Poll: 951 or 73 2.7 RS

[RichMason]

A few months ago, I missed a shift on a PP fun run in rural NC and bent some valves. Figuring this was a good opportunity for an upgrade, I bought a 2.7 RS clone engine (arrived yesterday), carrera oil cooler set-up, new exhaust and all of the MFI parts to complete the engine. While I had the engine out, I discovered some serious rust in my longitudinals and kidneys/inner fenders and I decided to widen the scope of the project and cut my car apart for a full restoration. What a mistake! The restoration is going to take me 6 months to a year and I need a porsche to drive in the meantime. So...I have two options at this point. One, a local porsche wrench has a rust-free unmolested 73.5 coupe that he has recently overhauled that I can buy for $6K minus the engine. My 2.7 would go in with some modifications to the CIS harness and I would still have an engine and everything to finish my restoration when I get the bodywork done. The downside is that I will have to spend another $6K and it will be hard to sell an engineless car down the line. The other option is the dark side - 951. I have test driven several 951s in the area and $5-$6k will buy me sub-six zero to sixty times, cold a/c, and an instant, dependable track and autocross superstar with good resale value. I plan on selling whatever I buy now once my current car is up and running again. The real question for me comes down to performance - how will the performance of the 73 2.7 RS compare to the 951?

Any thoughts?

[jmz]

if your car is in that bad of shape and you can get a 73.5 w/ zero rust for 6K I hate to say it but put yours out to pasture and start over w/ the 73.5 car. ...assuming that the 73.5 is a nice example like you say.

[Rot 911]

I say get the 951. Be nice to compare and contrast.

Take the 951. Those 911s aren't really that nice. Awfully noisy you know.

[Lothar]

Go to the light, Rich...Go to the light.

I'm sorry your missed shift has led to more bad news. Does jmz have a point? Is a transplant of your old car's good bits to the 73.5 workable or is that not in keeping with what you want to have long term? I'll bet that 2.7 RS motor is plenty cool. The 73.5 has the advantage of letting you enjoy the new motor sooner.

My vote is to remain air cooled. While a 951 might have the very respectable performance, it's still not a 911 with all the quirks and oddities that we have all come to know and love.

The good news is Seine Systems will have the 901 compatible gate shift kit available by the time you get your car back on the road. I highly recommend the modest investment to avoid a reoccurence.

Good luck. Let me know if I can help.

[JeremyD]

I really don't think you'll have trouble getting rid of a 73.5 unmolested / rust free coupe (sans engine) if you go that route... None at all.

Hell you got me thinking about a 3.6 conversion - when will your car be finished again?

[jmz]

now that you mention it, I've got a 2.8 twin plug that would love to go into that thing...let me knwo when you want to sell the 73...if it's a coupe that is.

[Jack Olsen]

What does a 951 weigh? I was always under the impression that they were heavy.

[exc911ence]

According to the factory, the 1988 944 Turbo weighed in at 2998lbs.

[Halm]

Rich, Are you saying that you are thinking about dropping CIS onto the long block or just reconfiguring the wiring?

BTW, had a 944 a few years ago. I didn't make it 6 months before "oil cooled envy" completely consumed me. Looked hard at a 951 recently but as everyone else has said, it's just not a 911.

[nostatic]

I've never had a 951 "send me." Doesn't matter what the numbers and AC are like.

[Lothar]

I shudder to think what response you would get if you posted this on the 944 board.

[1fastredsc]

Get the 51, there only downfall is there electrical and weight (as already stated). They are 2800 lbs dry i believe, but on boost it really doesn't matter. On the highway with it's high 5th gear, i used to get 27-30 mpg as long as i stayed away from boost.

[Dantilla]

I used to have a 951.
30 mpg on the way to the track, less than 10 while I'm there. Lotsa fun.
For temporary duty, either one sure beats a Taurus.

[Supergranule]

I'd take the 911, cause its more rockin'
mmm a rust free 73

[1982911sc]

I was very seriously considering a 951 before buying my SC. I test drove several nice examples, and although technically faster on paper the car did not impress me as much as the 911. It felt sort of VW'ish to me (no offense to any VW owners-VW rock-but I was looking to buy a Porsche!). It did not have 1/10th the ride character of the 911. I was actually kind of disapointed, I really wanted one. If you are just going to sell it anyway than it may not be an issue. If you are going to keep it you may want to drive a few before making up your mind.

[sithot]

Send the rusty one to heaven and buy the transplant donor You'll be dollars ahead in the long run and riding sooner than later. I'll buy a straight rust-free car with blown up, burned up, torn up, beaten up, smashed mechanicals before I buy anything needing structural repair.

951's are not without their quirks and if the belts(timing and balance shaft) and hoses among other assorted issues are not tackled religiously you can walk into another mine field.

Just an opinion....

Good luck,

Tom

[exc911ence]

A local Porsche mechanic stated that the 951 is the most expensive Porsche (this side of a 928, of course) out there to keep serviced and running well. The old-school 911 would be much cheaper to run in the long run, with better resale if it came to that. Still, a 951 with a couple of tiny mods is a wicked fast car that'll leave most non-turbo 911's in its wake. Don't you hate being forced to make choices like this?

[RichMason]

I made an offer on a 951 in Charlotte but was rebuffed. OBO doesn't mean what it used to. I have broadened my search to all of the East Coast. Thanks for all of the input.

Rich

[dad911]

Originally posted by RichMason
I have test driven several 951s in the area and $5-$6k will buy me sub-six zero to sixty times, cold a/c, and an instant, dependable track and autocross superstar with good resale value.

In my opinion a $5-6k 951 be not be a dependable track car. My first 951 (bought in '92, sold '93) had 70,000 miles, and was nothing but trouble. The second had only 11,000 miles on it when I bought it. After 2 track seasons, it too was worn out. Turbos/head gasket/water pump/turbo cooler pump/brakes/trans ring & pinion/CV joints..... I was always working on the car. And at 3000 lbs, brake & tire wear was not good either. I bought my first 911 in '96, and will never go back.