Porsche 911 dilemma
Discussion
Here is the problem:
Kathy (Mrs Pearson) would like us to buy a Porsche 911 as a fun car. We're probably looking at a 964 from 1990 model year or a 993. It's something Kathy has always wanted and I certainly wouldn't mind driving it either.
Kathy had a mega-accident in her 20s which makes depressing a heavy clutch painful.
If we bought a 911 automatic would it ruin the Porsche driving experience or are they actually pretty good? Are they reliable?
Views / comments please.
Kathy (Mrs Pearson) would like us to buy a Porsche 911 as a fun car. We're probably looking at a 964 from 1990 model year or a 993. It's something Kathy has always wanted and I certainly wouldn't mind driving it either.
Kathy had a mega-accident in her 20s which makes depressing a heavy clutch painful.
If we bought a 911 automatic would it ruin the Porsche driving experience or are they actually pretty good? Are they reliable?
Views / comments please.
A guy that I know has a `94 993 C2 Coupe which has a RUF conversion which is kind of semi-automatic. I have never been in the car but, I understand that it has a (conventional) floor mounted gear stick, which you use as normal, but it has no clutch pedal.
The car looks fairly standard from outside but is on RUF sports suspension, so it sits lower. I think that RUF offered this as an alternative to the Porsche Tiptronic set up here in the UK, but I have no idea if this set-up evermade it to the States. I am not sure if RUF have representation here any more, so I dont how you might find out and more info.
Sorry, if this seems a bit of a longshot, but maybe some of the more knowledgeable PH`s know of this RUF offer?
The car looks fairly standard from outside but is on RUF sports suspension, so it sits lower. I think that RUF offered this as an alternative to the Porsche Tiptronic set up here in the UK, but I have no idea if this set-up evermade it to the States. I am not sure if RUF have representation here any more, so I dont how you might find out and more info.
Sorry, if this seems a bit of a longshot, but maybe some of the more knowledgeable PH`s know of this RUF offer?
I'd recommend a 993 tiptronic.
The 964 is a little bit more agricultural and more prone to problems. You can get tiptronic S on the 993 as well, which is steering wheel mounted.
The 993 also has a bit more grunt to counter the autobox disadvantage, and it is healthily cheaper than the manual because they are not so sought after.
Good luck finding the right car, whatever you go for
The 964 is a little bit more agricultural and more prone to problems. You can get tiptronic S on the 993 as well, which is steering wheel mounted.
The 993 also has a bit more grunt to counter the autobox disadvantage, and it is healthily cheaper than the manual because they are not so sought after.
Good luck finding the right car, whatever you go for
That Ruf set up was called something like PDK wasn't it? Pre-selector that was bolted onto standard box ISTR. I've driven most Tiptronics in the 964/993 model range (but not a 996 yet)and IMHO the later the car, the better the system. I didn't like it on the 964s I drove, but it seemed OK on the 993 - an absolute dog in the 968 though
Good friend of mine is selling his 993 triptronic :
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=13967&sc=707U&s=79
For the record he bought a Triptronic for the same reason (skiing knee injury). Having been for a spin the other day the triptronic box didn't dim the experience!
Edited to say not much use to you Gavin given that you're in Detroit!! Still go for it, the triptronic isn't a reason not to have one of the best cars on the planet!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 2nd October 12:45
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=13967&sc=707U&s=79
For the record he bought a Triptronic for the same reason (skiing knee injury). Having been for a spin the other day the triptronic box didn't dim the experience!
Edited to say not much use to you Gavin given that you're in Detroit!! Still go for it, the triptronic isn't a reason not to have one of the best cars on the planet!
>> Edited by mr_tony on Thursday 2nd October 12:45
I've been looking for a Porsche for a considerable number of months travelling all over the country and seen a lot of cars in that time. In general, I found that the very few people that had a good word for the early 964 from a mechanical /reliability/cost prospective. Most of the main stream independant specialists pointed me to either a 911 3.2 or 993.I'm sure there plenty of excellant 964's out there. A friend of mine has a 964RS, but he's had the engine rebuilt for the normal maladies experienced by the earlier cars. Some argue that the lower relative price of the 964 allows for a engine rebuild and then you have the makings of a good car. There are some good books to read up on, and some Porsche magazines have done a plotted history of the 40 years of 911 Porsche and in one, the September issue did a supplement covering the 964 and latter cars.
