911 turbo 3.3, daily driver, am I mad ?
Discussion
Hi,
I’m thinking about getting a 911 turbo 3.3 as a daily driver. The sort of car I could afford would be a late 80’s 4 speed, maybe a 5 speed if I was lucky. My budget is into the low 20’s and I’m intending to source it through one of the independent specialists, so I’m after a very nice car needing no significant work.
I wondered what people thought of the usability of this car day to day ? I owned a LHD drive one briefly (as a weekend toy) a few years ago so I know a bit about some of the driving issues, however my car had a few things I never sorted out and I wondered if they were normal ?
The brakes had very little initial bite and tended to pull to one side (either side, pretty much at random). The car had not been used much by the previous owner which might have caused this. It also had a nasty rattle from the gearbox at low revs around town (taking sharp corners slowly in 2nd for example). The car had supposedly only done 60k km and had a believable service history so this seemed a little worrying.
I only do 5 to 6k miles a year so petrol isn’t too much of an issue. For servicing and fixing stuff I was budgeting 1 – 1.5k a year at an independent (I won’t be doing track days and as I live in central Manchester the car will rarely be driven near it’s limits, hopefully reducing wear and tear). Insurance is a lot less than a 993 or a boxster so that’s ok. Residuals look good, which really helps make the whole thing look financially viable.
I like the turbo for it’s performance, looks etc but I’m not unaware of it’s shortcomings: turbo lag, handling that needs serious respect, lack of ABS etc. I don’t really like the looks of the 964 series (no offence intended, they just don’t do it for me except for the turbo which is probably way beyond my budget for a good one) and would be worried about the (apparently) inevitable engine top end overhaul. A decent 993 is out of my budget as I wouldn’t want LHD.
So what do we think then ? Is this a daft plan ? Probably.
I’m thinking about getting a 911 turbo 3.3 as a daily driver. The sort of car I could afford would be a late 80’s 4 speed, maybe a 5 speed if I was lucky. My budget is into the low 20’s and I’m intending to source it through one of the independent specialists, so I’m after a very nice car needing no significant work.
I wondered what people thought of the usability of this car day to day ? I owned a LHD drive one briefly (as a weekend toy) a few years ago so I know a bit about some of the driving issues, however my car had a few things I never sorted out and I wondered if they were normal ?
The brakes had very little initial bite and tended to pull to one side (either side, pretty much at random). The car had not been used much by the previous owner which might have caused this. It also had a nasty rattle from the gearbox at low revs around town (taking sharp corners slowly in 2nd for example). The car had supposedly only done 60k km and had a believable service history so this seemed a little worrying.
I only do 5 to 6k miles a year so petrol isn’t too much of an issue. For servicing and fixing stuff I was budgeting 1 – 1.5k a year at an independent (I won’t be doing track days and as I live in central Manchester the car will rarely be driven near it’s limits, hopefully reducing wear and tear). Insurance is a lot less than a 993 or a boxster so that’s ok. Residuals look good, which really helps make the whole thing look financially viable.
I like the turbo for it’s performance, looks etc but I’m not unaware of it’s shortcomings: turbo lag, handling that needs serious respect, lack of ABS etc. I don’t really like the looks of the 964 series (no offence intended, they just don’t do it for me except for the turbo which is probably way beyond my budget for a good one) and would be worried about the (apparently) inevitable engine top end overhaul. A decent 993 is out of my budget as I wouldn’t want LHD.
So what do we think then ? Is this a daft plan ? Probably.
Cant help with the daily driving and costs but as an example of price this one was up for £25k. and looked a real nice one.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26001&s=79
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=26001&s=79
Go for it...the biggest problem would probably be the lack of power steering if you drive around town.
Your brake problem was not normal, not over expensive to sort and corrctly functioning brakes are a priority surely.
The noise you heard from the drive train on slow 2nd gear corners was more than likely the lsd,"coffee grinder" effect...differnt transmission oil can quiten things down, you will probably find the next one you look at makes the same sound.
Your brake problem was not normal, not over expensive to sort and corrctly functioning brakes are a priority surely.
The noise you heard from the drive train on slow 2nd gear corners was more than likely the lsd,"coffee grinder" effect...differnt transmission oil can quiten things down, you will probably find the next one you look at makes the same sound.
Yes indeed, what a great looking car (anyone here ?). Not surprisingly I think it sold pretty much straight away.
