964 Turbo 2 - Good Idea ?
Discussion
I have recently seen a number of these for sale for around £20k (LHD) and just wondered if anyone knew the pro's & cons of owning & buying one?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Also, has anyone seen a buyers guide for these?
Cheers
Paul
I know of two of these for sale at the moment, second hand. One is RHD for 28k, the other may be a cheaper left hooker. Email my profile if you want the numbers.
What I would say, is this:
1) Drive a 964RS. This is a much sportier car IMHOP and delivers real track performance. I have driven a 3.6 Turbo 2 and it was a GT car in comparison. If you like electric seats and air con, great, this could be the car for you. if you want to get from A to B with a grin bigger than Derestrictor's thesaurus on your chops, get the RS. The RS will also hold its value better. There is an RS in the PH classifieds for 20k, but expect to pay 24-26.
2) Many things can go wrong on a Turbo 2. They are not cheap cars to run. Expect about 25% more running costs than a C2 or RS of the same vintage. I'd especially watch for oil leaks from hoses and the cylinder barrels, and crash damage to rear flanks.
I was going to get a Turbo 2, and ended up with an RS, as this suited me better. I am glad I made the decision I did. However, Ultra Violent on this site swung the other way, and chose the Turbo 2 after having driven it back to back with an RS. You must do the same before making a decision, assuming you haven't already.
Search the forum for previous posts on RSs and Turbo 2s, as these could shed light on both cars.
Cheers
Domster
Autocar bought one a few years ago as part of their "Hot 100 used bargains".
They went over to Germany and brought one back, low mileage Speed Yellow 3.6 Turbo with colour coded dials.
Suffice it to say that it cost them something like 7 grand in maintenance to keep it on the road for the next 8 months or so and then they lost a barrel of money when they sold it.
These things are NOT cheap to run.
Mind you, ask Dom about his Lotus Carlton running costs...
VS
They went over to Germany and brought one back, low mileage Speed Yellow 3.6 Turbo with colour coded dials.
Suffice it to say that it cost them something like 7 grand in maintenance to keep it on the road for the next 8 months or so and then they lost a barrel of money when they sold it.

These things are NOT cheap to run.
Mind you, ask Dom about his Lotus Carlton running costs...

VS
That's why I'd always recommend normal aspiration for an easy life. I owned a 944 Turbo that also had more than its share of maintenance headaches. And Scottster's Cosworth had one of Al-Quaeda's grenades under the bonnet as a powerplant.
Misfires, head gaskets, oil leaks. No thanks.
Mind you, there's nothing like the sensation of two Garrett T25s spooling up from standstill... real punch in the back
Misfires, head gaskets, oil leaks. No thanks.
Mind you, there's nothing like the sensation of two Garrett T25s spooling up from standstill... real punch in the back

I think I will have to drive them both if I can.
I am trying to decide between a Cerbera & a Porsche, I was considering an early Ferrari but within my budget the options are not that great.
I've been reading about the 911RS and it does sound like a good choice, especially as maintainance costs will be a big factor in my final decision.
With a budget of £20k, is an RS within reach?
Cheers for all the pointers so far.
I am trying to decide between a Cerbera & a Porsche, I was considering an early Ferrari but within my budget the options are not that great.
I've been reading about the 911RS and it does sound like a good choice, especially as maintainance costs will be a big factor in my final decision.
With a budget of £20k, is an RS within reach?
Cheers for all the pointers so far.
Bloody RS owners, they only want you to get an RS so there is one less T2 showing them a clean pair of boots. Dom even resorts to 'cross country' short cuts to stay a head.
I would say, if you are going to do track days get the RS. If you want effort less overtaking on the pubic hair-way, i'd plump for the T2.
Forget the service costs, that's f'all compared to the fuel bill. Anyhow who wants to drive a cheap car, that's for pykies and Northerners
Happy to take you for a spin if it suits.
I would say, if you are going to do track days get the RS. If you want effort less overtaking on the pubic hair-way, i'd plump for the T2.
Forget the service costs, that's f'all compared to the fuel bill. Anyhow who wants to drive a cheap car, that's for pykies and Northerners

