Potential convert - is the grass greener?

[Guest]

Hi peeps.

Drove my '86 3.2 over to HP Motorsport in Hainault this morning (around the corner from design911).

Saw a raggy-looking LHD 964C4.
Enquired as to price. Was told 9k. Took it for a 10-min blast.

My findings: PAS, ABS, a/c, SO, SO SMOOOOTH. SO, SO QUIET & CIVILISED. Wasn't much faster than the 3.2 though, just a LOT more civilised.

Has anyone else px'd their 3.2 for a 964? And why?

 

[Andy Tims]

I could be ever so slighly biaised, but if you want civilised by a Mondeo or a Golf.

964 C4's understeer for Germany. The only 964 I would personally buy would be an RS, but if you like it, it's your money.

 

[Melv]

At this price there are potentially a huge amount of problems...get an independant to give it a thorough going over.

Don't listen to Andy, he was praying for 4WD last week....[]

The understeer can be tuned out....or use trail braking to sound effect.

See John Mile's site www.porsche964.co.uk for everything you've wanted to know about the '64 but were afraid to ask...

 

[Yoda]

I used to have a 3.2 SE a few years back and now have an 964 RS. In my opinion, performance and handling are far superior and much more useable. Quite a step forward in most areas. Downside is that they are a little more expensive to maintain. Check the car out carefully or it will cost you dearly. Suggest you take a look at a few and try and find a well looked after LHD C2 for around GBP12k. If the car is mechanically fit and you can live with the rough appearance, may be worth checking out more thoroughly.

Regards

 

[Jamie Summers]

I made the move from LHD '89 3.2 to RHD '90 964 C2 five months ago. My conclusion is that making the switch from bog standard 3.2 to bog standard 964 is not such a big jump. Sure power steering is nice for parking and ABS gives some reasurrance, but I don't think that the differences are that huge. Aesthetically I much prefer the cleaned up lines of the 964, especially when it has been lowered a bit and put on 17 inch wheels. But, and here's the clincher, if you have any intention to track your car the 964 has much more potential.
My car has a fully rebuilt engine (top and bottom end), 993 brakes, RS spec suspension, RS clutch and flywheel, decat and cup pipe, strut brace and a fast road / track set up, and a partly stripped interior with Recaro SPG. All of this means that my 964 is a VERY different beast to my old 3.2. It is far less civilised, much noisier, much more skittish, less comfortable and more hard work to drive. On the other hand it is MUCH quicker and more communicative and better on track.
So do I prefer the 964 ? Well yes, because it has the 'edge' that my 3.2 lacked, which is what I wanted. If you want a 'stock' car, then I would be tempted to stick with a known and trusted 3.2 - as you will know 964 ownership can be a bit of a minefield. Also the way values seem to be moving it looks like the 3.2 is the better financial proposition at the moment. All of which means there are likely to be some 964 bargains in the future - you can afford to wait !!!

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jamie, very useful.

I'll stick to my almost (mechnically) stock 3.2 whilst I save up for an extreme 964 with 993 bits. That way, I get the best of both worlds.

TBH, I don't really want to sell the 3.2 because I've put a lot of heart into it and so I want to enjoy its current state of perfection (as opposed to passing it onto someone else to enjoy it).