First-Time 911 Buyer Seeking Advice

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by javadog

A driver's side electric seat was standard from 1985. It was the passenger electric seat that was optional in that year.

If you want an '87-on Carrera, your best bet is to find the nicest one you can, in the colors that you want, rather than worry about what year it was made.

JR

Okay, that's kind of what I gathered from my research. Thank you so much. All of your input really relieves most questions I had. Thanks!

[tumamilhem]

Are the 911s similar to the 914s in that they had different equipment for emissions if they were a California car? In the 914, if it was a California car, it came with smog equipment, reducing horsepower from all other 914s sold in the US with the same engine. Does the same thing apply for the 87-89 Carrera? I ask because I found an 89 California car that says it comes with "California Emissions". Anybody know if this reduced hp at all from other 911s of the same years?

I am also seeing 3.2L B6 and 3.2L H6 engines advertised. What is the difference?

[Rich Gas]

Questioning sounds so familiar...tiresome.

[javadog]

There was a small difference in the cars in California. You won't likely notice anything. It's not like the earlier days, at all.

B6 and H6 refer to boxer 6 and horizontally opposed 6. That's two ways of describing an engine cylinder layout. There's a technical difference between the two but it's irrelevant. All 911 engines had the same layout. Ignore crap like this.

JR

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by javadog

There was a small difference in the cars in California. You won't likely notice anything. It's not like the earlier days, at all.

B6 and H6 refer to boxer 6 and horizontally opposed 6. That's two ways of describing an engine cylinder layout. There's a technical difference between the two but it's irrelevant. All 911 engines had the same layout. Ignore crap like this.

JR

Okay, thanks so much. I hadn't read anything about the two engines or the emissions until I saw it come up in a few ads. I appreciate it.

[dienstuhr]

Another difference during the run of 3.2s is that the antenna moved from the fender to the windshield for MY 1985 and up. Personally I prefer the windshield antenna (I have an '85) as it's less cluttered looking. You may have a different preference coming from a 914.

I hope you paid for Amazon Prime shipping for your book!

Cheers

d.

[Rich Gas]

I have an 84 with the antenna on the right fender... Just looks right and period correct to have that little black dot. Not cluttered at all?

[COLB]

1. Condition (cosmetic, originality, maintenance, and history)
2. Budget, body style (targa, cab, coupe)

and to a lesser extent:

3. Color

These are probably the only three variables that really matter to the majority of buyers.

Generation matters too (mid, SC, Carrera) -- but cost has generally mattered more. All things being equal, most folks will chose a Carrera over a similar SC, but will have to pay more for it. You are generally better off buying a well sorted 3.0 SC than a needy 3.2 Carrera at the same price. This is changing a little, as the top SCs and mid years are appreciating to where they compete with excellent Carreras.

You are not ordering a car from the factory -- you are selecting from the limited number of available cars.

I understand your desire to understand the differences between all the years -- that info is available on websites that trace 911 development.

What posters are trying to tell you is that the difference between whether it has electric seats or not, or has the window vice fender antenna, or really any year-to-year variation is probably an irrelevant variable, because you are unlikely to find two cars so similar in condition and cost to where antenna location becomes a deciding -- or even relevant factor.

The question is not whether or not you want a G50 equipped car-- the questions you need to be asking are:

- How much money am I willing to spend?
- Is there any color combination or set of options (like cabriolet, whale tale, non-Fuchs wheels) that I especially want, to would cause me to not buy a car.
- How long am I willing to wait?

Since you like red cars and Targas, you have a lot more choice, and can expect more reasonable prices than a guy desperate to buy a yellow coupe. If you must have a G50, then expect to pay extra, and you may miss out on better 915 cars because of it.

The rest is shopping around and buying the best car condition-wise for the money you are willing to spend, within an acceptable time frame.

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by COLB

1. Condition (cosmetic, originality, maintenance, and history)
2. Budget, body style (targa, cab, coupe)

and to a lesser extent:

3. Color

These are probably the only three variables that really matter to the majority of buyers.

Generation matters too (mid, SC, Carrera) -- but cost has generally mattered more. All things being equal, most folks will chose a Carrera over a similar SC, but will have to pay more for it. You are generally better off buying a well sorted 3.0 SC than a needy 3.2 Carrera at the same price. This is changing a little, as the top SCs and mid years are appreciating to where they compete with excellent Carreras.

You are not ordering a car from the factory -- you are selecting from the limited number of available cars.

I understand your desire to understand the differences between all the years -- that info is available on websites that trace 911 development.

What posters are trying to tell you is that the difference between whether it has electric seats or not, or has the window vice fender antenna, or really any year-to-year variation is probably an irrelevant variable, because you are unlikely to find two cars so similar in condition and cost to where antenna location becomes a deciding -- or even relevant factor.

The question is not whether or not you want a G50 equipped car-- the questions you need to be asking are:

- How much money am I willing to spend?
- Is there any color combination or set of options (like cabriolet, whale tale, non-Fuchs wheels) that I especially want, to would cause me to not buy a car.
- How long am I willing to wait?

Since you like red cars and Targas, you have a lot more choice, and can expect more reasonable prices than a guy desperate to buy a yellow coupe. If you must have a G50, then expect to pay extra, and you may miss out on better 915 cars because of it.

The rest is shopping around and buying the best car condition-wise for the money you are willing to spend, within an acceptable time frame.

Yes, that's good advice. Your Top 3 are the same as mine in that order:

1. Condition (cosmetic, originality, maintenance, and history)
2. Budget, body style (targa, cab, coupe)
3. Color

I do like red on it, but it's by no means a deal breaker. I also like yellow. I like blue with white interior. But these are afterthoughts to purchasing what is more important and available - mechanical and cosmetic condition and originality within my budget. Coupe and Targa I am fine with. prefer not a Cab. Color, if it's one I really like, it's a plus. It's not a decision maker/breaker. Other changes in the years (someone mentioned antenna) are not really relevant to me. The changes I inquired about were mechanical, engine and tranny related, if there were issues with certain years that I may not be aware of, important things to know such as that. Things like what type of radio are miniscule and doesn't make a difference to me.

All these things are good advice and feedback that I have taken account for and am grateful for. I think I am pretty much set on which direction I am going to go now. Now to find one in good condition, mechanically sound, original and not in need of refurbishing.