If you’ve sold your 911, would you consider getting another if…
 

what? If they become affordable again? If you regain the desire to wrench? If your body can still get up and down with relative ease? Or would you not ever own another air cooled 911?

For me, if I can find one that’s reasonably priced AND if I can find a mechanic who can help me pass CA smog, I’d be in a 911SC again in a heartbeat. For now though, I’m enjoying wrenching on my cheap ‘69 bug.

I still have my cars but I am buying no more, ever. I don't drive them as it is when I do, it a chore jsut to move them around. Thought about selling now and then but when I get in it, they are fun. No more wrenching for me. Been there done that. Plus, I am not a good mechanic.

If I could easily afford an air cooled 911, I'd be in one in a min. In the mean time, my '08 Boxster S is pretty fantastic.

My boxster is a special edition, Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder. It was the first boxster/cayman with >300hp (303hp, when the Cayman still had 295) It mostly just a fancy option package with some unusual options. I love it.

I sold my old '88 911 and got a '97 Miata. I sold the '97 miata and got an '04 Mazdaspeed miata. I sold the MSM and got the Boxster.

As far as the experience (IMO) when driving them '88 911 > '08 Boxster > '04 MSM > '97 miata.

I miss the gauges/dash of the 911. I miss the bottom hinged pedals of my old 911. And while the boxster exhibits amazing handling, there's something about the 911 (from memory) that was just better.

I know what you mean. I had a ‘79 and a ‘87 911 at the same time. I sold both and bought a ‘95 Miata. Very fun and reliable car but slow. Sold that and bought and still have a ‘00 Boxster S. As excellent as the Boxster is and in every way superior to my 911s, it’s just missing something I can’t put into words.

I LOVED my SC. I really liked my 930. I use my Boxster.

If I had a couple million more I might buy an air-cooled 911. I would have the wrenching done by others. And have a better garage.

It is a matter of convenience and dollars. We all know they are great cars.

I still have mine and have gone back and forth about selling.

But as i get closer to retirement and can take it with me out of a state that costs me $$$$$$$ to get it smogged every 2 years, i think I might hold onto it.

Exactly.

Funny how many of us say the same thing about the G body cars. There's just something about them but can't describe what it really is. I have a 930, slightly lowered with engine mods that was a fire breather back 20 years ago, now its slow compared to the modern cars yet there's something about the feel of that car. I don't know how to describe it to people. It can be summed up in one sentence or I can talk about it for 5 min none stop.

If funds weren't an issue, I'd have a long hood. I've never driven one, but I think I'd like it. I'd also have a 930, not sure if it would be a 70's 930 or maybe an '89 with the 5 spd (or I suppose as long as we're dreaming, it may as well be a Ruf CTR!). And then I tell myself that I'd also have a 3.2L G50 car, but I wonder if I had a 930 and an early car, if I'd want one. Maybe I'd have a 964 or 993 instead. If I had Leno/Seinfeld/Gates/Bezos money, I'd have a large car collection.

Had a good time with my 81 911SC, but had a great time with my 87 930. If I could swing it, I would be back in one or the other.

Right, it's tough to nail down. I could wax poetic on them, but it still wouldn't really define the je ne sais quoi.

That video, The Problem With Porsche, got me thinking about 911s again. Dammit.

Talk about slow. I had an NA. Got beaten by a tow truck going up a hill as I was trying to beat him to a red light due to merging into a single lane. Bought that after a test run in my 930 after engine work for more hp only to get my ass handed to me by a white hair middle age dude (I was 33 then) in his NA up in the tight hairpins along Mulholland. He was in second gear most of the time and blew me out of the water out of every tight turns.

I loved my 86 Cab and my 964T, if they were reasonable priced I would buy another one. I would not get another 996TT as it did not have the “it” factor of my earlier 911’s. One of the reasons I really enjoy my 997.2 RS is that like the 964T it tries to kill you if you don’t pay attention all the time driving.

For me that’s part of the driving dynamic. I will say when I drive my Westy the pedals remind me of the older 911’s and I smile.

I really loved my NA. I upgraded the springs. If I had it to do again, I'd probably try just sways, or maybe go with springs from an MSM. The MSM was great, a better car, but the NA modded a little differently would have been tons of fun. The power in the turbo was nice, but naturally aspirated power delivery is also nice. Maybe I'd really love an NA with a supercharger! I could see having another miata, maybe as a toy.

I REALLY loved the bottom hinged pedals.

I sold my 1966 Triumph 650 Saint when I was a teenager and have regretted it ever since.

So I'm NOT making that mistake wit the SC, which I love even more than the Triumph.

