Hey guys, I need any advice I can get on mid-80s 911s. A friend discovered that for mid $20K she can choose from some very nice-looking 911s and is definitely interested. She's technically very competent, worked on A6s (or was it A10s?) in the service.
She likes cabriolets, so I thought a Boxster would be a good new-tech fit but she really likes the wide-body mid-80s 911s. Most of those available are coupes, some with sunroofs. Some with Turbos or Turbo conversions.
Is there anything she needs to steer clear of? Or check for as common problems? e.g. she asked about air-cooling and it's capabilities if stuck in traffic. I also thought there might be common rust areas.
I'm a Cayman owner and have had zero experience with 911s.
PS- She's found some really beautiful cars for very reasonable money. I may need to follow her lead into vintage 911 territory...
Excellence Magazine periodically does a survey of the 911 used car market. The last one was in the August 2010 issue. They generally prefer the late 1980's 911's with the G50 transmissions. It's worth checking out the article if you can find it.
Yeah, mid 20s is definitely right for a *superb* mid year 911, widebodies are more $$ so that's probably right. The accepted wisdom is buy the newest you can afford, so that'd be an 87-89 Carrera with the G50 transmission. Bear in mind those cars are non power-steering non -ABS non power brakes, have fairly useless A/C, but otherwise are pretty bulletproof. I mention this because while my wife will drive my 83 occasionally (even worse gearbox but other wise similar), she much prefers modern cars with power steering and modern gearbox in terms of effort.
Rust is not much of an issue unless the car was driven on salty roads and put away wet, so to speak, that era has galvanized bodies. Cooling is also a non-issue, last year aircooled 3.2s have a nice fender cooler with a thermostatically controlled fan on it. It could use more cooling only in 100F+ days on track, if at all, but really not an issue... Wide bodies are *just* that, wider bodies, they have no extra power over the standard 3.2's 230 or so HP... Consider a regular non-wide body car too, they are cheaper and easier to find. Those are all solid cars, not super fast by modern standards but very involving and giving a great feel of speed... a pre-purchase inspection is worth paying for at a reputable shop, to ensure the valve guides are not worn out (smoke and oil consumption), and that the car is straight... that's pretty much it...
>I may need to follow her lead into vintage 911 territory...
That's not "quite" vintage. Pre 74 cars, the so-called "long hood" (pre-impact bumpers), are more vintage and feel lighter and more nimble. And short wheel based ones (pre-69) even more so... ;-)
PS: My 83 has damn near 200,000 miles and has not broken down once in 15y of ownership ! The doors still close with that "clink" noise and the airtight seal pops your eardrums everytime ;-)
Thanks for the advice, I'll pass it along. One of the cars she's looking at is a 1983, which has been fitted with the G50 trans backing up a 3.3 turbo! :cheers:
Hmm... A bit of a mongrel, that... The early turbo is generally a 3.0 behind a reinforced 4 speed tranny, so I'm guessing this is a 964 turbo engine + gearbox. The car may possibly not be equipped with all the rest of the parts that a real turbo comes with though! Try to stay close to stock, those cars are indestructible if mostly stock and properly maintained (and exercised regularly). This is the kind of mongrel that could become truly expensive if not done right... Turbo on a narrow body means less rear tires too, and possibly too much HP (the 83's suspension is not as efficient as that of the 964 this came from, who knows if it's been beefed up to deal with extra weight, etcc) or is this a wide body ? Still, that would not be my first or third choice.
She should stick to cars with service history / records; problems with Dilivar studs; valve guide wear. AC is not something really usable in a mid-80s 911 - check out the story of the Cashmere 911 in Excellence. 87-89 Carrera 3.2 w/G50 trans would be my choice. The 915 trans that came in earlier cars is fine but it takes a practiced hand to shift it properly; something you can't trust to valets.
I echo the sentiment that the best ones are the more recent ones with the G50 transmission. I have an 82 (see avatar) that I love but it's not without its sacrifices. As mentioned, no power steering and no ABS are biggies for people who are used to driving more modern cars. Also, the clutch can be seen as heavy and shift throws are long compared with newer cars. I would also back up the fact that the climate control system on the car is a real head-scratcher - not very effective and the controls themselves are as non-intuitive as they can be.
If she gets one of these cars, she will get one of the most involving driving experiences you can get, however there are sacrifices she will need to live with. If she's okay with that, more power to her! They are legendary cars and were made to last. My doors go "clink" too. :cheers:
Hello,
Thank you to my good friend Chas365 for starting this thread and thank you to all for your advice. I am the young lady who is looking for a nice older 911. I found one for sale : it is a 1983 911 SC that has several 1989 upgrades including the widebody conversion, 3.3 L Turbo engine, G50 transmission and suspension upgrades. I am told that these modifications were done by professionals.
I currently drive a Honda Fit which is a nice commuter vehicle; it is dependable, gets great gas mileage and is pretty roomy inside. The car is so lacking in power that it can hardly get out of its own way. I am looking for something sporty that is very fun to drive. I understand that the 911 does not have power steering or ABS. My dad taught me how to drive when I was 13 years old - the car I learned on was a Triumph TR6. It did not have PS or power brakes as I recall. I remember how much fun I had in that TR6. I'm looking forward to driving something that makes my heart beat again.
I appreciate your input into this quest. I have read every post and will consider your recommendations/comments/concerns. Thank you.
