Torn between 2 cars - 911 vs. 964 Help!

[Thomas Owen]

I have never had so much trouble making a desion before, but here are the facts:
I have owned 4 911's, the latest being an '88 Cab. I sold it 6 months ago because I wanted a coupe.
I started out looking for another 87-88 but then drove a 964 ('91). There were a number of features I liked about the 964, one being the AC and the other was the addtional power. The one thing I did not like about the car was that it did not seem to be quite as much a DIY'er and that is one part of Porsche ownership that I love - working on them.
Now. I have found an '87 coupe that is very nice, so here are the two cars:

'92 964
-White exterior/black interior
-65k miles, very well maintained and documented
-left front fender replaced due to small accident (can not detect this)
-completely stock
-MINOR stone chips
-new tires, flywheel, clutch

'87 911
-White exterior/burgundy interior
-44k miles (documented)
-completely stock
-6 & 7's
-new tires
-100% original and stock
-front chin and rear tail (stock)
-minor stone chips on front bumper

Now the hard part - both are priced the SAME. My wife would probably like the 964 and that is important to me because in the past we would not drive a 911 on a night out because "it's hot inside"....
I would like driving the 964, but what about the service work? I have practically every manual and tool possible for a 911...

Based on my past history, the car would be driven probably no more than 3k miles per year and be garaged the rest of the time...

Now, give me some ideas, suggestions, and/or comments to help me sort this out!

Thanks

[Briana]

Better AC, you live in FL......964

More power.........................964

Wife likes............................964

My choice............................911

[72 four door]

Tom, I would say keep the wife happy and buy the 964,The car is more stylin than the 87 Buy some manuels and move ahead.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by Thomas Owen
both are priced the SAME.
Now, give me some ideas, suggestions, and/or comments to help me sort this out!

Thanks

This is a NO Brainer, Bruce Anderson will tell you to buy the latest Porsche that you could afford.

[jwmc1]

911's RULE

[brcorp]

Originally posted by ruf-porsche
This is a NO Brainer, Bruce Anderson will tell you to buy them both

You lived in Tucson with some A/C mods and survived, though as they say it is a dry heat. Florida on the other hand, well I guess you know what it is like to be a chicken basting in the oven....

[Zeke]

I've never owned a 964, but I would have no trouble choosing one over the 911 at the same price/condition.

[sprbxr]

I have had both. The 964 is a much more modern car. In my book it is an evolution of a car that was already great. The 92 is a good year. I would go with the 964. It is alot more car for the money (since they are the same price).

[Bob's Flat-Six]

The 87 will be a more coveted Porsche in the future. That's why it's the same price as the 964 now.
If your going to keep this car long term ? I'd buy the 87 Carrera and get the AC fixed.
Along with the early 911's the SC's and Carreras will be the 911's to own in the future, IMO. They have too big a following, that I see nothing replacing.

[Jim Richards]

964.

[Kevin Stewart]

everyone has a 911 with those big azz bumpers blades, the 964 rides better drives better, bigger motor, better air, no torsion bars, real springs and shocks, better tranny hands down, 964, i have a 3.6 82 with c2 bumpers, my wife hates it, if it was an actual c2 i believe she would drive it, all i get now is why dont you sell that car in the garage you dont drive, as far as collectiblilty i wouldnt worry about either, so many people are taking care of them that there will always be both models around, more and more people are going with the c2 because of the more civilized car, and you see less of them because of fewer years made, when i got my car it was a black targa wow, until a guy pulled up next to me at a light with the same car, i guess thats when the transformation started, Kevin

[masraum]

Actually the tranny of the 964 and the '87 should be similar.

I loved my '88, but I think I'd get the 964, but it would also be my daily driver. If you only drive the thing 3000 miles a year then get the one that you want. With working AC in the '87 you should be able to be comfortable, even in FL.

