Advice on buying my first 911

[Jonty James]

I'm looking to get my very first 911. I've got £13K cash but can finance more. I'm looking on advice on the following options that I see as being open to me.

1) Buy a pre-89 3.2 outright

2) Buy a 964 by borrowing a further £7ishK

3) Really stretch myself and get a high mileage 993

4) Wait a couple of years and hope the 993 comes down in price

What do those lucky enough to already own one think is the best option?


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[adrianc]

Which Porsche 3.2 or 964?

Dear Jonty,

Its a dilemma that is commonplace. I think there are a number of things you should consider.

• Your attitude towards risk..... a 3.2 is about as solid, simple and dependable as you can hope to find in a 911. As such for owners on a budget, or those that would be frightened by repair costs, the 3.2 are the ones to go for. Low risk of disaster, you will still enjoy your Porsche motoring and could trade up later. (but 13k is thin for a late rhd 3.2.

• The 964 is more sophisticated, refined and therefore complex. More stuff to go wrong and several areas where servicing can cost much more (than a 3.2). One of the trickiest of all 911 to buy (and asses). If you go this route take your time and learn as much as you can.

• If there is another person to drive it..............such as your missus, than you might find that where you encounter risistance to owning a 3.2, you have little resistance to a 964, what with power steering, a better heater, easier gearshift , ABS brakes. They feel more modern and certainly easier to drive.

• What you really like.......the best thing is to buy what you really like, if you do whatever you pay is soon forgotten and its a whole lot cheaper in the long run than continuously trading cars.

So test drive both, with any 'decision maker' too. They are quiet different to drive, and maybe do the 964 first, the 3.2 after. Customers usually like the second car they try best simply because they are more at ease with a quircky 911 by then.

A high mile 993...probably still not in the budget and you must not, repeat must not buy a cloncker. Better to pay good money for a good older car.

Consider lhd where you £££££££££££wil stttrrrreeeetch further.

Lastly buy what you want now, for life is short and too many people simply dream of having a 911.

Adrian Crawford . performance2and4, 911 secrets revealed.




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[noony]

Hehe, Adrian knows his stuff James. I would rather go for a late 3.2 than early 964, because there were several problems with the early models(I'm sure Adrian can tell you what they were, I can't remember). £13k should get a G50 model 3.2 LHD, £15k for the equivalent RHD.

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[James Ball]

Early 964s suffered from numerous and expensive to fix oil leaks and dual-mass flywheels that failed. These days most 964s have been fixed/upgraded under warantee and should be a lot "safer" than the original 964s appeared. What ever you go for, make sure you have a few grand put to one side for "emergencies". Personally I would go for a good 3.2

Cheers, James


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[Jonty James]

Thanks for the postings.

Of the points to consider, sent by Adrian..

"What you really like.......the best thing is to buy what you really like, if you do whatever you pay is soon forgotten and its a whole lot cheaper in the long run than continuously trading cars."

That's the one for me, I think. The 911 that I really want is the 993, so it looks like I'm just going to have to hunker down, get saving and wait for the prices to hopefully drop a little.

I won't wait for too long though, this is definitely going to be a reality and not a dream. In the imortal words of that OAP on steriods - "I'll be back (...with a 993)."

In the meantime, I'll continue to listen in to you lot, who are lucky enough to have one now...


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