1989 Carrera 3.2 to 718 Cayman GTS 4.0?
Discussion
I've come here in the hope that someone will talk some objective sense into me...
For the last couple of months I've been having sinful thoughts about trading in my '89 Carrera Sport 3.2 for a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0... would this be a terrible move?
It's been in the family since around 2001 and has a lot of sentimental value and memories being my late father's. I love it just as much as he did, but sometimes I feel like I can't just drive it as much as I'd like because of the age and potential fragility of something going wrong with it one day. It's still in great condition, only has 91k miles and no leaks. I've spent about 7k on it the last 18 months including 3.5k on a new full exhaust system and the rest on servicing every six months and new tyres. Whatever it's needed it's got. Before my father passed, he was thinking about selling it for an F-type R or 993 Carrera, so it wasn't an absolute keeper.
I love the rawness of it (no power steering, no ABS, no traction control etc obvs, G50 manual 'box), and the fact you really have to work hard to drive it well. I'm a member of an enthusiast car club here and every time we go out for 'very' spirited group drives I'm always a sweaty mess trying to keep up with the modern stuff, which is part of the fun, and I always get comments every time that the car punches well above its weight, but i do feel a bit guilty when I get back home afterwards. Which sounds silly. It is so much fun at normal speeds just pootling along though! Every drive is an event. How often can we say that about modern performance cars.
I love everything about the Cayman GTS 4.0 has to offer and feel if I'm going to do it I should strike soon while values between the two cars are almost identical; who knows how long the G-series Carrera values will remain this high and I can't see GTS 4.0 values plummeting over the long-term.
It's my dream attainable modern Porsche and I don't want to come across as ungrateful. I've even thought about walking into my local OPC and going through the process of "can I please order a new one", chuck the 5% deposit down to place the order and top up to 10% on the confirmation of build slot; it's got that bad!
But given the sentimental value, i might regret it... I just feel like I can't enjoy the car as much as I'd like given the 1980s tech (fragility), age, classic status/value etc. and going forwards I will be constantly throwing money at it to keep it in tip-top condition. I think my Dad would be proud of me though given how I've kept it uptogether the last 18 months and enjoyed it.
With a new or nearly-new GTS 4.0 I wouldn't have to worry about any of that and could even take it on the odd trackday - something I've never wanted to do with the G-series 911 for fear of something going wrong and the standard brakes not being up to the job
Spec-wise I don't even want much, just Carmine Red, silver wheels and leather (not alcantara). I'm easily pleased
For the last couple of months I've been having sinful thoughts about trading in my '89 Carrera Sport 3.2 for a 718 Cayman GTS 4.0... would this be a terrible move?
It's been in the family since around 2001 and has a lot of sentimental value and memories being my late father's. I love it just as much as he did, but sometimes I feel like I can't just drive it as much as I'd like because of the age and potential fragility of something going wrong with it one day. It's still in great condition, only has 91k miles and no leaks. I've spent about 7k on it the last 18 months including 3.5k on a new full exhaust system and the rest on servicing every six months and new tyres. Whatever it's needed it's got. Before my father passed, he was thinking about selling it for an F-type R or 993 Carrera, so it wasn't an absolute keeper.
I love the rawness of it (no power steering, no ABS, no traction control etc obvs, G50 manual 'box), and the fact you really have to work hard to drive it well. I'm a member of an enthusiast car club here and every time we go out for 'very' spirited group drives I'm always a sweaty mess trying to keep up with the modern stuff, which is part of the fun, and I always get comments every time that the car punches well above its weight, but i do feel a bit guilty when I get back home afterwards. Which sounds silly. It is so much fun at normal speeds just pootling along though! Every drive is an event. How often can we say that about modern performance cars.
I love everything about the Cayman GTS 4.0 has to offer and feel if I'm going to do it I should strike soon while values between the two cars are almost identical; who knows how long the G-series Carrera values will remain this high and I can't see GTS 4.0 values plummeting over the long-term.
It's my dream attainable modern Porsche and I don't want to come across as ungrateful. I've even thought about walking into my local OPC and going through the process of "can I please order a new one", chuck the 5% deposit down to place the order and top up to 10% on the confirmation of build slot; it's got that bad!
But given the sentimental value, i might regret it... I just feel like I can't enjoy the car as much as I'd like given the 1980s tech (fragility), age, classic status/value etc. and going forwards I will be constantly throwing money at it to keep it in tip-top condition. I think my Dad would be proud of me though given how I've kept it uptogether the last 18 months and enjoyed it.