Are you going to make it a track car/hard edged, stripped down racer or is this more for a pleasant leisurely drive with the wife. If you just want to tool around and take the wife for the occasional drive then get the 964. If you want to feel like you are in a race car that you've managed to get registered and tagged then get the 911.

964 guys, don't beat me up on that last part. a 964 can be all of those things, but the old torsion bar cars feel more hard edged stock than the 964's despite the better perf and handling of the 964's.

[Kevin Stewart]

masraum, your right the 964 does handle better and ride better, my car with 8's and 10's rides like shilt, its a kidney buster, all i have is bilstien sport shock with stock bars, dont forget the 964 has a nicer dash, nicer window molding nicer interior, Kevin

[mtelliott]

Originally posted by Briana
Better AC, you live in FL......964

More power.........................964

Wife likes............................964

My choice............................911

Can't argue with that logic.

[JeremyD]

I've had both - in Florida... The AC in the 964 is better. The fender condenser adds much to this.

The 964 is the better car - smoother, faster... The tranny is virtually the same - though with the shorter shifter in the 964 - it seems more precise in that car.

The 911 is cheaper to own. Go price wear items like brakes, rotors, plug wires, etc... The 911 is about 1/2 the 964 cost. Also factor in the cost of all the electronic crap on the 964. I can't tell you how many microswitches I replaced in the 2 1/2 years I owned my 964.

See if the rear engine tray is still on. If it's a Florida car - and it's been on - and been commuted - there is a good chance you will have valve guide issues from all the heat that the 3.6 puts out with AC on/ stop and go traffic and the engine tray... Of course you might have valve guide issues with the 911 too - not over that hump till you are over 60K miles.

My wife likes driving both the 964 and the current 911 cab... but she enjoyed the 964 more...

If you are going to track the car then I would recommend the 911 (and the lower priced wear items) if you want the car to retain it's value as much as possible go with the 911. The g-50 carreras seem to maintain their value much better than most. If you really enjoy working and doing all your own maintenance - get the 911. Half the stuff I would get into on mine - I'd start then get intimidated with all the electronics. For the better AC and more proven wife friendly - get the 964...

My opinion and I'm sticking to it.......

[Kurt B]

The 964s are obviously much more complicated. DIY is going to blow chunks.

I haven't had to replace or mess with anything on my 964 except for a few fuses since I got it (and it has a busted heater blower motor in the engine compartment I replaced), but I don't really drive it very often; cause I don't want it to break. It pretty much just sits there. In fact, I haven't driven it for 2 weeks or something like that. I'm always in the beater--worked on it all weekend and am testing the changes this week while I dart around.

[edward993]

Thomas,

I assume you know to get a proper PPI done, and especially for the 964. That said, if all checks out, the 964 would be my choice hands down. Heck, the A/C and HVAC alone is almost worth the difference in my book. Then there are all those lovely updates that others have mentioned, but the ride is much more civilized w/o losing that "sporting" edge (no offense to the 911 crowd...I have an SC and love it!).

And as for DIY, it's not that bad. Remember you're comparing a 90's 911 to an '87 ...NOT that different in terms of "complexity" unless you're comparing to an early car where you can practically crawl into the engine bay. I have a 993 and DIY 99% of everything. Don't be intimidated by the mechanicals of the 964.

And of course, enough cannot be said about pleasing the wife!

Good luck!!

Edward

[Pete000]

The 964's are a bargin. The cost over 65 grand when new and can be found for less than 20 now. I have had 78,84,87 911's and loved them all. The 964 I have now is every bit a 911 as the others. I really like the kick of the 3.6 and the coil over susopension and bigger brakes. I give the nod to the 964 as long as it checks out ok. they tend to have a bit more issues than the older cars. Good Luck!

[wholberg]

Buy the 964 for your wife and the 911 for you.

[Jack Olsen]

Every time I sit down in a 964, I expect it to be like driving a stretch limo, based on what I read on this board. Instead, it's like riding the back of a bull. It's a great car.

Both of the ones you're looking at are great cars, in fact. But the 964 is the better value.