Please be gentle... 1991 2C 911 Tiptronic

[btsave]

Please be gentle, I've located at a mercedes dealership up north a legit one owner northern car 1991 C2, in pristine condition, loaded, coupe, with less than 43k miles, full service records, including oil changes every 3k miles, clean title, clear carfax and scheduled for an independent PPI ... for less than $21k.

Here's the kicker, now don't immediatedly shot me down or throw daisies at me, it has a tiptronic.

I would appreciate some honest opinions about this option. I've been looking and most cars with 75k or less miles, with multiple owners and no service records are going for 24k area with 5 speed.

I don't intend to ever track it, my wife will drive it from time to time, and I will drive it on nice days to work in average traffic... oh and I am NOT gay!

Opinions?

Thanks in advance...

[JeremyD]

Sounds like a good price.

[JeremyD]

but with the 1991 cars - they didn't have a cylinder to head seal until after engine number M64.01 06836 for manual cars and after m64.02 052757 for tiptronic cars.

I walked away from a pristine 1991 Targa for this reason - and ended up with a car with valve guide issues - so

[AFJuvat]

I think the tip will take a bit of the fun out of the car, but if you are in a lot of heavy traffic they can be nice.

If that is what you want, go for it.
If it is ALMOST everything you want, then I still counsel patience...

AFJ

[btsave]

Originally posted by JeremyD
but with the 1991 cars - they didn't have a cylinder to head seal until after engine number M64.01 06836 for manual cars and after m64.02 052757 for tiptronic cars.

I walked away from a pristine 1991 Targa for this reason - and ended up with a car with valve guide issues - so

Jer,
I'm not certain I understand what you are saying here... bring this down to a level a former 944 owner can understand.
thanks.

[btsave]

Originally posted by AFJuvat
I think the tip will take a bit of the fun out of the car, but if you are in a lot of heavy traffic they can be nice.

If that is what you want, go for it.
If it is ALMOST everything you want, then I still counsel patience...

AFJ

Mike,
I wondered why you never called me back
Bart

[JeremyD]

Sorry - early 964 cars had a few bugaboo issues that anybody should be aware of. One was the dual mass flywheel - since you are looking at a tiptronic - no issues there. the 2nd issue was the cylinder to head seal. as in there was not one. When Porsche increased the displacement from the 3.2 engines - no seal - they figured - 3.6 no biggy. Well it turned out that some engines developed a leak here - Porsche fixed them under warranty - and in 1991 (see engine numbers above) added a sealing ring to the jugs.

The fix if you have this issue is costly - as in new jugs and new pistons - So you should be aware of this issue (My 1990 Targa had this issue at 72,000 miles).

3rd issue is the dual distributer vent. You have to vent to distributor or the belt that drives the 2nd distributer is prone to breaking - one clinder fires, the other six do not causing more problems.

[cbeers]

Also, check EVERY last electronic device and HVAC control.....

-Chris

[therotman]

Originally posted by JeremyD

3rd issue is the dual distributer vent. You have to vent to distributor or the belt that drives the 2nd distributer is prone to breaking - one clinder fires, the other six do not causing more problems.

you just can't trust those 7 cylinder motors........

[JeremyD]

doh!

[RPKESQ]

Gay...no. Homophobic... yes!

[PatrickB]

There is a reason why they are often referred to as "slip-tronic!"

Definitely wouldn't get one if you had any aspirations of performance driving with it....

[nostatic]

Originally posted by btsave

I don't intend to ever track it,

Poor car...she will be so sad...

[bigchillcar]

oh and I am NOT gay!

buttttt..are ya the type who'll go to see 'brokeback' in the theatre with another hetero buddy...or wait until it comes out on dvd and send the wife to rent!
ryan

[12own911]

I loved driving my ex's 91 coupe Tip... It was great fun with L.A. traffic... Very cool car.

[Doug&Julie]

Wow, harsh crowd...

The heads issue wasn't in every car, and most of the ones that had it resulted in simply leaking a little oil.

The distributor vent kit is a fairly common and easy install.

Tiptronics do diminish the fun if you're a tracker, but in most normal driving situations it's not that bad. Drive it for yourself and see how you feel about it.

Other than that, the 964s have great motors (why do you think everybody is putting them in their early cars?!?) that have proven to be very durable. The 964s do have a few more electronics that will need attention paid to, but overall they should be good cars. I've never met a 964 owner that doesn't love his/her car.

FYI the rennlist.com forums have a great 964 crowd that would be more than happy to answer your questions in more detail.

Good luck!