Question regarding older vs newer 911

[Akira28]

I am biased in that I’m a fan of the 911SC, it has more to do with being in my late 30’s and having that impression of what a real car is left over from childhood.

First let me say that the price on the 85 is WAY to high. I picked up my air cooled 83 (150K) for $8,700 and have about 3 grand into it.

Here is the truly practical elements:

The Newer 911 will have a ready supply of parts for another ten+ years. But you will not have as good of luck installing the parts yourself.

The Newer 911 will loose value for another few years

The Newer 911 will be easier to get it fixed, but at a price.

The Newer 911 is a get in and go with a higher convenience level.

The Newer 911 can be taken to a Quickie oil change place (but please don’t, they are truly evil)


Now in opposition:

The Older 911 You can actually work on and there are books on many subjects to help you (and people here that can help answer questions).

The older 911 you will end up working on it unless you have a trust fund, the advantage is that you might actually enjoy it.

The Older 911 when you take it to a shop you will find that the mechanics will volunteer to look at your car, or alternately the shop will simply tell you they can’t work on it.

The older 911 is a completely different duck from the more current models.. It’s old school and a hobby that is transportation.

The older 911 is more a statement that you are the kind of fellow who will bust a few knuckels and work on your own rig rather then buying a ready made chick magnet.

LOL.. Just My $0.02

[Deschodt]

I think we're looking at this the wrong way... Maintenance costs is not the issue here... It's what you want to feel at the wheel... Having owned everything from at 356 to a 996 with some mid engines ones throw in the mix, to me it's not so much an issue of repairs...

You buy the 996 because you want an *incredible* deal on something that is damn near a supercar, you buy an old aircooled 911 because you want to hear *that* noise, and smell *that smell* and don't want to lose your license quite as fast as with the 996. The older 911 is kinda fun at 50 mph where the 996 is kinda fun at 90. Ultimately they drive and feel the same at the limit, it's just that the limits are that much higher on the newer car. And you may also need A/C so you get to work fairly dry and smelling good... Or it's a toy car and you don't care... Again, it's not price or maintenance, it's what you want it for...

Price wise, though, I'll grant you tires cost a bundle in 996 sizes, but other than that, I don't buy the argument... My oldies always cost a heck of a lot more than the newer ones (all used)... Big fuchs cost more than fancy 996 wheel, a total aircooled rebuild costs as much as a *brand new* 996 motor in a crate, you can do surprising amounts of DYI on a 996 - interior and motor. Even something like shocks or springs are easy to do (I just did torsion bars and ride heigh on my oldie and "fun" did not factor in the job)...

Me, with 25K, if I saw that C4S turbo look above, I'd buy it 10 times before I got a carrera, but that is because I own the cars in my sig... If you said a 996 versus a 72, then I'd be more conflicted (and I'd get the 72)... Truly, don't let price be the decider on this one, it's not....it comes down to what experience you are after and which you will enjoy more... I think if you drive a 996 and 85 back to back, you will have a hard time not buying the modern car, unless you are set on getting the classic experience (And an even older 911 might do that better)...

[nikos]

Thank you all for your replies and valuable insight.

I have been trying to gather information on the 996 motors, and I was shocked to find out that Porsche doesn’t sell I invdidual OEM components like, pistons, rods etc.. Not sure if that is the case with older porsches too.

On the internet, you only hear about bad experiences so I am not sure if they engine failures under warranty to first years of the 996 cars is something to worry about or just amplified noise made by isolated cases.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by nikos

Thank you all for your replies and valuable insight.

I have been trying to gather information on the 996 motors, and I was shocked to find out that Porsche doesn’t sell I invdidual OEM components like, pistons, rods etc...

On the internet, you only hear about bad experiences so I am not sure if they engine failures under warranty to first years of the 996 cars is something to worry about or just amplified noise made by isolated cases.

Yeah, not much of an aftermarket for parts for 996 motors, Porsche's policy was to take the motor back and exchjange it under warranty... they will sell you a new one though. Even that is changing though, the next to last Excellence had an article on 996 rebuilders... They exist ! Might not be cost effective yet, but they are out there...

You do hear more about bad experiences on the net, as a rule, you have to take that with a grain of salt. All 911s, whatever the era, are famous for one bad issue... For instance the exploding clutch, the bad chain tensioners, the prematurely wearing valve guides, the coking of the secondary ports, etc.... The early 996 as youly know had bad case castings intitially and to date they still have Rear Main seal leaks... I'd guess that the bad casting cases have all expired and been replaced by now, Rear main seal is largely overblown both in numbers and in severity... It's a seal... Oil gets by.. you should see the floor under my 912
;-)

Again, the odds of having a perfect 85 with never any serious maintenance needed have to be lower than a perfect 2002, in isolation, just based on age... Not pushing the modern car on you, I've got nothing but oldies at my house, but you have to consider that 996s are amazing cars and amazing deals, and not disqualify them right off the bat... Drive one, I say, then let us know how that went ! Too many people out there with anti-H2o porsches have never actually driven one, I like to make my own opinions ;-)

[450knotOffice]

My nine year old 2000 996 has been totally reliable. It has 86,000 miles on it. Dry as a bone underneath and runs as smoothly as an electric motor. That engine sees its 7100 RPM rev limit at least once a day and has spent many hours out on the big track at Willow Springs raceway. I'm a fan.