are considering by a good Porsche tech. Someone on this board will be able to recommend one in your area, or close by. Watch out for re-paints. Re-paints usually mean body work, or that the car spent alot of time baking in the sun. My car still has the original paint, though it is covered with rock chips on the nose and mirrors, but who cares, its a track car, and I know that it has not had any body work. Eventhough it has rock chips the paint is still shiny and looks great. I still wax it 3 times a year.

Don't be afraid of 911s with higher mileage. Mine now has 167K on the clock and had 149K when I bought it. (I race it so it doesn't see a lot of street driving). If the motor is properly maintained a 3.0 SC or a 3.2 Carrera can go 200K miles (unless it is one of the 3.2s that got bad valve guides). I have heard stories of very low mileage cars requiring a lot of work because of dry rot. 911s seem to be like boats, the less they are run, the more you end up spending on making them right.

Based on your budget number, you will be able to find a nice SC, or a higher mileage 84-86 Carrera. The asking prices on the 87-89 Carreras are high right now.

Remember, be patient and look at several cars to get a good comparison and get a pre-purchase inspection done. There are a lot of 911s out there that have not been given proper care. Also, have a slush fund of at least 2K for repairs. Just about every car you look at will need something when you buy it, or shortly there after.

Good luck in your search.

 

Absolutely concur with Carrera51's advice.

If you get serious about an SC, make sure it has the pop-off valve, Carrera chain tensioners and check the head studs. Some have even said taking a prospect to a wrench for a valve adjustment can replace a PPI - and if you buy it, you won't need a valve adjustment for another year. Spend it now or spend it later.

With SC's and Carreras you really need a leakdown to check the condition of the valves. I got one of the lucky Carreras that does not suffer from premature valve guide wear. Good luck.

 

Are there any other online sites I should check out for available cars in my area other than autotrader?

 

Buy and read The Used 911 Story by Pete Zimmerman. It is available at Performance Products, Amazon.com you name it. There are simply too many things to look for across the model years, 1965 to present, to expect the kind of advice you need from a Rennlister. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

 

Rick:
That's a great idea about the valve adjustment. Another customer where I take the 51 car purchased an SC out of state. He paid for a PPI in the area where he bought the car. He picked the car up and brought it to the mechanic for a valve adjustment and service. He he pulled of the lower valve covers, he discovered a broken head stud (it was lying in the valve cover). Needless to say the new owner was very unhappy.

 

Would it make a difference if I were to take the digital camera to the car and take various pictures of it in any locations you can think of to look for problems and post them to the forum. I would like to do this prior to the PPI to see if you guys think it is a worthy car so I don't have to spend any unneccesary money on the car.

 

Justin,

Here are some sites that might have SCs near you:

<a href="http://www.cars.com" target="_blank">www.cars.com</a>
<a href="http://www.hemmings.com" target="_blank">www.hemmings.com</a>
<a href="http://www.parcars.com" target="_blank">www.parcars.com</a>
<a href="http://www.poorsh.com" target="_blank">www.poorsh.com</a>

Absolutely, positively get a PPI done before buying the Medina car, or any other car for that matter. Only a proper leak-down test could reveal the possible need for a $5000 top end engine rebuild.