Good, bad, ugly, share your experience if you will. I’ve been looking and have come across a few that I like. Problem is I really do love my 996 Turbo, but I don’t have room for both, so that may squash it for me. Purist gripes notwithstanding, 996 is really good and very useable. That said, for reasons of variety and nostalgia, I’m keenly interested in scratching the air cooled rear drive Turbo itch. It may be time; it may not be time. What say ye, intelligencia?
I love my 930... when I got it, I wanted to get one because I've had 911s for a long time, and when I was a kid I would hear the myth of the 930... the widowmaker. I wanted to see what it was really like. I've had it for a couple of years now, put a few thousand miles (including a fair number of track laps), and it's just a great car. It's got good power (mine is a Euro, so 300hp), but they key is to keep it on boost-- and with the 4 speed gearbox, that's not always easy. The danger area is when it is about 2500-2900 RPM, where it will come on boost suddenly if you are not ready. Once you are above 3000, it's fine, just powerful. Below 2500, it's a slug. Part of it, for me at least, is that it works really well as a car. It's comfortable, nicely sized for urban driving, the HVAC works as well as any other air cooled 911, it has reasonable room... it just works well. If you have no air cooled 911 experience, it might not meet your expectations. As I mentioned, I grew up on 911s (I've had one or another since I was 23), so they seem modern to me. But I do have a modernish Porsche (a 981 Cayman), so I do understand the difference. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Awesome, great info! Especially usability - this would have to come at the expense of my beloved 996 Turbo, and that car is a fantastic all-rounder. This wouldn’t be my first air cooled rodeo, so no problems there. Looks great!
I don't want to oversell it. If you are comfortable with the usability of a 911SC, the 930 is just as good. That is definitely not the same as a modern car.
I was thinking exactly that, I’ve driven a few SCs and 3.2s and enjoyed them. I almost bought a pristine 24k-mile example in Quartz a few years ago for $23k - imagine that - but I dragged my feet a for juuuust a minute and it went. Anyway, I like SCs. I can say with some certainty (as much as we ever get in this hobby anyway) that I wouldn’t go older than that, though. The SC represents the left side of the bracket as far as I’m concerned.
I have a 75 911S now! I went from a 3.2 Carrera to the 911S... it wasn't really by choice (long story), but after the Carrera I wanted to try a 911 that had symmetrical tire sizes, to see what that is like. I actually like it quite a bit. No air conditioning and the defog isn't great, but it works pretty well. I drive all my cars in rotation, and I don't mind when the 911S comes up.
Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re cool…but I do drive all of my cars quite a bit and well…”Virginia summers” sums it up nicely.
Go and test drive some 930, take the 996 and see what your initial reaction is after back to back. Image Unavailable, Please Login
You assume there are some to be found in my neck of the woods I know of one currently, unfortunately do not have owner’s contact info…but if I could set that up, it certainly would tell the tale. A back to back with a 992.1 T clearly ended with the 996 being the winner, hehe. I thought about just grabbing the 930 and sorting everything out later, but I know that means I’ll just end up with five cars and a 930-size hole in my account
If you buy it right, you probably won't lose much by doing that. That is basically what I did. It's funny, I am happy to let people drive my cars (within reason), in fact I get great joy letting them do it. But most people apparently don't have the same view.
I have really started thinking about it, though the one I am looking at is a little bit higher mileage, just under 80,000. Excellent shape, good history, great paint, etc.…
80,000 miles is nothing. Mine is just under that-- around 78,000 right now, I believe (although the speedo was converted from kmh to mph, so who really knows?) and I consider it to be low miles.
I had a ‘89 5 speed. It was a dream from childhood, but ultimately the myth was better than the reality. I enjoyed the car but ultimately sold it to get my Dino. I wouldn’t reverse that swap. I personally just love the way Ferrari’s rev. The 930 was muscular with brute force when it kicked in, but really wasn’t as powerful as I thought it would be. I will say in a curve on turbo boost the grip and feeling of the grip is amazing. There’s an air conditioning system called Renn Air, which I had installed. Great system that made the car very comfortable year-round. In the South. I’d buy one of these cars for nostalgia and style versus driving dynamics. Of all the cars that I’ve owned through the years, my favorite is the Ferrari 355. I grab those keys the most frequently. Favorite Porsche, 997 930 928 996 997 991 308 328 355 Challenge Stradale Alfa Spider Alfa GTV6
I agree, I’m not wary of high mileage P cars. In fact, I rather enjoy them that way. Just thinking in terms of “Ack! I hate it!” and needing to move it on without taking too deep a bath, of course realities of air cooled being what they currently are…car is in the $160’s for reference. Funny you mention older F cars, I’ve also been looking at 328s. My 575 scratches the F cars itch nicely, but it could be fun to get some old school, slow, NA, mid engined charm to fling around. Appreciate all the feedback!
I love my 328 GTB. Old school analog. That’s the real contemporary of the 930. I prefer the 328. It’s not as “fast” as the 930, but I like the overall feel of the car better.
I love my 328 GTB. Old school analog. That’s the real contemporary of the 930. I prefer the 328. It’s not as “fast” as the 930, but I like the overall feel and driving dynamics of the car better.
Hey there is none that I know of for sale in my area either. You have to want one and/or know someone (find that number) with one to test drive or travel. My 3lt has done over 200k kms the 3.3 under 100k kms great cars that if you push/drive them enough show you their secrets that will bring on that stupid grin. mk1 gt3 is a fantastic car but would probably keep the turbo's if push came to shove. I don't sell my cars very often so will probably keep them all.