Happy to take you for a spin if it suits.
UV,
Good to get the otherside of the story !
I would love to take you up on the offer of a spin, are you planning to go to the next Virginia Waters meet?
Track days are something that might appeal, but the car would be used as a weekend car prodominantly. What would you expect to pay to run one of these for a year?
Good to get the otherside of the story !
I would love to take you up on the offer of a spin, are you planning to go to the next Virginia Waters meet?
Track days are something that might appeal, but the car would be used as a weekend car prodominantly. What would you expect to pay to run one of these for a year?
UV's right - the RS is for the hardcore sports car enthusiast. If you want to turn up at a trackday and humiliate stuff, get an RS.
If you don't, look at the T2. They are a better everyday car, but they are more expensive to run and they will be out of their depth on a circuit unless they have been fettled.
Budget 24k for an RS, and remember that they hold their money very well. I got the equivalent of what I paid back when I sold my car, and the previous owner covered his expenditure.
Best thing about a T2... flooring it from a closed throttle in third gear with the turbo off the boil, then holding on as the thing goes ballistic.
Best thing about an RS... four wheel drifting it around your favourite bends in the dry whilst the best 911 exhaust note known to humanity screams out at 7000 revs...
Horses for courses. UV drove both cars before making a decision. I drove both. You should also get acquainted with the pair and make your own mind up. They're both great choices.
If you don't, look at the T2. They are a better everyday car, but they are more expensive to run and they will be out of their depth on a circuit unless they have been fettled.
Budget 24k for an RS, and remember that they hold their money very well. I got the equivalent of what I paid back when I sold my car, and the previous owner covered his expenditure.
Best thing about a T2... flooring it from a closed throttle in third gear with the turbo off the boil, then holding on as the thing goes ballistic.
Best thing about an RS... four wheel drifting it around your favourite bends in the dry whilst the best 911 exhaust note known to humanity screams out at 7000 revs...
Horses for courses. UV drove both cars before making a decision. I drove both. You should also get acquainted with the pair and make your own mind up. They're both great choices.
12k/yearly service at an OPC is £850 for basic service. This is the same as a 964 c2/c4/rs. It’s not until the 993 that servicing comes down. New disks and pads are about £800, new tires £300 - £1000 depends on your preference. Turbo’s last around 80k miles, a new k27 costs about £1k, but you could get a hybrid for less if you exchange your old turbo. Clutch lasts about 40-50k miles and costs 1k to replace. Flywheel is the reliable one (fitted as std on turbo’s). CIS is a very simple and reliable engine. Yes things will wear out over 10+ years but that should be caught with proper servicing. If you want more performance ditch the cat (which you can do legally on the 3.3 T2) and up boost to 1 bar. You could also add a fuel enrichment device to provide the extra fuelling at full boost (keeping idle at spec), or don’t bother and live with rich idle and criminal town mpg. Mine is putting out 380 BHP and 600 NM of torque, which is handy. I can get 20+ mpg on motorway, and 5-8mpg around town.
As with any car of this age history is everything. Make sure it has more stamps than the post office, and no interval has been skipped. This can be tricky as these cars tended to be 2nd/3rd cars for the rich and famous and consequentially do spend time in storage. Sooooooo…… get an independent inspection!!!!!!!
Dom is right in saying they are more of a GT, than an out and out racer, but that’s GT in the Porsche sense not BMW.
As with any car of this age history is everything. Make sure it has more stamps than the post office, and no interval has been skipped. This can be tricky as these cars tended to be 2nd/3rd cars for the rich and famous and consequentially do spend time in storage. Sooooooo…… get an independent inspection!!!!!!!
Dom is right in saying they are more of a GT, than an out and out racer, but that’s GT in the Porsche sense not BMW.
There's a (what appears to be) nice one for sale on Autotrader:
PORSCHE 911 964 TURBO 2
LHD, K reg. 60000 miles, Factory Ltd Edition, 360 bhp, new clutch, new discs and pads, full service history, alarmed, immobilized, rare car, best driving LHD Turbo. £20,995 . warranty available, px con.
Porsche & Performance
Sounds potentially quite nice. Unfortunately every RS I've seen so far is out of my budget. Guess I'll keep hunting.
PORSCHE 911 964 TURBO 2
LHD, K reg. 60000 miles, Factory Ltd Edition, 360 bhp, new clutch, new discs and pads, full service history, alarmed, immobilized, rare car, best driving LHD Turbo. £20,995 . warranty available, px con.
Porsche & Performance
Sounds potentially quite nice. Unfortunately every RS I've seen so far is out of my budget. Guess I'll keep hunting.

