930 911 Turbo. Is it really that hairy?
Discussion
I'm in the market for a 930 911 turbo and I know this is an age old question but do they really deserve the 'widowmaker' reputation that they had/have?
I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
Age old question! The answer depends upon the individual - if you drive it like an idiot it will bite back but I guess that's true of almost any car?
I've had one for 3 years and I drive it responsibily but fast and it's never once frightened me - not once.
Saying that you dont want the turbo kicking in round a wet corner - I think the earlier ones had a more on off turbo too.
The bigger point is try before you buy - they are not to everyones taste - low compression big single turbo means there's not a lot of go below 3,000 revs - but if you love that turbo shove, find the stunning looks to your liking, the smell, the noise (with an aftermarket pipe on - they are v quiet in std form) then it might be the car for you.
I've had one for 3 years and I drive it responsibily but fast and it's never once frightened me - not once.
Saying that you dont want the turbo kicking in round a wet corner - I think the earlier ones had a more on off turbo too.
The bigger point is try before you buy - they are not to everyones taste - low compression big single turbo means there's not a lot of go below 3,000 revs - but if you love that turbo shove, find the stunning looks to your liking, the smell, the noise (with an aftermarket pipe on - they are v quiet in std form) then it might be the car for you.
Lax Power said:
I'm in the market for a 930 911 turbo and I know this is an age old question but do they really deserve the 'widowmaker' reputation that they had/have?
I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
They are not that scary, nor are they that nice to drive in my opinion. I would personally choose a normally aspirated air-cooled car over a 930. I have owned both turbo and n/a cars.I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
Lax Power said:
enjoyed on a B-road.
I once seriously considered buying a 930 until I tested one on B-roads. I didn't like the all or nothing power delivery at all for this kind of driving. Off boost it just felt very slow, on boost it felt quick but with no finesse at all. Ended up buying a 2.4S at the time, which was a million times more fun on B-roads. Light and sharp with great throttle response and a soundtrack to die for. I currently own a 3.0 SC which again is a great handling B-road car. Try before you buy is essential with all these classic 911s. uktrailmonster said:
I once seriously considered buying a 930 until I tested one on B-roads. I didn't like the all or nothing power delivery at all for this kind of driving. Off boost it just felt very slow, on boost it felt quick but with no finesse at all. Ended up buying a 2.4S at the time, which was a million times more fun on B-roads. Light and sharp with great throttle response and a soundtrack to die for. I currently own a 3.0 SC which again is a great handling B-road car. Try before you buy is essential with all these classic 911s.
Agreed. I ran a 930 and an SC at the same time. The SC was a far nicer drive.Try before you buy!
I think the widow maker moniker was, as previously mentioned, given due to 'ham fisted plebs' buying them when they first came out.
Obviously you have to love old cars and the old car feel, otherwise dont even bother.
They are not that fast though, im definately tuning mine, maybe alot, to give some real character and put some truth in the 'widow maker' tale!
edit. my first 911 was an sc and i was also driving a turbo at the time. imo the sc is nowhere as nice to drive
I think the widow maker moniker was, as previously mentioned, given due to 'ham fisted plebs' buying them when they first came out.
Obviously you have to love old cars and the old car feel, otherwise dont even bother.
They are not that fast though, im definately tuning mine, maybe alot, to give some real character and put some truth in the 'widow maker' tale!
edit. my first 911 was an sc and i was also driving a turbo at the time. imo the sc is nowhere as nice to drive
fredt said:
Try before you buy!
I think the widow maker moniker was, as previously mentioned, given due to 'ham fisted plebs' buying them when they first came out.
Obviously you have to love old cars and the old car feel, otherwise dont even bother.
They are not that fast though, im definately tuning mine, maybe alot, to give some real character and put some truth in the 'widow maker' tale!
edit. my first 911 was an sc and i was also driving a turbo at the time. imo the sc is nowhere as nice to drive
It's worth remembering that the 930 first appeared in the mid 70s when stomping on the gas pedal in any car usually resulted only in a bit more noise and a marginal increase in speed over the next half a minute or so. I think the widow maker moniker was, as previously mentioned, given due to 'ham fisted plebs' buying them when they first came out.
