First Porsche Advice Required Please?

[Guest]

Hi All

I will shortly be buying my first porsche. I have conciderd a 964 but finally decided on a 3.2 carrera.
The ones I have seen so far have been short on service history etc so left well alone.
I am looking to buy an 87/89 carrera sport but have considered a super sport/turbo body etc, and would apreciate
your thoughts as to the advantage/disadvantages/deprication between the too and what would be a fair price to pay
for a good car - full service history and condition.

Best Regards
Des

 

[Guest]

Hi Digger

I am on my second 3.2 and have also considered 964's but found myself drawn back to the pureness of a 3.2.

I have to say that I would also like to have found a SuperSport but they are very rare indeed. In fact when I bought my first 3.2 I looked at one that Northway's had up for £17.5k which was mint with good history (and an '89 car to boot). It was a bit rich for me at the time but I have always regretted walking away from it as I have since discovered how rare a good one is - most that come up are very un-original and a bit suspect when reading between the lines.

I think that now £17.5k would be very cheap - my guess is that you'd need around £20k for a "proper" one.

One thing to note though is that for pure driving experience (and this is how I convince myself that my beautiful Sports Coupe is superior), the extra weight and drag of a SuperSport make it a slower car - plus of course your tyres cost more (I assume).

Good luck either way, but if you go the route of a standard bodied car you will not be disappointed and you will at least not look quite so conspicuous.

 

[Martin Perry]

Des

What's your budget, and what will the car be used for? If it's in regular use, Coupes really have it over Targas and Cabbies. Much quieter at motorway speeds too. You'll pay collector's money for Super Sports, which is fine if you want to. Turbo bodied cars are just a matter of taste IMHO. I prefer the propertions of the 'ordinary' body shell.

However, Targas and Cabbies can be cheaper than equivalent Coupes.

Cheers

Martin

 

[adamtsobek]

Hi Des,

I have a 87 SSE Cab, with wide body and tea tray spoiler, to me it looks better than the std bodied version but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say. I know some people have removed the spoiler as it is an "in your face" item, too flashy!!

You have to decide for yourself which you prefer, for me its the wide body.

A couple of years ago they were selling at about £ 25K at some dealers; now they seem to be a lot cheaper not really sure where I would pitch my price if I were selling.

Hope my comments help.
Regards

Adam

 

[Guest]

I have just bought my first 911 and it was Carrera 3.2 Super Sport. In my opinion the turbo bodied cars do look the best but they are ofcourse heavier and have a greater frontal area and hence drag which I believe drops the top speed by about 12mph and slows the 0-60mph sprint by about 0.2 of a second. However, these facts do not bother myself and my cr drives fantastically aswell as looking great. The Turbo suspension and increased track endow the car with slightly greater cornering speeds but some might argue that this detracts from the purity of a std Carrera. The cars also come with the Turbo brakes which are bigger and more efficient than the std items. I also spoke to Autofarm and they think that Super Sports will start appreciating in the years to come. My car has RSR bumpers and different wheels but I have the original bumpers and wheels so I'm not worried about this and it honestly looks a better car with these bumpers. I did see some poor cars and this was the first Super Sport I saw. There was another for sale in Yorkshire for about 17.5k in red, I paid 15.5k for mine which is pictured below. If I was you I would look for the best car you can find regardless of whether it is a Super Sport or not. Also, My car is fitted with the 915 gearbox which does not deserve it's bad reputation and so I wouldn't knock these off your list as the gear change is fine. Hope this helps, cheers

Kristian

 

[Guest]

Hi Digger

Further to my response above, I was referring to G50 Coupes - Targas, Cabs and 915 cars seem to be more readily available and somewhat cheaper.

 

[Guest]

Hi Martin

Thanks for the reply, I will use the car as often as possible but not as daily transport. At this stage my first choice would be the coupe. I am looking to spend in the region of 16 to 18k and hope to get a good one at that level.

Ive seen a coupe advertised by Strasse in Leeds who seem to have a good reputation and are very helpfull. I will also continue to look privately. I am in no rush in at the moment and will hopefull get the right car in time, although I can understand why people buy on impulse as its difficult to walk away. I would have an inspection done if I buy
privately but presume this would not be required if purchased from Strasse, Autobahn etc.

Cheers
Des

 

[Guest]

Thanks Iain, Kristain and Adam

For the replies and advice I will keep you up to speed with any future developements, and heed
your thoughts about condition being key, the SSE looks fantastic!! - Yes I know, feet on the ground
boy!!

Cheers
Des

 

[Alan_Armstrong]

As said many times on this forum, dont let just you heart rule your head...

would suggest you have independent check by specialist before you lay out your money.
This should cost you around £100-150 pounds, but well worth it considering the amount you intend to spend. In most cases, this cost is part refundable if you then place your new aquisition, with the same specialist for servicing etc...

Happy hunting...

 

[oliver]

Really excellent new book has just been published - 'Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera -The Last of the Evolution'.

www.velocebooks.com

 

[Alan_Armstrong]

Oliver....It's a little early for April's fools jokes dont you think!!!!

Look at the author of said book, then check out the moderator to this particular forum!

[][][]

 

[Guest]

Digger

Welcome to a strange journey into a world where you will never be satisied with what you have and always want to make incremental improvements.

