C2 Cabriolet vs C4 Coupe - Need advice QUICK!!

[911vet]

I need advice. The process of buying my first 911 has turned my brain to mush and I'm incapable of making a decision.

I'm looking for some very biased opinions from you guys and gals.

I was looking at an 89 C4 Coupe. Then I stumbled onto a 1987 C2 Cabriolet (113K miles). I had a PPI done. No major mechanical issues, great compression test results, and the exterior and interior are superb.

Now I must decide whether to jump on this 87 C2 Cabriolet or go with an 89 C4 Coupe.

I can get the C2 for under $17,000. C4 is $19000.

Can't decide if I want a convertible or not! I had a BMW Z3 and loved it. But they can be hard to care for.

I will use the car for a daily driver but I have a beater Honda for that also. I like to drive in curvy roads. I drive "spiritedly." I will NOT be tracking/autocrossing. But I like to have fun in the twisties.

Opinions? Thoughts?

Should I get a C4 so I don't oversteer myself into oblivion on the curvy Appalachian roads where I live? Is the oversteer so terrible on a C2?

Help! I'm out of time. Got to tell the dealer what I'm going to do. I've read so much my brain can no longer function.

I need input from y'all.

Thanks,
Shannon

[WPOZZZ]

If you like cabs, you know which one to buy.

[89911]

I need advice. The process of buying my first 911 has turned my brain to mush and I'm incapable of making a decision.

I'm looking for some very biased opinions from you guys and gals.

I was looking for an 89-91 C4 Coupe. In the process I stumbled onto a 1987 C2 Cabriolet (113K miles). I had a PPI done. No major mechanical issues, great compression test results, and the exterior and interior are superb.

Now I must decide (and do so very quickly since the dealer is holding the C2 Cabriolet for me) whether to jump on this 97 C2 Cabriolet or go back to searching for a C4 Coupe.

I have a maximum price of $20,000. I can get the C2 for under $17,000. The C4s I'm looking at are $18000-20000 (90k - 110k miles approx).

Can't decide if I want a convertible or not! I had a BMW Z3 and loved it. But they can be hard to care for.

I will use the car for a daily driver but I have a beater Honda for that also. I like to drive in curvy roads. I drive "spiritedly." I will NOT be tracking/autocrossing. But I like to have fun in the twisties.

Opinions? Thoughts?

Should I get a C4 so I don't oversteer myself into oblivion on the curvy Appalachian roads where I live? Is the oversteer so terrible on a C2?

You want biased, you got it. I'd avoid the C4's you spoke about for a number or reasons. The number one reason would be that they are mechanically complex and exponentially expensive to work on. I have heard they make good snow cars. What that means in a sports car is for anyones judgement. Generally sports car make lousy snow cars.

Help! I'm out of time. Got to tell the dealer what I'm going to do. I've read so much my brain can no longer function.
Whats the rush? winter in not far off and you will have plenty of time.
I need input from y'all.

You also have 87 and 97? cab typo? Generally you know who you car, either a coupe guy or cab owner. I never looked at a cab, ever.

Thanks,
Shannon[/QUOTE]

[911vet]

I know I'm asking a rather silly question. I'm comparing two very different cars.

In a nutshell: I can buy an 89 C4 Coupe or an 87 C2 Cabriolet.

* Understeer of a C4 vs oversteer of a C2
* Coupe vs. Cabriolet
* 87 vs. 89

I welcome any and all thoughts.

[dad911]

My 87 cab was the only porsche I regret selling. And I have owned 12+ 911 & 944 over the last 15 years.

I would buy the cab if:
1) I did not intend to track or auto-x the car.
2) I lived in a climate where I can't drive topless more than 4 months of the year.

I would buy the C4 if I needed a car for inclement weather.

So where do you live? Climate? Snow/Rain alot? Do you want to track the car?

Don't get hung up on oversteer/understeer. A properly set up 911 C2 will be a blast to drive.

87 vs. 89? Not a big difference 20 years later. More important is condition, and PPI results.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by dad911

I would buy the C4 if I needed a car for inclement weather.

So where do you live? Climate? Snow/Rain alot? Do you want to track the car?

I live in Southern Ohio. I have a Honda Civic for winter days.

I will not track the 911, but do want to go to Driver's School. I will buy a roll bar if I get a Cabriolet. I don't feel safe driving it on roads w/o one and the DE school will require it. Add $1000 to the cost of the Cab, huh?

I can drive top down quite a bit around here.
One thing I cannot do is keep my cats off the car. They think ragtops make really nice hammocks to lay on. AAARRRGGHHHH!!!!
(no "dead-cat" jokes... I'm a veterinarian)

[group911@aol.co]

You aren't really comparing like cars. The 87 isn't a 964 car. You are talking 3.2 vs 3.6, power steering vs not, great heating system vs ok etc. etc.
I have both and both are great cars. The C-4 cars seem to get a bad rap but mostly by people who have never owned one.
For me, the upgraded heating/ cooling system alone for a driver makes it worth it. The 964's are great cars.

