Thursday 13th October 2011

PH Carpool: Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2

Another PHer realises a boyhood dream... or two!

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A fitting backdrop for Rob's ace-looking 1988 Carrera 3.2

How it all began...

Torn between a Detroit V8 and a Stuttgart flat-six, Rob Styles (aka vettera) did the only decent thing and got one of each...

*****

Back when he was thirteen, our man Rob queued patiently for 20 minutes to be allowed access to the Porsche motor show stand at the NEC. Once there he grabbed a brochure (which he still has in his possession) and made straight for a 911. Just a small amount of pleading later saw him granted access to the driver's seat, and it was there that he vowed he'd one day own one.

'Actually the 911 thing started a few years earlier when I was ten and my dad bought a 1500 Beetle. My next step after the NEC was to build a plastic model - which I still have - but that was as far as I got until I was thirty when my wife hired me a 964 Carrera 2 Cabriolet as a surprise birthday present. It was a cold March day but the roof stayed down! I even took some video footage to remind me of what I was missing.'

Towards the end of 2000 Rob was finally at the stage where a lot of hard work and careful saving saw him in a position to buy his dream 911, but there was still a lot of hard work ahead:'For starters I couldn't decide between a Turbo, a Carrera, or a turbo-bodied Supersport. In the end I decided that I didn't want the extra servicing expense of the Turbo or the extra weight of the Supersport without the extra power, so a Carrera 3.2 Coupe was the one for me. I started looking far and wide for a car to buy but a lot of the supposed quality examples I went to see were more like sheds. It was a nightmare.

After several wasted journeys I decided never to travel again to view what was always claimed to be an immaculate car and that I would wait for one to become available locally. Then in early 2001 I saw a white 1988 3.2 advertised with a Porsche dealer in Cardiff, which I thought must be good if they were prepared to offer it for sale.'

He was right. After some negotiation Rob owned his very own 67,000 mile 911 Carrera for a price which was no more then the other shed-like 'immaculate' examples he'd seen previously. That was ten years ago now and in that time he's added 22,000 miles. The car had a full service history when he bought it and other than keeping the routine servicing up to date all it's asked for is a set of tyres, a set of brake pads, and one front and one rear wheel bearing. Oh and a battery too. Inevitably though, you can't discuss owning an Eighties 911 for long before the topic of handling comes to the fore.

'They do have a reputation for unpredictable handling but I always keep a minimum of half a tank of fuel in it, brake in a straight line and then power through the corners. This seems to result in plenty of grip - within the confines of ordinary roads anyway! The rear end has stepped out a couple of times but if you stay committed it tucks back in nicely again. It may however get a bit more hairy on a track as you push the boundaries I suppose but I haven't taken it to that level.'

To enhance the sonorous bark of the flat six Rob fitted a Dansk twin-outlet silencer, but there was still something missing which no 911 could ever deliver.

'I've always loved the sound of a V8 and even thought about parting with the car at one stage for a '65-'66 Mustang fastback. My son Sam talked me out of it though by demanding that the 911 be left to him in my will, so that was the end of that little idea! But I still craved an American V8 so I just had to start saving hard again, the result of which was the purchase of a 1975 Corvette Stingray - so now I have the best of both worlds!'

So would Rob recommend classic 911 ownership? 'Oh yes, no question. All I'd say is that you should think carefully about paying as much as you can afford to get a good one and then keep it that way, rather than be tempted by a "bargain" which needs work - unless of course you're good with the oily bits.'

And the 'Vette? 'Again yes, but I still want a GT350 Mustang too... and a '57 Chevy Bel Air... and an Enzo... oh and after the last Sunday Service I could go for a white Aventador as well! Maybe I should just be content with what I already have.'

[thewheelman]

I had to score it 10, it's almost identical to my first 911. I see one of these at my local gym quite often & think i should have kept hold of mine

A truely timeless 911, a real poster car

[dan5oclocksmith]

Man buys Porsche ten years ago, but this hits the frontpage as a headline today.

