Anybody's 911 their only car?

AndrewT · 12-13-2001, 12:49 AM

I'm still struggling with the fact that the next car I will buy will have to be my only car. Only car and early 911 (meaning a 70's one) don't really go together too well in my mind. Here's the situation: I have to commute about 10 miles a day. However, I will have a motorcycle too, and that will serve to be my primary transportation, just because the weather doesn't get bad enough to not ride a motorcycle in Texas very often. What are your thoughts?

BTW, please don't tell me to buy a SC...I've thought about it long and hard, and I would really prefer an earlier car. Call me weird.

Matt Holcomb · Matt Holcomb's Garage

You're not weird, Andrew, just enlightened!

All 911s can take anything you dish out, expect for 5th-2nd downshifts, and "spirited" driving when they're not yet at operating temperature.

Obey those rules, and you'll never look back.

What's your commute like?

Matt Holcomb
1974 911 Carrera 2.7 Euro
1975 Mercedes-Benz 280SE
Dedicated Homepage
Engine Rebuild Homepage
Porsche Owners Gallery Profile
Pelican Gallery Profile

jlui · 12-13-2001, 04:35 AM

1990 C4
1998 turbo s
1993 500 SEL

12-13-2001, 04:38 AM

My 1984 Carrera 3.2 is my only car. Remember our taxes here? Pay for 3 get 1?!!!

Joeaksa · 04:47 AM

Andrew,

No problem! I have done exactly what you are talking about for the last 4 years. I have a 85 911 and have had absolutely no problems with it and its a daily driver. Personally I would go with a 87-89 model 911 for two reasons.

First, you are in the Houston area and the heat in the summer, coupled with the humidity, is terrible. These cars had a important upgrade in the A/C system, with extra vents that actually get close to an American A/C air flow. Get someone to look at the A/C system on the car you choose and make sure its spot on, or personally I would spend the bux and replace the old "non-barrier" hoses with new units, charge it with R-12 and you will make it through the summer fine.

Second, its one of the best models of the 911 made and you have several other upgrades. These cars can be found for under $20k in many cases with reasonable mileage and would be a keeper for life!

Keep the car in good condition and do preventative maintenance and you will have a car you can drive all the time, day after day AND on the weekends on the track! Have a good PPI inspection done on any car you look at, and if you need some ideas on this, I have a friend who lives in Humble and can give you some ideas.

JA

PS, a 87-89 car is not a SC!

I have also owned a 72 and 81 model and of these two, only the 81 might qualify as a daily driver. The 72 might make it but only with a complete and total overhaul of everything in the car.

The older cars just were not as refined as the later ones and many of them have had owners in the past who did not take care of them. If you have to have an early car, get a late 70's CIS car with complete maintenance records and become very good friends with your mechanic. One problem is the early cars and A/C and these will have a real problem in Houston in the summer...

NYSCAR · 12-13-2001, 04:50 AM

Well see! There ya go, if you like motorcycles, you can think of the early S as sort of a four wheel motorcycle where you don't get wet or eat bugs! My 73S is my only car, but its mostly for recreational weekend drives and some road trips as I live in manhattan. My commute involves jamming into a subway car with lots of other people, and I'd have to say I'd rather be driving my 911 any day

Brad

Leland Pate · 12-13-2001, 04:59 AM

sc domination..... sc domination.... sc domination...

I drove my '79 for almost four years before breaking down and buying "The incredible gasoline sucking machine" that I use for daily transit.

All I can say is...

...sc domination ... sc domination... ...
resistance is feutile.

Saffs · 12-13-2001, 05:26 AM

I've used my '75 911S as a daily driver. When I got the car it needed a valve job (I knew about it before I got it) after that, fine. Never caused any problems and I used to go sometimes 500 miles a day - regularly going on 200 mile trips.
I think all the *get an SC* type stuff is quite nonsense. There's a lot of worn out SCs (although not really rusty) out there as well as Middle Year cars, and pre '73s. A good looked after car is just that. Obviously, a '89 is going to have less wrong with it, but there are good early cars out there, and that's what you need to find - it might take a while and you might have to go far, but it's worth it.
It's true, the early cars are basic (pre '73) compared to later ones.
Middle year ones are quite basic too. I prefer it though. It's not about power brakes and elec. windows (

). It's being loud and unrefined! Throw in inadequate heating and demisting for the hell of it, too - that won't effect you in TX, though.
It will be a little harder work in an early car compared to a '89 but it really is fun.

Anthony - just about to buy a '73.5 T, too....

jsmarcus · 12-13-2001, 05:31 AM

Daily driver, only car....just about to round 152,000 miles.

And to top that off, in New Jersey.

tight as a bull's ass · tight as a bull's ass's Garage

83sc is my only car, daily driver....through sunshine, rain, sleet, or snow, it goes.

Had it for almost 2 years and still running strong. If I ever get another daily driver, it would be another 911.

jamesiii · jamesiii's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Leland Pate
sc domination..... sc domination.... sc domination...

All I can say is...

...sc domination ... sc domination... ...
resistance is futile.

1978 Targa is my only vehicle. No motorcycle backup (although a bicycle will suffice in a pinch...8 mi. commute to work). What's nice about the 3.0L is that I don't HAVE to work on it every weekend...it's actually a choice!

FWIW,
Jim

Jdub · 12-13-2001, 05:47 AM

I sold the '69 Mercedes coupe I owned after it finished a tour of duty moving the Pcar wheels (three in the trunk alone!) and other bits and pieces around town. That left me with only the Pcar.

My 1978 SC Targa is now my daily. This in Seattle, which is experiencing more rain right now than I can remember in my 20+ years in this town. So I would highly recommend a Pcar for this purpose. I will say that seatbelts in the back (thanks Jim and Tyson!) make it a 2-adult, 2-kid car.

I have never owned a Porsche earlier than my '78, so I can't comment on the road manners of the earlier cars around town, stop-and-go, etc. But this car is very fast and very tractable---SC Domination continues! It is the workhorse of the stable thankyouverymuch!

John

Edit: I also own motorcycles, and have a great commute via bicycle, so these are my modes when I put the car on four jacks for a four- or five-day go through.

thabaer · thabaer's Garage

You said no SC but that's my reference point, anyway I dragged the belly pans of my lowered euro around in the snow for two winters before getting a quattro.

Your weather description makes it sound like a no-brainer, especially if you find a deal on a mid-70s Carrera! These are tough cars.

88911coupe · 12-13-2001, 08:10 AM

My 88 is my only car now but used to have an 88 Volvo 240 DL as a daily driver since I traveled non stop in my car. Saw no reason for two cars when I changed jobs. LOTS of people have one car as their daily driver and get by just fine. Unless it's realy rare I don't see why it should not be driven.
Just my .02...
Buck
88 Coupe and nothin else...
Actually, I take my bike to work about 70% of the time.

74911s · 74911s's Garage

my 74 targa was my only car for the last 2 years. it has done daily driving duty and a whole bunch of track time. i did recently purchased another car, it is also a 911 and will be taking over the track duty.

i would not do it any other way.

go for it, you only live once.

Clark Griswald · Clark Griswald's Garage

My '77 was my only car for about 6 years. Broke down on the road exactly once.

With a motorcycle as backup, you've got a great combination.

Having AAA is not a bad idea though.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

78SC Targa. My only car and daily driver for the past three years. I also drive 10 miles a day, each way to work and back. The car is also used for long weekend trips and bumber to bumber drives into LA from Orange County at least once a week.

The wife has a 98 MBZ, but I really don't drive it. The thing always runs well but it seems to less reliable than my 78.

cmelecci · 12-13-2001, 09:04 AM

My exact intentions also. Purchased a decent 70 911t, refreshed engine/trans to stock specs for reliability, added new rubber suspension parts, rebuilt brake system, new tires. Currently commute on BMWR1100S daily,(50 miles), use p-car on bad weather days, errands, weekend fun, autocross. This also allows me to toy with the car during the weeknites. It's been 2-1/2 yrs with no complaints. Parts/info/help are readily available from Pelican. ENJOY!!!

dickster · 12-13-2001, 10:31 AM

i sold my bmw 325i ragtop after five years of trouble free motoring - didn't let me down once. now my 1986 911 coupe is my only car - so gets the shopping, football (soccer), building stuff, and anything else that will fit (which is limited compare tpo the ragtop!)

my only other transport is a triumph 2000 model daytona m/bike

"just change that oil regular and it'll run forever........."

richard

BlueSkyJaunte · 12-13-2001, 11:49 AM

My '81 Targa is my main transport. Alternate is my '01 Victory V92C.

Let's see--purchased the 911 in December '99 @ 107k miles...just clicked over 127k miles. I think two weeks has been the total time in the shop (transmission rebuild, some injection issues).