With a new or nearly-new GTS 4.0 I wouldn't have to worry about any of that and could even take it on the odd trackday - something I've never wanted to do with the G-series 911 for fear of something going wrong and the standard brakes not being up to the job
Spec-wise I don't even want much, just Carmine Red, silver wheels and leather (not alcantara). I'm easily pleased
It's a nice decision to have to make. I've got a CGTS 4.0 and absolutely love it. The chassis, engine, gearbox, interior are perfect for me, engaging and a bit old skool. However, I do still long for an air cooled classic, they are just so appealing.
In the end a classic just wouldn't suit my use-case, I like to do a few euro tours per year and whilst it could be done in a classic it would be a lot harder.
It's really down to how you'll use it, if you're going to use it for road trips and put some miles on it then make the switch, you will love the 4.0. If it's for weekend blasts in the UK and occasional track day, then keep the 3.2. If you have the money and space get both! (btw: it's £3k deposit until it arrives). Good luck!
In the end a classic just wouldn't suit my use-case, I like to do a few euro tours per year and whilst it could be done in a classic it would be a lot harder.
It's really down to how you'll use it, if you're going to use it for road trips and put some miles on it then make the switch, you will love the 4.0. If it's for weekend blasts in the UK and occasional track day, then keep the 3.2. If you have the money and space get both! (btw: it's £3k deposit until it arrives). Good luck!
A44RON said:
But given the sentimental value, i might regret it... I just feel like I can't enjoy the car as much as I'd like given the 1980s tech (fragility), age, classic status/value etc. and going forwards I will be constantly throwing money at it to keep it in tip-top condition. I think my Dad would be proud of me though given how I've kept it uptogether the last 18 months and enjoyed it.
Easy for me to say but given the history there is no way I would sell it.Current 4.0s are and always will be two a penny, that car is unique.
The money you spend on it isn’t thrown away, it will always be worth good money, I doubt current models will be able to make that claim soon.
I would buy a second car (cheaper if need be) to scratch your itch and keep it.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Keep it and get a cheap 981 or 987 to blat around in
I agree ... a 987 Gen2 something of your choice. It will do most of what a 781 GTS will do at legal speeds and it will cost you less to buy than the first years depreciation on a new 781 GTS ... unless that is what you really want, which we could all understand ...I think that in your position I'd probably make the move to the Cayman.
You will have loads of happy memories with the Carrera that you will cherish forever. It sounds like the Cayman is exactly the sort of car that you will look forward to making new memories with.
The GTS 4.0 is indeed a fantastic car, pretty easy to live with in all situations and yet properly thrilling on a good road. In my opinion it will be spot-on for the type of driving you want to do. Remember the Carrera fondly, and begin a new chapter.
EDIT: the idea of keeping the Carrera and adding a manual 987.2 Cayman S holds a lot of appeal if you have the space and the budget!
You will have loads of happy memories with the Carrera that you will cherish forever. It sounds like the Cayman is exactly the sort of car that you will look forward to making new memories with.
The GTS 4.0 is indeed a fantastic car, pretty easy to live with in all situations and yet properly thrilling on a good road. In my opinion it will be spot-on for the type of driving you want to do. Remember the Carrera fondly, and begin a new chapter.
EDIT: the idea of keeping the Carrera and adding a manual 987.2 Cayman S holds a lot of appeal if you have the space and the budget!
Edited by Stunters on Saturday 18th November 09:55
My first Porsche back in 2008 was a 3 yr old 987 2.7 which was a great car but drove like a golf. In 2013 I bought a 993 C2 which I would have kept forever until I was hit head on and that was the end of it. I now have a 964 C2 and I love it more than the others! Please please please do not sell the carrera as You will regret it especially with the family history.
Look for a boxster 2.9 and see how you get on but please keep a hold of that carrera!
Look for a boxster 2.9 and see how you get on but please keep a hold of that carrera!
I’ve sort of gone the other way, had a 981 Spyder which has been replaced by a C2 993, if it was my daily id go for the Cayman, but as a weekend toy I found the Spyder a bit too polished, it was very easy to drive very quickly, and with the long gearing strangely uninvolving. Where as the 993 can be huge fun at much lower speeds and the short gearing means you are always involved.
Horses for courses, I considered a 4.0 Cayman as a daily which I’m sure it would do brilliantly, but ended up with a Cayenne as I’ve got a Moroccan desert road trip itch to scratch.
Horses for courses, I considered a 4.0 Cayman as a daily which I’m sure it would do brilliantly, but ended up with a Cayenne as I’ve got a Moroccan desert road trip itch to scratch.
Crikey
In exactly the same boat.
I have an 89 Carrera that I have had since 2007 and it was my Dads (he owned it from 1992).
Its only done 30k (was on 15k when I bought it) but it does play on your mind in a way no other car ever has. I feel I need to keep it as it is and it would be hard to part with, but its meant I have been bumbling around in a polo since the Impreza STi was stolen (and the 1/2 of the insurance money used to buy the 911).
I know that if I sold it I would always regret it, and really it is quite fantastic to drive. I almost swapped it for a 997 GT3 (plus a bit of cash) but that gap has opened so much that's out of reach, but glad I didn't in the end.
so for me its a keeper.
In exactly the same boat.
I have an 89 Carrera that I have had since 2007 and it was my Dads (he owned it from 1992).
Its only done 30k (was on 15k when I bought it) but it does play on your mind in a way no other car ever has. I feel I need to keep it as it is and it would be hard to part with, but its meant I have been bumbling around in a polo since the Impreza STi was stolen (and the 1/2 of the insurance money used to buy the 911).
I know that if I sold it I would always regret it, and really it is quite fantastic to drive. I almost swapped it for a 997 GT3 (plus a bit of cash) but that gap has opened so much that's out of reach, but glad I didn't in the end.
so for me its a keeper.
gareth h said:
I’ve sort of gone the other way, had a 981 Spyder which has been replaced by a C2 993, if it was my daily id go for the Cayman, but as a weekend toy I found the Spyder a bit too polished, it was very easy to drive very quickly, and with the long gearing strangely uninvolving. Where as the 993 can be huge fun at much lower speeds and the short gearing means you are always involved.
Horses for courses, I considered a 4.0 Cayman as a daily which I’m sure it would do brilliantly, but ended up with a Cayenne as I’ve got a Moroccan desert road trip itch to scratch.
Did you read the OP’s post?Horses for courses, I considered a 4.0 Cayman as a daily which I’m sure it would do brilliantly, but ended up with a Cayenne as I’ve got a Moroccan desert road trip itch to scratch.
Tricky dilemma.
Whilst they may share some Porsche DNA, they are very different cars, from different eras.
A good unmolested ‘89 G50 3.2 Carrera is very desirable - a real ‘911’ from the classic aircooled era, when these cars were largely hand-built in relatively smaller numbers. And, probably delivering a much more engaging driving experience, although perhaps better suited to more occasional use.
The 718 GTS is more of a mainstream production model. Developed and evolved under Porsche’s VAG parentage, and an easier ‘everyday’ useable proposition.
The 911 would also probably turn more heads and, despite being slower, may even be the more enjoyable to extend on the UK’s restricted roads.
But, for track and euro trips, the 718 would have the advantage.
Think my head would be tempted to go for a new 718 (but my heart would regret it every time I saw a nice aircooled 911
)
Whilst they may share some Porsche DNA, they are very different cars, from different eras.
A good unmolested ‘89 G50 3.2 Carrera is very desirable - a real ‘911’ from the classic aircooled era, when these cars were largely hand-built in relatively smaller numbers. And, probably delivering a much more engaging driving experience, although perhaps better suited to more occasional use.
The 718 GTS is more of a mainstream production model. Developed and evolved under Porsche’s VAG parentage, and an easier ‘everyday’ useable proposition.
The 911 would also probably turn more heads and, despite being slower, may even be the more enjoyable to extend on the UK’s restricted roads.
But, for track and euro trips, the 718 would have the advantage.
Think my head would be tempted to go for a new 718 (but my heart would regret it every time I saw a nice aircooled 911
)its just a car and your dad at the time thought of changing it for another.
what do you think your dad wanted you to do if he still was around? he wanted the best for you to have fun or try something else.
so if you can't keep it, say only 1 inside space for a good car, then sell it and by the GTS 4.0
have fun, its your life now.
what do you think your dad wanted you to do if he still was around? he wanted the best for you to have fun or try something else.
so if you can't keep it, say only 1 inside space for a good car, then sell it and by the GTS 4.0
have fun, its your life now.
keep it and enjoy. They are nowhere near as fragile as you might think. Back in the day we used to drive my 3.2 to the race track. Race it and drive it back home and that includes a race at Zandvoort. If maintained well they are bullet proof. For me I would avoid using it when the roads have been salted. Rot is your only enemy and keep a spare dme relay in the glove box just in case yours fails.
I've had my 3.2 for 19 years. It went through 200,000 km 2 years back thrashing around Scotland, I've had since 80,000.
My advice is stop worrying and get out there and drive the thing and drive it properly. It won't fall apart and you will love it.
A well used car should just need you and petrol in it to have a great time.
(Maybe get a GTS 4.0 too)
My advice is stop worrying and get out there and drive the thing and drive it properly. It won't fall apart and you will love it.
A well used car should just need you and petrol in it to have a great time.
(Maybe get a GTS 4.0 too)
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