Folks

First post, just signed in. However, took me a long time to get here, starting with a photo I took of a Porsche 911 Targa in Bonn Germany when I was a kid in 1982. Now I'm on the brink of buying my Porsche and come before this group for advice.

QUESTION: I like the air cooled models of the 1980's. I believe the 84-88 models were strong. In 89 Porsche upped the engine size and made changes. My theory is that the 88 model is a good one since they did they changes for the 84 model year, then worked the kinks out and pretty much had got it right by 1988. My question is this: does this line of reasoning make sense? Are there any gotcha's for the 88?

Any help you can provide would be appreciated. I plan to have a space filled in my driveway by Thanksgiving.

Regards,

Newbie to forum

 

Still looking for some input on this one. Drove an 84 coupeyesterday. That felt good but highly manual. Maybe I should up my year to whenever they introduced hydraulic assist for (power) steering. QRS11

 

I went through the search myself this past spring. I was lucky to find a mint 1988 in Rhode Island with 87,000 miles for $24,000. The car was owned by the3rd owner who had it for the past 9 years.

Based on the info that I gathered and most importantly based on the advice of my cousin, who is a Porsche Factory Trained mechanic in CT and owner of a couple of pre 89 911s, I decided to limit my search to 87 and 88 models.

The 87 and 88 (and early 89 - pre 996 production) are the best for the following reasons:

- last iteration of classic 64-89 Porsche 911 design
- introduction of hydraulic clutch in 1987 with larger clutch plate
- introduction of superior Getrag G50 Transmission in 1987
- bullet proof engine
- last but not least, I personally think that they are the best looking Porsche 911s ever produced- period.

Make sure to have the car inspected by an expert. A leakdown test is recommended as some of these engines experienced premature valve guide wear.

When you do get your car, make sure to have itlowered to Euro Ride Height - it makes a huge difference in handling and looks!

There is a book avilable by Tony Corlett entitled "Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera - The Last of the Evolution" whichhas a lot of info on the 84-88/89 3.2's. A highly recommended read.

Good Luck with finding you car!

Mick

 

Thanks Mick. Great feedback. I'll look for the Corlett book on ebay too.

QRS11, Culver City, CA

 

I tend to agree that the latter 911's in the run up to the end of production in 89.

Did you find the car you were looking for? any pics?

 

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately the economic downturn has affected my business - the city government contracts that were all but closed have come unclosed. I haven't seen that happen before so as a cautionary move I have moved my porsche acquisition to a point in the future - hopefully end 09 but could be 2010. So it goes. Thanks for the feedback. QRS11