Is it better to buy a 1995 OBDI vs OBDII models ????

 

search is your friend. Search SAI (secondary air injector) and CEL (check engine light).

also look at the survivalist guide to rennlist above.

 

12HP is definitely worth the price for that annoying CEL.
just my $0.02

 

Welcome to the 993 board!

Lots and lots of threads on this issue. Try a search.

I chose a '95...

 

have'ta agree w/ 'pk' on the 12hp thing &.... i love the varioram. really love it @ around 6000rpms!

 

bb993 - you are going to find a number of proponents on this board for each car. As the others have stated a search will provide you with more than enough info. The basic issue is the extra hp of varioram vs. the extra sensitivity of the OBDII ecu. The CEL will activate in the OBDII cars due to the well-known carbon build-up issue (which IMHO happens to a very small % of our cars). OBDI CELs will not activate from this problem because they do not detect it, not because it doesn't occur.
I am in the group that feels the small varioram performance gains are worth the potential risk of an activated CEL. In addition, tuners like Steve Weiner can remap '97 & '98 ECU's for added performance. Yes it is approximately $500 more expensive then swapping out the chip in '95 cars but you end up w/ around 295 - 300 hp @ the flywheel. Steve correct me if I am wrong but '96 ECU's can't be remapped and need to be switched to '97s ?

 

As akolodesh states, the CEL on OBDII cars is not the problem. The underlying problem is the carbon build-up that's not detected by OBDI equipped cars. The carbon build up is caused by running unleaded gas and burning oil through worn walve guides. I guess the later has always been a problem with 911 engines (my '84 Carrera had it) and is a function of either the material that Porsche used and/or maybe excessive wear due to running the engine with high rpms without letting the oil reach operating temperature. I believe it was Steve Weiner who once mentioned that the carbon build-up can result in poorly cooled valves that can break with "interesting" results. I drove my '84 Carrera for 20k miles with "clicking valves" with no problems before I sold it.

Personally I would not limit my search to s specific model year. Find the car with the right color combo that has been well maintained.

 

1995 and chip it with a drilled out air box and RSR mufflers !

Sweet and reasonable,how ever I would buy that guys C4S with the tip !

 

In addition to the increased HP the varioram adds some noticable torque and changes the torque curve a little. There are lots of threads related to the 95 vs 96+ cars. You will find people on both sides of the fence on which is better/perferred.

 

I'm solidly in the 95 camp as well ... the thought of forking out thosands to pass emissions is a deterent to me, especially when the car runs perfectly well despite what the CEL says. I've owned 95s and a 97, and can't feel more than a subtle difference overall. A chip from Steve is on my wish list, so I can run with the Varioram guys ;-)

Vic
95 C4 cab

 

The point where I disagree is on the expectations from chip tuning alone. IMHO: The important thing is to raise the torque curve in the lower to mid-rev range. One always talks of max hp... I also do not believe that with a chip alone you will raise the hp to 300 hp. To get anywhere close to that you generally need some physical mods as well (for example, to the exhaust system, air filter). Even then... Remember that a 3.8L mod by Porsche only gets you 300 hp.

 

This is right on the money, IMHO. Color, specs, mods, records, and condition are all more important and swayed me away from a "nice" 96 to a near-immaculate 95.

Edward

 

$6000 to fix the CEL.

I don't know if this is the going rate for this repair, but, even if it were half of that cost, I still find $3000 to be an unacceptable hit to the wallet. My $0.02.

 

Uh - you can buy a cheap, high mileage 96 C4S and have that fabulous rear end and cute "S" on the grill

But, you will probably have a CEL issue at some point .

Seriously, if I was doing it again I'd get a 95 with a chip and without the basket handle and call it a day. The CEL issue sucks on 96 cars. My light is eternally on, with a stupid piece of black gaffers tape over it. I dread the day I get an emmissions notice in the mail. Pray for me

Steve

 

Of course, $3,000 will buy you 300 rolls of gaffer's tape.