Spyder_Man

Not to repeat too much of what others have said here but here goes:

1) if you've got an insider connection on '89 g-50 Carrera 3.2, then you definitely need to check it out. Those models are appreciating too and the '89 (being the last year of production) is very desirable. These are great classic 911s that are very reliable and drive able as a DD. They're a bit simpler than the 964/993 models too so you might save some money on ownership costs too.

2) I started my Porshe ownership in a 986 Boxster. Yes it is water cooled and not rear engine, but it is one really fun we'll put together car. The early Boxsters are a bargain buy right now too. That said, if you want the 911 experience then a Boxster isn't right for you.

3) I ended up with a high mileage '95 C2 (narrow body) for under $30 earlier this year. There are repairs needed and I'm trying to DIY where able. It was what I could afford and I'm happy with it, but the buy the best condition that you can afford logic is very worth listening too.

In the long haul I'd probably have saved some money buying a more well sorted 993 for more money upfront, but it would have meant several more years of not having the 993 on hand to enjoy. Plus the one I bought happened to be the body style and color combo that I wanted, so it would have been hard to pass it by. I found my 993 through the PCA mart, so look there too!

Just some more thoughts for you to muddle over.

nine9six

At the low 40's price point, you will still need some luck, opportunity, preparedness, and due dilligence to find the right car; even for a nicely documented and maintained NB.

NYC993

I would agree and add that 996tt is a bargain. For $40k you can find well sorted turbo that should be pretty reliable and a true performance bargain.

Van1

What is a "normal 993 C4S motor" and how does it differ from the replacement engine the owner installed which happens to be from a Targa?

chsu74

I would look seriously into this option..

rg0115

I emailed him about his car. Hopefully will hear back from him.

FlyinTomato

taking a loan probably isn't half a bad idea actually. 993 will continue to go up in price. I guess it's really 1/2 toy 1/2 investment in a way. I had cash to buy my 964 a year ago. But I took out a loan instead (at 2.5% interest). Now my car is probably worth a lot more than I paid for.

just watch out for the slippery slope. Best of luck buying your dream car.

993Mpls

FlyinTomato: What is that GIF in your signature line? that is really cool.

Falcondrivr

Here is a list of every 993 6-speed coupe listed on auto trader and cars.com as of this morning. You can hopefully use it as a shopping tool. I use it to do market research when shopping or selling (I'm the 39,500 white c2 3rd up from the bottom.) I can email it as an excel spreadsheet if someone wants to manipulate the data different ways. I also have one for the 997 manual coupes. But its only auto trader as there are 9,000,000 997s for sale...

rg0115

Great analysis. I would love to have an excel version. please send it to robert.greipel@mitchell.com

race911

Love the 190K 4S at.........well, I won't let my wife see this spreadsheet with mine sitting in the backyard under a cover on jackstands.........

(At least she got a what's what on pricing from a third party in my cousin on Sunday when we talked about what his 993 Turbo would fetch today.)

Falcondrivr

that 190K c4s looks pretty good in the ad... Recent rebuild, aero kit, etc...

NYC993

It's 100% toy, unless you buy low mile 993 and put it in storage hoping to sell in 3-5 years for higher price, in which case it's speculation.

race911

I don't want to get too bitchy and go total grammar police on you here, but here are some corrections:

1. The '75-6 49 state cars did not have thermal reactors. '75-6 CA + '77 50 state did.

2. '75-79 (yes, that includes the first two years of the SC) had EGR and air pumps. It's not a killer, emissions-wise. '74 had nothing.

3. '74 benefited mainly in the respect they were still equipped with the classic 3-into-1 heat exchangers, and still carried the shorter 31/7 final drive ratio.

4. '76 912E had thermal reactors in CA. ('75-6 914 with the same VW Type IV engine had an oxydizing catalytic converter.)

5. Mg case was from '69 2.0-'77 2.7L. I have rebuilt some 2.4L engines that pulled studs. It's all about heat, mainly from lack of an external oil cooler.

6. The first Al cases after the 2.0L engines from '65-8 were offered in both normally aspirated and turbocharged form on 3.0L cars for '76-7. (The Carrera 3.0 was a ROW car, though a few have ended up here.) They used the same crank as the 2.4L and 2.7L engine. From '78-89 ('92 with the Turbos), the case was completely different and accepted either a 70.4 or 74.4mm stroke crank (3.0-3.2-3.3L engines all came off of this case).

7. 915 transaxle cases were Mg until sometime into the '77 production.

8. Club race weight for a 3.2L car is 2650. At least when I was racing my RS America. Race weight for that car was 2750. At that time those were weight without driver. Current Spec 911 race weight (with driver) is ~2400 lbs., and has a ~250HP 3.0L. My 3.8L car can barely pull one at 3150 lbs., on track weight. Can you pull significant weight out of a torsion bar car? Sure. Just depends on how much you want to spend, and if it's a hot rod DE car or built to a set of rules.

9. 1975 and older are emissions testing exempt in CA. (As are cars up-to six years old, hybrids, electrics, high GVW vehicles, and things like motorcycles.)

race911

No. Period. It's an extremely expensive car that is now falling into the hands of "dude who has that much to spend." I've learned more than I've really wanted to know with mine over the past 3 months, and I'm glad I have the one I have. But how much do you think it would cost at retail to comprehensively go through my transaxle? (I know full well what MY cost--own labor + parts--will be.) But that's the reason the car fell through the cracks, and into my bottom feeder hands.

Oh, and there IS a ~130K mile, sub-$25K one here in the East Bay. Good luck to any but a shop owner or off-the-chart DIY guy with that one.