Porsche 912's

[a993lad]

Okay, so I just wanted a 911 for occasional use on sunny days when I could escape from the kids for a few hours. But now I've got one, I just love driving it. The downside of this is that I have to spend hours cleaning the thing because everytime I take it out on the crappy UK roads it gets plastered in salt infested grime. I accept the toil though, as fair exchange for the big grin on my face after a blast in the 993.

But, the one thing I'm holding out on is my decision not to use the 993 for the 10 mile trip to my commuter station each day. Having spent months sourcing a nice clean low mileage original condition well cared for 993, I'm quite definitely not leaving it in the station car park for some muppet to bump or scratch.

And I have a 14 year old Diahatsu Fourtrack which is just perfect for the station car park role. In fact if someone bumps into it, they are as likely to straighten a panel as dent it.

But (at last I get towards my point), I'm getting smitten by the Porsche driving experience.

And then I noticed an ad in a Porsche mag yesterday for a company called Fuchs offering LHD 912's for around £8k. And I'm thinking what pretty little cars for such a small amount of dosh. Could this be my cheap baby 911 for the 20 mile round trip to the station each day?

Or is a 1968 912 the most ridiculously temperamental and unreliable rust bucket a man can own?

I know nothing about them, but would be grateful for any thoughts.

[iguana]

a993lad said:

I know nothing about them, but would be grateful for any thoughts.

They don't really do it for me, look of a 911 & the go & soundtrack of an old beetle, same body & chassis as 911 so just as hugely expensive to restore when the rot has set in.

You can fettle 'em & if you do- being lighter they can go & handle pretty well if thats your bag.

Basically 2 types- early (like that '68) = 356 engine, later '75 US ones use a VW 2litre lump.

Personally for the same cash a solid un-rusty 911SC has waaaay more appeal, or if you love early cars throw a few more quid in the pot & get a decent early 911.

[RedBarron]

Please don't buy a 912 for station runs. It is a classic in its own right and most 912 owners (myself included) stick them away for the winter to avoid the horrible muck that the roads throw up at this time of year. Porsche didn't start galvanizing the cars until well into the 70's so these older 911/2's need a bit of TLC.

For the money mentioned (£8K Trade), you will be getting an average to good car that could be used as a daily driver, would be economic to run (22-27MPG) and cheap to stick on a classic policy (£150-250). But remember, the 912 is virtually the same as a period 911, the engine and trim are about the only differences, which means that carpark bumps and scrapes are expensive to put right. It is a different driving experience to the same period 911, smaller/lighter engine means a much better handling balance, but 90BHP is not going to set the world on fire. I've seen 120mph top whack out of mine, but it's very noisy at that point.

If you want a commuter Porsche for the wintertime, save yourself a couple of grand and get a 944 for the station run, it will be warmer and more reliable (and quicker when you are late for that train!).