Post by bultaco on Jul 26, 2007 2:12:34 GMT -8
Here's some very valuable information from some very knowledgable
Porsche people.
A question I posed.
I know how great the 911 is and I'd love to own one, but
I'm wondering how reliable they are ? I ask because I hardly
see them around.
Answers:
George Suwala (Silicon Valley, CA) wrote
on Jul 20, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Any car can break, but the 3.0 and 3.2 cars are very reliable.
3.6 are also reliable, but more expensive to fix if things
go wrong. I've owned various 911 (currently 1996 Carrera 4 with 3.6 engine)
and they are a bit better than an average European car. How much do
you want to spend? Not knowing what you are looking for, my suggestion
(lowest cost and highest satisfaction of 911 ownership)
would be a
1978-1988 car (3.0 or 3.2 liter engine). Just avoid the pre-
1978 ones - unless they have already been properly rebuilt they will likely
cause expensive problems - a bit risky introduction into 911 ownership.
Post 1995 are good too, but at about twice the price.
Jaz Dadhra (American Express) replied to your post
on Jul 24, 2007 at 12:25 PM
pre 1976 did not have galvanised panels, and the 2.7 litre did not prove
much to be reliablle and the same goes for the sportsmatic gearbox.
A good entry is a Porsche 911 SC from 1978 onward
which features the bullet proof 3.0 engine coupled with a 915 geabox.
Three biggest check when buying a 911 SC are:
1- check for engine rebuild for cars over 150k miles, rebulid costs are
around £3500
2- rusty heat exhangers, £700 a pair
3- worn & graunchy gearboxes £800 to fix
Though a PPI check is highly recommended for new comers cost £195 ,
but will save you a hell of suprises down the line .
Ed Dale (Ernst & Young) wrote
16 hours ago
I'll echo the call for a PPI. I skipped it when I bought my SC and came to
regret it. The car needed some fairly serious repair work, which added $4K
to my bottom line. A rebuild in the US will run between $6 and $12K
depending on if you need new P&C's. As the 3.0 gets older they are starting
to have issues with the head studs. Not as bad as the 2.7, but still a factor.
A PPI solves all of this, by letting you know in advance what needs to be
done. The book The used 911 Story will cover each model, what is different
and what is likely to go wrong - www.amazon.com/Used-911-Story-8th/dp/0963172662/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7032109-7015311?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185384700&sr=8-1
Highly recommened.
I just bought my 79 911 and even with the above, I love it.
=========================================================================
Looks like I hit the jackpot for Porsche experts, thanks a lot for all the
great information guys, there's nothing like real world experiance when
your looking at used cars, if you don't mind I'd like to post your input
in a Porsche thread in my Motorsports Forum, great stuff !
Porsche people.
A question I posed.
I know how great the 911 is and I'd love to own one, but
I'm wondering how reliable they are ? I ask because I hardly
see them around.
Answers:
George Suwala (Silicon Valley, CA) wrote
on Jul 20, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Any car can break, but the 3.0 and 3.2 cars are very reliable.
3.6 are also reliable, but more expensive to fix if things
go wrong. I've owned various 911 (currently 1996 Carrera 4 with 3.6 engine)
and they are a bit better than an average European car. How much do
you want to spend? Not knowing what you are looking for, my suggestion
(lowest cost and highest satisfaction of 911 ownership)
would be a
1978-1988 car (3.0 or 3.2 liter engine). Just avoid the pre-
1978 ones - unless they have already been properly rebuilt they will likely
cause expensive problems - a bit risky introduction into 911 ownership.
Post 1995 are good too, but at about twice the price.
Jaz Dadhra (American Express) replied to your post
on Jul 24, 2007 at 12:25 PM
pre 1976 did not have galvanised panels, and the 2.7 litre did not prove
much to be reliablle and the same goes for the sportsmatic gearbox.
A good entry is a Porsche 911 SC from 1978 onward
which features the bullet proof 3.0 engine coupled with a 915 geabox.
Three biggest check when buying a 911 SC are:
1- check for engine rebuild for cars over 150k miles, rebulid costs are
around £3500
2- rusty heat exhangers, £700 a pair
3- worn & graunchy gearboxes £800 to fix
Though a PPI check is highly recommended for new comers cost £195 ,
but will save you a hell of suprises down the line .
Ed Dale (Ernst & Young) wrote
16 hours ago
I'll echo the call for a PPI. I skipped it when I bought my SC and came to
regret it. The car needed some fairly serious repair work, which added $4K
to my bottom line. A rebuild in the US will run between $6 and $12K
depending on if you need new P&C's. As the 3.0 gets older they are starting
to have issues with the head studs. Not as bad as the 2.7, but still a factor.
A PPI solves all of this, by letting you know in advance what needs to be
done. The book The used 911 Story will cover each model, what is different
and what is likely to go wrong - www.amazon.com/Used-911-Story-8th/dp/0963172662/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7032109-7015311?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185384700&sr=8-1
Highly recommened.
I just bought my 79 911 and even with the above, I love it.
=========================================================================
Looks like I hit the jackpot for Porsche experts, thanks a lot for all the
great information guys, there's nothing like real world experiance when
your looking at used cars, if you don't mind I'd like to post your input
in a Porsche thread in my Motorsports Forum, great stuff !
