911 or 911 (964)

[Guest]

I was originally intending on a 911 3.2. However I have been offered a 964 at a reasonable price and is owned by a mechanic at a Porsche specialist.

Any opinions from those who have experienced both of these? Or info I should consider?

Spec of the 964:

Car is a 911(964) Carerra 2 in Guards Red
3.6 litre
Manual 5 speed
100k
RHD Uk Spec car
1991 model but registered late 1992 and is on a K plate
Personal Plate comes with it
New Clutch and Flywheel
New brakes all round including Discs, pads and recondition calipers
Serviced
Fully loaded with EW, ESR, Leather E Sports seats, PAS
Lowered on 17" alloys
Sports Exhaust
Pioneer CD Headunit
New carpets
Cat1 Alarm/Immobiliser

 

[Guest]

Sounds tempting, but how much is it?
964's are a lot more expensive to service and run than the 3.2
If the price is so good that you can soak up the extra expense (over a 3.2), then OK, all the toys would probably be worth it

 

[Guest]

Drive it and see what you think.

I like 964s as cars to use on the road. I don't like them so much (other than the RS) for track work and really fast driving. They are just that little bit heavier and I find the handling to be slightly less intuitive, particularly the C4. Depends what you want to use it for.

I doubt the running costs and maintenance are really that much higher. If this 964 has had the right updates, it should be trouble free. You need to ask the 964 guys what should have been done in terms of vent kit for distributor, flywheel etc etc. If thats all done and the price is right, go for it.

If you get it, make sure you get the cup bypass exhaust - they sound fantastic, possibly my favourite 911 engine noise. certainly a top 3. I also think that a good set of max performance tyres is more important than on a 3.2. I seem to be able to get by with cr@p wornout tyres on the road in my 3.2 without to much bother but the 964s I have driven with cr@p tyres seem to really suffer.

RB

 

[Guest]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But for my money the 3.2 is a better looking car. It is also lighter and nearer the original concept than the 964. That said the 964 is technically more advanced and civilised.

Going by what I have read the 964 is significantly more expensive to service. I would have thought a mint 3.2 was a better bet than an ok 964.

 

[Guest]

The car is a really good price but there is only history from the last year. It's what I was expecting to pay for a 3.2 - £13.5k.

The mechanic bought it as a project and has replaced a lot of parts and used it as his own car. It's HPI clear, etc... The previous owner had outstanding finance and how it came about with little history and needing some TLC. He works for a well known specialist who seems to have a good reputation.

I'm unsure... [&:]

 

[dtunnicliffe]

Watching the debate with interest..

I own a very clean 3.2 with G50. LHD in Grand Prix white. Full Service History, HPI clear and a wonderful provenance file. The car is quite unmolested. As it looking increasingly likely I am heading for a 993 I will need to find a loving home for my 3.2. I'm in no rush but willing to consider selling.

Dave

 

[Melv]

J -have a look at www.porsche964.co.uk for more info.

Good hunting.

Mel

 

[911sse]

It depends on the driving experience you also wish to have, and the purpose of the cars use.

A true sports car feel with no ABS and power steering is the reason I chose a 3.2 over the 964's I was looking at. Owned mine for 18 months now and I never regret the choice, although I find the 964 more asthetically pleasing! The 964 would be a more comfortable car for everyday driving, communting etc.......

I eventually decided on a Supersport, then hunted for a reasonable one. All the turbo upgrades apart from the engine. The only things I am going to change from standard are the chip (Steve Wong's) and seriously considering the Turbo Tie rod conversion kit on the steering, just for a little more feel on the twisty bits!!

Oh, and then maybe a hot-film conversion................................

The list will grow and grow.........................

 

[Simon Davidson]

They are two very different cars in terms of the driving experience, you must test drive a couple of examples of both and see what you prefer, to my mind the 3.2 is more true to raw sports car driving even though the 964 is faster in every gear, can sound truely awesome with the right exhaust mods and can be tuned for less money than a 3.2, frinstance less than £1000 will give you a 964 with close to 290BHP as long as its healthy to start with. Must remember that the 3.2 just feels more like a sports car and has less to go wrong.

Hope this helps, Regards Simon

 

[Guest]

seriously considering the Turbo Tie rod conversion kit on the steering

Doesn't the SSE already have these? It has Turbo suspension so it ought to have the Turbo tie-rods []

FWIW, I have updated two cars to Turbo tie-rods (basically as "while you are in there" type of jobs) and, to be brutally honest with myself, I have struggled to notice much difference in the before and after driving. It would certainly not be the first modification I would make to a 911 - it would be one of the last - unless you had to change a steering rack at the same time or had a bent tie-rod to replace, for example. YMMV.

RB

 

[bones]

If in anyone is fitting Turbo tie rods make sure you use genuine Porsche and not an aftermarket kit!!

