Not exactly pre 74...

[Herr Kuult]

It's time for me to select another lease car, but I've been doing some calculations to prove to myself that I'd be better off buying a 70s/80s 911 for an everyday car. And I'm almost there .

The thing is, if I can find an old 911 that won't depreciate too much (or better still, not at all) if looked after properly then the figures don't look too bad.

Does anyone know much about the Carrera 3? I've always been a fan of them, they seem to fit the bill, and I prefer the 70s look than the later cars. Whilst there doesn't seem to be many around (perhaps good for low depreciaition) this one caught my eye. What do people reckon is a resonable price for a car like this, presuming that there's nothing seriously wrong with it?

Also, given that any car that I buy would be used as an everyday car, how much do you think I'd expect to spend on it (parts & service, excluding tyres) per year to maintain it's condition?

Cheers,
Paul.

[bjmullan]

Hi Paul,

I'm with you on having a 911 the doesn't depreciate by £3000-£6000 per year but for what it's worth I would go for the 3.2 with the G50 gearbox. It is probably the most reliable of all the air cooled 911's. As for running cost I would contact your nearest 911 specialist and see what a 6000/12000 miles service would be and do you sums from there.

Hope you make it

[mikeblow]

I run a 77 carrera 3.0 as a second car. In the last 2 years apart from a service, new clutch cable and a set of points it has only cost petrol, tax and insurance. Mind you it has been well looked after with history for the last 13 years. It has only covered 57800 miles and the agreed insurance value is 3 grand more than I paid for it. Incidently

[mikeblow]

Sorry must have hit the wrong key!!

Incidently, I bought the car in Hampshire where prices are lower presumably due to more for sale. If you buy wisely, I think you could run a 3.0 for very little cost for a number of years.

There are pics of my car on last years northern run in Aug 2005.

Hope this helps!

[Nige]

Hampshire is the place to buy then!?

[Bertroex]

Hya,

I know a thing or two now about these carrera 3.0's and have visited the blue c3 in ely. Pm me please and I'll give you a breakdown of the car, bearing in mind i am an enthousiast and not a mechanic!!!



Bert

[2.4TE]

I've been down this route. A 968 is a better bet. Ask me how I know....

[2.4TE]

I've been down this route. A 968 is a better bet. Ask me how I know....

[veryporky]

Carrera 3 is not much different to a 911SC. With respect to durability, maintainability, economy, and general useability IMHO they never made a
better Porsche than the SCs and 3.2s. I would say my SC was the best daily driver I ever owned. A Carrera 3 would probably not be quite as economical but should be much the same in the other respects. Go for it I say................

[Herr Kuult]

Hi Bert,

Thanks for the offer. I doubt I'll be doing much about the blue car since I'm out of the country for a week or so now, but I must admit I did quite fancy it (even the colour...) - the wife's not too impressed though . I'm still interested to know how much I'd have to pay to get a 3 in good solid condition though. Any thoughts?

And Dr Dave,

I understand your point. My friend had a 968CS for many years - very nice. I did hanker after it for quite a while, and it remains a possibility. I've never been a huge fan of the big straight four engine though. I'm sure they're a good unit, but they don't get me quite as excited as a good old flat six . And have the 968 values stabilised now?

More research required, and more opinions welcomed....

Cheers,
Paul.

[Bertroex]

I'm still interested to know how much I'd have to pay to get a 3 in good solid condition though. Any thoughts?

That LHD blue car on Ebay is a rare marine blue repainted in "Alfa Romeo 323 blue PF spider or Skipper blue", which looks a bit like the faded bugatti/ french racing blue.

I have to admit that I am really interested in her. She is a bit dirty, not used since august 2004 and right up my alley for creating a leightweight racing road legal affair. My C3 targa is rather comfortable and will be, when that *$%&$£ engine is finally sorted, my daily driver.

Yes, Dr Dave, I am a masochist but also a psychotherapist. Currently I am buggering up my back driving a loaned mondeo -darling, if you are reading this: you are the best; kissy kissy - so irrespective of the financial and physical implications, I greatly need a smile and the smell of castrol GTR in my system. Independant of what challenges I am faced with, a workout with a 911 after work gives me the will to live; with a mondeo I want to drive off a cliff.

My targa has had 3 head jobs done in the past because the headstuds kept on shearing. It is not uncommen as they used the head studs of the 2.7 blocks so I have been told. Moreover a C3 engine has an appetite for dropping a valve as the service histories of cars often mention exactly the same work that needed rectifying.

