911 Buying advice please.
Discussion
Having convinced myself that the logical step from the MX5 would be a Griff 500,and no more track days I now find myself strangely drawn to a late 1980s early 1990s 911 and track time.
Now other than the fact that it needs to be a Cabriolet, I have no idea what I should be looking for, infact I know nothing about Porsche what so ever.
Is there a good buyers guide?
The Wedge stays, but I'm not likely to take it on the track so the 911 needs to fulfil this, is the jump from MX5 to 911 too great for a novice, I'll hold my hand up and say that I'm still on a massive learning curve when it comes to trackdays and getting the most from my driving.
Now other than the fact that it needs to be a Cabriolet, I have no idea what I should be looking for, infact I know nothing about Porsche what so ever.
Is there a good buyers guide?
The Wedge stays, but I'm not likely to take it on the track so the 911 needs to fulfil this, is the jump from MX5 to 911 too great for a novice, I'll hold my hand up and say that I'm still on a massive learning curve when it comes to trackdays and getting the most from my driving.
Tell us your budget.
My vote would be for a Boxster, probably an S if you can afford it. This car is much better dynamically than an 80s or early 90s 911 in my opinion. I sold mine to a mate for 20 grand (I know I know...but that IS the trade in value, like it or not).
You can get a Boxster S in a private sale for 21 grand. This is a modern Porsche with a mid mounted 3.2 litre flat 6 with great brakes and handling. Good car.
My vote would be for a Boxster, probably an S if you can afford it. This car is much better dynamically than an 80s or early 90s 911 in my opinion. I sold mine to a mate for 20 grand (I know I know...but that IS the trade in value, like it or not).
You can get a Boxster S in a private sale for 21 grand. This is a modern Porsche with a mid mounted 3.2 litre flat 6 with great brakes and handling. Good car.
johnny senna said:
Tell us your budget.
My vote would be for a Boxster, probably an S if you can afford it. This car is much better dynamically than an 80s or early 90s 911 in my opinion. I sold mine to a mate for 20 grand (I know I know...but that IS the trade in value, like it or not).
You can get a Boxster S in a private sale for 21 grand. This is a modern Porsche with a mid mounted 3.2 litre flat 6 with great brakes and handling. Good car.
Very good road car, but a bit lardy for track and consumables will be pricey.
My budget is about 12k.
I'm not looking for speed, more how different cars handle, I'm given to understand that the 911 is rear engined and presents a very different handling experience.
Like I say, this is more about a learning curve for me, as opposed to achieving a sub 4 minute lap of Le
Mans.
MX5 to Boxster, you mean going from hairdresser to fully qualified stylist surely
I'm not looking for speed, more how different cars handle, I'm given to understand that the 911 is rear engined and presents a very different handling experience.
Like I say, this is more about a learning curve for me, as opposed to achieving a sub 4 minute lap of Le
Mans.
MX5 to Boxster, you mean going from hairdresser to fully qualified stylist surely
wedge girl said:
My budget is about 12k.
I'm not looking for speed, more how different cars handle, I'm given to understand that the 911 is rear engined and presents a very different handling experience.
Like I say, this is more about a learning curve for me, as opposed to achieving a sub 4 minute lap of Le
Mans.
MX5 to Boxster, you mean going from hairdresser to fully qualified stylist surely
Thats fair enough, but some cars are suitable for track usage and others aren't. A 1980s cabriolet falls firmly in the latter camp!
The mx5 you already have is a wonderful car to learn in. It has limited grip so you can learn car control and drift it with relative ease. Rear engined and over tyred sports cars are very snappy and difficult to learn in.
The problem is that very few good road cars make good trackday cars. The goals of optimising for one are often mutually exclusive to the other.
For my money I'd still recommend you have a go in an Elise. Its rear engined, rear wheel drive (with suitably tricky limit handling to give you all the challenge you want, and sometimes more!) and its also light enough to be relatively economic to track. Theres also a fantastic Elise trackday scene.
