61sktnbug,
A SC definitely gives you the best bang for buck. I have been looking for a nice SC for sometime, and I am finding, locally in Vancouver BC SC's seem to be really overpriced. Today I found and 82 SC coupe for 26,000.00 and I found a 84 carrera with 118,000 KM for 23,000. Both are nice, but I think I would opt for the carrera. I did come across a sorted 77 targa for 12,000. http://www.buysell.com/showad.asp?id=43701329. If interested I can look at it for you, and put you in touch with a great shop for a PPI.

In all fairness, possibly the newest one that fits into your budget will probably be the best buy.

Take your time looking for one, the right one will come.

Make sure you do a PPI from a very reputable shop.

Those prices are terrible, even in Canadian dollars. :) Again, buy a $200 plane ticket to California and drive one back. The problem with the cars older than '76 is they are not galvanized and will rust overnight in a climate like Canada's.

Come on Steve. Just quite pouting and cough up the dough. 911's are overpriced here compared to the US.

Plus, I dont really think you are cool enough to own a Porsche.... Plus Don't you need a bigger minivan for the extra Chillens? I could sell you my AWD astro van.

Lol. Just kidding man. But really, if mines gets written off, we could try and find a couple in Cali and fly down/drive back together. That way, when yours breaks down I can call ya a tow truck! ;)

The SC's are great, very reliable, myself when I had the decision you are facing went with a cheap 76 911s, it even had thermo reactors on it. It actually ran pretty good for 135 thousand miles on it.

The immediate cost was to take off the reactors and put on ss headers. Drove the car two more years with minimal expense and then decided to rebuild it. I dumped 13K into the motor and tranny, that was 9 yrs ago. Since then have rebuilt everything else lacking only the rear calipers.

The car has been mister reliable and taking it out this weekend to go to a weekend seminar had her at 110 without no problems, watched the odometer roll 222222, most outings the engine runs around 180 degrees but when the 95 degree temps come it will shoot up to 210-215 going up a mountain pass. I take it in for a tuneup every other year and that's about it.

Would I ever buy a 76 again??? absolutely, they are the last of the light ones and once you fix the junk motor you got yourself a pocket rocket and just as reliable as a SC and if you can find one already fixed, just smile and enjoy. :D

What I've learned the hard way is never to let my emotions overpower the logic needed to have a "long-lasting positive relationship." Cars...or women...no insult meant to the ladies out there, for you it ought to be cars or men.

There's no doubt that a 911 is a wonderful car, I love my '84 Carrera Targa. The input you've received from several folks is very wise: "There's no such thing as a good cheap 911" "Buy what you can afford" and "Get a PPI (pre purchase inspection)" are absolutely dead-on. NO PPI= NO BUY! And buying what you can afford includes post-purchase expenditures.

.Most folks will warn you away from the middle 70's 911s due to the magnesium cases. That's why they're less expensive: they generally require 50k rebuilds. I suggest you look at the Porshe 911 Buyers Guide by Randy Leffingwell, it'll give you a starting point on learning about the changes in the car obver the years.

My first Porsche was a 914 2.0 (well, kind of a Porsche). A lot of fun, and now, if you follow the above mantras, a car that will not lose value. Which may offer you the best of both worlds, a cool car to drive while you save up for an SVC or newer. Check the thread on "who started with a 914" it'll tell you how devoted 914-ers are. If it weren't that we need an SUV for our mountain exploits, we'd have a 914 as well.

Good luck, and be careful. This is an addiction you'll not find easy to quit. In this case, a good thing!

Joe
1984 Carrera Targa, Guards Red
25k on fully blueprinted rebuild

I went through some "step up" cars before getting my 911. To do it again, I would have just saved and got what I wanted. IMO Dont get a 914 unless its like just your track beater.....

SC's are nice, but I prefer the early 911 body style for design. Look under cars for sale listing on Pelican; saw a SC targa that John Walker was selling for around 10KUS, looked to be in ok shape, definitely ok price.

For not a lot of money, you may have to find an early car that may have issues, and work on it. What you could save in $$ you may have to make up with time and effort, but the end result will be a car you have a lot of time and love in.

I got mine, and realize it has issues that will be a PITA to me, but I know I can get it to where I want it. It's going to take some time and a lot of work, but it has great potential. I know I'm going to love it.

what im thinking is something early needing some cosmetic touch ups or brakes or suspension , stuff i can do my self, i m always looking out so who know? my really close friend is a porsche/vw mechanic so he can ppi for me

Re: best year and model 911 for a noobie
 

If you're doing your own work and want to spread out the investment over time, months or years, then a nice rust free mid-70's car might be just the ticket. Natually, the less you have to fix, the more time you can spend enjoying the driving of the car, which is the only reason to own a 911 in my opinion.

I intentionally looked for, and found, a Carrera from the so-called 911 Sweet Spot, 1987 through 1989. These cars can command top price when they're in pristine condition, even selling for more than a C2 several years younger in like condition.

Buy rust free, with as few miles as you can, in as good condition as you can find.

Pat's dead-on. Those Carreras are the sweetest of them all. I just couldn't muster the funds so I bought my 84, just because I felt that any purchase needed back-up funds. I continue to hunt for the late years Carrera and then will give my wife the 84...or will that get reversed?
61sktnbug, you're a lucky guy to have a mechanic as a bud. Take good care of that relationship!

yep he s a good friend to have ! costs alot of beer and sucj but its worth it , plus like i said earlier i am a asst manager of a fully functional shop , so parts and labour are alot cheaper for me than the average joe

Ouch! I didn't think I was an average Joe!


but on certain days I know that I may be sub-par.....

I'm certainly not average... and I don't ever seem to go the easy route when I get into a new hobby. I already know my car is going to need new front suspension pans, passenger compartment pans, a new rear deck, new seals EVERYWHERE, paint, lots of stuff. I think it will be fun..

... and it will be that much more satisfying when I get it done. I will be able to look at my fine little 911 and say 'I did that!

I just bought my first porsche and very happy with it. A 1966 911 with a 2.0L its not original but I love it. Has the sc flares with some other tid bits it looks great. One good thing is I don't have to make it pass smog in California. woohooo

i was not trying to be rude ... sorry:D

I didn't take it that way, not did the other posts, I believe. Just havin' a little fun, no worries!
Joe

If you go middle years, definitely a 74. I'm not sure why all the references to "sorting out" CIS problems as mine has never run anything but strong. In fact other than adjusting the mixture every year that's all it ever needs.

I agree totally... Save your money, do your homework, decide which model you think you would like, do more homework and investigate the pro's and con's of that model. Do searches on 911, 964, 993, 996. Then buy the latest model you can afford. If you are a "Do it yourselfer" you can look up to an 89 911. Each model has its own set of idiosyncrasies.
Above all, enjoy yourself...and don't get into a rush.