 

[Guest]

Last September I was in exactly the same position as you. I didn't know whether to go for a 3.2 or a 964 or whether to go for a coupe or a targa.

I asked so many people and received so much advice and, after trying a couple of each, I went for the 3.2. The reasons for going for a 3.2 are that they are simple and they have evolved from the original concept so that, after 20 years, they are very good cars indeed. The 964 is vastly changed and had several teething problems. When I read a buying guide to 964s in Porsche & 911 World, they were struggling to make a case for buying a 964 and caution seemed to be raised in every paragraph. My concerns over a 3.2 were that it would be hard to live with and therefore the 964 would be a better daily use car - I have been proved wrong. The 3.2 is an excellent daily use car, I've driven into London and used it around my local roads and it seems happy anywhere.

If you are not worried about maintenance costs then consider a 964 and the advantages it brings, but if I were you, I would go for a nice 3.2 - it will definitely hold it's value better (why are all 964s as cheap as equivalent 3.2s) and should be cheaper to run. If you want a maintenance cost guide look at www.northwayporsche.co.uk - they show costs for all models.

Most importantly of all though is to get a car with a good full history as this is where the value is. Also, get it inspected by a Porsche specialist before buying (not by the AA - see previous subject matter) - a good and honest seller won't mind this.

Have fun and take your time.

 

[911sse]

The Supersport has the Turbo suspension set up, but the steering is from the standard 3.2.

Just had to replace a bent lower front arm. A check during lazer alignment identified the problem............

 

[Guest]

Just had an insurance quote and it's only £40 more than the 3.2. Also bearing in mind the 964 has lowered suspension and performance exhaust...

What do I want out of the car tho? I've never done a track day... but I would like a fun car - something I'll enjoy every time I drive it. Reliability is important as are looks (interior and exterior). I like them both. I enjoy good sports handling, sound of a nice engine with exhaust to complement... Think I should have a test drive of them both.

 

[Beaky]

Lots of good advise about driving both models and then making the choice, but I would also advise that
before you purchase this 964 (if that's your choice) the expense of a professional check over from a specialist (£150 -250) would be well worth it particularly as it has limited history

Good luck

 

[Guest]

I also went through the same process last June. In the end I went for a 3.2, purely because I think they look more 'classic' and closer to the original concept. I good friend of mine bought a 964 at the same time. I have driven his, it is a very different experience and much more refined.

Over the period we have both spent around £5k getting bits of bodywork and engine stuff sorted. I can see another £2k coming down the line soon. This is despite the car having been checked by a guy recommended by the porsche club who did not pick up the seriousness of the body defects. In hindsight I would have done more research, seen many more cars and taken my time. Instead I acted much more on impulse. I certainly dont regret the purchase, the car is fantastic, but it has ended up costing me much more than was necessary.

In summary you cannot be too careful. Make an error and it will cost heavily. My strong advice would be

1. Take your time and do your research. There are lots of cars out there, there is no hurry.
2. Get the car checked by a good Porsche specialist (NOT classic car inspections!!)

Good luck

P.S. Go for the 3.2......

 

[Guest]

Just to add my note, I did the same thing, got nearly burnt by a cheap 946 (4yrs ago) and bought a decent 3.2. Never looked back. You wont be dissapointed with a 964, they are good cars, but very different to a 3.2. Drive both, work out what you want from the car, learn the differences between the 2 and choose accordingly. Post similar messages on the 964 boards to get the other side. Go to a few meets and look around cars - then choose.

In brief, 3.2 is more raw and traditional 911, 964 is first of the new world 911 - both still 911s But I would not swap mine for a 964.

H

 

[Guest]

Well at the risk of repeating what's previously been said, I also went down this road when buying my car. I however had already set my heart on the car that I fell in love with as a kid. Being 32 now, this meant the older "classic" shape so I went for the last of this model, hence a late 88 3.2. My best mate however went for the newest car his money could buy him. He gave 12.5K for a 92 model 964. (very cheap) I paid the same for my car thats 5 years older. Both cars are LHD, his has covered nearly twice the mileage. Both have been virtually trouble free. I had a crank sensor fault and my mates had re-con distributor and starter motor fitted. Personally, to look at BOTH cars are stunning. Mines completely original with Fuchs, no spoliers front and back etc, his has cup 2 alloys and tear drop mirrors. Both sound amazing whilst sounding completely different from each other. However, I prefer the rawness of mine and I know he prefers the refined superiority of his! Its all down to preference at the end of the day. Which ever you buy, trust me, you'll love it!!!

 

[tat]

You may also want to consider likely future values. I'm open to correction, but it looks to me like the values of 3.2s have stabalised, with good examples increasing in value. I don't think the same can be said for 964s. With the exception of RS and speedster variants, their values are still falling, albeit slowly.

Good luck!

tat