Best Daily Driver 911?

[twilightcall]

Thanks for all of the help on the previous thread. I am wondering what many feel the best daily driver 911 is? Do you think that the 80-85s are? I am doing as much research as I can on them and when items were changed on them. I am wanting a FI car but wanted one that was still reasonable to work on at home. One that didn't require any special diagnostic equipment. What years do you think I should stay in? Was 90 the year for larger changes? From what I have been told all of them are reliable. I like working on cars so it will be fun to learn about it too. Any info would be appreciated.

[juanbenae]

go with an SC (78-83), the scwdp cant be wrong! really though the newer the car the more difficult to work on yourself, imo.

[typ550]

I have been very pleased with my '88 Carrera, which I have now owned and used as a daily driver for 8 years. The car has given me almost zero problems (just regular maitenance) and the G50 tranny is a delight. A/C tends to leak down, but I can still find R-12 in my neck of the woods. I was actually near selling my car a few months ago in order to buy a 993 Carrera S, but ended up deciding I liked the 3.2 too much to sell it.

Good luck!

[Emission]

Not my 930.

I would go for '86-'88 Carrera.

If you want more comfort, go '96-'98 993.

[Jack Olsen]

I'd say 964 or 993.

[pbs911]

My 78SC is my daily driver. As Emission said, go with the 993 for comfort. Personally I like to have more feel of the road to make driving back and forth to work more fun. The older the car the more preventive maintainance will be required. If you want working AC the 964 models have working AC, but it can also be had on earlier cars.

I guess it all depends on how much comport you want.

79's are cool.

[ScotMcLean]

The 912E. Good gas mileage, excellent range, good power for daily driving. Scott

[Jim Richards]

Originally quoted by Emission
If you want more comfort, go '96-'98 993.

And why not a '95 993?

[Emission]

Originally posted by Jim Richards
And why not a '95 993?

Not trying to fight here... but Porsche made some nice changes to the 993 after the '95 year. If I was going to get a 993, I would get a '96 or newer.

BTW, my favorite Porsche is a 993. Tons of power, cold A/C, and still 'easy' to work on...

[s_wilwerding]

With as cold as it gets up here, I'd have to go with at least a 964. Not that it can't be done with other cars, it's just that I'd have to have a 964 to make a 911 a daily driver here in Omaha.

[marcesq]

Hey Mark . . . did you ever get that A/C worked out?? The car looks great.

[rcwaldo]

I used to think that about the 993's (1996 or newer) until I bought a 1995. Now that Porsche is changing out all the wiring harnesses, the only real problem the 1995's had are taken care of. The OBD1 in the 1995 cars is so less problematic than the obd2 cars. Also no drive-block to give problems. I think (not because I have one) the 1995 993's are excellent and (so far) reliable, then again most of the 911's have always been pretty good cars.

One nice thing about the newer 993's is that Porsche offered a 4S and a 2S. Just my opinion though.

Chris

[rs911t]

Mark, didn't you paint your car blue? Sweet lookin' car!

[targa88]

IT depends what you are looking for and how much you want to spend. I am entirely satisfied with my 88. AC isn't the best. So maybe 964/993 is better with the creature comforts but the visceral feeling of the 3.2 can't be beat.
Not to mention that it is a charm to work on. Not sure that the same can be said of the later models.

[CrossT]

Given you don't want to spend megabucks, the 3.0 SC's and 3.2 Carreras are a logical target -- tough little vehicles that don't die.

I am convinced my own 86 would be an acceptable daily driver, though I currently (and unfortunately) rarely drive it more tha twice a week due to carpooling reqm'ts. The only trouble it gives me is my excessive idle thoughts about what I might want to do to upgrade it.

All I can speak of is the 3.2 Carrera , and as far as they go (84 - 89), there are basically two types, the ones with the older 915 trans (84 - 86) and the ones with newer G50 trans (87-89). The later trans is much beefier, I'm told, and better shifting -- but pricier to rebuild.

If you're looking at approx the $12K - $18K range, you should have good hunting from these years' models.

todd

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86 cpe

[nostatic]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
79's are cool.

No, 79's are waaaay cool.

btw, what's all this nonsense about pre-964 cars not having good heat? I can bake a chicken and a good sized roast with my heater.

[Emission]

Originally posted by nostatic
I can bake a chicken and a good sized roast with my heater.

I have to agree. I can get tons of heat within seconds of starting my car. Heat is easy. A/C... well, that is another thing.

[tmctguer]

definitely a later model car.

as much as i love my '73 911 E, it is a relatively high maintenance vehicle, in that ignition parts (points, rotor, etc.) are all perishable items. i love to tinker with the car, and it is my weekend car and occasional racer. but it requires a lot of attention to keep it running.

[campbellcj]

Honestly, not to "dis" the earlier cars by any means, but for daily-driver purposes and with sufficient budget, I think the newer the better. Ideally still under warranty. Superior technologically and performance-wise in many if not most ways. Air conditioning and heat that truly works. Low emissions and acceptable fuel economy.

For my commute, I would dig a 993 C2S or C4S, or the new 996 C4. No question. Of course a 993 or 996 TT would work too.

And I would take an original early 911, an early S or RS preferably, for the "collection" and weekend playtoy, plus a balls-out widebody 914-6 for track duties.

That is my plan, and I'm sticking to it...