199oish Porsche Carrera?

Question

Hi there. Im interested in buying one of these vintage cars and wondered if anyones got any tips of what to look for to get a good deal. theres loads on ebay all looking pretty nice but what are the tells to look for on an upclose inspection?

Answer 1

as with used performance car purchase a thorough test drive and mechanical inspection is very necessary to protect yourself from buying an expensive problem.

I recommend purchasing from ebay only if the seller is local and you are able to view the vehicle in person before bidding.

You should do a lot of research into the specific model of porsche you are thinking about buying to learn about model year and vehicle specific trouble areas.

Good luck!

Answer 2

1990ish covers alot of ground:

If you include 1989 as being in the range, you are looking at the last of the 3.2L Carreras. Good cars, and the last of the torsion bar suspension... the cars are close to bullitt proof, but valve guide wear has shown to be an issue with some of these cars (seems to be more common on the later G50 transmission cars than the '84-'85 915 equipped cars).

Starting in 1990, and going until 1994, you have the 964. These cars have seen more devaluation than those just before or after, since most looking for an older class 911 will gravitate towards the 3.2L car, and those looking for newer will move towards the 993 or 996... these are still excellent cars and may be even more attractive due to current pricing (rarer versions like the RS America have not seen any real devaluation and continue to demand a premium price). These cars are very different from the previous car, featuring many portions that were completely redesigned for the first time in the 911s history. The 3.6L engine used here is a great version of the 911 engine, but these cars are also much heavier than the earlier versions. Many of the early 964s had issues with the flywheel issues and cylinder head and engine seal issues - most cars of this vintage should have had these addressed already. These cars have also seen some issues with valve guide wear as they've aged.

As a generalization on both the 3.2L and the 964, Coupes are the most desirable and command the most money, followed by Cabriolets, and then Targas. Cabriolets can demand premium pricing on occassion... but generally most enthusiasts seek out the coupes, which tend to keep their pricing the highest.

At the other end of "1900ish," you have the 993, which was introduced in 1995, and is the last of the air cooled Porsches. It is the most modern of the cars mentioned here, and features the most performance potential. It is also the heaviest, but makes up for that with advancements to all areas of the car. Many consider this to be the most beautiful 911 produced. Pricing on these cars remains high due to many seeking a more modern car than older 911s, but not wanting to venture into the water cooled era. These cars have also shown some valve guide issues as they've aged. Some of the early 993s had issues with the wiring harnesses, but this should be fixed on any cars you would find for resale.

In buying any Porsche, you should do some research on exactly which car you want and others you would consider. Research the options and be willing to look - there are a fair number of these cars out there. Try and get a little experience behind the wheel of a few examples so you have a better frame of reference when evaluating a car... if it looks clean, drives well, and you find no signs of rust along the edges of the body panels or frame, then you have a canidate to take for a professional inspection. Do not skip this... while a knowledgable mechanic's time is not inexpensive, this can help you stay clear of a car that has unseen problems (and these issues can be VERY expensive).

Answer 3

paul S is spot on :)

The only thing I have to add to that is the possibility of looking at 930s, They ran up to 1988, and were the older, turbocharged 911s. They werent as reliable as the NA cars, but they are some seriously fun and fast cars (even by todays standards theyre fast). I have an 87 930 and the things an absolute blast to drive. Such a pure car (a bit scary at times though). No power steering, no ABS, off and on throttle, light by todays standards, and 300 HP. Oh yeah, and the worlds longest 4 speed tranny. Total recipe for fun. Not for the feint of heart, or for the shallow pockets, but seriously awesome cars.

I highly, HIGHLY suggest buying any older 911 locally so you can check it out. A poorly maintained car will cost you way more then you would ever want, while a well maintained one will have a very reasonable cost of ownership for a 20 year old high end sports car. Another good place to look is the Porsche club of america classifieds. These are often the best maintained cars, but they do have a slight price increase (although many could be talked down).

check out PCA.org

Answer 4

I agree. 1988--1989 was a great two years.

I would completely avoid the 1990-91 C2 models at all costs.