I’ve had quite a few 911s. Mostly 78-88 models. Coupe, cab and targa versions.
Sold my last one in 2018.
Would I get another one?
Highly unlikely. It’s not the cost, as I don’t think the cost is significant (because you get it back when you decide to sell it, and it’s insured, so I basically view it as a free car, instead of the money sitting in the bank, it’s sitting in the car).
It’s not maintenance worries, as they are cheap to maintain and I have 30 years of experience working on them.
Just no desire to own one again. I can’t really explain why, as I still think they are great cars. And I had many great years and memories made with them. I guess great cars, but just not for me anymore.

Nope...not for me. Many fond memories, but now it's time for others to build their memories. Guess it's a been there done that thing.

Sold my '91 C4 coupe after struggling to keep up with the maintenance. I did as much wrenching myself as I could, but after a $6.5k bill to fix oil leaks and fit a new clutch, it just got too expensive, and I've been driving a series of Honda/Acura cars since 2005. I'd love to get into another P-car, but would shy away from anything air-cooled (mostly due to entry cost) and fear of costly repair bills. I'd go for a water-cooled 911 or Cayman, with a better A/C system (I live in Atlanta).

Ironically, I never got a ticket with the 911, but have managed to rack up two speeding infractions in < 3 years with my '15 Accord. Maybe it is the 278 hp and six-speed...I should pay closer attention to the speedo, but the V6 engine is so damn smooth and pulls with no effort...:p

No. Too old to go back. If I sold it, I would consider a superformance cobra or something else to experience. It’s just a matter of time running out and there are so many cars I would love to experience before it’s too late



^^^ive never had a ticket either. The 911 is a fun car to drive slow and that’s what I do with it. It’s a great highway cruiser but my favorite thing to do is putter around back roads in 2nd or 3rd, 45 mph. I love the sound change when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, back down to 2nd. The car just feels right doing that

When I bought my '83, it was in part because I couldn't find a non-rusty longhood in my price range. If I were to go air-cooled again, I'd go ahead and go all out, longhood and swb.

I brought this home five years or so ago with the intent of getting it back to original - it came with the original engine cover and front bumper.

I got it running and then just lost that lovin' feelin'. I built the repair spreadsheets, started the repair photo album, etc., but the volume of "nits" was too much.

Sold tit o a guy in PA that does restorations. I didn't lose and money.

I am now getting a 2006 Cab back on the street. Long story but it is beautiful with great a/c! A good friend of mine who owns a repair shop in Maryland (long time Porsche mech) is helping me.

I have never had a Cab.

In the shop. I was about to borrow a friend mobile lift.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660912074.JPG

Headed to PA after a bath!:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660912209.jpg

Wait, WHAT?

Sell my 85 911? It does not compute. Like asking what type of anti-gravity belt I use, it is a nonsense question. After 27 years of ownership, no way. I still have 7 states I need to drive it in to get to all 48.

If someone offered my stupid money like high 6 digits, maybe, but that is never going to happen so I will just keep it.

I honestly can't imagine not having an air-cooled 911.

This. Still have mine. It doesn't get 1k mi/yr. But every time I get it down from the lift and drive it, its such a blast that its going to stay. Yeah, its worth decent money now, but I know I'd never buy one again, so it stays.

I can't quantify the feel either, really, except that its more go cart than car.

Too much Fun... 6 digits .... might

I'm into my 3rd air cooled 911 in 30 years, getting old. Dang. Anyway, I got the 993 in 2020 after selling the 84' to a collector here locally. A while later the itch got strong for another. I now have a more modern 911 with great A/C and the same 911 roots. I am very glad I bought when I did, the prices have gone up on the 993's. Crazy high. Clearly these guys paying these prices know something I don't know!

I have had my share of air and water cooled Porsche's from the 70's - 80's and enjoyed them all . I now have in my stable a 99 C4 coupe and a 02 Boxster S . They both have FSI engines and I am very happy with them . I don't ever see going back . Could be an age thing . I am coming up on 65 and I enjoy a car that can perform and provide good heat and AC .

I am as well. Having a 68 912 and then a 71 911 in San Diego was perfect. Even here in Maryland my 75 S was doable, as was the 83 SC...the 964 Targa more so.

Seasons change.

I'm done.... Over decades I've owned almost all models from 356 to my last one which was a 991.1 stripper manual, and I always told my wife it'd be the last one, after that they become too big and too gizmo-ey, and thanks to supply chain issues i was able to resell it to Carmax last month for $1000 less than I paid in 2017. LOL ! I miss it because I planned on having it a few more years but it was a free car in the end, so no regrets..

It's a combo of things for me, so possibly silly to you, some less so:
- Modern ones: they are geared too long, I can go to jail winding out 2nd gear. I have no time or desire to wake up early for track days anymore, so it's hard to use to more than in bursts.
The kids have grown and do not fit in the back at all. Silly, maybe but people stared, a lot - even a stripper C2 from Carmax... Not in a good way, in a "wait for the revolution and we'll kill you along with the 1%ers" kinda way...

