1979 911SC, could you use is almost daily?

1979 911SC, could you use is almost daily?

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JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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I started a thread on another forum asking questions about 2 911SC's for sale near me. After getting a chance to drive an SC I thought it was a brilliant, fun car, very mechanical and raw. 2 weeks ago I sold my 996, which I used daily, mainly because the running costs were high.
I inquired about the SC's to find out one was sold, but the other one had just had plenty of work done to it. Full engine and gearbox rebuild, 993 head studs, new clutch, new stainless steel exhaust, new heat exchangers, new tyres, and all fluids changed and has been wax oil under sealed. Car has all matching numbers, no rust, is in its original colour. It has a full service history with all MOT's backing up the mileage, 84,000. All the work carried out was/is by a very reputable person in the Porsche circles here. As such this car is ready to go with no servicing to do for the next 12 months.

Thing is from the question I asked, I received many different opinions from people. Some say the car could not be used here in our wet climate all year round. Some say you could. Some say it has to be garaged and some say if it is used regularly you don't. I was planning on buying the car and in a few months time buy another car as a run around. I would want to use the SC regularly. I also don't have a garage. I would consider a carcoon but as I would have to have this out the front of the house in the driveway, I'd be afraid it'll just draw attention of kids to vandalise it.

So, what is your opinion?

Longman66

367 posts

208 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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Lots of people on impact bumpers use theirs as a daily

graemel

7,027 posts

217 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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No issue using one as a daily driver. Probably would bring less attention to itself than a new 911. Godd luck and enjoy smile

NNH

1,517 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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You see a lot of 150k+ mileage SCs being used daily in SoCal and other dry places. So long as you kept a close eye on corrosion, I think it would be fine here.

JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not really, I'd be using the car daily for a few weeks until I got a daily driver.

drmark

4,824 posts

186 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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Only problem driving them daily in the winter is the crap ventilation system meaning they can be tricky to demist in the rain. Otherwise should be fine - make the commute an event too!

rubystone

11,252 posts

259 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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I ran a 3.2 through the winter 8 or 9 years ago. Ran faultlessly but boy did it hasten the corrosion. That's what I would be most worried about.

rubystone

11,252 posts

259 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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NNH said:
You see a lot of 150k+ mileage SCs being used daily in SoCal and other dry places. So long as you kept a close eye on corrosion, I think it would be fine here.
Oh sorry, I missed the fact the OP lives in Southern California. In which case, I would guess that snow, ice and salt are not his problem. If he lived in the UK they would be a problem.

rubystone

11,252 posts

259 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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NNH said:
You see a lot of 150k+ mileage SCs being used daily in SoCal and other dry places. So long as you kept a close eye on corrosion, I think it would be fine here.
Oh sorry, I missed the fact the OP lives in Southern California. In which case, I would guess that snow, ice and salt are not his problem. If he lived in the UK they would be a problem.

JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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rubystone said:
I ran a 3.2 through the winter 8 or 9 years ago. Ran faultlessly but boy did it hasten the corrosion. That's what I would be most worried about.
That is I guess what I'm asking. The car would be used daily over the winter. It wouldn't be just left sitting there. Where I live I don't get heavy/much snow. The car has been checked for rust and areas were fixed and repainted. So currently there is no rust areas. Plus the car has been wax oil under sealed.

shoestring7

6,138 posts

246 months

Sunday 24th November 2013
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JohnnyMac said:
rubystone said:
I ran a 3.2 through the winter 8 or 9 years ago. Ran faultlessly but boy did it hasten the corrosion. That's what I would be most worried about.
That is I guess what I'm asking. The car would be used daily over the winter. It wouldn't be just left sitting there. Where I live I don't get heavy/much snow. The car has been checked for rust and areas were fixed and repainted. So currently there is no rust areas. Plus the car has been wax oil under sealed.
Sadly the 911 was designed with a host of mud traps under the wheel arches. I'll be fitting Lokari arch liners to mine - they might be worth a look if you're serious about an SC daily driver. Then add lots of Waxoyl/ACF50/Dinitrol etc. A set of winter tyres on a cheap set of 15" cookie cutters might be an idea too.