What ever car you eventually choose have it independantly inspected by an expert. I've taken my time and found a really good car, they are out there.
As far as autos are concerned for the last 15 years or so I've been driving Mercedes V8 SL's and Cabriolets, all of them were automatic and more recently triptronic and I have found it is only in the extremous eg wet or icy conditions that an auto can compromise handling and performance and in many instances it makes make town work easy.
What ever car you eventually choose have it independantly inspected by an expert. I've taken my time and found a really good car, they are out there.
As far as autos are concerned for the last 15 years or so I've been driving Mercedes V8 SL's and Cabriolets, all of them were automatic and more recently triptronic and I have found it is only in the extremous eg wet or icy conditions that an auto can compromise handling and performance and in many instances it makes make town work easy.
I find the clutch isn't all that heavy on the manual box actually. And if there's a better manual gearbox than the 6 speed one in the 993 then I'd be interested to hear about it, as it is superb. However from what you are saying, perhaps any clutch would be too heavy in traffic jams for example.
Thank you all for taking the time to give me the benefit of your advice. I'm feeling a bit better about buying a car with Tiptronic now.
I am curious about what makes the 964 less desirable than it should be on paper. I bought "0911 and Porsche World" magazine the other day and saw the supplement on 964 and later cars - but I didn't see too many specifics about what you should expect to go wrong and when.
So has anybody had / know of somebody that had a 964 with mechanical unreliability? What went wrong?
I'm not too keen on buying a car needing work other than cosmetic or interior because spares and labour rates here in the USA are stratospherically expensive compared to what I am used to in the UK, plus I'd rather just buy the right car and get on and use it.
I am curious about what makes the 964 less desirable than it should be on paper. I bought "0911 and Porsche World" magazine the other day and saw the supplement on 964 and later cars - but I didn't see too many specifics about what you should expect to go wrong and when.
So has anybody had / know of somebody that had a 964 with mechanical unreliability? What went wrong?
I'm not too keen on buying a car needing work other than cosmetic or interior because spares and labour rates here in the USA are stratospherically expensive compared to what I am used to in the UK, plus I'd rather just buy the right car and get on and use it.
I think that in some circles the 964 has an unfair reputation for reliability. There are a couple of known issues that started to rear their head when the cars became a few years old but by now most cars will have had these addressed:
1. Servicing is more expensive. They have 12 spark plugs and the clearances need to be adjusted which adds to labour time
2. They have a reputation for oil leaks. Many will have had an expensive rebuild to correct this, but unless you are dribbling oil everywhere just live with it until the engine needs a rebuild due to age.
3. The dual mass flywheel breaks up, many will have had this replaced with a non dual mass when the clutch was changed.
4. It has two distributors that are linked with a rubber belt. The later cars had a breather pipe to stop the belt cracking and eventually snapping. This can be added to the earlier cars.
When I looked at 964's a few years ago these were the most common things I was told by other owners.
1. Servicing is more expensive. They have 12 spark plugs and the clearances need to be adjusted which adds to labour time
2. They have a reputation for oil leaks. Many will have had an expensive rebuild to correct this, but unless you are dribbling oil everywhere just live with it until the engine needs a rebuild due to age.
3. The dual mass flywheel breaks up, many will have had this replaced with a non dual mass when the clutch was changed.
4. It has two distributors that are linked with a rubber belt. The later cars had a breather pipe to stop the belt cracking and eventually snapping. This can be added to the earlier cars.
When I looked at 964's a few years ago these were the most common things I was told by other owners.
GavinPearson said:
I am curious about what makes the 964 less desirable than it should be on paper. I bought "0911 and Porsche World" magazine the other day and saw the supplement on 964 and later cars - but I didn't see too many specifics about what you should expect to go wrong and when.
A few pointers in this buyers guide.
www.pistonheads.com/porsche/default.asp?storyId=5869
Just eyeballed the good Doctor's guide and having been a 964 owner for eight years I can but agree!! 
Only thing I didn't notice is the cost of fixing aircon. Also I used to budget on £2000 per year EXCL brake pads and tyres in regular use.
Rule of thumb: whatever your OPC or specialist quotes, double it!!
Melv
Only thing I didn't notice is the cost of fixing aircon. Also I used to budget on £2000 per year EXCL brake pads and tyres in regular use.
Rule of thumb: whatever your OPC or specialist quotes, double it!!
Melv
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