965 roadtest

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Discussion

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Saturday 13th September 2003
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Im road testing a 1991 964 turbo 2 with 48,000 miles on the clock. Is there anything other than the usual 911 things to look out for with this model what with it having a massive turbo strapped to it and all? Any info would be most appreciated.

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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Oil leaks (look underneath, there's no tray). Misfires (nail it at low speed in a high-ish gear). Then the usual 964 type stuff, like clutch action, accident damage etc.

Enjoy third gear - depressing it fully in a Turbo 2 at about 50mph and holding on for dear life is fun!

PS These cars are more prone to maintenance than other 911s. I'd recommend a 993 Carrera (2wd) for an easier life.

ultra violent

2,827 posts

270 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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With these cars i'd recommend spending your inspection money on having the car dyno'd, or do both. You can check the basic stuff yourself, but what you are really spending you money on is the engine. This is difficult to check with a test drive, but a dyno will show you lots of useful numbers. You'll be able to check the boost curve which should give you a good idea of the state of the wastegate, power - a general indication of engine health, and probably most important with these cars is the A/F ratio.

There are oil leaks, and then there are OIL LEAKS. Common leaks from oil lines, oil return tubes, and turbo sump are easy and cheap to fix. Rivers of oil pouring out the cylinders is clearly bad news. There are a couple of areas on these cars that fail (over time), and your unlikely to notice in normal driving. The WUR can often go (causing incorrect fuelling, hence need for RR time), the BOV (blow off valve) also deteriorates over time. This can be replaced with newer/better version for £100. Air con never works on any older porsche (even when it is working).

The things that you really want to avoid in your first year of ownership are brake discs , pads, and new tyres.

These cars are begging to be modified and you shouldn't be worried about various exhaust bypass (cat and muffler), or increasing the boost to 1bar. Even if you don't want these mods now, you will do very soon.

In reality these cars are not much more than a NA 964 to service, it cost me £1000 at an OPC for a full annual service.

These cars, IMO, should be treated as toys. They are great fun, and in gear acceleration is mind-blowing (130mph in 3rd, and if you have the grunt, over 200mph in top). If you intend to spend a lot of time on the track then i'm sure Dom can point you in the direction of a nice RS, or as an every day car the 993 has to get it.

One final word, get the 965, there are too many RS girls round here and turbos ROCK!!!

Davel

8,982 posts

259 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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Get it properly checked out by an expert! For the sake of a couple of hundred quid, it could save you a fortune!

Hope it's what you want it to be and enjoy!

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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Wise words from UV and Davel.

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
The car has had a opc 115 point check 6 weeks ago which reveiled front discs and pad wear( subseqently replaced) it has 6 pot calipers on the front, is this standard on a turbo 2? the heater controls were in need of some attention as it was always blowing hot( done now too) and there is some minor corrosion around the head lamps( as usual).

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
6 pot calipers are NOT standard on the 965

They did larger 4 pot brembos, though, called 'big reds' which were standard on the 3.6 and could probably be retrofitted to the 3.3 if required.

ultra violent

2,827 posts

270 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
Personally, i'd put it on a dyno, but if you don't want to (or can't) make sure that porsche confirm all the fuelling control pressures are in spec. This should at least tell you whether your fuelling system is functioning correctly. It won't necessarily tell you your A/F ratio is correct though. Again if you can't get to a dyno, i'd disconnect the O2 sensor, air injector and set idle CO to 2%, quickly followed by removing the cat and putting a 1 bar spring in....

Sounds like you have 993tt front brakes. Unnecessary IMO, but very nice none the less.

What colour is the car?

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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The car is guards red and although not faded I think it will come back beautifully with a days t cutting and polishing. dont get me wrong, its not bad paint work but it could be better( not up to my standard yet). hope to road test this week but both the seller and I are very pushed for time, see what happens. I had an sc up untill a month ago when my mother bought it off me. Would like another toy and this seems to be it.

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Wednesday 17th September 2003
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Well I have had a good look around the car, and what a car it is. Stunning condition inside and out, the engine bay is nice and clean and only a slight weep from a rocker gasket. Couldnt take it out this evening but all set for saturday afternoon, can t wait. porsche did the fuel pressures when they had it 7 weeks ago. Come on saturday!

ultra violent

2,827 posts

270 months

Thursday 18th September 2003
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Great news. Just watch the rev limiter, it's not very friendly...

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Saturday 20th September 2003
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Well I have been out for a test drive and absolutely love the car and performance. I first approached the guy when he first got the car a few months ago, he wasn't impressed with it at first so I offered a very low price for it and he was willing to sell but I asked for a couple of months to get the cash, since then he has fallen in love with the car and is not so eager to sell, BUGGER! I hope he will change his mind and accept my offer. I may be looking for either a 993 c2 or a 964 rs if anyone knows of any low priced ones, prefer rhd.

>> Edited by ew_topcat on Saturday 20th September 17:29

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Sunday 21st September 2003
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the guy accepted my offer, so soon I will be very happy cruising around in my turbo porsche. wahoo!

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Monday 22nd September 2003
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Nice one... it will be a good compromise between 993C2 and 964RS, so you should be happy.

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Monday 22nd September 2003
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well domster, i cant stop grining and no work has been done yet today. quite pleased ive bought it, I would still like to have a look around an rs at some point though. the car is coming with some top of the line recaro seats with cooling fans built in and all sorts, they aren't in the car and i dont think i want them in the car, would you know of anyone that might be interested?

GregE240

10,857 posts

268 months

Monday 22nd September 2003
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Edward, one of my favorite cars. Many congrats sir and all the best for the future.....any pictures?

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Monday 22nd September 2003
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ew_topcat said:
well domster, i cant stop grining and no work has been done yet today. quite pleased ive bought it, I would still like to have a look around an rs at some point though. the car is coming with some top of the line recaro seats with cooling fans built in and all sorts, they aren't in the car and i dont think i want them in the car, would you know of anyone that might be interested?


Rip the seats out and put them in PH classifieds (free) or 911 and Porsche World classifieds (free). Failing that, mr ebay should be able to help.

They sound like gutbucket specials rather than the lean and mean wafer thin ones I like, so couldn't point you in a the direction of a buyer myself.

ew_topcat

Original Poster:

1,938 posts

250 months

Monday 22nd September 2003
quotequote all
thanks for that domster. greg no pics yet as i dont get the car for a week or so, dont worry after some mean polishing there will be plenty of pics.