SS7

rubystone

11,252 posts

259 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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shoestring7 said:
JohnnyMac said:
rubystone said:
I ran a 3.2 through the winter 8 or 9 years ago. Ran faultlessly but boy did it hasten the corrosion. That's what I would be most worried about.
That is I guess what I'm asking. The car would be used daily over the winter. It wouldn't be just left sitting there. Where I live I don't get heavy/much snow. The car has been checked for rust and areas were fixed and repainted. So currently there is no rust areas. Plus the car has been wax oil under sealed.
Sadly the 911 was designed with a host of mud traps under the wheel arches. I'll be fitting Lokari arch liners to mine - they might be worth a look if you're serious about an SC daily driver. Then add lots of Waxoyl/ACF50/Dinitrol etc. A set of winter tyres on a cheap set of 15" cookie cutters might be an idea too.

SS7
It isn't the snow or ice, it's the salt that does the damage. Unless you hose it down after each drive and get right underneath the arches with the pipe, it'll collect salt in all those nasty crevices around the lights, oil cooler, oil tank etc etc

911Thrasher

2,573 posts

199 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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I do not use a SC as daily, but a 64RS...not quite the same car, however one or two similarity: no power steering and a heavy clutch.

Make sure you try it around town first, you might find the "no power" steering very tiring, especially parallel parking which can be very painful.

Otherwise, I would say: do it. SC are beautiful.

shoestring7

6,138 posts

246 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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911Thrasher said:
I do not use a SC as daily, but a 64RS...not quite the same car, however one or two similarity: no power steering and a heavy clutch.

Make sure you try it around town first, you might find the "no power" steering very tiring, especially parallel parking which can be very painful.

Otherwise, I would say: do it. SC are beautiful.
I've got a '73 T on 15's. The steering is lighter than my 964 - even at parking speeds. Not really sure how that works - but there isn't much weight over the front axle on an early 911.

SS7

JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Monday 25th November 2013
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Thanks for the advice lads. I've already been looking into the Lokari wheel arch protectors. I was told the car has been wax oiled already. So, I'd guess this should help with the protection side of things better. Going to view the car this Wednesday. Really looking forward to it.

ro55a

705 posts

154 months

Tuesday 26th November 2013
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FYI I used an SC and then a 3.2 Carrera as my daily driver, 10k a year for 6 years between the pair. Perfect cars, made of stone, run forever and ever and when you get to foreveranever they keep going still. You just cannot go wrong with a good one. Learn how to service and look after it and it will be one of the cheapest cars you have ever owned.

mr_tony

6,328 posts

269 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
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Using my 76 daily, and I love it.
Keeping a close eye on the chassis for corrosion, and had the car coated in waxoyl before taking delivery.

So far so good. Might get some winter tyres this week. Love how cheap 15 tyres are!

JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Monday 2nd December 2013
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mr_tony said:
Using my 76 daily, and I love it.
Keeping a close eye on the chassis for corrosion, and had the car coated in waxoyl before taking delivery.

So far so good. Might get some winter tyres this week. Love how cheap 15 tyres are!
Have you got a wheel arch Inner Fenders? From what I've been told they are a must add thing to any older car to help protect it from the elements. I'd be interested in your thoughts.

mr_tony

6,328 posts

269 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2013
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No - I've got serious waxoyl coverage in the arches and underneath though, and my car was fully restored back to the bare metal in 2002-2004. Still looks very solid.

I'm not familliar with the liners personally, but there are mixed views out there. Some folks think they just create more opportunity for muck to get stuck around.

I'll give the wheelarches a regular spray out each week to avoid any salt / grime build up. I also keep mine garaged in a heated garage which should help avoid it sitting around damp.

My main issue at the moment is the drivers side washer jet which is knackered (having dismantled the whole system to find it's the last thing I'm checking that has the issues.

Got to fit some winter rubber to it for next week, the p6000s are getting a little exciting on damp roundabouts..




JohnnyMac

Original Poster:

91 posts

216 months

Wednesday 4th December 2013
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mr_tony said:
Got to fit some winter rubber to it for next week, the p6000s are getting a little exciting on damp roundabouts..
Read alright that the Pirelli P6000's don't like wet roads.
Thank you for the reply Mr. Tony.