Am back and shopping for my last 911 - please advise - stay with 915 or go to G50 ?

[JCFL]

I posted this thread on the other popular 911 forum here, as I was not sure which was the best for advice I am looking for.

Hello Guys,

I am writing from Eastern Canada (New Brunswick). I was active on the site until 2017 when I sold my 1982 SC, chiffon white. With regret. I bought it in Chicago, IL and drove for 7 years - it served me very well.

I had bought my first Porsche near Ottawa, Ont. - 1984 Carrera, tremendous car, sunroof less coupe, very light. Drove it for 3 years after changing the pressure plate the very first spring I had it - great learning experience. Lost the car to an accident brought on by a health condition.

Both cars served me very well and in 10 years, I never once went to the garage. Did all maintenance and repairs myself. I was very proud of that because I was never "mechanically" inclined so to speak. 101 projects for your Porsche was my bible, and this site was my number one reference.

I am writing to poll the readers about a tough question I am facing - should I go for the G15 or the G50 transmission ?

I am considering 911s from 1980 to 1988. I appreciated my 1982 SC and my 1984 Carrera. Somewhat similar in weight and driving feel.

However, I am now also considering the heavier models from 1987 and 1988 with the G50 transmission and the electric seats. Please note that for me this is a daily driver 8 months of the year, about 12-15,000 miles per driving season.

I would be happy to read your comments on the difference in driving feel. Should I stick with the light G15 transmission cars, or the G50 is OK to go to ?

Thanks a lot for your comments.
Jacques Lanteigne
I have added photo of the 2 Porsches that gave me great pleasure over 10 years.

[JCFL]

I have read the 915 vs 950 thread, and another similar. Thanks all for your previous comments.

[yelcab1]

I would not let a 915 deter me from buying a proper car.

[creaturecat]

Originally Posted by yelcab1

i would not let a 915 deter me from buying a proper car.

+1

[Matt Monson]

As the late Bruce Anderson used to say, buy the nicest newest 911 that you can afford. The thing to keep in mind is that you may find a nicer 915 car for the same money as a newer g50 car. In short, shop by condition above all else.

[silverc4s]

The least rusty car you can find for your money, in your neck of the woods, Id say...

[TeeJayHoward]

As a daily driver, I personally would recommend the G50 car. And this is as someone with a 915. The Wevo shifter fixes a lot of the complaints I have with my tranny, but it's still not the kind of transmission you can just "shift without thinking about" like the G50 models are.

Heck, I'd go a step further and recommend a 964 or 993 over a G-body. The newer the car, the better it serves for a daily. (In my mind it works the other way, too - The older the car, the better it serves for a weekend vehicle!) NVH is reduced in the newer cars even as weight is increased. A conversation can be had at a lower volume in a 1998 911 than in a 1968 model. Your speakers will sound better. Road noise and drone aren't issues. The A/C will work better. It's just... better.

But let's face it, your money can buy a MUCH nicer 915 car than a 964! And if you're wondering about a dented-up G50 vs a mint 915, DEFINITELY go for the 915. So much better to have a well-taken care of car than one with a few more options.

[JCFL]

Thanks guys for all the replies.

My son was making the following point . . . I do all of my own servicing, mainly because of location and budget. So I prefer the " simpler " G15.
- He says Dad, the G50 will almost never need servicing, so he says my argument does not stand anymore. Any thoughts.

[RobFrost]

The G50 goes for ever. Bulletproof. Also the 3.2 is a very economical engine and fabulous for daily driving. Power throughout the range, a deceptively fast car. The gearbox is really nice to use. I think the galvanising is better on later cars too.

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

[drauz]

your son is referencing the lower maint advantage of DME/Motronic. he makes a good point given your annual mileage (did the same w/ my '87 for about 3 yrs). & we should all be thankful to Bruce Anderson for his wise, timeless guidance.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by JCFL

Thanks guys for all the replies.

My son was making the following point . . . I do all of my own servicing, mainly because of location and budget. So I prefer the " simpler " G15.
- He says Dad, the G50 will almost never need servicing, so he says my argument does not stand anymore. Any thoughts.

If you do it properly, you will only ever rebuild a 915 once. One of the reasons for their reputation is that over the last 40 years so many of them have been half rebuilt , over and over. They do a couple synchros and a slider and call it serviced. If you go through Pete Z’s wiki and do all the upgrades and don’t cut any corners, a 915 drives just fine. I’ve used both 915 and 901 vehicles to daily drive. They are perfectly fine for it as long as you don’t have stop and go rush hour traffic for miles on end.

[RarlyL8]

Buy the best car regardless of tranny type.
I've had many of both ,915 and G50, and while the feel is a bit different I see no difference in the operation if both are new or as-new. The simplicity and light weight of the 915 is nice, the robustness of the G50 is nice. If you plan to turbo or supercharge then the G50 is preferred, want to lighten the car go 915. If you let others drive it go G50.

[Cairo94507]

What are your long-term plans for the car? You going to keep it and pass it on to your son? G50 is the car. You going to just drive it for 5 years and sell it, then 915.

I know everyone has their opinion, so here is mine. The G50 is the crown jewel of the '84 to '89 Carreras in my mind. The G50, '87 to '89, is the ultimate evolution of that Carrera model range. I would love to score an '89 G50 non-sunroof couple in original condition where no one has "improved" it over the years.

[Cairo94507]

double post -sorry

[JCFL]

This point of view - since I do most of my repair and maintenance work by myself, then the key question becomes: 1982 to 1986 car are pretty easy to work on. How about the 1987 to 1989 model ?

Will I still be able to do much of the repair and maintenance work myself ? That is very important to me . .. Thanks for your thoughts.

[JCFL]

I mean repair and maintenance of the entire car, not just the transmission. Merci.

[Matt Monson]

The 3.2 starts in 84. Other than the gearbox, maintenance on the 84-89 cars is same same.

[creaturecat]

get the G if your Grandmother or Girlfriend is gonna drive it.

[Macroni]

Best value for the money would be my first criteria.
A well sorted 915 verses a G50 w/ needs.

My second thought
Transmissions are suited to the car. l enjoyed the 901 in my 69S, the 915 in my 83SC and the g50 in my 87. It’s about the car.

[Tremelune]

It depends heavily on what your daily drive looks like. If it's lovely country roads and the occasional traffic light, it doesn't matter—they can all be great. For city driving with a lot of stopping and low speeds, I wouldn't even look at a 915. If you plan on using 1st gear regularly, you will never ever regret spending more for the G50—and the extra money you spend on a G50 is immediately and forever part of the car.

The 915 can be made to have a great feel...until you have to shift into first. Many will say you only use first to get the car moving...and so they lug the car around in 2nd a lot instead of making the tricky double-clutched, rev-matched downshift at 15mph. I dunno. I wouldn't bother with one I intended to drive around town much ever again.

I've had a fresh 915 with good Wevo bits, I've had a G50, and I currently have the older dogleg 911/901 gearbox. On a mountain road, the dogleg is the best, followed by the an upgraded 915...for any in-town driving, G50 all day every day.

If you have budget constraints, buy the nicest example you can afford (or at least one that is ratty in ways you don't mind). If not...well...The cost difference is ignorable in the 21st century. They're all appreciating, so you're effectively just tying up ~$10k in extra capital for a G50. For all but the nicest driving, I'd invest in the G50.