lpitt

Guys,

I'm seriously considering getting rid of my Type-R and getting an older second hand 911 or 968 (the only two I would consider!).

Not sure on budget yet as it depends on how much the Civic is worth but I've got a couple of questions that people might know the answer to:

1. What are these like on high mileage (100k+) anyone got experience?
2. How do the running costs compare to a Scooby?
3. Would you do it?

I'm specifically looking for an older model (maybe up to around a '93) as I like the shape of these cars. Going back I'd consider anything if it was good enough!

The downside is that I do want to use it as daily transport and so it will do around 15-20k a year.

Thanks for any advice

Laurence

davyboy

Fen, your skills are required.

davyboy

Just do a search of threads and titles containing the words porsche 968, it has been discussed a lot lately.

Chris L

Laurence

Been having similar thoughts myself I've been looking at 993 911s - total classic cars and still quite modern.

Pricewise, you are looking at around £20K for a LHD C2, mid to high 20s for RHD C2/C4s in the private ads and anything upto £40K for outstanding late model examples at the specialist dealers.

Running costs I would reckon on them being similar to the Scoob. Servicing by an independent specialist is certainly no more than an Scoob (looking at every 6K miles). MPG similar to a Scoob and the insurance shouldn't cost you anymore either.

Have a look at 911UK - loads of cars for sale and a very good forum (you'll need to register)

Pistonheads is also worth looking at.

Good dealers to look at:
Charles Ivey - pricey, but nice cars
Autofarm
and Auto Classica

High mileage isn't necessarily a problem - there are plenty of high mileage examples around. Mechanicals on later cars are very good. Obviously full service history would be preferable and buying from a dealer would also give you some kind of warranty.

Also pick Gastro's brains - he's been here and down it as well.

Cheers
Chris

lpitt

Thanks Chris,

That's about what I'd reckoned pricewise as well so good news so far

I'll have a pick through that lot in the morning as well.

Laurence

Gastro

I think most of its been said before.
Just remember - while these are great cars to drive - some of these cars are pushing 10-15 years old. Low mileage isnt everything - and at the end of the day to expect them to be 'cheap' motoring would be naive.

Somewhere and at some time there will be a big bill. And unfortunately they don't always time themselves with the service

968's (and 944's) are much lower maintenance/cheaper than corresponding 911's. Once you have got one - always try and keep on top of jobs otherwise worsening bills can mount up to eye watering levels....

Gastro

lpitt

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I don't expect this to be a cheap buy - I've always just had a hankering for a Porsche and prefer the older models (well, to be honest I also like the current model but it's out of my league!).

The plan is to save solid for six months then see what I can do, this give a chance for loads of research as well so that I know what I'm getting into here. Low mileage is better, but not as good as FSH in my eyes. I just wanted to know if these things really do just keep on going as Porsche seem to be rather unique in the performance car area for reliability.

I'll keep all informed

Laurence

davyboy

You just have to do it!

I bought 2 owner 1990 944 Turbo with 46000 miles on the clock in October last year. The last owner has it for 10 years and did about 2000 miles a year. It has now done 53000.

It had a full service history, all the stamps in the book and every reciept from new, and as with most Porsches it still looked in very good order.

I have done 4 track days, use it as often as I can, and it has never let me down. Every morning it is a pleasure to climb into the lovely linen leather Recaro sport seat (apart from when I only have a shirt on and it's a bit cold and when I have a bad back!) and take it for a spin.

Good luck

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Try here

www.911virgin.com/stock.htm

Tony

RB5#295

I have 2 944s at the moment, with a shade under 300,000 miles between them. Bits wear out, but nothing too drastic. I've had 5 944's and 2 911's over the last 9 years.

I would seriously suggest that a 968 isn't worth the money - it's basically a glorified 944 but costs twice as much. The Clubsport is a fantastic car, bit it's still a standard one with bits taken off. If you do want one then they have the same problems as the 944 S2, namely the cam chain can wear / stretch / break (reckon on about 90k if it hasn't been maintained, and the dealers service schedule ignored it) necessitating new cams. My S2 cab is about to get a pair this weekend and along with the belt tensioner rollers, new oil seals down the front of the engine and a 48k service I'll be £1,500 lighter of pocket, and it's being done by a Porsche trained mechanic in his own time, so that's a good deal. The 968 as I say is just as prone but would cost more due to the variable cam timing.

968-specific problems relate to the 6-speed 'box. QA was not all it could have been on the early ones and they sometimes need a rebuild even after only 60k or so. Silly stuff like the lights not dropping back properly (IIRC gravity is all that pulls them down) are also common.

If you want a 911 then they are a very different car, much harder to live with. I love them to bits but I don't have one because they are not so suited to everyday use as the 944 / 968. I'm no expert on the 993 model so I won't try to tell you what to look out for on them, but I will say that you should either buy a 993 or a very late, very nice 3.2 Carrera. The 964 that came between them is getting itself a bit of a reputation for being expensive to maintain and somewhat unreliable (relatively, it's no TVR).

On the late 3.2 it's just stuff like top end rebuilds that are a common requirement (from about 80k) as the eariler cars' transmission problems had been sorted out. Be aware that it's very easy to unplug the speedo on these cars so most 3.2's should be regarded as clocked.

Price-wise expect to pay £15-£18 for a 3.2 Carrera, £6k-£9k for a good 944 S2 (slightly more for a Turbo) and about £12k-£15k for a 968.

Running cost wise my 3.2 Carrera used to get 13-25mpg. I put £56 of Optimax in my S2 tonight and it had done 385 miles since the last fill. Non-turbo Porsches have 12k service intervals and service costs about £300, slightly less for the 4 cylinder cars. It's worth getting a 6k interim oil-change, essential with turbos.

Would I do it? Well I did it a couple of years ago, then played at Scooby ownership and now I've done it again, and I do 1,000 miles a week in my S2 Cabrio which has 145k on the clock. Aside from the cams it's in rude health albeit that the original shocks could do with replacement.

Fen

[Edited by RB5#295 - 5/12/2003 10:35:05 PM]