Narrow v wide-body?

On the one hand:
Who cares? Wide-bodies look the biz and you'll never miss that 12mph or 0.2secs because no-one really properly races a rare SuperSport. As a racer, it's all mouth and trousers (but no turbo). Plus, a wide-body has sheer road presence! Ever driven behind one and marvelled at the impression of squat, muscly haunches, much like a female bodybuilder...er...ahem...cough...enuff of my fantasies.


On the other hand:
Bit too bling for some - you may be called 80's man. They may whistle Duran Duran songs and quote the 'Greed' speech from the film Wall St.
I wish I'd never bought a cabrio (approx 50kg penalty + some more for the roof electrics + some creaking), and I wish I'd put in a 993 engine (I spent the same amount on rebuilding the 3.2). I also wish I'd never put on fat tyres (295/30-18) because it slows the car down on the bumpy twisty B roads. I've learned that wider tyres don't always mean more grip.

Anyway, overall, I'm happy with my first Porsche (which I naively bought without knowing what exactly it was. (I just liked the look of it.)

"I will use the car as often as possible but not as daily transport."
On the one hand:
Why not? See "bad weather driving" - 26/2/2005 post. Also see this month's 911&PW mag, featuring a 300k miler. The car can certainly take it.

On the other hand:
Your 18k pristine car will quickly become an 8k hack.

Good decision on the 3.2 v 964. When the 964 goes wrong (and it will, cos there's more to go wrong), it's easy to spend up to the value of the car to put it right. If you just want the looks of the wide 964/5, then 2k will achieve this.

Problem is, when I drive my SuperSport, my heart doesn't quite thump in the way it used to, possibly because I've now driven a 450bhp 993TT. Jeez, talk about cheating on your mistress!

 

[3.2_fordy]

Des I drive both the 964 and the 3.2 if you want a moden power assisted car with no feel go for the later car ( I may get a few repys to this) if not go for the 3.2 a drivers car If you find a good one buy it take Alans advice

Alan Shame on you[][] Did you not get a copy

 

[Guest]

Hi Des

I drive my 3.2 Coupe every day - it's my only car. I have to disagree with the above about destroying it's value. I drove a 64k miles Targa everyday (and kept it outside under a cover) until it had 82k on it and then sold it for the same money as I bough it for - just look after it - clean and polish it weekly and don't let anything go unchecked. If you love them, they'll love you back.

If you've got £16-18k to spend you might find your SuperSport if you look long enough but my advice would be to spend £15-16k on a really nice Coupe (don't get ripped off by expensive garages, there's a huge variation in price for similar cars depending on where you shop) and then save the rest for sorting the car. NB, Northways have 2 black Coupes for sale which would be worth looking at - Ray's a really straight bloke.

Also, buy Adrain Crawford's buyers guide from his web site www.performance2and4.co.uk - it's really helpful especially if you're buying privately.

 

[Guest]

Bit too bling for some - you may be called 80's man. They may whistle Duran Duran songs

The eighties are big at the moment and Duran Duran are excellent!!!! []

 

[Martin Perry]

NB, Northways have 2 black Coupes for sale which would be worth looking at - Ray's a really straight bloke.

You still looking for that sales job Iain? []

 

[Martin Perry]

Yes Graham, you might and here's the first! I reckon 'no feel' overstates the situation just a tad, but I expect you were just being provocative...

Des - do try a 915 gearbox car if you can. No doubt the G50 is a better box in many ways, and good for driving in traffic, but the 915 feels more mechanically connected somehow and has some charm as a rsult which the G50 doesn't. It's also a bit lighter. If you see a 915 car which looks good on paper don't disregard it just because of the box unless you've tried it.

I agree with Iain that if you look after a car you won't destroy its value by using it daily. Just don't pay over the odds for it in the first place.

As to inspections, you may be OK from one of the specialists, but it depends a bit on the car. If it's not one they've serviced then you need to ask yourself how well they actually know the car, how thorough is their pre-sales inspection/service and how good is the warranty? Also depends a bit on your maintenance budget, especially in the first year after shelling out on the purchase.

Good luck in exercising self-restraint. Not one of my strong points. [&:]

Cheers

 

[Guest]

Get back to your own forum!

Anyway - as you well know I've been to Northways a few times recently.

 

[carreracat]

Hi Digger,
I bought my first Porsche nearly a year ago now and I've loved every minute of it, so no matter what you decide I'm sure you'll enjoy it to - I only wish I'd bought one sooner!
For what it's worth I wouldn't rule out private buys, I picked up a private G50 late '86 3.2 Sport coupe in very good original condition (only flaws were a couople of stone chips) for the sum of £11.9k, got it checked out and haven't had any problems with it since - only fun!
In my opinion quite a bargain, and as far as cars go bang-for-buck doesn't get any better value!

 

[75pno]

Hi digger
I broke every rule in the book 2 years back.
brought the first sse i saw, no inspection, etc etc.
But , the car had been with the same owner for 10 yes 10 yrs.
Had loads of history and mot's etc.
Paid 16k.
When its serviced the guys at paragon comment on the condition so i am a happy bunny!
ps yes i am a 80s boy the madonna cd is always on. how sad is that!!
I could say 'greed is good ' but that is going too far.
good luck in your search
buy on condition

75pno