Deanriffs

What should I consider as I think I about a normally-aspirated 993 vs. an early 90s 964 Turbo. I know they are quite different cars, but in about the same price point.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Dean

jusafan

This might help:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ight=964+turbo

Has some discussion you might find relevant.

LT1

Cant beat the look of the 964 widebody with the huge fixed tail. The stock exhaust has a great burble. The build quality is better than my 993TT. The 964T with be faster harder/more fun to drive and you'll have to get used to keeping the car up in the rev range to avoid the lag. If you're looking for a weekend fun car go for the turbo. If its going to be a driver, maybe the 993

Edward

Love my 993, but I'd get the Turbo. Or even better, if you can swing the extra $$, get the 3.6 turbo (1994). It has all the look of the classic 911 with serious attitude. and of course with turbos, power upgrades are nearly endless.

Edward

Alan C.

I had 2 94 3.6 turbos. I wish I had kept the white one. A few mods and 380 rwhp. A lot of fun to drive.

Deanriffs

Thanks for your insights, everyone. It sounds like the bottom line is, the 964T could be more fun as a weekend car, which is the intention, but maintenance (thanks jusafan) could be a hassle.

Those who have had 964Ts, how much of a hassle is/was maintenance? Any annual cost figures or things to watch for? I'm concerned about oil leaks and other chronic issues.

There is a white 1991 turbo w/31K miles for sale in Chicago that I may go see today. It looks very clean. The price is $39.8K.

TrackJunke

I test drove a 91 Turbo before getting my 993. I was using the car as a daily driver and I thought the 993 would be the better car due to the lack of turbo lag. I dont regret it at all.

TheOtherEric

A good friend of mine drives a '91 964T, and the thing is very fast. But his car has now been in the shop I think about 6 weeks (with 5 track days paid for and lost) due to a mysterious engine performance problem. So yes, the added complexity can take its toll. Of course, I'm not one to talk, since my car was in the shop over 1 month for an engine rebuild due to leaks.

Edward

The early 964s had issues with oil leaks, distrib belt breakage, etc ...the teething pains of a first-model year, I surmise. But many of those issues have been addressed by this point in time. You MUST make sure they have been done so you don't have to absorb such daunting/expensive repairs. Once these issues have been resolved, I do not see the 964 to more trouble than a 993. But a thorough PPI by someone who *really knows* 964Ts is paramount here.

Have you put this on the 964 board ...you may get more responses there.

The 964T is a great car (heck, any Porsche Turbo is a Supercar). When you get it don't forget to post pics on this here board, now --remember, you asked US for advice

Edward

Andy Roe

The early 964 Turbo's used the 3.3L engine from the 911 Turbo of 1989, so leaks & dizzy belt problems will not be somthing you'll have to be concerned about. By the time the 3.6 Turbo was introduced in 1994, the Oil leaks were fixed with the 964 cylinder heads, so again, you should be OK with this. I also beleive the 3.6 Turbo only used 1 spark plug per cylider, so the twin distributors were not used ie. no belt to break.

Whether you buy a 993 or a Turbo, be sure to get a PPI done. One thing to remember, is that you don't have to drive on the boost all the time. I've got a 964, and it's quick enough low down the rev range, as I'm sure a 3.3 or 3.6 Turbo would be.

Go for the Turbo.

Andy

PS. The Turbo will cost more to insure - sometimes as much as 50% more!

Doc V.

Some 1991 and 1992 Turbos were recalled because of defective software in the turbo control unit (Service Action 291). The turbo unit "must be checked and, if necessary, replaced on vehicles affected by this service action: Model 1991: WPOAA296-MS480504 to WPOAA296-MS480673 [and] Model 1992: WPOAA296-NS480061 to WPOAA296-NS480290."

965 618 130 00 is the part number for the replacement turbo control unit. Since the 1991 Turbo in which you're interested, hedgs00, is no longer under warranty, verify that the unit has been replaced. The cost of a replacement turbo control unit is significant.

Moreover, 1991 and 1992 Turbos were subject to a safety recall for a defective hydraulic brake pressure reduction valve (part number 965 355 305 01).

Service for a 1991 911 Turbo will be significantly higer than service for a normally aspirated 993. A concise compilation of road tests for most 911 variations is Porsche 911 Gold Portfolio: 1990-1997. You may be surprised by auto journalists' evaluations of 3.3 liter 964-bodied Turbos.

LT1

My 964T ran perfectly. I found no more maintenance than 15k/30k service as well as oil changes. In fact my 97TT has been in the shop way more with higher dollar fixes. About insurance, I found my 92 turbo to be quite reasonable through "American Hobbyist". They demand that the collector car be insured as your second car (you have to prove that you have a driver). In fact my 993TT is only $950 a yearwith a $75K agreed value. My chevelle is $158/yr with an agreed value of $16K. The 964T was somewhere in between and that's in NJ!

cobalt

Great advice guys.

A couple of things I might be able to add. IMO the 3.6T is a superior car over the 91-92 3.3l although the 91-92's are great cars. Both can be moded to become very fast cars.

Pros: 3.6T has the big reds up front, 18" speedlines, larger displacement less lag more low end torque over the 3.3l. My car is pumping out 430 hp with only a couple of mods albeit somewhat pricey. The thing is scary fast. Z06's and Dodge vipers stay in my mirror, no problem.

Cons: Turbo lag, loud limited slip, works great sounds like your grinding teeth. AC not as good as the 993's, 993 has better wiper blade set up and if equiped better lights and stereo. Very annoying third brake light on the 964's. Very raw car in comparison to the 993.

Some say the suspension on the 993 is far superior, IMO with some minor tuning of the 964T it is a non issue. Although the turbo stock suspension sucks and the 993 will always be smoother over slow bumps and basic road imperfections. You have a lot to start with and can make the 964T anything you want it to be. The 993 is quick but is lacking the torque of the turbo.

My advice as others had said, for the weekend the 964T although the turbo is not for everyone and requires all your attention to drive properly. For more than occasional use or daily driver the 993 for sure.

Looks are subjective and IMO the stock 993 is superior looking to the 964 but the 964T is a car in its own catagory. An example to help you decide. Sorry for posting a 964 in 993 land.

DJF1

Dont be sorry I actually think that the 964 Turbo is the best looking Porsche ever! The only thing that prevented me from getting one 5 years ago was the price...

Jean

The only nice thing about that car is the colour!
j/k

Nothing beats the looks and feel of a 3.6T 964. I miss mine everyday even with the 993TT that I have.