I'm stuck with a px vehicle at the moment (don't ask), and I'm still in the sleepless-night-should-I-or-shouldnt-I phase so I didn't follow it up.
Thanks for pointing it out though.
I'm stuck with a px vehicle at the moment (don't ask), and I'm still in the sleepless-night-should-I-or-shouldnt-I phase so I didn't follow it up.
Thanks for pointing it out though.
toppstuff said:
Henry F has a yummy turbo 2 for sale at 911virgin.com
www.911virgin.com/965kbh.htm
Never did like this model 911 , sure dynamicaly its better but , ugly looking to me ,, the 3:3 old mod is deffo a better looker
reparestobebbq`ed:Since you've owned one before you know all about the off-boost/on boost effects in the wet which were improved with the 5 speeder. I would've thought you could get a 5 speed for your money TBH and I'd be looking for one of those if I really had to use the car every day. Apart from that, no other reason not to buy one 
Thanks everyone.
I've seen HenryFs car on the web but haven't followed it up yet, mostly because work is so busy I can't really get down to Uxbridge at the moment. If he's still got it in a week or two I'll maybe take a look at it.
HenryF, if you have a minute and feel like it you could PM the details over? I'd ask about the mileage but I hardly dare having read your previous posts ! (I'm joking, honest !)
Cheers.
I've seen HenryFs car on the web but haven't followed it up yet, mostly because work is so busy I can't really get down to Uxbridge at the moment. If he's still got it in a week or two I'll maybe take a look at it.
HenryF, if you have a minute and feel like it you could PM the details over? I'd ask about the mileage but I hardly dare having read your previous posts ! (I'm joking, honest !)
Cheers.
I sold an '87 3.3 turbo recently (through PH - thanks Ted!). For the budget you describe you should be able to get a really nice car, probably even a late 5 speed example ('89 IIRC).
No reason it should not be a quite a practical proposition if you start with a sound car. They are pretty bullet proof. For spells I used mine on a daily basis. It had a few little jobs needing doing when I got it but once they were sorted it never missed a beat.
The key things I would look out for would be any signs of rust - bubbling under headlamps, tops of front wings, door shut panel etc. If it has the beginnings of rust anywhere it could deteriorate pretty quickly if used through winter. Start with a solid car and drench it in Wayoxl and you should be alright though.
Although a turbo of this vintage is pretty lacking in any of the modern safety features, if you're sensible and understand the pitfalls you'll probably never come close enough to its limits to have a problem on the road, or if you do you'll probably deserve what you get! Driven well off the limits, they're quite docile really, as you'll know from your previous ownership.
In the end though that's why I sold mine. I never felt I was really using it to its full potential as you can't on the road and even if you could I'm not realistically a good enough driver.
I actually ended up lusting after something that I could spend more time thrashing the nuts off!
Chris
No reason it should not be a quite a practical proposition if you start with a sound car. They are pretty bullet proof. For spells I used mine on a daily basis. It had a few little jobs needing doing when I got it but once they were sorted it never missed a beat.
The key things I would look out for would be any signs of rust - bubbling under headlamps, tops of front wings, door shut panel etc. If it has the beginnings of rust anywhere it could deteriorate pretty quickly if used through winter. Start with a solid car and drench it in Wayoxl and you should be alright though.
Although a turbo of this vintage is pretty lacking in any of the modern safety features, if you're sensible and understand the pitfalls you'll probably never come close enough to its limits to have a problem on the road, or if you do you'll probably deserve what you get! Driven well off the limits, they're quite docile really, as you'll know from your previous ownership.
In the end though that's why I sold mine. I never felt I was really using it to its full potential as you can't on the road and even if you could I'm not realistically a good enough driver.
I actually ended up lusting after something that I could spend more time thrashing the nuts off!
Chris
I almost traded up from my 928 to a 930 Turbo. In the end, I kept comparing the off boost low speed lexibility to the 928 - un fair perhaps, but that was what it was up against in my stable- for every day use. That and the lack of ABS made me hold out for the 993- but I still hold nothing but unwavering respect for the 930. It has something Other later 911s (and even the earlier RS), let alone other super cars don't have- Brutal Brute force and a certain admirable uncouthness to it ( am I able to say "It's a MANs car- through and through?) It has bomb proof engineering, None of that Cat/OBD stuff to go wrong and simplicity of K jetronic fuel injection.Pure savage honest muscularity.....
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff