If SC's are so great, why did my mechanic...............
 

Tell me to buy a Carerra? I had my choices narrowed down to two vehicles, a pair of cabs, one an 83 SC (keep in mind, I once owned an 83 SC Coupe) and an 85 Carrera.

I am still trying to figure out if the SC owners out there are just vocal, or whether the SC is really a better car.

I was told that the Carrera was basically an SC, but better (more horsies, better tensioners, chip upgradeable, etc.)

What gives??

I think it's probably the thought that "buy the newest you can afford" philosophy. Less rust, less wear, etc. Can be true, but often not.
I would personally say buy the car in the best condition you can find that is the car you want and can afford, leaving some funds left for maintenance and improvement. That means it can be anything, pre '73, SC, etc.

"why did my mechanic...............

Tell me to buy a Carerra?"

Hmmm, how does a mechanic make money?????

Re: If SC's are so great, why did my mechanic...............
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by stone43
[B]
I am still trying to figure out if the SC owners out there are just vocal, or whether the SC is really a better car.

yes, they are just vocal. they are just having fun, no problem :)

i think your mechanic is right and i would choose a carrera.

The SCs are good cars. The engines are very well made.

The Carreras have had their share of valve guides going bad. You hear about this, but not many have actually HAD this problem.
Mine does not have this problem. Some have said that an incorrectly tuned injection system (too rich) on the Carreras attribute to the valve guide wear.

I would stick with the "buy the latest car you can afford philosphy" too. Then again, what are you going to do with the car? Are you going to hack, err make it into a track car? Daily driver?

The answers to these questions will change your mind on what car to get.

Good luck & have FUN!

I think those of us with SC's are quite vocal, but the early Carrera and the SC are pretty similar.

Advantages of the early (pre-87) Carrera is a slightly larger engine (3.2), which reportedly makes little difference in performance between the two cars,
pressure-fed chain tensioners already in place, and a pulsed (DME) fuel injection system which is more open to performance modification than CIS is.

Disadvantages include more luxury items such as power seats which provide more "dead weight" to pull around.

Either way, I believe they are both good choices and you should buy the nicest car you can afford, not necessarily the newest. For example, an 85 Carrera for the same price as a 78 SC would have me worried. Make sure and get a PPI from a Porsche-experienced mechanic (maybe a different one?)

Nick.

The Carrera is an improved SC, so there's less to check for with one. You don't need to worry about the airbox pop-off valve, or whether the tensioners have been upgraded, since both issues have been addressed. Given a choice between the two with the same price in the same condition, I'd advise getting the '85 as well.

Emanuel

Of course, the '83 was the first year of the cab, so maybe certain cab-related things got ironed out by the time the '85s came around...

I don't have anything *major* against the 3.2 Carrera.
But.....
There is more complexity to the fuel injection system. The CIS is a simpler system, and when you get to know it as well as Bill Krause, you'll be glad you have it. Ditto the electrical system. More complexity. If you like to D-I-Y, the SC is friendlier.

Every motor seems to have "issues". The 3.2's is weak rod bolts. Not a problem for most owners, but still a problem never the less.
Premature valve guide wear is a bigger issue with many 3.2 motors.

I have driven a couple of 3.2's ('84 & '87). For my taste, the SC had a more responsive engine, a bit more "raw" feeling, if you will.

And yes, SC owners are "vocal" and we certainly are "having fun".
Join us and see why.