dan911man

Am looking to buy my first Porsche, my price range is £ 13-18 k this targets the 964 and 3.2 options for best models (cannot buy 1972 era which I love as have no garage)
I like both shapes and appreciate both cars are different.
I hear things all the time regarding running costs of 964 and things can spiral out of control, where as you buy an old 3.2 and they are cheap to run although handle differently to the 964.
Can someone please give me objective advice here and anything to look out for.
Appreciate all serious replies !
Thanks,
Dan

Superunknown

Hmmm, IMO for £18k you can get a top notch, well sorted 964. I would take this over a similar condition 3.2 anyday due to more modern look, better gearbox, engine, suspension etc....

Due to the age of these cars now most of the problems should be sorted out but make sure you get a PPI first.

springer3

Both are fine cars. Drive several of each, and then decide. Owners of 3.2 Carraras tend to exagerate the running costs and hassles with a 964. I think the reliability slightly favors the 964 because it is newer and has more modern technology, particularly the diagnostic system that makes it much easier to troubleshoot a 964. Running costs are higher for the 964 because it has more of almost everything: six extra spark plugs, one extra cap and rotor to replace. The superior climate control comes at the cost of more complicated and expensive repairs. Running costs are pennies per mile higher on the 964. You get a lot more performance and comfort for very little extra money with a 964. Both 3.2 Carreras and 964s can be a miserable money pit if you buy an abused or neglected example. Buy well, and you will enjoy either car.

This is the 964 forum. I expect you will hear more negatives on the 3.2 forum, but even those guys are grudgingly admitting that the 964 is worthy of the Porsche tradition. It is more: it is the finest 911 Porsche ever built because it is the only one that combines old-fashioned build quality with modern design and modern technology.

dan911man

thanks for the candid reply, i have posted the same in 964 and sc section, guess i need to buy best quality car for my price range, hopefully 18k sterling could get me a good 964. thanks !

Red rooster

Dan,
Have you tried driving both ? Buying a 911 because you like the look , other peoples opinions etc , is not a smart move !

Both the 3.2 and 964 have their own little issues which are for you to judge .

You have the money for a good car, so get going !!!!

Geoff

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KS400200 , the oldest 964 on Rennlist , unless you know differently !

bb964

964's have airbags and antilock brakes - in my opinion these feachures are important.

DAVISRILEY

I have a 964 and had a 3.2. Loved both, but have stuck with the 964. The 3.2 was just a little to "raw" for me to drive as an everyday car, but I use the 964 every day. Climate control was a big part of the decision, and the 964's works much better than the 3.2. I do miss the manual steering in the 3.2, had a little better feel, but I love the extra power and low end that the 964 has. As far as running costs, both cars were fairly reasonable, as far as a Porsche goes. Much of the money that I have spent on either car is on upgrades, and I do all of my own work, so I don't have much labor charges. I agree with springer about buying a well maintained example, as that has served me well. Drive them both, and get ppi's. Good luck. You will enjoy either one.

dan911man

Thanks all, appreciate the advice, will try test driving some 964's.

tbennett017

As much a question of which car, the other question is what kind of driver are you? If you are going to have a relationship, which kind do you want? The key to my happiness with these cars is that they are a balance between technology and features, yet still are fixable by most do it your selfers... Later cars need more specialty tools (diagnostic computers) while earlier cars are more raw and primal. For me, at least, the 964 represents the iconic Porsche vibe, yet it has amenities and speed, but I can also stay up late at night with it in the garage and turn wrenches, and make improvements. Just the kind of "co-dependent" relationship that makes me happy...

Paul Morgan

I have owned SC's, T's, a 75 S and a 912...lots of seat time.
To be honest, you may not appreciate the innate difference a 964 represents without a few hours in an SC, 3.2 or older 911.

The first time I drove a 964 I was smitten because it was so much better than any other Porsche I had owned: No kidding, not even close.

That, and the nod to the styling cues of the past, was all I needed.

last toy

Stick with a 91 or older to be on the safe side. 90's were plagued with cylinder head leaks from their infamous gasketless head design. Supposedly, the leaks occured early in the warranty period so most were fixed by dealers. But the cost to fix around $8-10k. I have a 90 with 60k miles and love it and so far no issues. The 964 has just enough creature comforts with a real raw 911 engine to be a great street car you can drive long trips.

Preeble

I had a 3.2 and now have a 964. I loved both, but for me, the 964 is a much better car for similar money. What is important to me is the airbags, ABS, better (larger) brakes, more power, more modern suspension and climate control. Most of the later 964s also had the 17" wheels (vs. 16 inch fuchs).

I did like my Carrera. Looking back, I thought that the car had a lot of character and definitely had a 'raw' feel to it. However, for me the 964 is a more appropriate car.

Roly Baldwin

IMHO this is a big myth about 964s. There are plenty of 964s with oil leaks but they rarely leak from the head gasket (or lack of it) and if they do it's trivial. I've owned many 964s but have never had one with a serious head gasket problem and I've never seen a repair bill for this type of work either.

I love my 1990 964.

Andy Roe

Here's another vote to not getting hung up on the oil leak myths about the 964. I've had 2 of them and both OK. My current one has an engine that is bone dry, which is not bad for any engine after 16 years and 140,000km!

Get the 964 - they're quicker too!

last toy

I agree that the 964 is a great car as I am having a tough time justifying selling mine for a turbo. My 90 964 has been just too reliable and fun to drive. My only point was to alert a potential 964 buyer that the gasket problem exist and could cost big bucks. I had a Porsche dealer give me an estimate to do a fix when I had a leak which they immediatly "assumed" it had to do with the heads. It turned out to be trivial timing chain cover leak. Also, I don't think this is a myth regarding the gasketless issue. To what extent it is a problem since 1990 is anyone's guess.