Brett San Diego

LOL. It's much easier than that. Buy a copy of The Used 911 Story by Peter Zimmerman. It's about 20 pages to cover the 1978 to 1989 model year changes. Not that much to digest. The major changes were in injection system (from K-jetronic CIS in 1978-79 to CIS with an oxygen sensor in 1980 to motronic (DME) in 1984, which was then constant to 1989), displacement increase (3.2 L in 1984), and transmission (to the g50 in 1987). There was a little suspension tweaking. Front torsion bars were the same for every year 1978-1989. Rear torsion bars went to 25 mm in 1986, and sway bars got a little thicker in 1986, too. The rest is fluff... headlamp changes, electric seats, electric door locks, A/C improvements, etc.

Brett

Chuck Harmon

Ok, I've had both, an 83SC Targa and an 89 Silver Anniversary. I have an 88 now....long story.
It really depends on the car and what your expectations are. If you are looking at bone stock daily driver
I'd go 89...if you are looking to get/build a ton o fun weekend get away thriller/daily driver, either car would do,the SC/83 would be the go to car bang for the bucks.

911 Crazy

@Ed: Point well taken. Search officially expanded. By the way, I got a line on a single owner cave that it's owner is able to move back home! Thanks for all of your advice!

@Jakeflyer: Also, point well taken. You all are my new found friends and I value your comments! I do like your last comment. There are alot of things that I think I thunk, but now know that I know not all that I thunk!!!

ivangene

FWIW I daily drive my 86 with over 175k miles on her....

why would you narrow the search so much, just look for a good car that speaks to you and passes your list of things you think you are looking for - you could get a turd of an 89' as well as a 78', then again there are plenty of good cars between these years that would more than good enough to fit your needs

and I agree with your wife...... it doesn't have to be so hard or complicated

911 Crazy

@Brett: One step ahead of you. Book ordered 8 days ago. Should be here today! Thanks for the run down of the major changes. Some I knew, some I only thunk I knew and others I had no clue!

@Chuck: I think I will end up with both within a couple of years so I will look for the best deal available. Thanks!

@ivangene: What's so complicated? This is a BLAST!!! Most fun I've had in years! Also want to avoid all Turds! Got enough of those with 3 little kids, 2 dogs and a guinea pig to last a lifetime!

Caferacer

To expand on what others have said, focussing so narrowly on two model years would seem to unecessarily complicate and lengthen your search. I agree that the search is fun, but what I have found over the last three months is that driving the be-jesus out of my 911 is infinitely more fun. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying to act precipitously, just don't exclude a great car because it was made in the wrong year but is otherwise nearly identical to one made a year or two later.

You don't mention where you are looking. I was told that there were some nice cars in CT so I did a 200 mile radius search on Autotrader. CT did indeed have some nice examples including the one I ultimately purchased. Also, you don't need an @ sign, you can call me Robey. #thisisnttwitter

Robey

Chuck Harmon

Finding the right car is important. The big decision is choosing between a rough 89 and a clean 83,
both cars same price.Good luck !

ivangene

you think this part is fun, wait till you are looking at your new baby in the garage with your floor jack wondering where to stick it....

JABSEA

I found it interesting that I kept looking even after I bought mine. Took me awhile to ramp down from the fun of looking... I only look occasionally now.

whalebird

To the OP, you will seriously limit yourself if you think that 83/89 are the best of those eras. It's not that way with a 911. 78 and later cars are all about the same sans small changes as noted above. The 84 and on Carreras are very nice with the updated injection and 3.2. Many would say an 86 is the best of them all with the best from each era rolled into one. I don't disagree, but I would measure any particular candidate on it's own merits regardless of year. Please do the search on this forum for more info and probably some misinformation too. You will have further questions concerning the year-by-year break down and you should bring them up here for clarification.
I'm tempted to say that you have not done that much research if an 83/89 come up roses. Be patient and get some specific questions on the table. Furthermore, when you do bring one home, the community here on Rennlist and locally with PCA (Porsche club) will broaden your ownership experience dramatically and wil include involvement from all of your family. Keep looking and ask lots of questions here.
Get Peter Zimmermans book and also refer to his "PPI" thread stuck at the top of this forums list.

Jay Gratton

You should contact Ray Ayer @ Ayer European in Gardner, Maine. Ray is outstand and tell him I passed you along to him. If he can't find it, it doesn't exist.

http://www.ayereuropeanauto.com/

Busta Rib

OP, have you driven both an SC and 3.2? From a driving-feel perspective, the biggest difference you will probably feel between the two would be the transmission and perhaps a little extra grunt with the 3.2, all other things being equal. If you are not set on a G50 and willing to live with the 915, it opens up a lot of options. I would tend to agree with other folks and advise you broaden your net to other years and find the best example (once you have decided between an SC and 3.2). Good luck with your search. Sounds like you are enjoying it, which is great to hear.

w00tPORSCHE

While I can understand the allure and charm of a G-50 gearbox which is an utterly fantastic gearbox which shifts smoothly and precisely, I would certainly not use the word "live with" when it comes to a 915 gearbox. To me that implies thar one is making a compromise by going for the earlier cars and I would disagree. I made the same mistake until my family here (theWB, Eds, the helios et al) directed me in the right path. All the earlier 911s are a blast to drive and please don't be fixated (like I was) about a particular year. The press always goes gaga over '87 through '89 models but I would take a well cared for '84 or '85 over a '88 with a chequered past. I would go one step further and say (Running the risk of being crucified) that the real joy and satisfaction is only found in learning and mastering the intricacies of a 915 gearbox. My air-cooled experience would have been incomplete without the involving shifts of my '86 coupe. Thank you Ed (ivangene) and Ed hughes. You both are the only reason I got the car that was right for me. There have been incremental improvements made over the years on these cars. The best car to buy is one that has been well cared for and not the one that is red in color or has the least miles or the one with the bigger air vents. Many experts say that the '89 Carrera is the best of the lot and in general they carry a premium. Too bad I did not get a 915 gearbox discount ;-) when I got my '86 coupe.

Ed Hughes

^^^Exactly. Heck, if you want the ultimate G50, go for one of the 6 speed models...

dshepp806

Just the normal G50 is an improvement over what Porsche offered originally,..tis' why they "upgraded" the tranny...not knocking the 915 (BTW)..it's not the 915's fault that Porsche ridded this tranny for something better (improved),..just M.O.

Doyle