Obviously you have to love old cars and the old car feel, otherwise dont even bother.
They are not that fast though, im definately tuning mine, maybe alot, to give some real character and put some truth in the 'widow maker' tale!
edit. my first 911 was an sc and i was also driving a turbo at the time. imo the sc is nowhere as nice to drive
The 930 changed all that. Stomp on the gas in that car and little happened, but half a minute or so later all the power arrived in one go.
Each to his or her own, but once the novelty of on/off power and scaring the bejesus out much later performance cars wore off the 930 was easily the least pleasurable Porsche I have owned and driven. One of the best looking though.
Edited by Manks on Monday 6th August 10:40
Manks said:
It's worth remembering that the 930 first appeared in the mid 70s when stomping on the gas pedal in any car usually resulted only in a bit more noise and a marginal increase in speed over the next half a minute or so.
Manks said:
Stomp on the gas in that car and little happened, but half a minute or so later all the power arrived in one go.
Bit of an overstatement, and anyone who belives that will be pleasantly surprised (atleast for the 3.3, the 3.0 i have no experience of). Agreed first gear is a bit manic, and i think its actually i bit short for my liking. From there on i think its great, and i rarely find myself outside the powerband, despite the 4 speed boxBut for sure its an aquired taste, as are all 30 year old cars. You really have to try one to know for yourself
Manks said:
The 930 changed all that. Stomp on the gas in that car and little happened, but half a minute or so later all frigg'n hell breaks loose.
EFAETA 1: picture of the moment said hell breaks loose.
ETA 2: this is shortly before the pressure from the charger is being built up - in 2nd gear. The car is at 60km/h at that moment. A second later, it will be at 120, when you attempt to shift to 3rd gear. The car is practically not enjoyable (the way it was built for) within NSL speed limits, since you wouldn't want to punish the drivetrain in 1st gear.
Edited by Bodo on Monday 6th August 11:29
Lax Power said:
I'm in the market for a 930 911 turbo and I know this is an age old question but do they really deserve the 'widowmaker' reputation that they had/have?
I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
I think Tony Dron summed it up when he states in his book on Porsche, that a good driver in a NA 911 would be quicker on a good B road than a good driver in a Turbo.I want something that is use able but also can be pedalled along and enjoyed on a B-road. As much as I love the scenery I dont want to end up being part of it. Is this a fair assumption?
Looks wise, Turbo. For real world sunday morning hoon, it seems that you'll have more fun in a NA.
Lax Power said:
Thanks for the replies! So the consensus is that they can kill you if you're a clown behind the wheel but if you're a good driver then they yield average rewards?
I think I'll take the advice and go for a test drive.
If you want my opinion i think you need to know what you want from a car..a challenge/great looks/great build quality/value retention...930/964/ turbo's interesting i would say..if you actually want to drive quick in a very capable car i wouldnt bother ..the average hot hatch would leave it for dead cross country.I think I'll take the advice and go for a test drive.
kayc said:
If you want my opinion i think you need to know what you want from a car..a challenge/great looks/great build quality/value retention...930/964/ turbo's interesting i would say..if you actually want to drive quick in a very capable car i wouldnt bother ..the average hot hatch would leave it for dead cross country.
A Clio Cup would leave one for dead on B roads. Question is, does this matter?MTR
mollytherocker said:
A Clio Cup would leave one for dead on B roads. Question is, does this matter?
MTR
It's probably more relevant that a Carrera would also beat it fairly comfortably on a tight B-road. Different story on an open dual carriageway or Autobahn of course, so depends what your priorities are. When I drove a 3.3 Turbo I was an experienced n/a 911 driver (having owned a Carrera 3.0 and 964 RS for many years) and I really didn't enjoy driving this car at all with its laggy Turbo, 4 speed box and wide track. But they look great, so who cares! MTR
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