Since July, I have visited EVERY carrera 3.0 bar a gold one and a silver one on a Q plate advertised on pistonheads. I offered on a 960 kg racecar in yellow with green carrera stripes, the one that Graham Brooks advertised. The fact that the sale fell through is something I will regret for a long time. Nonetheless, there is a lot of uncared, unloved and indifferent stuff on the market and it is very easy to loose £6,000 in a snip for engine work, gearbox linkages, tires, clutch, a bit of bubling here and there, a ducktail spoiler, connolising the leather and a set of fuchs. If you bought the thing for £7,500 then you are simply better off with a good carrera 3.2 in the spec you like.

I helped an irish chap out to acquire a stunning C3, inclusive of a spare package, but it seems that RHD coupes in used but not abused condition are currently going for about £7500 -£9500. Factor a contigency budget for bits, bobs and a 12.000 miles service and you are looking at 10k.

Speaking of 3.2: I also test drove a cheap LHD 3.2 carrera coupe in Cirencester, advertised for £6995 and a cat D lhd baltic blue 3.2 coupe in Newport-top condition and properly repaired on a jig for £8300.

I cant but help to realise that a 3.2 feels a lot more solid and less brittle.

But then again, this porsche thing was never (totally) based on reason only. A properly rebuild Carrera 3.0 will be a great companion. As Mike already said: a good one might go on for a long time. Budget a little top end work around each 100.000 mile mark and it wont let you down!

Take care,


Bert

[2.4TE]

Paul,
I think it depends on what you want and what your budget is. If you really want a daily driver, come rain, sleet, snow and salt, then I would go for a 968, having used mine in those circumstances as a genuine commuting vehicle (although my situation has changed and I now commute by train). I don’t think it can be beaten in the cost/benefit stakes for reliability and usability. You can just get in and drive it while it keeps you warm and demists!!!! A 911 for the same budget and of the 70s, or even 80s, era would not last long under those conditions (rain, sleet, snow and salt). I’ve seen a lot of rusty £10k 911s, which is why I ended up with my 968. And would you want to expose a lovely condition 911 to those conditions anyway? I would say a decent rhd 968 could be had for £10-12k. I went for a coupe (need back seats). The Sport is no quicker, rides rough and has fewer creature comforts. I expect most CSs are worn out unless you pay a premium. Come and have a look/go in mine if you like (west midlands).

If you want a daily driver for the spring and summer, get a 911, but then why not use the one you’ve got?!

[jtparr]

paul

try this one

http://cars.classicstrader.co.uk/cgi-bi ... r=66389036

its had a lot of work done to it in the past, all documented by the magazine, last problem was a rear end knock but not a major one,
blacks a perfect colour, contrasting beatifully with the chrome details which were rare on these later carrera 3's, usualy it was black trim by then

Jonathan

[Herr Kuult]

Thanks for the input guys.

This morning, I was just having some wheels balanced at my local tyre shop and I picked up the Dec 2005 "911 & Porsche World" magazine. And it happens to have an article relating to this subject, i.e. what Porsche daily-driver to buy for £15k? They compared a 911 3.2 Carrera SE, a 968 Tip and a Boxster. Perhaps some of you have already seen the article. The author came to the conclusion that the Boxster was the best choice.

Now, whether the Boxster is the best car or not is one thing, but in my opinion the comparison was flawed. He ignored the true financial side of things, only considering purchase price, so the comparison of the three cars was not quite fair. I have looked into the Boxster idea before, and the current depreciation on the older 2.5 ones is still something like £1500 per year. Add to that the relatively expensive servicing (no tackling stuff at home without bombing the value) plus the none-too-cheap insurance, and it ends up "costing" a lot more to run per year.

An old 911, or perhaps even the 968 can be insured on a classic policy, some of the servicing can be done at home, and the depreciation should be almost zero if the right car is bought and looked after. OK, the cost of replacing old shagged-out components will be higher, but in my calculation it's a different (cost) world to owning a Boxster....

As Dr Dave says, it depends on the budget. I was thinking of a purchase price around £12k, meaning that I could find a car that was decently solid, perhaps with engine rebuilds already done. But there's not much point in having something concours if I'm going to drive it every day.

I will look further into the 968 idea though, and Dr Dave, maybe I'll be dropping you a line to take you up on your kind offer. Where in the W. Mids are you?

Back in 10 days, so cheers for now...

Paul.

[Ian Donkin]

I drove a G50 3.2 Carrera for a couple of years come rain or shine for 25,000 trouble free miles.

Bearing in mind it was an '88 car in good condition and I looked after it well, the bodywork was starting to exhibit signs that it didn't like being used every day.

If that's the case for a late '80's car, I'm certain I wouldn't risk one 10 years older.

Just my 2p.