Of course if its got to be a Porsche then so be it
Just don't kid yourself that a converable 911 is a suitable track tool! Can you even get them for 12k? >> Edited by DanH on Tuesday 21st June 23:08
wedge girl said:
Thanks Dan I will give what you've said some thought. Elise Too many cars not enough time....
Although the Elise will be more forgiving, you'll find the limit on a Porsche 911 much sooner and a 944 or 968 shortly after which could prove more fun.
If the car is only for track day fun I would suggest getting a 3.2 Carrera Targa which gives you a great compromise between the stiffness of a Coupe and the open-topness of the Cab. You'll get a decent one for your money and be able to enjoy it on the road as well.
Buy Tony Corletts book on the 3.2 - The Last of the Evolution. It gives great insight into the handling/driving charactersistics of the 3.2 and really wets your apetite for taking one on the track. Plus it's got so many beautiful pictures that you'll simply ache to own one
>> Edited by ICSD on Wednesday 22 June 09:57
ICSD said:
Although the Elise will be more forgiving, you'll find the limit on a Porsche 911 much sooner and a 944 or 968 shortly after which could prove more fun.
Its a myth that the Elise is forgiving! Once you are at the limit it snaps very quickly due to a low polar moment of inertia. Hence the great turn in.
Anyway just a suggestion that you should try one
Its also convertable which fits the bill.wedge girl said:
It wont just be for the track, I need to do a small amount of short distance commuting with it and hot summer day driving 
That would be fine - it's just that the Targa is a bit noisy (with the roof on) so not great for long motorway runs - but fine for short commutes.
I would have recommended an Elise as well, but my mate's Elise Sport 190 blew its engine at Brands last week because of oil starvation - that's what happens when cars aren't dry sumped like 911s
I have to admit that any open 911 of that vintage will be a bit of a dog on track... and we're not talking greyhounds here. And they're a bit dated off it, now, as well. My money would be with a nice LHD 964 C2 coupe and I'd leave the wedge for open top fun on sunny days. Just my personal preference.
Bargain open top sports car at the moment is probably the E36 M3 Evo cabriolet, but again, not ideal on track.
Have you ever driven a Caterham? They feel special on sunny days, out handle any 911 I can think of - and that includes the RSs - and are within budget. Just get an accusump/apollo tank if you track a K-series one Or get an Elise and do the same, as they are very good as well.
I have to admit that any open 911 of that vintage will be a bit of a dog on track... and we're not talking greyhounds here. And they're a bit dated off it, now, as well. My money would be with a nice LHD 964 C2 coupe and I'd leave the wedge for open top fun on sunny days. Just my personal preference.
Bargain open top sports car at the moment is probably the E36 M3 Evo cabriolet, but again, not ideal on track.
Have you ever driven a Caterham? They feel special on sunny days, out handle any 911 I can think of - and that includes the RSs - and are within budget. Just get an accusump/apollo tank if you track a K-series one
Or get an Elise and do the same, as they are very good as well.If you're planning to track it then get a targa, preferably a coupe for safety if nothing else.
Wind noise isn't a problem in my targa.
For 12k you should be able to get a well-sorted LHD 964. Earlier 911s lack power steering and abs brakes, are less refined, and have less power, less weight and less electronics.
This site is pretty good for 911 info...www.performance2and4.co.uk
Wind noise isn't a problem in my targa.
For 12k you should be able to get a well-sorted LHD 964. Earlier 911s lack power steering and abs brakes, are less refined, and have less power, less weight and less electronics.
This site is pretty good for 911 info...www.performance2and4.co.uk
domster said:
I would have recommended an Elise as well, but my mate's Elise Sport 190 blew its engine at Brands last week because of oil starvation - that's what happens when cars aren't dry sumped like 911s
The 190 is right at the limits of the k series ability to hold together - so not really a fair comparison. Its accepted that they need rebuilds fairly regularly at that level of power as basically its a race engine. The standard 120 or 150 bhp engined ones are generally fine although there is the risk of head gasket failure if you are unlucky (its much less common on newer cars though).
Which corner did he get oil starvation on at brands? Very surprised if that was the actual cause unless he was running slicks?
On the plus side, if a k series goes pop, an engine is less than a grand. (have to pay for fitting though).
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff