A correctly adjusted and serviced 915 is a perfectly good gearbox. It was in production for the better part of 2 decades. It is not defective. It was not recalled. It was not subject to lemon laws. Contrary to internet folklore, remarkably, it actually does shifts the gears. Go figure! Are you going to be shifting with lighting precision where every 1/10 second counts? No, you are not. If you were, you wouldn't be looking at a 30 year old car in the first place, and you'd be driving a modern car with triple the horsepower and PDK, like the pros. If you get a 915 and it's worn out or needing adjustment, just get that fixed. Reliability of the G50 vs 915? The bottom line is that if either gearbox needs service, you're looking at thousands to get it fixed.

If you can operate a clutch, you can drive a 915. Period. Sure, it might take a minute to adjust to the heavier pedal and looser throw, but it's just a gearbox, not some arcane medieval abacus contraption that people can't operate without an long apprenticeship and flight training. The internet anti-hype surrounding the 915 borders on ludicrous. I don't have to pause between gears when shifting my 80,000 mile 915 gearbox. I just shift. I can also shift into 1st while rolling to a stop. Unless a pre-G50 tranny is defective or badly in need or service, anyone can drive it.

Here is a premise worth considering. Some buyers say they are used to a modern Honda gearbox, and that's why they prefer to find a G50. I'll suggest that the entire point of getting an air cooled 911 (and paying top dollar for the privilege) is to have a vintage "leather goggles" driving experience. No power steering. Suspension firmness opposite of "floaty sofa". Mechanical clutch. No nanny assist or stereo or DVD player or Navigation. An exhaust rumble. Even an oil dipstick! The very point of buying an old 911 is that it's nothing like your modern convenient Honda, and that it's different. In that regard, a 915 gearbox is more authentically vintage than a G50 anyway. The guy that wants a modern gearbox probably would not be happy in a 30 year old car in the first place, and might prefer a 997, right?

Buy your SC or 3.2 in the right condition and history, from the right owner, within your search radius, at a price you're comfortable with.

+1
Having owned 2 993's and my current SC. I prefer the 915 and the overall analog nature of the beast in its entirety. To each his own, drive them both and decide for yourself.

Very well said, Sugarwood.
Dave

I have no problem with the two 915 boxes I had. Once they are dialed in, they work.

Didn't mean to stir up a hornet's nest re the 915. I just said IF it's balky, think twice about getting it, that's all. I'm sure you all have buttery smooth 915's and to you, they're the best thing since sliced bread, but my experience was different. Drove one on my '85 for 15 years and despite internal work on it by the PO and all the coupler, shifter, clutch and fluid adjustments I made while I owned it, sure it shifted okay, but I still wasn't happy with it. The '88 G50 I now own is great in comparison. To compare the G50 to a Honda gearbox (my daughter has a Honda Fit w/ manual) is ridiculous. :rolleyes:
Again, I stand by my advice that whatever gearbox your prospective car has, if it's balky or noisy or doesn't seem to shift right, think long and hard about buying it or else be prepared to spend big money and time bringing it up to spec.

No worries. I have owned two 915 boxes and now a GT3 (with cable shifter). I have driven other G50 boxes. I can get used to all of them. I do think the 915 have to be "learned" and "finessed" more than the other boxes, but that is part of the old car charm. And I am oK with that.

993 all the way for me. 6 speed G50 gearbox, more refined chassis, coupe, 3.6 270 hp, last of the air-cooled engines, lower production numbers + 993 chassis all do it for me.

Nooooo!. lol I was offered the 86' 91, and a New Holland LX565 Skidsteer(w/ 2 buckets, auger, tree spoon). Both for $30k. "It sat out"-meaning it hasn't always been garaged. It still looks really nice, but not pristine"ish like the 993.

I'll get pics and more details on my next viewing.

If I don't choose it...will do. Until then-I live in Alaska;)

Very kind of you.

I def know what it feels like when car sells from under you, so only once you make your choice.

I think I missed this reply! What is the market for a 1995.993.
Seriously babied/garaged/records, etc. Black w/ gray interior- 51kmiles

E=997at;9428903]If you can get a 993 with 50K miles and great condition for $30K then you're about $20K-25K under market pricing. It would either be the deal of the year, or there is something really wrong with that car by my reckoning.[/QUOTE]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1484398321.jpg

So I got to take the 993 for a test drive. I haven't driven a manual in years, and never a 993. Boy was it fun!
All original minus radio head unit.

It shifted smoothly, ran great, and looked fantastic. There was a slight, very minor shimmy at cruising speed, but I thought it was due to the original, old tires (tracked straight/alignment ok). aybe I was just "feeling" the poor roads around here

Only thing was a warning light(exclamation point) on the dash. He thought it might have to do with brakes(which seemed fine)

Will a regular odb scanner read fault codes, and what might that dash light be?

The best deal can be the most expensive nightmare. Do not buy either of these cars without a PPI from a knowledgeable aircooled tech. I have owned every kind of non turbo 911. First, congrats on your desire to own an aircooled version. They are a blast. The 86 and 95 are completely different animals. They are as different feeling as a lexus and a BMW. Only driving each will tell you which feel you are looking for. Everyone has a preference. Now, I will say this. Money seems to be an issue. The 86 will be less expensive to maintain than the 95. That said, both are pretty bullet proof cars if they have been properly maintained. My 87 and 89 911s and 98 993 where amazing. Very little every went wrong. So, bottom line. Drive both and decide which excites you the most. Then get a thorough PPI so you know what you are getting.

The only thing I ever need before buying a car is a compression test.... A full ppi is overated to me, to me only. And at 30K for a 993, I would just buy it

Right. If I go asking for PPI, etc, the mechanic will probably buy it. Looking back at my pictures, the warning light was probably the oil sending unit(oil pressure gauge was maxed).
It ran and shifted very smoothly.

I'm trying to get it. tomorrow

That light may be the TPMS light. Was there a triangle around it ?

Warning Light= https://wiki.bentleypublishers.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=123076974

Is the 993 seller a complete fool, or is there a serious issue with the car? An "almost perfect" 95 993 with under 50k miles should be between $50-60k. Why are you thinking you can get it for 31k?

Nothing wrong with the car. I have driven it. It had 51467miles
....More like a slightly introverted dentist, that didn't know what he had(that is until his patient just told him/showed him KBB). I was kinda feeling bad about trying to pull this off, but I deserve "the good deal" at least once in my life. Right?

Needless to say the dynamic has changed. I'm still working on the 1986 911 deal, but I kinda fell for the 993. I just offered $35k for it. Wish me luck. I'm getting at least of one these, so get in-line fellas.

The lesson here is to know the market. And act quickly. If you want a "good deal", you need to be prepared to do the same that same day with a pile of cash.

That 993 was priced waaaay under market, yet you dawdled around the internet for 5 days until the deal was gone. The only reason it lasted 5 days was that it was unlisted. If it was online, it would have sold the very same day. What is the new asking price for the 993? $50k ?

$35k for the Targa is a good price. Poist pics if you get it.