Right.

[CaptainSensib1e]

More info of the Vette please, my dream car.

[85Carrera]

Never "got" 911s until I had one for a week. Then I bought one. Great cars, love mine and will never sell it.

[SleeperCell]

dan5oclocksmith said:

Man buys Porsche ten years ago, but this hits the frontpage as a headline today.

Right.

I guess you don't understand the carpool articles then

[don logan]

SO much cooler and better looking than today`s 911s!

[davo23]

Really enjoyed this story. Love to hear about real enthusiasts carefully planning to buy their cherished cars rather than some rich guy bragging about the watrehouse full of exotics he owns but never uses.

[soxboy]

dan5oclocksmith said:

Man buys Porsche ten years ago, but this hits the frontpage as a headline today.

Right.

It's not a 'headline', it's a story from someone on the forums about how they've got their dream car from their childhood and how they've loved it over the last 10 years.

It makes a refreshing read to me and is also interesting in demonstrating how spending a bit more at the outset can save in the longer term.

As the old saying goes 'buy ste, buy twice'

[dan5oclocksmith]

SleeperCell said:

I guess you don't understand the carpool articles then

No, I do. They're just a bit dry, really.

Works well as a Readers Cars thread, not so well on the frontpage IMO - which no-one else is required to agree with.

That said, it is a lovely looking car without doubt.

[Mark-C]

Lovely car but doesn't it deserve a bit more driving than 22,000 miles in 10 years?

[Gary C]

Great cars, you need to own one to really get them.

Feels special, drives special, not that expensive to own or insure.

Enough power, though I expect mine (a 1989 red 3.2) to loosen up once run in


'They do have a reputation for unpredictable handling but I always keep a minimum of half a tank of fuel in it, brake in a straight line and then power through the corner'

Not found that really, have had to lift mid bend when I found a cow standing in the road, locked the inside front wheel but the car was stable through out (though my heart rate wasn't)

I think 3.2's are coming to the end of a sweet spot now, lots made with quite a few good ones still about. Won't be long before the really good cars become very rare and prices begin to climb steeply.

[LuS1fer]

Very nice though 911s don't do much for me. Nor does white but I see it's your thing.

Shame about the illegal plate though since it clearly wasn't first registered before 1973.

[sootyrumble]

I love the little golf mk1 that noone has commented on sitting there as well they are three beautiful cars

[Dan XJR]

Let's have the Vette next! Rob gave me the keys once, he's lucky I didn't drive off!

[Paul O]

I really like these kind of stories, a good read.

Thanks to the owner and to PH for occupying my time whilst munching on a lunch sandwich.

[Steamer]

"Back when he was thirteen, our man Rob queued patiently for 20 minutes to be allowed access to the Porsche motor show stand at the NEC"

I remember those days back in the 80's.

Porsche used to have fantastic exhibition stand and nearly all the cars were open for anyone to sit.. they really werent precious about their display cars.

[911motorsport]

LuS1fer said:

Very nice though 911s don't do much for me. Nor does white but I see it's your thing.

Shame about the illegal plate though since it clearly wasn't first registered before 1973.

I think you've covered all bases there, talk about pissing on someones fireworks

[LuS1fer]

911motorsport said:

LuS1fer said:

Very nice though 911s don't do much for me. Nor does white but I see it's your thing.

Shame about the illegal plate though since it clearly wasn't first registered before 1973.

I think you covered all bases there, talk about pissing on someones fireworks!

I thought I did OK with "very nice"! The fact I said that despite my own personal view is very much a compliment because I'm a miserable bast*rd at the best of times.

I like the C3 but then I like all Vettes.

[vixen1700]

Remember driving my boss's brand new red '85 911 round the one way system near Centrepoint when he asked me to park it in the Great Russell Street NCP, a bit scarey for an 18 year old.

Lovely car, I'd love a 3.2 Carrera.

[AntGTR]

Stunning motor Rob, not actually had the chance to perv over the Vette yet! But the 911 is a real credit to you :-)