80's 911 as a DD?

So I'm in the market for a car. I have absolutely no requirements other than it be fun. For some reason I'm drawn to older German cars. I recently came across an '81 SC. Looks to be in excellent condition. Has high mileage (135k) but the engine is bulletproof from what I understand.

My question is can a car like this make a suitable DD? I know everyone recommends the 88 and 89 911's due to the G50 transmission, but just because the 88/89s are the recommended 911s to get, are the earlier 911s THAT bad?

I only drive about 8k a year so I don't need the most reliable car in the world, but I don't exactly want a car that's in the shop all the time.

Some opinions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Do you need A/C?

 

Yes, 911 makes a great DD if you do not need AC. AC does not work well on 911s before 1994. 95 or later, AC works great.

 

Definitely do not need A/C (plus, I'm a windows down kinda guy).

Here's some pics of the car:

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/smartbag/911SC2.jpg
http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac5/smartbag/911SC4.jpg

Guy is asking $14k. Some more info:

- 3.0 bullet proof motor
- Factory Euro Tail
- Black leather interior (Original)
- A/C blows warm but just needs a freon charge
- Power sunroof, windows, mirrors, etc...
- Sirius satellite stereo (works and there is no monthly charge)
- 16" fuchs (no curb rash)
- New K&N air filter
- New sway bar bushings recently installed
- New belts and hoses recently installed
- New short shifter recently installed
- New Swepco 201 transmission fluid flushed
- New Mahle oil filter with Castrol GTX 20w50 installed
- New alignment done

 

88 half-89 cars are double the price.

The 3.0 motor are solid, at 134k as long as the oil was changed its barely broken in
Yes they make good dd. The one you are looking at is bit high on the price I'd say its worth 11-12k. Typical preventative stuff required is Carrera cain tensionors and pop off valve. I prefer the early cars 78-79 they weight less, have less emission control devices and racy fuel pump. These motors have logged more miles than any other Porsche.

White, Silver, Black, Red in order

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/374847-who-has-highest-mileage-911-here.html

 

i have a cherry 82sc with 60k that i'd consider selling....
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Great looking car, what are you looking at for it?

 

Great cars, brilliantly design and assembled. I agree on the A/C, but the root cause on my '87 930 was a leak we never could locate. When fully charged, it was fine vintage A/C. Just needed a recharge every 6 months. There are known minor aging issues like the fuel accumulators, but the important stuff is bullet proof.

 

dunno..... $18.5k obo.

 

As everyone says here, they make great DDs....as long as you absolutely don't require modern A/C!

I put 4K miles on mine in the past year, but I have to sell (put it on FerrariAds here) because it simply can't cut it in the Southeast summer humidity.

If I lived in Nova Scotia, however, it'd be a keeper!

 

I think you're getting good advice here. I would add that I've driven an '84 911 cab and an '87 911 Targa (G50 gearbox, IIRC) and IMHO the later gearbox was a lot easier to shift smoothly. For daily use, I might prefer it.

I haven't driven a 911 SC, but I would recommend you try a later 911 before deciding. All of these '80s 911s are bargains now, so I doubt the '87-'89 cars would break the bank.

Also don't assume that the a/c being non-operational in the car you're looking at is simply due to it needing a freon charge. Trust but verify. If I had a dollar for everytime I've heard that about a used car without working aircon...

 

I would get a 3.2 Carrera over an SC only because the CIS parts that go bad are nearly all NLA.

The G50 transmission is overrated and adds a good amount of weight to the car. I personally find the '87 to '89 Carrera fairly lethargic and underpowered. A properly operating 915 is just fine. Go drive a few, you'll quickly figure out which one's are right.

I've got 100K+ on my SC and she's still going strong. Drive her every day rain or shine, she fires up on the first kick and cruises along the freeway perfectly. Runs warm in 100+ degree weather, but I've never gotten close to overheating it. Great cars at great prices. You should be able to get into a nice driver SC like the one you posted for under 15 and a 3.2 Carrera for 15 to 18K.

Here's a photo of mine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads15/zamirzSC1250871648.jpg

 

I have an 85 Turbo SE that I use as a DD from time to time. It is one of my kid's favourite school buses. Car is deadly reliable and huge fun. Parts are also readily available and inexpensive. I have a 288GTO of the same vintage and it is a mediocre schoolbus at best in comparison

 

agree. i have had 6 911s now, all 84-89 3.2's, some euro, some USA. i prefer the 915 to the g50, and a euro car with a Steve Wong chip and good exhaust is more fun for the money than anything else out there. i just gave a way a clean 85 Targa with 58k miles for $18k, as i also have an 87 Slopenose turbo look, and having 2 black 911 seemed silly.

CIS cars have turned me off completely, maybe they work well for some, but i will never buy one as long as there are Motronic 3.2's available.

be sure the car does not need a valve job, and you can run it to 200k miles with proper maintenance. my slopenose had an engine / trans rebuild in 2004 and it has 145,000 miles on the body, and feels like a new car.
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I had a '87 911 cab I used for a DD for years without a problem. At least until this old geezer crashed into me and totaled it. I loved that car.

The AC never worked that well however.

 

I have used two 80's targa carreras as DDs here in the bay area. First, an 84 with the 915 and now an 88.5 with g50 and 3.6 (993) powerplant. The 84 was a great car, fun, simple, bulletproof. The 3.6, well...it's a lot more fun. I believe a 915 gearbox can be as good as the G50 but on the average car the G50 will be slicker, and significantly better for city driving.

D

 

I have an 84 euro cab and its been great, even the AC works well.

IMHO any 911 between 1978 and 1989 is a good daily driver if in good condition.

 

I can understand being drawn to old German cars. The 80's P cars are very reliable; I've owned 8 (or so) 80s P cars. As a DD, the 86-89 P cars would be choice among the 80s cars; this is mainly because of the improved interior ventilation for faster defrost, etc. I used an 86 Carrera coupe for a DD during the late winter/early spring this year in Seattle. It was a replacement to a Cayenne. I did long for a more ergonomically comfortable DD after 3 months and got a 996.

 

You also might want to consider the 944, its a very comfortable to drive car, although it might not be as engaging to drive as a 911 with an inline four cylinder instead of flat six.

I got a beat up 944 with a blown motor and fixed it up frankenstein style from two engines and a parts car to be my daily driver. Turned out to be the fastest 2.5L 944 I've driven. Also has a lightened fly wheel from one of the cars, and a few other nice bits. Body still looks beat up, but I can park it anywhere and not worry if it gets another ding when its already not perfect. Depending on what I'm doing, I often am driving 40-60 miles a day, car has been real good to me in the past year.

An old Porsche is not going to be cheap to own at first, you'll find a lot of little issues that may or may not need to be fixed based on your standards, once its sorted, it will be a good car. Even if you think a car is perfect, factor in another $1-2K minimum in the first year, if you're lucky, you won't have trouble, but its better to be prepared. My '84 944 is a gorgeous car, but a lot of old parts failed in the first year I had it, for the past two years nothing has gone wrong with it.