Turbo vs. Non-Turbo

I am considering buying an 88 911 Turbo. The car is in mint condition with low miles. Is it true that turbo engines die a faster death or is it that they are usually driven harder?? Are the costs to maintain also higher. I currently own a 82 SC and am trying to get a feel for what I am in for (other than faster acceleration!!). Anybody have any thoughts on the Turbos???

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jevose
82 911 SC

Turbos are a hot topic right now.
To answer your questions: yes, yes, and yes.
The candle that burns brightest burns faster. You don't buy these things to drive slow. You might consider an '89 model. They have a 5-speed. Grip the wheel tight with one hand and hold on to your wallet with the other, it's a wild ride.

It's only money.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

jevose,

What you are getting in an '88 Turbo is only 282 DIN hp, but, in addition to more costly maintenance, a LOT MORE WEIGHT!!! Your SC engine weighs 419 lbs vs 615 lbs for the Turbo, per the spec books!

The power of a stock Turbo is highly over-rated, when you take into account the weight of the whole car! Go to the library and look up some road tests and look at the specifications, closely!

I am quite sure you could build a much more responsive SC engine, good for 7300 rpm (stock Euro SC was rev-limited to 7000 rpm) by putting in Andial 3.2 conversion pistons and cylinders, Web-Cam CIS grind (964 specs ++) cams, Titanium intake valves and retainers, SSI exhaust and sport muffler ... coupled to a regeared 915 with 7:31 ring & pinion, and ZF limited slip ... for a lot less money than what acquiring the '88 Turbo would cost! What you would have, roughly 240-250 hp, is a much less costly engine to maintain, and just as quick a package in a much lighter car! More fun to drive, too, unless, of course, you don't happen to like running through the gears, and an intoxicating, addictive exhaust note!
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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 02-11-2001).]

Hey, I love my 400 bhp overweight turbo.

It's the FLARES S-man, the FLARES! *grin*

I traded my 83 sc cab last year for an 88 turbo cab. The best thing I ever did. I just can't get the grin off my face when the turbo kicks in. For even bigger fun I added headers, k27 with 1 bar and a larger intercooler. I'm now looking at around 370 hp with boost coming on 1000 rpm sooner. I love it and the sc is a distant memory.

A '96 and later 993 has 282 hp @ 6,700 rpm.

I'm not so sure that an 88 would be the best choice for a turbo unless you are planning to make some serious mods. The bodys with the flares are beautiful and only make the ass of the car that much SWEETER, but as Warren mentioned, they are heavy and the boost makes for a very different ride (so I'm told). I'm not sure to what extent you've pushed your SC but imagine comming around a corner and having the boost kick in. Ouch if your not ready for it. Im rebuilding my engine with some of the specs that warren mentioned and I'll drive that to the limit then I'll consider a turbo (probably the twin when I make my fortune). I guess it all depends on wether your buying the car to race, look good, or just to say you've got one.

Adam Roseneck

I have to agree with Warren on the power outputs per the specs book altho you can easily modify a turbo to make a safe 300 plus hp, Porsche were pretty conservative on the turbo as they had to warranty the car!!! but........ it the way a turbo makes its power that sets it apart from ANY other Porsche..the way the turbo accelerates when it hits the boost is like nothing that ANY other porsche can deliver.. give me any normally aspirated 911 (excluding the really exoitc cars) on a mountain pass and its bye bye no matter what cams, pistons, exhausts or go fast goodies they have... I have driven and owned a lot of porsche's over the years and for me the Turbo rules!! and yes they look so good from the rear too, thats why Porsche made turbo look cars!! The turbo is also engineered differently too, a lot of subtle changes as well as cosmetic ones, thats why a turbo convert is never quite the same as a factory car, believe me from experience on that one!! and yes turbo's do cost more to maintain but you want to go fast? have to pay the price, if not we all would be driving Yugos........ but as they say different strokes for different folks.
Bob 1977 930 (the lighter turbo)

[This message has been edited by Bobster (edited 02-11-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Bobster (edited 02-12-2001).]

? has there been a post by a turbo owner who wishes that they did not have a turbo. I can't remember reading any. You could think of them like a strip club, just throw your wallet through the door and get ready to smile a whole lot everytime the boost comes on.

david 89 turbocab

Well, I want one. One of these days I'll have one. Sure, it's more money, but why not a 911 for a daily driver, and a 930 for the weekends? It's all good. Economical even.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9
The Porsche Owners Gallery

I have an '88 930. Bought it while looking for a 3.2 turbo look. One drive was all it took. At the time, it was only a few grand more than the turbo look, so I couldn't resist. It's the best automotive decision I ever made. Not cheap, but not outrageously expensive either. Most of the big money people talk about is the modifications that most turbo owners just have to have. Maintenance really isn't that bad, $$$ wise. It's pretty easy to get 400 reliable hp, which is about what my car makes now. More important than peak hp is the ellimination of lag. My car has new intake, exhaust, cams, mild port & polish, K27 7200, electronic boost control, long neck intercooler, and 7.5:1 compression. Not what I would call extensive modifications, but lag is non-existent, and the car is great to drive.

[This message has been edited by JohnnieA (edited 02-12-2001).]

I own them both,80 Euro SC and 81 Euro 930 with trick exhaust and a few other goodies(totals 425 HP.) The 911 is fun the 930 is the ultimate, there is no fair way to compare the 2. Just my 2 cents!

I'll chide in with a counterpoint. It seems no matter what performance owners of turbo's are getting from their car, they always want more. And more. Until the engine blows. Must be a boost addiction.

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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

First I just offer to give you a quick ride. You think it's only a ride. Then on a county road I offer to let you steer for a little bit. Go on it's okay, shift to second, now stand on it and feel yourself get pushed back into the seat. Punch up 3rd and were flying past 100. I see that silly grin and now your like me. You get back to your own car and fast isn't quite the same thing anymore. Time to find a dealer selling pure 930 fun.
just another BOOST MONKEY

I have both and it's not even close. You can easily and inexpensively get 400 hp from a 930. And I can't stand this "stuff" that it costs so much more to maintain a turbo compared to a non-turbo. I have an extremely lightweight 911 w/ a worked 3.2 and 3.6. SLOW. And there's limited room for growth. A turbo has more flexibility for growth. IMHO

I'd like to know what you consider "inexpensive". Entry price for any 930 mod you do is a grand. Getting to 400HP would require changing out the turbo, exhaust, and wastegate spring for a minimum of $3500 in parts cost alone. If you can get me there cheaper I'm all ears.

Headers with heat $1999. K27 $1095. 1 boost spring $55. Your total is $3153. However, your muffler may need to be changed and a larger intercooler might be a good idea with the other mods. So add another $2000 or so. These mods should get you close to to 400 hp. Is $5153 considered inexpensive? It's all relative. If you make over 100K it might not be a big deal. If you make 30K it's anything but inexpensive.

I have an 86 930 I went from a 74s to the 930 WOW what a change but I like the everyday driveabillty and mpg of the non turbo cars I now have a 66 solex car for the everyday driver its more fun to shift thru the gears than the turbo with the four speed in the turbo 2nd and 3rd gears is about all a person can get to. Right at 100mph in 2nd and130+ in 3rd it's hard to find enough realestate to do that!With traffic is now days. and johnny law But it is nice to have a turbo laying around to get your dose of adrenialin rush!!yea hoo!!

you want to go fast? have to pay the price, if not we all would be driving Yugos..

I drive a Yugo, it's turbo charged.


[This message has been edited by Nikki (edited 02-14-2001).]