I saw that add also,looks good...but straight away it looks confusing....K plater with 360 bhp ????
The 3.6 ltre turbo was banging out 360 as standard not the 3.3 which is what this car is.
The 3.6 litre did not come out until '94.
Has it been chipped ??/ is it 360 bhp or did they pick that number out of the air....I don't care much for B/S advertising as you can probably tell.
The 3.6 ltre turbo was banging out 360 as standard not the 3.3 which is what this car is.
The 3.6 litre did not come out until '94.
Has it been chipped ??/ is it 360 bhp or did they pick that number out of the air....I don't care much for B/S advertising as you can probably tell.
CS,
I've been to see that car. In 1992, there was a factory fitted option which boosted the power to 355bhp, I think its option X33. Check the history of the Turbo on the PCGB site.
It's a nice car but the colour put me off, it's metallic amethyst. I quite like it but I'm also thinking re-sale.
I've been to see that car. In 1992, there was a factory fitted option which boosted the power to 355bhp, I think its option X33. Check the history of the Turbo on the PCGB site.
It's a nice car but the colour put me off, it's metallic amethyst. I quite like it but I'm also thinking re-sale.
Yeah, like why is it necessarily the 'best driving LHD turbo' out there.
All they missed was the bit about 'drives superb'.
It's superbly you tossers. Jeez. I'm going to vote for Derestrictor to be minister of education, then we'd get some properly worded car ads!
Oh, found more details on one of the T2s I know about. It's a J-plate in Tahiti blue with cream leather, RHD low miles, but dunno the price. Again email me for contact number as it's not on the classifieds.
Cheers
Domster
All they missed was the bit about 'drives superb'.
It's superbly you tossers. Jeez. I'm going to vote for Derestrictor to be minister of education, then we'd get some properly worded car ads!
Oh, found more details on one of the T2s I know about. It's a J-plate in Tahiti blue with cream leather, RHD low miles, but dunno the price. Again email me for contact number as it's not on the classifieds.
Cheers
Domster
The X33 helps explain ,i see they rounded up the horses!
I thought the car looked ok in the photos,but I guess it is one of those colours that can look very different on bright & dull days.
As for re-sale..How low is it gonna go ?...I think the car will move at this price assuming it is straight etc...i would think there will be demand for a few years around the £20k mark for these....to me it's more a question of if you could live with it.
I certainly think i could.
I thought the car looked ok in the photos,but I guess it is one of those colours that can look very different on bright & dull days.
As for re-sale..How low is it gonna go ?...I think the car will move at this price assuming it is straight etc...i would think there will be demand for a few years around the £20k mark for these....to me it's more a question of if you could live with it.
I certainly think i could.
Buying LHD certainly limits your market when you come to resell. So the short answer is yes.
But as they become older and less likely to be used for any sort of day to day driving the condition, service history etc start to become more important.
Also with an older car you're more likely to find enthusiasts (like us?) looking for them, who will also know that LHD cars are slightly better cars 'cos they were primarily designed to be left handers.
Look at the market for early 911's, 2.2/2.4S and alike. Really good LHD'ers are not a lot cheaper than really good RHD'ers.
However when you get to the really rare stuff like the 2.7RS, RHD commands a significant premium because there are so few of them. This seems to be happening with 993RS and to a lesser extent the 964RS.
But as they become older and less likely to be used for any sort of day to day driving the condition, service history etc start to become more important.
Also with an older car you're more likely to find enthusiasts (like us?) looking for them, who will also know that LHD cars are slightly better cars 'cos they were primarily designed to be left handers.
Look at the market for early 911's, 2.2/2.4S and alike. Really good LHD'ers are not a lot cheaper than really good RHD'ers.
However when you get to the really rare stuff like the 2.7RS, RHD commands a significant premium because there are so few of them. This seems to be happening with 993RS and to a lesser extent the 964RS.
Just looking through the Autotrader and have seen a few Turbo2s for sale, one at porsche & performance(LHD,£20995) and one at prestige & performance (LHD,£21995), Shirleys of meriden(£24995) also a private sale which is also advertised on this site (RHD,£24995).
Anyone viewed any of these cars? Any recommendations?
Billy.
Anyone viewed any of these cars? Any recommendations?
Billy.
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