Carrera 3.2 or 964
Discussion
depends on your expectations - I used to have a 964 as a daily driver and it was fine (mind you, I used to commute in my TVR S2 even when it rained through the roof...)
Plenty of active 964 vs 3.2 debate -
have a look at this topic
BERGS
Plenty of active 964 vs 3.2 debate -
have a look at this topic
BERGS
If you are using as a daily driver it all depends on the mileage you are doing and specifically how long you are running the car for each day. Eg- the 964 needs to be run for at least 30 minutes each time you take it out - it is not for short trips. If you are only doing short trips you will be overhauling the engine every 12 months or so due to the build up in impurities that do not get cleared out when the engine is only run for short periods - major cost given that one of the issues with the 964 in terms of servicing is the need to take off the exhaust to get to the engine; something that you don't have to do with the 3.2. ( I researched exacklty what you are considering when buying as well, I spent a few hours talking to the old bufties who are recognised in Sydney as the best in servicing old porches, they steered me clear of the 964 unless I was doing freeway type driving). I ended up with an SC first (great drivers car with lots of torque and long throw), had this for 18 months and have just purchased an '89 3.2. I took a 964 out but it is not as much fun. The 3.2's are more of a drivers car (unless you are looking at a 964 RS !). It sounds like you will be using it daily, if so and depending on the drive, the 89 3.2 is hard to beat. For what its worth I would look closely at the 3.2, get used to this and then upgrade to the 993 (this is my intent). with the new model coming out, the prices of 993's are dropping considerably. good luck !
I ran a 3.2 Carrera for 2 years as my only car. It was an '88 model and had about 75k on the clock when I bought it. I did about 5000 miles a year in it, plus one good European trip each year - best one was from UK to Austria and back (via Switzerland/ Lichtenstien), and included a damn good thrash through the Alps on both legs of the journey. That car NEVER went wrong. Not once. Ever. Ever. Pretty remarkable for a car which was driven in a "spirited fashion" most of the time. I then had a 993 C2, followed by 964 Turbo II - neither of these cars ever went wrong either. I would say the 3.2 is absolutely fine for everyday driving. Air-con is pretty rubbish, but it was in the 993 and the 964 Turbo as well. The 3.2 was also the cheapest one to run (both fuel consumption and servicing) and lost the least in depreciation. The 964 will be a little easier to live with, it's a bit quieter, and still looks fantatsic. But I'd go for the 3.2. Enjoy!
Many 964's are proving expensive to own and most customers are unable to afford to find minor faults with wiring, warning lights etc.
There seem to be 2 contributory factors. Firstly - they were so expensive to service that many places didn't do all the work -which built up an accumulation of faults even more expensive for anyone who tries to do the job properly to sort out - so they also struggle to make it pay. Secondly there wer enumerous new technological ideas tried out that have now been superceeded with better solutions.
As a result they are expensive to look after and relativley unpopular with workshops.
Having said that criticism - now that prices reflect that weakness - (usually cheaper than a good 3.2) they represent good value for money as long as you can afford the work that will prove neccessary, or can do it yourself, or can live with minor faults.
Furthermore all the cars we originally prepared for sale and looked after are still proving reliable and perform very well - so it seems that they can be a good car too - it is just that far too many of them have deteriorated too far to be saved without huge cost.
Baz
There seem to be 2 contributory factors. Firstly - they were so expensive to service that many places didn't do all the work -which built up an accumulation of faults even more expensive for anyone who tries to do the job properly to sort out - so they also struggle to make it pay. Secondly there wer enumerous new technological ideas tried out that have now been superceeded with better solutions.
As a result they are expensive to look after and relativley unpopular with workshops.
Having said that criticism - now that prices reflect that weakness - (usually cheaper than a good 3.2) they represent good value for money as long as you can afford the work that will prove neccessary, or can do it yourself, or can live with minor faults.
Furthermore all the cars we originally prepared for sale and looked after are still proving reliable and perform very well - so it seems that they can be a good car too - it is just that far too many of them have deteriorated too far to be saved without huge cost.
Baz
Many 964's are proving expensive to own and most customers are unable to afford to find minor faults with wiring, warning lights etc.
There seem to be 2 contributory factors. Firstly - they were so expensive to service that many places didn't do all the work -which built up an accumulation of faults even more expensive for anyone who tries to do the job properly to sort out - so they also struggle to make it pay. Secondly there wer enumerous new technological ideas tried out that have now been superceeded with better solutions.
As a result they are expensive to look after and relativley unpopular with workshops.
Having said that criticism - now that prices reflect that weakness - (usually cheaper than a good 3.2) they represent good value for money as long as you can afford the work that will prove neccessary, or can do it yourself, or can live with minor faults.
Furthermore all the cars we originally prepared for sale and looked after are still proving reliable and perform very well - so it seems that they can be a good car too - it is just that far too many of them have deteriorated too far to be saved without huge cost.
Baz
There seem to be 2 contributory factors. Firstly - they were so expensive to service that many places didn't do all the work -which built up an accumulation of faults even more expensive for anyone who tries to do the job properly to sort out - so they also struggle to make it pay. Secondly there wer enumerous new technological ideas tried out that have now been superceeded with better solutions.
As a result they are expensive to look after and relativley unpopular with workshops.
Having said that criticism - now that prices reflect that weakness - (usually cheaper than a good 3.2) they represent good value for money as long as you can afford the work that will prove neccessary, or can do it yourself, or can live with minor faults.
Furthermore all the cars we originally prepared for sale and looked after are still proving reliable and perform very well - so it seems that they can be a good car too - it is just that far too many of them have deteriorated too far to be saved without huge cost.
Baz
Bought a 964 last July for the same purpose. It's done 12K since then, used everyday. Agree with Baz regarding looking after them. If you buy one that's been looked after and do the same then good car. A 12K service on a 964 should be just that including tappets, new spark plugs etc. A lot skimp and only do those things every 24K because once you have drained the oil you have to leave them to cool right down before doing the tappets etc which means the car is sitting in the workshop taking space.
Ian.
Ian.
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