Trader220

What are the differences between the 86 and the 87/88 turbos? US models... thanks

UDPride

Random stuff off the top of my head:

1986:
- Had the old style headlight enclosure. Not quite as streamlined.
- the PORSCHE on rear mid taillight bumper assembly was black and not opaque
- I "think" they still had 7 and 8 inch Fuchs standard. I could be wrong on this. I know in 88 they were 8s and 9s. Something tells me I once read this changed somewhere.

1987:
- Streamlined headlights
- Went to opaque PORSCHE on rear assembly
- Only year they went with the rear third taillight pod on coupes

1988
- Back to rear window third taillight (which I hate b/c I cant see the car behind me)
- Last yr for 4spd obviously

Im sure theres a few more items.

S4drifter

Mechanically speaking, the biggest difference is that the 87-88's got the G50 transmission which to most, is considered more desirable.

911rudy

I'm no expert but I don't think the 88 or 87 Turbos had the g-50 tranny. I have an '87 and it dosen't. I believe the 89 had it.

JBH

No G-50 until 1989

UDPride

Oh I think the 87s and on had H4s(?). The lamps were streamlined but also I think they were upgraded.

justkickenit

The 87 and 88 have the 4 speed G-50 tranny and the 89 has a 5 speed G-50 tranny.

Red Rocket

I have an 87 with the third brake light in the rear window, which really does cut the rear view.
Don

Trader220

Having just sold an 89 I know it had the G-50/50 5 speed not the standard G50. Thanks I was really wondering if the 4sp in the 86 was different the the 4sp in the 87/8. I am kicking around the idea of an 86. I forgot the headlight change, thanks guys. If someone knows for sure on the tranny it would be a help.

PT

The 930s has the 4 speed 930 gearbox until 89 where its upgraded to 5 speed G50/50 gearbox.

Trader220

PT, what you're saying then is that the 4sp in the 86 is the same as the 87 and 88? Thats what I believe but I am just double checking

D

87 and on has "H5" headlights. 4spd is the same from 86 to 88, 5spd in 89 only. All have the same 3.3 liter engine, not sure however if the turbochargers differ or if the pollution systems differ. All produce roughly 300hp out of the box... but as we all know they can all be modified to produce more than anybody needs but never enough for what everybody thinks they want!

reed

The '86 had the same gearbox as the '87 and '88. No changes to the gearbox until '89. The '87 - '89 did not have the H4 headlights. They were H5s and generally considered pretty poor in the lighting department. They are also not upgradeable because the housing is plastic and the lenses are not optimal. To convert to H4s you will need an adapter. The '86 headlight is easily converted to the euro H4 units which are head and shoulders better than the H5s.

The wheels in '86 were the same as the later years, 7" and 9".

Also, the standard interior for the '86 was full leather including the dash, door tops, rear parcel shelf--basically everything that looks like leather is leather. That was changed in '87 because of warranty claims in hot climates where the leather would shrink. As well as a bit of cost cutting at a time when the dollar was weakening by the day.

All in all, the '86 -'89 cars are almost identical (with the '89 trans. the only notable exception). With the cars now approaching twenty years old, I think condition is far more important than looking for any specific year.

UDPride

Now that is weird. Were you the original owner? Perhaps the pod was swapped out at one time? Or there was a special option code to get rid of the pod?

justkickenit

I stand corrected. The G50 was installed in the 3.2 Carrera beginning in 1987 but the 930 used a heavy duty 4 speed 930 tranny. The 930 did not get the G50 tranny until 1989. You can read more about this here: http://www.rennsportsystems.com/1-d.html.