Who else is thinking of picking up an Air Cooled?
09-03-2015, 02:06 PM
#16
Nordschleife Master
Some say it is a bubble, but perhaps it is not. Early cars are fun for those who get what a 911 is. Drive one before you make up your mind. I like them.
09-03-2015, 02:23 PM
#17
I own two air cooled cars and keep looking at 997s. I can't bring myself to sell either one but one would probably have to go if I were ever to pick up a 997. I like the newer cars for their comfort and refinement (as I am getting older...) and they are great for long highway miles. But there is something very special about the way Porsche made cars in the not too distant past. Panzer tank build quality with soul and character thrown in. A bit quirky too with hidden buttons and controls. Those fantastic headlights up through '94, like no other car.
But... the older ones can be a bit primitive by today's standards. Cramped, noisy, etc., (you could say that is part of their charm) along with that, though, comes the wonderful smells of the older cars - I love turning on the heat!
On the other hand I never worry about disintegrating water pumps, bore scoring, etc., found on the newer cars. Those things give me pause... The air cooled engines aren't perfect but aren't plagued with problems that will have you looking at a complete strip-down and rebuild.
If you haven't spent any time in one see if you could drive one for a bit before you take the plunge.
But... the older ones can be a bit primitive by today's standards. Cramped, noisy, etc., (you could say that is part of their charm) along with that, though, comes the wonderful smells of the older cars - I love turning on the heat!
On the other hand I never worry about disintegrating water pumps, bore scoring, etc., found on the newer cars. Those things give me pause... The air cooled engines aren't perfect but aren't plagued with problems that will have you looking at a complete strip-down and rebuild.
If you haven't spent any time in one see if you could drive one for a bit before you take the plunge.
09-03-2015, 04:05 PM
#19
I owned a 1991 964 C2 for 5 years and sold in the spring r more than double what I paid and picked up a 997.1 C2S. They are both fantastic machines and I feel lucky to have experienced both. I don't think however that the current prices for air cooled cars represent good value. I'm still of the mindset that a driver grade 930 is a $30-40k car and a decent 964 should be $30k or less.
09-03-2015, 04:20 PM
#21
Who else is thinking of picking up an Air Cooled?
I have been lucky the last 25 years and owned a few of each generation, among those 3 993s. Free ownership along the way due to excellent value increase. A dream would be to keep my 997 as dd and have a 993 4S or an old purpose-built pre-impact in the garage. Still each new generation is always better, even if I could have skipped the 996 
Or I should have kept my -72 T. But how funny was that back then Enjoy today and tomorrow😎
Or I should have kept my -72 T. But how funny was that back then Enjoy today and tomorrow😎
09-03-2015, 05:03 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
I've owned a 997 c2s and it was a fantastic car for all uses. I bought my 964 a few years back and had both for some time. I found that as occasional use cars, which they both were, I really preferred the 964. What I mean by this is since I was only driving on the weekend and for pure fun driving, the air cooled car just felt special. A complete blast to drive, though far slower than my 997. Having both does make sense since they're really different driving experiences. I also really like the ability to modify and work on my 964. For me, when I considered garage space and what I really enjoyed, the 997 went.
No wrong decision here. As far as prices, I think there's a very valid reason older 911 prices are where they are and rising. They're worth it.
No wrong decision here. As far as prices, I think there's a very valid reason older 911 prices are where they are and rising. They're worth it.
The air cooled is much more visceral and easier to approach the limits in normal street driving. I really enjoy them both, but they're obviously such different driving experiences.
09-03-2015, 05:54 PM
#25
The older cars are all cool now, but for weekend fun, not daily. They are still old cars. Yes, you can use them daily if you're hard core, but they are not better cars for that purpose. See my signature, I have owned them all. Even my '89 930S, a supercar in its day, was a 285hp car. I thought it drove great with its G50 5-speed tranny's beautiful mechanical feel (the only year they had that) but with non-power steering it was kind of truck-like in the neighborhood. Sure, you can mod the heck out of them but my cars were original, not project cars. They cost a bundle now. I saw my ex-930 for sale for $200k (wish I had sold it for that!). So they are pretty much garage queen status now. My 997.2 is better to drive, far less expensive and still provides a great Porsche experience. It's sort of fantasy vs reality. You see these cars and you imagine driving them is like a newer car with cooler or classic looks. It isn't quite that way.
09-03-2015, 11:49 PM
#28
Burning Brakes
'88 & such Carreras are almost a bullet proof build, but you are fully involved in driving the car. They're not really fast in comparison to later models but, as stated above, can be pushed without getting a ticket.
993 is a more electronically complex vehicle, fun to drive, and have just enough HP to please most, and get you a ticket if not careful. 997 has more than most will need unless tracked and a much easier (less involved) car to drive. However, there is a certain element on R'list who have GT3s and such, who have just rediscovered air cooled, and want to, or have, acquired one, and plan to perform all kinds of performance upgrades. Don't quite get it as they already have the performance, why tinker with old school and the driving experience air cooled offers.
993 is a more electronically complex vehicle, fun to drive, and have just enough HP to please most, and get you a ticket if not careful. 997 has more than most will need unless tracked and a much easier (less involved) car to drive. However, there is a certain element on R'list who have GT3s and such, who have just rediscovered air cooled, and want to, or have, acquired one, and plan to perform all kinds of performance upgrades. Don't quite get it as they already have the performance, why tinker with old school and the driving experience air cooled offers.
09-03-2015, 11:55 PM
#29
I just sold my 88 911 that I owned for 8.5 years. I bought it at 62,000 miles and sold it at 132,000 miles and made $8,000. This allowed me to buy an 06 C2S with 22,500 miles for $10,000 more than I sold the 88. The 997 is better in every way - working AC, good wipers and modern headlights make the 997 a much better car to daily drive and the performance differences are amazing.
I loved my 88, but my 06 S is so much better. I hope it ages as well as the 88 did.
I loved my 88, but my 06 S is so much better. I hope it ages as well as the 88 did.
09-04-2015, 12:11 AM
#30
Nordschleife Master
Starting with MY 87 the original 911 started changing - the softer G50 transmission and hydraulic clutch are the first changes. For an authentic original feel get one up to the '86 model - the latter being the last basic evolution of the original 901 sharing with it all its basic components, excluding the flat6 power evolution.