How useful is the 911SC Bentley?

[yelcab1]

I have just seriously looked at a 1980 SC, and if I get it, I would want to get a 911 Bentley Manual. How useful is that compared to others? I used to have a Haynes manual for my 1984 Carrera. It was barely useful.

[89turbocabmike]

IMHO, I think the Bentleys are in a different league from the Haynes/Chilton etc. I would get it and the factory set.

[David]

I'd say it's as close to a factory manual as you can get for $100.

[island911]

It is most useful for those whom like 'Breif and to the point.'

If you need a lot of verbage and story-type hand-holding, Bentley is not for you.

They do have some mistakes in the first printings . .. and they use pictures from the lesser Carrera, and try to pass them off as 'good enough' to represent the SC.

. . .the SCWDP will punish them for this! MUHAHAhahaha. ..

[masraum]

If the SC Bentley is as good as the Carrera Bentley then it should be pretty darn good. Beats $750 for the factory manuals.

It's nothing like the Haynes.

[walt]

A must have for the DIYer, along with Waynes 101 Projects.

[HWR]

Bentley has a lot of useful information. The Bentley SC book is a much easier read than the factory manuals and I give it high marks for that. The Haynes book is handy sometimes for finding info quick simply because it contains less than the Bentley. As others have mentioned, the factory manuals are pricey but they contain all the information you could possibly use for your car. The Bentley book is the one to choose.

Harvey
83SC

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

I was just reading it while replacing my brake pads. It's pretty good. In similar areas to Wayne's book, it's sometimes better, sometimes worse. But the breadth of the manual is very good. It was the best $70 I've ever spent on a repair manual. The Chilton & Haynes manuals are dreadful, but the Bently's is "pretty" good.

[yelcab1]

Where did you get it for $70? I saw it for $119 in some places?

[CarreraS2]

I think the Bentley manual is worth every penny.

Haynes, Chilton, etc. are a joke in comparison (I have 'em all), esp. for an SC.

[Trust Me]

Get it on ebay for around 70-74. Great book.

[Randy Webb]

Also cheap at Amazon.

I find that every manual -- even the much reviled Haynes - has some little tidbit that the others don't. The tan British one is useful for early cars -- AutoCar? can't remember the name but ther is one on eBay.

Bentley is the next best thing to the factory manuals. Buy it. I just wish they would do one on the early cars.

[911gilley]

I have 4 books that seem to give me a good picture of most jobs on the SC:

Wayne's 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911
Wayne's How to Rebuild and Modify Porsche 911 Engines
Bentley's SC manual
Haynes Porsche 911 '65 thru '89

It seems like each book has a little bit of information on each topic which finally equates to a complete section. If someone could just combine all 4 books into one, it would be the only book you would need.

Until then, these four books are a staple for anyone with a 911 Pcar in the stable.

HTH,

-Ed

[Superman]

As a doorstop, the Haynes will tend to get moist from our NW humidity. Still, that's its best use. Bentley is very good, I'd say.

In all fairness, the Haynes is useful for early cars.

[ChrisBennet]

I use the Haynes manual for the 915 transmission picture of the gear shafts. That's it though.
-Chris

[coolbreeze]

i have found that the bently and wyanes deal work good in concert. its like they tag team the job if you read both before, during and again during any job. also will give you an idea if you really want to tackle it.

[Doug Zielke]

I use the Bentley SC book, and the Factory manual set. The Bentley is good for 75% of what most D-I-Y' ers will do.
The other 25% you can ask John Walker.....