1979 930 Turbo vs. 1992 964 Turbo

[mryahoo]

Hi All,

I have an opportunity to buy either a very, very low mileage (under 20k) 79' 930 in original factory mint condition or a 1992 964 Turbo with very low mileage (under 20k) in original factory mint condition. Because both cars are exceptionally well maintained and look brand new, I need a little help making a decision. First let me say cost is not the decisive factor, I'm looking at overall drivabilty, maintenance and resale value (just in case). The car I choose will not be a daily driver, it will more or less be a weekend car show, tour, recreational vehicle (possibly a few time trials) Which one would you choose and why? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[WydRyd]

IMHO, go with the latest model you can afford.

The '92 model would offer nicer drivability, more comfort, working air-con, air-bags, ABS and be more civilised on the road than the '79 model.

The coil-overs would also be a nice thing to have

Whichever way you go, a boosted 911 is always a blast to drive.

Have fun!

[klaucke]

The 79 will be more raw, and visceral, and have that kick when the boost hits. 930 parts are more expensive than their 911 counter parts, and I'm told 965 (aka 964 Turbo) even more exorbinantly priced. I'd take the 79, it has that older, classic look and feel.

[Early_S_Man]

The 964s are a maintenance nightmare from the standpoint of electronic/electrical system complexity and reliability ... not DIY-friendly, and not wallet-friendly if you pay for professional service!

They were overly-complex, and resale prices reflect a reputation for 'problem cars' that owners tend to sell off, rather than get repaired!

[WydRyd]

All the above are true. The '79 model would also be a lighter animal

Throw on some nice aftermarket headers/exhaust, bigger intercooler and a K27HF Turbo to really wake it up. It'd be like a go-cart on steroids

[thebondman]

Buy the '79 930. I bought one and have never looked back.

[rattlsnak]

No question.. go the with 965. It really is twice the car the 79 model is from a technology standpoint, (Electronic Ign, coil overs, ABS, SRS, A/C, etc..) and it has @ 80 more HP -before-, you do any mods!

[Emission]

You need to drive both.

A good friend of mine has a '94 3.6 Turbo. Bloody fast, but the power steering and other creature comforts really turn me off. I like my raw 930 better!

Drive both, then decide.

[yasir]

964 Turbo would have a 5 speed transmission,better A/C system,better suspension and over all it's a better car.Regardless of which car you buy maintenance would be an issue and if you don't like to open up your wallet then buy a Camry.The reason people have problems with these cars is not many keep them in a good shape and thus the maintenance nightmare.
While driving back from St-Louis,MO this past weekend i ran into an Aston Martin Vanquish S and had no problem spanking that car again and again.

[WydRyd]

Look, it's really quite simple. If you are after a daily driver, go for the 964/965 Turbo. It's a much more refined car for daily driving and has nice creature comforts mentioned above.

If however, you are after a weekend racer, go for the lighter, more raw 930.

No point spending all that extra money on a 965 Turbo if it's only going to be occassionally driven on weekends.

Drive both and pick the one that gives you the bigger boner

Just my 2c worth.

[beepbeep]

Believe it or not, it's the same 3.3 CIS engine. I would buy 79'.

[gerard vaglio]

The older car would certainly be less expensive to maintain and it will certainly retain all itÕs value over the years, after all, it did all itÕs depreciating a long time ago.

The newer car will have all of the above mentioned refinements but since you will only be driving your new acquisition on the weekends or for fun you may not need or want those refinements.

If you currently drive a modern car all week the contrast of an older car may prove to be a more enjoyable and refreshing change from your commuter.

I own a 79 (non turbo) and find the lack of refinement to be a plus but since IÕm assuming you drive a modern car all week itÕs more important for you to drive the older car to determine if you will feel the same way.

There is no bad choice to make here but youÕd be crazy to go with the newer car.

[bigrubberjeep]

You said money is not a deciding factor, so if you can maintain it, go 964 turbo and make it a twin turbo.

[bigrubberjeep]

Originally posted by yasir

Nice wheels, what are they?

[slow&rusty]

Wow...aske 10 different people, you get 10 differing opinions.

I am biased towards the 930, its RAW, it the original 911 Turbo "Hot Rod" if you will and it is classic

Having said that I also love the 964, so the decision will rest with you, how you feel in it, which color you prefer, which has the best driving experience for you.

I came to this exact cross roads earlier this year....I ended up buying an '89 930 and love it but a '92 964 came close.

Yasin

[drsimonwong]

Have you driven them yet? Have you experience with Porsches?

The cars are 13 and 26 years old respectively. These are big gaps in technology.

The 965 will feel a lot more modern, but still decidedly old fashion in it's power delivery. It does offer some creature comforts and safety features.

The 930 is nothing at like anything built in the last 20 years and ask you to accommodate it's needs. It will bite you if you do not respect it.

Also ask yourself if you intend to make modifications as this can have a significant bearing on you longterm plans.

I'm curious to know how old you are too and what period in history you have the greatest affinity for.

Simon

[drsimonwong]

Oh, if you want to be competative in "stock" classes I think you will do better in the 965.

Simon

[yasir]

Originally posted by bigrubberjeep
Nice wheels, what are they?

Thanks and they are Kinesis K-18 anodized black centers with polished lip.I'll try to take some better picts and trust me they look very impressive in person.

[MuffinMan]

I'd go with the '92 turbo. If you want it to feel more raw, stiffen up the suspension and play with the exhaust.

[mryahoo]

Hi all,

To answer some of your questions: I am not new to Porsches, my last Porsche was a 1958 Speedster. The Speedster was not a concourse car, more of a local car show and/or weekend tour car. It was a kick in the pants to drive, work on and have everyone ask questions about. The downside was I could not take it just anywhere. It had to be parked within eye distance or I was a wreck worrying about it. If my wife and I went on a weekend club tour, we could only last about 200-300 hundred miles a day physically.

The 930 or 964 will be pretty the same type of car for us, local car shows, weekend club tours and such, not a daily driver. In all honesty, I have never driven either car. I'm 49 years old and grew up in the time of muscle cars, and have had most all of them at one time or another. Needless to say, I love raw performance! My father was a master mechanic by trade, so instead of playing baseball as a kid, I was learning how to rebuild engines and repair cars. While I never stayed in it as a profession, I love doing as much as I can on the maintenance aspect. As you might have guessed, the Speedster required constant maintenance to keep it in top performance.

When I had the Speedster, I was living in Northern California, which was perfect for a drop top. Since I'm now living in Florida, having a coupe with air conditioning is a must. I'm a little worried about the remarks about the 930 air conditioner being somewhat useless. Another thing that concerns me is the turbo lag that some have remarked about.

When I had the Speedster, I said I would never sell it; however, as the saying goes, "never say never." Thankfully, the Speedster was bought by someone overseas, which made me feel good. The thought of running into it at a show would have been too much to bear. While I keep telling myself I am going to keep the 930 or 964 forever, I know that isn't always the case, which is why resale value is somewhat on my mind.

Hope this gives a little better insight!