INPUT WANTED: SC vs Carrera / 3.0 vs 3.2 / 915 vs G50

[juanbenae]

I did not read this exact thread, but ive read it's cousin a time or two here over the years.

maybe I missed it, but have you driven an sc or either Carrera models? g50 v. 915? if not, do so immediately and report back! I insist.

jb

[wayner]

They are all getting old by now
Which transmission is easier or cheaper to rebuild or get parts for?

[James Brown]

for me, motronic beats CIS 1000% the rest is a tie

[Brando]

If you're going for the pinnacle of the air-cooled "obtainable" cars, 993 would be it. Next best thing is a late-80s Carrera 3.2 with G50. I drove mine for YEARS and it is a world of difference over the CIS and 915. For starters, you don't have to baby 1st and 2nd. 3.2 is still based on the 930 block which is pretty darn resilient.

[impactbumper]

I owned both G50 and nicely dialed 915 on 3.2 cars, I can go either way. All comes down to how much I like the car after all. It is that close to me as far as transmission goes.

[timchar]

Originally Posted by James Brown

for me, motronic beats CIS 1000% the rest is a tie

I absolutely agree. I have a 75 wide body with a 3.0. I decided to put a rebuilt 3.2 in it just to get away from the CIS. Can't wait to see the 3.2 sitting in the engine bay without all the CIS cluttering things up. Tim

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by Spumato

IMO, why not get an older car and put a 3.0L in it with what you want and have the 915 rebuilt.

This is exactly the route that I took. I have a MY1974 911 Coupe w/ sunroof that has been repainted I the rare factory color, Salmon Metallic. The brake calipers have been rebuilt, I added performance pads, slotted and drilled rotors (pattern matches Porsche road team from period), upgraded to stainless steel brake lines, and added Blue Racing brake fluid. Also, I have flushed and sealed the fuel tank, added a 3.0L fuel pump, replaced the fuel distributor with a refurbished unit. New fuel accumulator, new soft lines in the engine bay. Ultra sonically cleaned the injectors.

My 3.0L is from a MY1983SC. It has 204bhp to start, we custom ported the exhaust side and put 964 cams in and added ARP head studs and rod bolts to strengthen the block. Titanium valve springs were added for the lift of the cams and to help with high rev tolerance. Also, rebuilt the 915, and the trans axles and added new bearings at all four wheels. And included a lightweight flywheel and a Sachs Centerforce Clutch.

All in all I don't think I would ever want the G50, and my beast will dominate a 3.2L all day long!

That's a lot of work that I don't know how to do. I'm not much of a wrench unfortunately. All that labor and obtaining engine / tranny / parts and building a car would far exceed the cost of me buying a finished car / well-maintained original car.

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

I did not read this exact thread, but ive read it's cousin a time or two here over the years.

maybe I missed it, but have you driven an sc or either Carrera models? g50 v. 915? if not, do so immediately and report back! I insist.

jb

I wish. As I mentioned earlier, I don't have access to either. I've seen some here, but not by people I know. That would be the best thing.

[tumamilhem]

Guys I really appreciate the input you're giving me. Keep your opinions and experiences coming. :-)

[RedCoupe]

I have owned my 964 for 12 years and have had an 86 Carrera in my garage for the last couple of years. I have more miles on the 964, but some long road trips in the 3.2. When the 86 was first acquired the shifting was quite vague, but a new coupler and careful adjustment got it back to shifting well. After driving both transmissions, I don't think a 915 in good shape and adjusted properly takes a back seat to the 964. One of the fun things about the 915 is that when you're driving hard and revving it up, shifting becomes really slick. It just doesn't seem to like that round town slow speed stuff as much. That said, the G50 is a robust gearbox and I love the synchro reverse. But, rather than focus on which transmission, I would decide which body style I want - coupe, targa, cab. I think the difference between a coupe and one of the open cars is much larger than the difference between a 915 and a G50.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by tumamilhem

I wish. As I mentioned earlier, I don't have access to either. I've seen some here, but not by people I know. That would be the best thing.

start looking in classifieds for your car, drive it and the ones that won't be your car.

[Fly911]

Most of the SC's and 915-Carrera's I have seen for sale are priced basically the same as G50-Carrera's. The US version of the G50 has also 20Hp more than the 915-Carrera. To me the G50 is a no-brainer, especially v.s. an SC. The Motronic has also more tuning potential than the SC, where 250HP+ is relatively easily achievable with bolt on modifications. If you need AC, this system was also better on the Carrera's. The UK magazine tested an SC against a G50, and the G50 was a significant faster car with much better throttle response, and a more modern car feel. The conclusion was that the Carrera felt like a very quick car, even by today's standard.

[CCM911]

It is a shame, I was in your neck of the woods last weekend, and would have been more than happy to let you sample my 1984. You have got to know some folks with these cars down in Florida. You totally need to drive each variant.

