1976 porsche 911/everyday car?

kindalen · 04-11-2007 10:47pm #1

how realistic is it to use a 1976 911 carrera 3 as an everyday driver?
i have a 20 mile drive to and from work on b roads.

thanks.

junkyard · 04-11-2007 11:18pm

It should be OK but they don't like traffic jams much as they're air-cooled, personally I think they're a bit over-rated especially the older ones and over priced too.

PaulK_CCI · 04-11-2007 11:22pm

kindalen wrote: »

how realistic is it to use a 1976 911 carrera 3 as an everyday driver?
i have a 20 mile drive to and from work on b roads.

thanks.

20 miles to and from work > good, because it's a long enough stretch to sufficiently warm up the engine. Biggest mistake people make is to get a 911 and do short distance, city traffic driving. This will ruin the engine in no time. The 911 lumps are dry-sump "oil-cooled" engines, and they have a heck of a lot of oil in them, so it will take a heck of a long time for them to warm up properly.
b-roads > good: 911's are a joy to drive on b-roads, with plenty of opportunity to open them up sufficiently, enjoy the handling and they will give the engine enough opportunity to 'breath through' and warm up correctly. Early Porsches hate nothing more than stop/start city traffic driving...

So the condition are right for a 911 to do well. A well sorted, mechanically flawless (!!!) example, should be up for the task without any hickups. And that will be the one and only crucial bit that you will need to ensure to get right. Nothing worse than getting your hands on a car that looks the business, but has a worn out engine... Also be prepared for a much more regular maintenance interval than a modern car, with obviously slightly higher repair bills than normal. If you skimp on servicing, they will bite back, bad!

The early Carrera 3.0 litre would be an excellent choice, given they're the best engine you can get within the "tax-exempt" range

, the 3.0 and later 3.2 are considered to be the best allround, practical and reliable engines, so pick a good one, and you should be able to enjoy loads and loads of happy miles.

kindalen · 04-11-2007 11:30pm

my drive to work is good because i am always moving, have driven a lot of 80's and 90's 911's,in the states, but always enjoyed the late 1970's ones more. dont have deep pockets,would look to buy in uk and pay about 10k sterling,would this be about right, and if i keep it for a year or so how easy are they to sell on?

--amadeus-- · 05-11-2007 11:33am

I used a '75 2.7 911 as my everyday driver for a while and I loved it. A classic car with performance that could match a modern hot hatch yet was practical enough to lug enough laminate flooring and underlay to cover an 18*12 room home from B&Q... Took the kids to school, did the shopping. I LOVED that car. Tragically it was rotting away under me so I had to sell it on...

They are a doddle to sell on - I shifted mine on within a fortnight, but it was very well priced. I paid about 8K sterling but the bodywork wasn't great. TBH if I was going again 10K would be the rock bottom I would spend in the UK. As Paul says the 3.0SC is a good car and now in the tax exempt bracket and they are out there at that price but there will be a lot of dogs.

You might want to look at Europe as well. Left hookers are cheaper and there are more of them. The steering on the "wrong" side isn't really an issue (mine was LHD). Stg is very high against the € at the minute so you'll lose on the exchange rate buying in the UK.

galwaytt · 05-11-2007 4:01pm

PaulK_CCI wrote: »

Biggest mistake people make is to get a 911 and do short distance, city traffic driving. This will ruin the engine in no time.

DAMHIK........that's why I now have a 968.

The 911 lumps are dry-sump "oil-cooled" engines, and they have a heck of a lot of oil in them,

13 litres.......

Also be prepared for a much more regular maintenance interval than a modern car, with obviously slightly higher repair bills than normal. If you skimp on servicing, they will bite back, bad!

.....as someone once told me, with a 911, always have 5k under the bed, for emergencies...:rolleyes:

later 3.2 are considered to be the best allround, practical and reliable engines, so pick a good one, and you should be able to enjoy loads and loads of happy miles.

Yes indeed, and don't forget: no PAS, no a/c, no servo brakes (on early ones), and the clutch isn't exactly 'toyota-light'........

Still love 'em, though..........:D

Anan1 · 05-11-2007 4:08pm

I recently took the plunge and went from a big Audi saloon to a 1986 911 3.2 Carrera Cabriolet. I have to say, i'm as happy as the proverbial pig in sh*te.:)

trev44 · 05-11-2007 4:38pm

i recently took the plunge too. i started by looking for a 73-74 911 with a 2.4 engine but ran into trouble when i started trying to find one (a good one) ended up with a 1973 350sl. 8 months later and (touch wood) no significant probs.
let us all know how you get on..
i still will have to own a 911 at some stage in my life.

Bitten & Hisses · 05-11-2007 5:57pm

galwaytt wrote: »

.....as someone once told me, with a 911, always have 5k under the bed, for emergencies...:rolleyes:

Bit like a 3.0 Isuzu Trooper so!

PaulK_CCI · 05-11-2007 6:15pm

--amadeus-- wrote: »

You might want to look at Europe as well. Left hookers are cheaper and there are more of them.

hear hear

there's always loads of them on the market here in Holland, Belgium and Germany, but the cheap private sale cars can be pretty rough, so if you want to go and search yourself, beware!! Believe me, I have checked out many for potential customers in Ireland. It's getting more and more difficult to find genuinely good, honest examples of the 74-80 series 911 for under 12-13k...

I tend to stick with a few select Porsche specialists over here, downside is that they can still work out quite expensive, but at least you know what you are going to get!! Unfortunately there are also a good few specialist that claim to be reputable Porsche specialists, but they are absolute t*ssers!!

galwaytt · 05-11-2007 6:15pm

Anan1 wrote: »

I recently took the plunge and went from a big Audi saloon to a 1986 911 3.2 Carrera Cabriolet. I have to say, i'm as happy as the proverbial pig in sh*te.:)

btw, my new-to-me 968 is chugging around at 23mpg on short runs.....still better than an RX-8 !

Anan1 · 05-11-2007 6:42pm

galwaytt wrote: »

btw, my new-to-me 968 is chugging around at 23mpg on short runs.....still better than an RX-8 !

I'm getting around 300 from a €90 fill these days, although I did get 450 miles bringing it home from Southampton. It's going in for a big service this week, maybe that'll improve things somewhat. Or maybe that's just the way it is. Guess i'll know soon enough!

kindalen · 05-11-2007 7:02pm

thanks for all the info,have to sell my own car first, have to find a few options then. dont want a LHD, would pay a premium for a RHD non-targa model.
always wanted one,but tbh will probably only keep it a few months. i tend to go through cars quick enough.

--amadeus-- · 05-11-2007 9:50pm

With a classic 911 on the back roads the car might get rid of you before you get rid of it!!

I always found mine very resonable on fuel - certainly a lot better than the agonising mpg I get from a 3.4L MKII Jag... I keep telling muself it's a small tank but the gague moves as fast as the car does!

Kersh · 05-11-2007 10:09pm

A good one should be ok, I had a 79Sc, drove it for a year, everyday, then parked it up for a year, once I changed the oil/filters again in it is was back to being perfect, mine was bullet proof, loved everybit of it, go for it.

Anan1 · 05-11-2007 10:33pm

A bit OT, but has anyone any tyre recommendations for a 911? I was thinking of putting F1s on mine?

kindalen · 07-11-2007 6:57pm

any good web sites for 911's?

--amadeus-- · 08-11-2007 11:06am

Anan1 wrote: »

A bit OT, but has anyone any tyre recommendations for a 911? I was thinking of putting F1s on mine?

Phone Barry Wheelan and ask him, he'll point you right.

Traumadoc · 08-11-2007 11:21am

Do you have his contact number the regular number seems to be always engaged.

I used a '74 911 as a daily driver mostly from Waterford to Wexford or Dublin to Wexford for the last two summers- happy days - have to get the valves tightened but no problems otherwise.

Anan1 · 08-11-2007 11:35am

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Phone Barry Wheelan and ask him, he'll point you right.

If only I could!;) The number's permanently engaged, car is now being serviced by Robert Furley.

tc20 · 08-11-2007 2:10pm

Always loved the 911, its definitely on my "own before i die" list..

When did they become water-cooled? Would i be right in saying its a fairly recent switch, as in the last decade or so?

PaulK_CCI · 08-11-2007 2:43pm

tc20 wrote: »

Always loved the 911, its definitely on my "own before i die" list..

When did they become water-cooled? Would i be right in saying its a fairly recent switch, as in the last decade or so?

from 1998 onwards...

1998 => 2004 : 996
2004 => : 997

tc20 · 08-11-2007 2:51pm

Thanks Paul. Im not too fully versed in Porsche's model designation, but wasn't the 993, the last air-cooled 911? IIRC its the model with the 'upright' exposed headlights, as opposed to the enclosed headlights, and its this model which Porsche aficionados reckon is the last 'true' 911?

Anan1 · 08-11-2007 3:13pm

The 3.2 Carrera is the last true 911.;)

PaulK_CCI · 08-11-2007 3:23pm

tc20 wrote: »

Thanks Paul. Im not too fully versed in Porsche's model designation, but wasn't the 993, the last air-cooled 911? IIRC its the model with the 'upright' exposed headlights, as opposed to the enclosed headlights,

To be honest, I'm much more at home in the earlier Porsches, but you're correct, that was the 993.

1965-1989 => 911
1976-1989 => Turbo version => 930
1989-1993 => 964 (all versions)
1993-1997 => 993

tc20 wrote: »

and its this model which Porsche aficionados reckon is the last 'true' 911?

So the saying goes

... but personally I would consider the 1973 911 CarreraRS the one and only true and best incarnation of the 911 ever... but that is perhaps a completely different sort of discussion... :rolleyes:

tc20 · 08-11-2007 7:21pm

PaulK_CCI wrote: »

I would consider the 1973 911 CarreraRS the one and only true and best incarnation of the 911 ever... but that is perhaps a completely different sort of discussion... :rolleyes:

You're probably right, on both counts there

I was behind a dark blue ZV 911 lately, around Killiney. Initially thought it was being driven by a (ahem) mature lady, and thought to myself "good on ya girl"
when i twigged her hubby beside her, and he was behind the wheel (LHD)... so quite possibly one of yours Paul

kindalen · 08-11-2007 8:51pm

anyone know of any good 911 websites or best way to source one?

Anan1 · 08-11-2007 9:01pm

I got mine on eBay.

MercMad · 09-11-2007 11:38am

I agree with Paul re the 1973 RS, but that one is the stuff of dreams, and I dont think I would bother with a replica.

Certainly from a looks point of view I think the 993 is the prettiest, butb there isn't much between any of them.

I would take ANY one of them, but much prefer the air cooled cars, purity of sound and all that !

My least favourite is the 996, just dont like those headlight, so I'm glad to see they went back to the oval/round style on the 997 !

I recently drove a new 911 Carrera S, manual, and it confirmed to me that it is definitely one of the best driving cars out there, the traction, acceleration and the sound when you turn the exhaust valve open...........superb !

Just yesterday I took a look at a certain pop star's new 911, similar to above, and parked close by was his 1968 version. Those early cars really look so small compared to everything else !!

Pretty cool !

PaulK_CCI · 09-11-2007 2:12pm

MercMad wrote: »

... and parked close by was his 1938 version.

A 1938 Porsche?! I bet that must have been pretty cool alright

At that time, from what I have heard, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche was rather occupied with his work on the Volkswagen, commissioned by a certain Mr A. Hi*ler from Germany as opposed to developping Sportscars to be purchased by Pop Stars

I cannot deny that the modern Porsches drive and behave like no other models before, but I just feel that a very important factor is lost with this need and drive to do things faster and faster, and that is the exhiliaration you get from the "sensation" of speed, power and balance. Within the comfortable surroundings of a modern Porsche (and other modern sportscars) things are numbed down to such an extent, that you have to crank the car up to speeds that are at almost silly levels. To be able to experience these cars on the limit, you will have to hire a Test track or take it to Mondello!! And this experience of taking a car to the limit, giving you that great kick and sensation of being in total control and enjoying the balance and handling of the car AT reasonably safe speeds is something you can only get from the 'older' generation of sports cars, even in the likes of wind in your hair midgets, alfa's, golf and peugeot GTi's, porsche 912s,etc...

I guess that's one of the reasons for my passion for Classics. They can give you so much more of a sense of driver satisfaction that is simply lost in modern, ultrafast sports cars...

MercMad · 09-11-2007 4:04pm

Post edited..................I meant 1968 !!

guess that's one of the reasons for my passion for Classics. They can give you so much more of a sense of driver satisfaction that is simply lost in modern, ultrafast sports cars...

I agree completely !

In fact the owner of the new Carrera I drove also has a very early 911 which IS an RS replica, with an engine that closely matches the RS's, and he prefers the early car and reckons there isn't much between them on acceleration. Of course the early ones are very light indeed. Unfortunately I never got to drive the older one...................yet !!

1976 porsche 911/everyday car?

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