sell my 81 911 SC and buy an 1990 944S2?

twobone · twobone's Garage

Looking for feedback

I am thinking of selling my 911 to buy a clean S2

The engine on the S2 had been rebuilt 25K miles ago......is that a plus or a minus in most peoples view....rebuilding seems fine on 911s but is it preferred to get a low mileage car when looking at 944s? To me it sounds like a plus, because if done right you get fresh seals, bearings, etc....

I use my car as a daily (short distance) commuter and the occassional track day....S2 a good idea?

Any other thoughts?

Guy is asking $12,000

74goldtarga · 06-11-2007, 05:43 PM

You will like the S2 for the track day, commuter too I suppose. I preferred my 911 for sporty cruising on weekends. If the rebuild was professionally done with good parts it should be ok. Rebuilds on older 911s (like my '74) are good because the parts get upgraded (carrera cam tensioners/oil pump/helicoil inserts etc.) There isn't much to be done on an S2 engine, it is a solid stock package. I would probably prefer a low mileage example because then you don't have to wonder why the S2 engine needed a rebuild to begin with. For 12K the car should be really nice and the engine professionally rebuilt with quality parts.

People in my PCA region love the S2 at the racetrack, they make sweet F cars. I have ridden in a fully prepared car and it was very fast.

Dave L · 06-11-2007, 06:22 PM

When I bought my car it had its head rebuilt a few years prior which I viewed as a plus. When I had the cam chain tensioner serviced the tech said it looked like new. That said I would still look for a car with low mileage.

The S2 will be good for the track due to neutral handling and decent power. Around town I like my S, its comfortable, the AC can be good (my previous car was ice cold) and I have fit a lot of stuff including a 32inch LCD in the back. So long as you dont consider the rear seats suitable for humans it is a very functional car.

mattdavis11 · 06-11-2007, 06:33 PM

I think I'd ask him a very direct question. What exactly was rebuilt? The 3.0, 2.7, and 2.5 engines are bullet proof if you change the belts, rollers, (cam chain tensioner pads on the S and S2) IIRC, Porsche solved the #2 rod bearing problem that some have experienced with the earlier motors.

The only thing that makes sense would be that the chain tensioner failed and the head cracked, or the car has 300k miles. How many miles are on the car?

1982911sc · 06-11-2007, 07:09 PM

I sold my 1982 SC and later purchased a 944 Turbo. Completely different experiences, the 911 was much more raw and visceral. A great car to throw around and is just a legend in its own..I miss the 911 at times however the 944 is much more comfortable and has a modern car feel. Great HVAC, transmission shifts so smooth, a much calmer ride, however if you jump on it, it REALLY goes...more of a GT car. Make sure to spend some seat time back to back to be sure. Good luck, and keep us posted.

diverdan · diverdan's Garage

The simplicity of an SC is awesome when it comes time for maintanence and repair. Because of the simplicity not much goes wrong in 100s of thousands of miles. No waterpump, 1 skinny little belt, no power steering pump or leaky rack, no water hoses or associated corrosion. 7 hours to r and r engine. Dang, it is simple and easy.

The 951 is a plumbing nightmare and engine and gearbox removal is a PITA. There are no valve adjustments to be made. I spend a lot more time maintaining my 944 and it eats more money. That said, a used replacement engine is a fraction of the cost of that for a 911.

I love both cars. The 951 more than nickel and dimes me and eats time. The 911s VW bug simplicity justs lets me enjoy the car, yet it represents a bit more money tied up. If resale is ever an issue, I think that it would be easier to sell the 911.

Both are enjoyable. One definite downside to the 911 is that it takes longer to warm up and I am hesitant to drive it if I don't go at least 6 to ten miles and that is in warm weather. After half that distance the 944 seems to be warmed up enough to enjoy some speed or able to shut down without inducing crankcase H2O accumulation.

Drove the 951 yesterday. Think I'll exercise the 911 tonight. I don't want to sell either one and since what I have in both of them is less than a new medium priced Honda I don't have to either.

Have fun!