which is better- 90-93 C2 or 89 Carrera ?

[tdorsey835]

Ive been thinking of upgrading and buying a 90-93 C2 coupe to replace my 89 Carrera. Some things that really bug me about the 89 are the piss poor AC and ventilation and lack of other creature comforts found in the later cars. I don't race, just really enjoy driving. Anybody have any advice on the virtues of the C2 over the G50 cars? How about driving feel and/or maintainence costs? What are the big items to check for in these cars? (flywheel?) Thanks guys. (and gals?)

[AES]

The answer will depend very much on the person you ask, Me? Carrera!

[RickM]

You may be best off driving a 964 to decide. Weren't they all C4s for the first couple of years?

[djmcmath]

When I was looking for mine ('86 Carrera), I test drove a C2, and I think it was a '92 or '93. Perhaps I found a particularly poor example, but it seemed ... heavy, to me. I had driven a couple of older cars, and some newer ones, and the C2 just seemed unresponsive in comparison. The older cars have a nimbleness that I really enjoy. That said, even a bad C2 is a big step up on pretty much any car out there, as far as driving enjoyment, and the differences between a '91 and an '89 are going to be (in the big picture) pretty trivial. Drive what you can afford, and enjoy it for what it is. Let us know what you decide, of course.

Dan

[tc-sacto]

I think a lot of it will come down to personal tast, but the Guru Bruce Anderson says "always buy the newest example you can afford."

I have had both and really enjoyed the c2 more. The 3.6 engine is very nice. The clutch had issues on this model as well as the belt driven dual distributor. See the guys on the 964 board at rennlist.com for more info.

As far as AC, the c2 wasn't much better than the carrera. The best ac on my porsche has been on my water cooled boxter.

[1973911s]

The C2 is a more more cushy ride, what are you trying to gett out of a car?

If it was me, I would stay with the 89.

[Pete000]

I have owned 78 SC, 84 Carrera, and an 87 Carrera, and now the C2. I guess
I will not rest till I have owned one example of the air cooled series. I have driven and havent owned a early car but it is high on my want list.

As for comparing the 964 to the G50 equiped 911 series my observations are as follows.

As always be carful in finding a nice well cared for example. Like other Porsches there are a lot of beat up examples out there.

I like the power of the 3.6 and the ride the coil over suspension provides. (Even better with threaded shock bodys with complete ride height control!)

As for the interior and the HVAC No real improvement really.

Guages are back lit wich is nice.

Braking is a bit better stock for stock. 92-94's have better rear brakes than 91's (4 two pistons vs 2).

The C2's have a huge oil cooler and fan that actually runs when the engine gets hot.

Air bags, safty.

Aero under body and smooth body styling.

Overall I like the power and handling over the torsion bar cars.

Watch out for head seal issues on early C2's as well as duel mass flywheel issues. This is easy to check for before purchasing.

I have also heard of electrical gremlins on the early C2's such as fuel sender and guage warning light issues.

Overall I like my 964. A great value with prices starting to drop below the 87-89 cars too!

[Jgordon]

the 89 Carrera is the best, and last, real porsche ever made. Anything after that is a pretender to the throne, a mere shadow of what came before.

[89911]

Originally posted by tdorsey835
Some things that really bug me about the 89 are the piss poor AC and ventilation and lack of other creature comforts found in the later cars. (and gals?)

Sounds like you would be a great candidate for a used 996!

[rich22]

Jeez, I don't know what kind of 964's these people have been driving. There's a huge difference between the 964 and the 3.2 Carrera. The 964 is a bullet compared to the 3.2.

[expat]

I'd agree with Rich.

My 89 964 A/C is a gazillion times better than my '87 was.

I also found my '87 steering heavy at low speeds (street driving) whereas the 964 with power steering is light and responsive. I also don't accept the notion of losing 'connectedness' due to having power steering. Again as a direct comparison my 87 was less precise.

Now maybe I had a worse example of the earlier model?

The 89 964's were C4's so that made it heavier but I don't notice it on the street. No airbags in the 89 964's if thats an issue for you.

The sound deadner in the 964 seems thicker which is better or worse depending upon your application. The interior guages are slightly different as is the centre console that runs the length of the cabin. Interior otherwise is very similar.

[Early_S_Man]

Most of the folks that have replied in the 'positive' column for 964s have done so from the perspective of 'feelings' and not from the maintenance or reliability perspective ...

For me, and BA says geneerally the same thing ... they are far too complex from an electrical standpoint, and few shops have the experience, documentation, or skills to work on them effectively!!! What is it that goes out on MOST cars these days after five to ten years? Electrics!!!

If you understand electrical systems very well, and I do, tracking down bugs in Airbags, ABS, A/C, electric locks, windows, alarms, dash wiring, etc. is still a big pain, and it can get very, very expensive to have a shop do it for you! The chances are that a questionable shop will create other electrical problems while shotgunning and 'fixing' your problem is very, VERY HIGH!!!

Just how disconcerting to you think an intermittent AIRBAG warning lamp flashing on your instrument panel would be??? What do you think are the chances of getting it fixed quickly, inexpensively without causing another problem to crop up??? Even at a dealer ... slim, and NONE!!!

Think REAL HARD before you jump into an unknown pit of nasty snakes ...

[expat]

Originally posted by Early_S_Man


For me, and BA says geneerally the same thing ... they are far too complex from an electrical standpoint, and few shops have the experience, documentation, or skills to work on them effectively!!!

Interesting. I would say that the majority of P-cars driven in the PCHK are 964's (street and track). None of these guys seem to have had significant problems with electrics in my recall of any issues about car problems. The biggest electrical gremlin seems to reside with the bloody convertable top on the 87-89 series. I also wonder about the knowledge of the mechanics here compared to those found in the US or elsewhere. I would have thought that here their knowledge/experience would be less in tracking down problems electrically, and should present them more of a problem.

I just asked my mechanic about electrical problems and he did say that some of the warning lights are a little 'buggie'. I know he did a great job on my cab top converting the electrics to a 993 style operation. A job that seems uncommon from most posts I've read about this subject.

Come to think of it, my 87 also had an intermittant problem with the electric window on the passenger side, and the blower on the front condensor on these were very prone to blowing fuses.

I would think that with every new model, the whole car becomes increasingly complex, but I would not think that electrics on a 964 would dissuade too many people. Warren, can you point me in the direction of BA's comments on this, as I'd like to know more?

Thanks.

I've owned a '68, '73, '82, driven several '87/89's, and now own a '91 C2. Without a doubt, the C2 is head and shoulders above all the other cars. It is dependable... both mechanically and electrically...any allusion to significant electrical problems are illusions...and very much faster, more comfortable, and better handling. I've loved all my porsches, and while the C2 is not as quick handling as the earlier cars, it significantly more modern and livable day to day. Go for the C2, you won't be disappointed!!!

-CKKrause