tlarocque

In an effort to decrease my monthly expenses I am (reluctantly) contemplating selling my 996 GT3 in favor of an earlier 911. I have never liked the looks of the 996 but the GT3 absolutely rips on the track. I have a decent offer on the table.

I have located a couple interesting cars and wanted to see if anybody here had an opinion on which might be more fun as a track car. Both cars are well set-up with big brakes, tasty suspension upgrades (both on coilovers), lightweight interiors with race seats and rollbars. I believe both owners have built their cars with particular attention to detail.

First is an '84 Carrera with 3.4l twin plug motor. Claimed 300hp and 2250 lbs. 915 gearbox. Neat looking car, very fresh everything, would have to import from Canada.

Second is a '90 C2 that has a fresh 3.8 motor. Claimed 292whp and around 2700 lbs. Stock G-50 tranny. Car in southeast.

Both are priced similarly.

Any thoughts from the gallery? Car will be for DE use, rare weekend romps. Am I going to wish I had just kept the GT3?

dave morris

Probably. If you decide to proceed w/ either of the two you described, recommend lots of caution and due-diligence.

Amber Gramps

this sounds like my car...

OK, it sounds like Ed's car.

The other one isn't even a 911.

rusnak

Could be the angle, but the rear deck script in the avatar looks too high.

Why don't you just do some simple power to weight ratios?

tlarocque

Power to weight ratios are all in the mid 7's with a slight edge to the '84.

Think its the angle, the deck script is straight from the factory, the tail was added at the time of purchase in 1988.

Come on, nobody has an opinion? I like the clean lines of the 964 but I envision adding some RSR flares to the '84 car and making it a widebody (some day, at least). Maybe I should buy one and then decide if I keep it or the GT3 after I've driven them both!

84_Carrera

I would have leaned more toward the 84 as well. The Canada thing gets me a little though... more aggravation potentially?

Nine11

I don't know how it goes from Canada to US, but US to Canada for an 84 is easy peasy...it's over 15 years old and our rules are very forgiving for cars of that vintage.

g-50cab

The consumables on the 3.4 will be about 1/2 that of the 964. The 3.4 will also have 70% less electronics. BUT the 3.8 has gobs of torque and it's much easier and cheaper to lose weight. Both sound fun

2002M3Drew

If you were to plot these cars on a line graph, you would have the 911(3.2 body with 3.4)...then the 964...993...996...and 996 GT3, which deserves it's own step because of the vast differences from a 996. It depends on how far backward you want to go. I love the earlier cars, so a 3.2 with a 3.4 putting out 300hp sounds like nirvana to my ears. The heavier, bigger displacement 3.6 964 (with coliovers, ABS, G50 tranny, etc) is going to feel a world newer, more refined, and heavier than the 3.4, but will still feel much more raw than your GT3. The 3.4 will be more of a challenge to drive, no doubt (and again, I challenge that I love, but is not everyone's cup of tea). I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know.

If your taste is a fast, raw DE that (well driven) should easily hang with GT3s, then I would go with the 3.4. If you plan to use this for street, peasure, and some DE, I'd go with the C2.

TroyN

As a track car would definitely lean towards the Carrera. I've had more modern Porsches but love the manual racks, torsion bar ride/handling, and the lighter weight. A 2250 pound car sounds like great fun on the track.

tlarocque

Yeah, that's where I'm leaning. I have the'88 Carrera that I love driving on the track, I just get tired of everything else out there blowing by me. I had considered buying another Carrera and swapping a 3.6 motor but I think I'd be happier just buying a finished product. Plus, here's the list of what else is already on the car.... 5000 miles on the motor.




BODY:

84 rust free chassis
F/G front hood
F/G rear ducktail
F/G front IROC style bumper
F/B rear bumper
Lexan rear window (964 seal)
Lexan rear 1/4 windows (993) seals
Sunroof
935 aero mirrors
H4 headlights
R style tail lights

INTERIOR

OG racing roll bar
Perlon RS carpet
Rennline one piece lower dash
Custom F/G dash pad covered in suede like material
RS door panels
Rennline dead pedal
Hargett Shifter
SPG seats with grey suede like inserts
Schroth 6 point harnesses and stock seat belts
Momo steering wheel

SUSPENSION

Front ERP 935 A-arms
Custom valved Bilstien RSR raised spindle struts
300lb coils
SRP bump steer kit (gusseted to steering arm)
SRP "smooth steering" upgrade
SRP monoballs
Elephant 935 trunk/strut brace
Tarett anit-roll bar

Rear TRG 935 spring plates
Elephant sealed monoballs
Tarett anti-roll bar
RSR custom valved rear shocks
450lb coils

BRAKES

Fabcar dual master cylinder setup with remote adjustable bias
Steel braided lines
Brembo GTP kit
Porterfield R4S pads

TRANSMISSION

915 with stock gearing
Factory LSD
WEVO side cover with 930 bearing
8:31
will include an excellent 7:31 as well
Shifts perfect
Sachs power clutch with aluminum PP
All new CV joints

ENGINE

3.4 liter
98mm cylinders by EBS
10.5CR JE pistons (measured cr)
3.2 case with boat tailed mains
3.2 oil pump
balanced rods with ARP bolts
ARP head studs
3.2 twin plug heads
all new valves
Ti retainers
DRC race valve springs
DR 44 cams
Jenvey 48mm throttles with custom tapered manifolds, custom linkage
Accel injectors
6 msd twin pole coils
1 5/8 headers with M&K twin pipe sport muffler
Large Setrab front mount oil cooler, RSR ducting
tea strainers and piper cross filters included
Microtech ECU

MUSSBERGER

996 GT3 is an awesome car. Some say better than the 997 version. If I knew what I know now I would have bought one instead of my 997. You'll be sorry

rusnak

I'm sorry to repeat, but you should calculate #pounds, divide by BHP. Then compare them. Do the same with the GT3.

whalebird

I may not be popular with this, but a 964 is an awesome machine. Outfitted like you describe, I think you would be faster on the track. On paper the 84 is really sweet, but I think the massivly improved chassis of the 964 along with monsterous torque will mean more in the seat than on paper. I really like the 964 cars and have had LOTS of experiance with them including motorsports. A 915 in the 84 may be problematic if it is really making that much power. The Wevo side plate is good, but there are lots on inside stuff to consider.
In my mind, the 964 represents the very best of the old world, and much of the new world goodies also. It really is a cool car and is by no means a slouch. Really night/day differance between them in my mind.
Hope this perspective helps.
I am sure you will have fun either way.
Good luck

tlarocque

Estimated weights and powers. None of them suck.

'84 Carrera = 2250/300 = 7.5 @ $32,000
'90 C2 = 2700/340 = 7.95 @ $36,000
'04 GT3 = 3000/380 = 7.89 @ $50,000