Originally Posted by tumamilhem

I wish. As I mentioned earlier, I don't have access to either. I've seen some here, but not by people I know. That would be the best thing.

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by RedCoupe

I have owned my 964 for 12 years and have had an 86 Carrera in my garage for the last couple of years. I have more miles on the 964, but some long road trips in the 3.2. When the 86 was first acquired the shifting was quite vague, but a new coupler and careful adjustment got it back to shifting well. After driving both transmissions, I don't think a 915 in good shape and adjusted properly takes a back seat to the 964. One of the fun things about the 915 is that when you're driving hard and revving it up, shifting becomes really slick. It just doesn't seem to like that round town slow speed stuff as much. That said, the G50 is a robust gearbox and I love the synchro reverse. But, rather than focus on which transmission, I would decide which body style I want - coupe, targa, cab. I think the difference between a coupe and one of the open cars is much larger than the difference between a 915 and a G50.

I'm pretty much set on a coupe. No cabs for me. I considered a targa (914s are all targas and I pretty much never put the top on). I love the wrap-around rear window on the 911 targa, even though there's the leaking issues. But I moreso love the sloping roof line of the coupe. I'd love to have both, but I can only afford one. So I'm set on the coupe.

My big concerns between the 915 vs G50 is that the 915 will likely need rebuilds and regular maintenance to shift properly. The G50 is pretty much modern drive and go. But the G50 is heavier. I wonder if the 915 is more spirited driving due to lighter weight. What is the weight difference? Is it noticeable between the two that the 915 Carrera is more nimble than the heavier G50?

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

start looking in classifieds for your car, drive it and the ones that won't be your car.

I have been for a long time. There are none in any classifieds I have seen here. Hence, none for me to drive.

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by Fly911

Most of the SC's and 915-Carrera's I have seen for sale are priced basically the same as G50-Carrera's. The US version of the G50 has also 20Hp more than the 915-Carrera. To me the G50 is a no-brainer, especially v.s. an SC. The Motronic has also more tuning potential than the SC, where 250HP+ is relatively easily achievable with bolt on modifications. If you need AC, this system was also better on the Carrera's. The UK magazine tested an SC against a G50, and the G50 was a significant faster car with much better throttle response, and a more modern car feel. The conclusion was that the Carrera felt like a very quick car, even by today's standard.

I thought the Carreras (84-86/87-89) were all 217 bhp (US). The UK test with Euro models may have yielded different results from the US spec as I believe the Euro Carreras were 231 bph. Unless I am mistaken.

I've been told the 3.0 is more nimble and better throttle response due to its lighter weight, even though the 3.2 is 37 bhp more. Anybody know the weight difference between the two? Does it make up for it weight vs hp or is one just more responsive from being lighter while the other just feels heavier with more hp? I was thinking that maybe the 3.2/915 may be more responsive with more bhp and lighter due to having lesser weight than the G50.

[tumamilhem]

Originally Posted by CCM911

It is a shame, I was in your neck of the woods last weekend, and would have been more than happy to let you sample my 1984. You have got to know some folks with these cars down in Florida. You totally need to drive each variant.

That's very kind of you, thank you. I would have greatly appreciated that opportunity. That's really what I need, is to have one of each to try:

3.0/915
3.2/915
3.2/G50

I do have two friends with SCs, but the shifter are aftermarket shifters and there are things done to the car that they have told me does not make the car drive/feel stock. So I'm not getting an accurate feel of what the shifters and performance would be OG.

[tumamilhem]

Anybody know the weight differences between these and if the added bhp makes up for it? Or are they just more nimble with less bhp on the lighter end to driving a heavier car with more bhp on the heavier end?

3.0/915
3.2/915
3.2/G50

[Reiver]

I believe the difference in 3.0-3.2 throttle response is more the short stroke 3.0 over the long stroke. 3.2
They increased the stroke for the extra cubic inches/CC's not the bore size.

[whiterabbit]

Originally Posted by tumamilhem

Anybody know the weight differences between these and if the added bhp makes up for it? Or are they just more nimble with less bhp on the lighter end to driving a heavier car with more bhp on the heavier end?

3.0/915
3.2/915
3.2/G50

I have owned all variants at one time or another. The most nimble and fastest (power and gearing) will be a Euro (ROW) model 3.2 with a 915 built between 1984 and 1986 if you can find one. 1984 is the best of the bunch as it still has a lot of SC carry over parts and so weighs the least. An earlier ROW SC is also a great car and the lightest of the lot especially if you can find one with no sunroof. It does not however have the power of the 3.2.

in terms of G50 or 915 I prefer the 915 and they are much cheaper to rebuilt if you ever need to.

Having said all that buy on condition, its not easy to find a decent car of any variant anymore.