[group911@aol.co]

OOPS. Read your first couple of paragraphs and the first time you said it was an "87" cab. Now I see it's a 993.
I'd do the 993 for all the same reasons but I'd also be pretty cautious about a 97 Cab for $17k.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by dad911

Don't get hung up on oversteer/understeer. A properly set up 911 C2 will be a blast to drive.

I assume I can tweek the suspension (change anti-sway bars, add tower strut bar, etc) to reduce the oversteer a little?

And, I'm not a fan of understeer right now. I understeered my MINI Cooper right into a very deep ditch. It did not handle like my bimmer!

Originally Posted by dad911

87 vs. 89? Not a big difference 20 years later. More important is condition, and PPI results.

Condition of the 87 Cab is excellent. It has 113K miles. PPI was good. I know valve guides can go on it, but no excessive hydrocarbons in the exhaust right now so the mechanic thought things looked good.

I like the shorter throws on the 89 C4 shifter. But I think the 87 will be ok. I only got to drive one for a short time ---- the one I may buy is out of state.

Don't know how much I give up by not getting ABS and power-steering.

[imcarthur]

Nothing beats a top down Carrera on a sunny day. NOTHING. But . . . you either get 'IT' or not.

Ian

[911vet]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

but I'd also be pretty cautious about a 97 Cab for $17k.

The car is out of state. I had a friend test drive it for me.

Then I had an independent Porsche mechanic (20 years of Porsche experience) do a PPI w/ compression test. I have his full report.

I feel confident in the 87 Cab at this point.

The 89 C4 I'm looking at has some issues. AC is disconnected, sunroof doesn't work, interior is only avg, and the aftermarket exhaust sounds bad in my opinion. Price on it around $19000.

[WPOZZZ]

Sounds like the 89 wasn't well cared for.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Nothing beats a top down Carrera on a sunny day. NOTHING. But . . . you either get 'IT' or not.

Ian

THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO HEAR! Come on Cabriolet pilots.... any more of you want to cheer me on??

[911vet]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Sounds like the 89 wasn't well cared for.

Nothing too bad. I could fix it up pretty easily. I'm a vet, I'm used to taking in strays and giving a little TLC

The owner cut the AC belt because it was squeeking. I'm assuming it was the pump/compressor going bad and not the belt (though he says it was the belt).

But my buying guides say if you don't run the AC on a regular basis it encourages premature failure. So even if there wasn't a problem there may be now.

Exterior is nice.

[klaucke]

Quality 87 Cab vs. a 89 C4 w/ some issues? I think the choice is clear -- take the Cab.

Has the possible head sealing issue on the 964 been dealt with? An issue there could turn that car into one expensive learning experience.

[911vet]

Originally Posted by klaucke

Quality 87 Cab vs. a 89 C4 w/ some issues? I think the choice is clear -- take the Cab.

Has the possible head sealing issue on the 964 been dealt with? An issue there could turn that car into one expensive learning experience.

Yes, the engine was recently dropped and resealed. I detected no oil leak after the test drive. But I haven't had a PPI done.

92K on the C4.

[msterling]

Hmm, an 87 Cab would be a Carrera (like my 88 Cab) and 2wd but not a C2. The 89 is a pretty different car with upgraded motor, integrated bumpers, A/C and in your case 4WD.

I actually think the coupe looks better than the Cab, B U T the Cab is way sexier and just tooling around in it is always a great experience. It will be fine for DE's with a rollbar. You have the great 3.2L motor and the G50 trans. I NEVER drive mine with the top up unless it is raining or just too darn cold (like 30's).

You can make any 911 oversteer, learn how to use it instead of just fearing it.

Also, why buy a car with known issues unless it is a major bargain. My cat likes to walk on cars too, I just keep the garage door closed or a cover on the car.

Remember that the cars you are looking at are not really rare. If they get away there are plenty of other good ones out there.

[klaucke]

Even w/ the heads issue dealt with, I would still steer towards the Cab. Coupes do have great lines, but the all wheel drive is a turn off for me. The cars are quite different though, so it's more of a situation where your personal preferences may play a role -- i.e. regarding heat, AC, etc. The shifter throw on the Cab can reduced with any one of a number of products, like the Wevo G50 shifter, or the Hargett Precision shifter.

Originally Posted by 911vet

Don't know how much I give up by not getting ABS and power-steering.

In my opinion, and likely the opinion of many others on this BBS, you don't give up anything by having manual steering and ABS brakes! I would consider those power amenities often superfluous for a sports car. Many 911's don't even have power-assisted brakes, never mind ABS.

So, I suppose my personal choice would be the 87, despite the fact that I prefer Coupes to Targas and Cabs.

[911vet]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I didn't want to let the 87 Cabriolet get away. It's a beauty. So I bought it today.

I fell in love with the 911 in high school -- that was 25 years ago. I told myself I'd have one. Of course I thought I'd be getting one right after college because I'd be rich

So it worked out just right. I got the same 1987 car I would have bought when I graduated college.... just getting it 20 years later

I am this car's SECOND OWNER! WOW! I guess any car that someone likes well enough to keep for 20 years must be a good one

Shannon
87 911 Carerra Cabriolet
Carmine Red

[the]

You made the right choice, congrats and have fun!