- Oldies ? Values: the price they go for now totally jumped the shark on my personal price/pleasure curve... In decades past I owned $10K 356s, $15K longhoods, $15K SCs, a $30K 993 - you look at the prices today and honestly they will never be worth THAT to me. I love porsches, but a 50K SC makes me laugh out loud - for the money I'd get a modern M2 CS or something.... It's both the fact I owned them when they were cheaper and the performance/price ratio is not there anymore.. Price of parts isn't better.... I wonder how folks have the nerve to drive a $100K 356 regularly and that's what I 'd want to do if I still had one...

-Then repairs ? Rebuilding a 356/912 engine to its 60-75-90hp glory is like $15K !! A Flat 6 even more... On a modern car a tranny is unfixable and $15K - no choice...

- New prices: even if I could swing a new one (a 991 GT3 always was on my bucket list after driving one at PEC), recent or new ones are 100-150K over market or MSRP respectively because of the current market BS... And I see no end in sight as Porsche is more and more gearing itself to exclusivity and limited series offered to preferred uber-rich buyers. They wanna be more like Ferrari it seems.

So I'm done... At this point for me to go back in, it would take a smaller sized lighter version of the 911/cayman (lotus like), with short gearing, a high revving NA engine, and MSRP... never happen. the money for them is in exclusive limited series with 30K of options, first offered to buyers of their supercars. I may become a Bimmer guy ( always loved my old 73 2002 as much as the 911s) - maybe a Dinan tweaked M2 some day...

I’m in the same boat as most of the members here. Had my fun with 4 Porsches, miss my 911S Targa, but too old to rebuild anything at this point in my life. Sold my 2010 base Cayman in May, bought a clean one owner low mileage Audi TT S Line coupe and am very happy with the car. Really have no desire to own another Porsche.

I'd do another aircooled but the prices and the fact I'm in AZ means I'll never drive it in Summer.

Noticing a trend here...the age factor moving in. With the older guys being done. Yes, age has a bearing on one's thinking.

How does the Audi TT compare to the Cayman, and why do you prefer it over the Cayman?

So many excellent points I snipped all but the above.

I had a 1962 356 Notchback...the least desirable of the 356's. Bought it cheap and Speeder got it up to speed. Drove it for a few years, my son drove it to HS for pete's sake.

Then, my $20k ride around was valued at over twice that. I enjoyed it but it wasn't the car for me size wise...you are nearly invisible on the road in these things.

Here it is headed to the shipper, off to Chicago.

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1660930864.JPG

I looked at getting another 964 Targa but they are few and far between and very expensive for what it is. The 2006 Cab was basically free so I'll ride that pony until I don't want to anymore. It will also be the South Carolina car and I have to have a/c there.

Yeah I’ve found being a geezer has changed my driving style. I hardly ever hit triple digits anymore unless I’m passing somebody and the fast sweepers are much slower these days. That’s more due to the possibility of meeting a hog and having to emergency brake with the tail hanging out. Getting old sucks.

I hear that (or variations thereof) a lot, so I'm not picking on you. But so what even if that's true? How far does that amount of money really get you, today? Certainly not retirement money. You'd need an extra zero to make that true. When my kids go off to college, that'll pay for what, 1-2 years of school? Heck, $100K isn't even a down payment on a house.

I could sell the 930 and the 964, and that still wouldn't put one of my kids through school.

If you can afford a $100k 356 the way most of us would afford a $20k or $40k vehicle, then you can afford to drive it. Leno and Seinfeld own and drive all sorts of stuff. I could easily drive one of those where I live. There's very little traffic. Most folks probably wouldn't want to drive a $100k 356 through Manhattan, but then if you're living in Manhattan and own a $100k 356, then you can probably afford to drive it out of Manhattan and back into Manhattan, or you've got a second residence where you keep it parked.

I would buy again but in the latter years of ownership I felt guilty about having my 1969 and; a. not driving it enough, and b. shouldn't drive it because of the value and how much that would suck if it were stolen or damaged.

All that being said: now that I'm back in San Antonio and everyone, and I do mean everyone, driving the absolutely biggest vehicle on God's green earth usually 10 to 15 miles over the posted speed limit... I'd think long and hard about my answer. I'm afraid of having to be buried in a small car after someone in a F350 SuperDuty crushes me (or some woman that lunches driving a Expedition XL with no kids in back on the way to the yoga studio).

Watercooled is a different analysis. I still have a 996 but it hasn't left the garage in 19 months. But the power and ability to move around traffic is much less scary.