avalon

I am going to purchase my first Porsche this fall and am really excited but I have little to no experience with these cars. After doing my due diligence I think the 964 is the model that suites me best but would like input from the vast knowledge here. What are the things I should be looking for when I purchase a used 964? Are there any problematic spots with rust? What should I be looking for in the drivetrain/engine? Thanks in advance for your help

Porsche964FP

This question has been extensively covered - all your answers will be found through extensive usage of the search button.

I'm sure others will chime in with more thorough answers but ideally:

* Buy a 964 with great history over millage. A well maintained high miler is better than a badly maintained low miler. You want a car with a great and complete history file rammed with receipts and proof of good routine maintenance by specialists.
* Look for a car that has had a full top and bottom end rebuild by a reputable specialist if millage is high.
* Make sure you get a Pre Purchase inspection by a specialist.
* Ideally, recent pads, discs and clutch replacement.
* Post potential 964s on the forum for Rennlist feedback.

Again use of the search button will come back with lots of answers.

What are you looking for? Cab, Coupe, C4/ C2, Turbo, RS? Any colour preferences? Rennlisters are great at finding you potential leeds and judging appropriate prices...

Bearclaw

Look at the overall package. Rarely is a car well-maintained mechanically, and at the same time in poor shape cosmetically. It should look like somebody cared about it. It will be tough to find a maintenance trail 20 years long, but hopefully you would have some records at least 10-12 years back, about the time when big stuff start to go wrong. Low mileage isn't the end-all, but remember that even if you have a 150K-mile car with a rebuilt engine, the rest of the car around it still has 150K miles. So mileage isn't irrelevant on any car.

Once you isolate some possibles, this very good list gets down to specifics:

https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ferrerid=41020

Rust, yes... It isn't a huge problem on these galvanized cars, unless they've been driven repeatedly in a heavy-salt area. If it's going to show up, it usually bubbles up first around the cowl at rubber windshield seal - and if seen, that is usually the tip of the iceberg. It can be fixed, but it's a bummer.

Good luck!

Laker

I was in your shoes just under a year ago. I bought the car, then "Adrian's Book" and can highly suggest you get the book first, which has a decent buyer's guide.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

JMHO,...

Its very critical to have a thorough PPI performed on any potential purchase to protect your financial interests against unplanned maintenance.

Find an expert on these cars in the area to do this as thats money well spent.

Smokey7766

+964 on the PPI

please do yourself a favor and get a complete PPI by a reputable shop....that alone is one of the most important things you can do.....DO NOT BUY WITHOUT ONE


just ask GuyMonnin....he can tell you.....


https://rennlist.com/forums/964-foru...ng-my-car.html

on the other hand his car would be a great buy....but still get a PPI

Laker

The PPI (with leakdown) goes without saying. Until you know what you want and all the variants available, it's tough to zero in on a car to get inspected. The book also helps to inform the buyer to ask the right questions to both the owner and mechanic.

Oracle

You should look for the buyers guide from Adrian Crawford:
911 Secrets Revealed Guide for Porsche 964

IMO is the best documented and step by step guideline. Other threads around here are just opinions, experiences, etc. that fall short to deliver a complete message. I mean they're well intentioned but you still have to put it all together.

I bought the guideline years ago when I bought the car and I assure you there are things in there that have never been mentioned (that I have come across).

Either way, good luck, the search is part of the journey and you need to take your time..

Goughary

Absolutely have a PPI done on any car you are considering. Mine had 58k on it and looked great, drove great, appeared a good buy, etc...and then one can opened, and then the rest of the worms....Someone once said "every 964 is a 30,000 dollar car. Buy one for 15k and you will spend 15k, buy one for 20k and you will spend 10k, etc" True enough, but I wouldn't trade mine for the world. They are fantastic cars.

One more thing - When I first started looking I knew NOTHING about 964's, and some about older 911's, not enough. The best advice I can give is to spend some time on RL, and talk to PCA members, and guys here about what they went through, what to look for, pitfalls, pros and cons, etc. Learn alot before pulling the trigger, and you'll buy a car that more well suits what you are looking for. Also if you dont have a PCA membership, you can get a guest membership and then have access to the classifieds on the PCA site, which is a good place to look for a car, where at least you are more likely to be talking to an owner that has taken care of and understands what he is selling. (more so than going through ebay, etc where you dont know whats what)

Anyway - good luck - and studying will be your best friend.

ddelphin

First time Porsche buyer.
A little scared of the high mileage, and of course I plan on getting it checked out by a specialist first. But what do you guys think of the price & pics?

Really appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!

http://www.carsauto.com/1991-porsche...t-.-c-784.htm?

BigMikeATL

No matter what car or what condition, you should know going into this that these cars require maintenance. Even if you do it yourself the parts aren't cheap.

For that car it should have recently had:
Clutch
Top end rebuild minimum
Shocks
Brakes

Also check for:
Any oil drips or leaks
Headliner
Brake pads
Tire date (sometimes tires only have 20k miles but are 10 years old)
Ticking noise at the engine
Blue smoke
Does it shift properly

Get Adrian's book before buying

ddelphin

Thanks for the heads up. Will absolutely get Adrian's book... just seems like so few come on the market for less than 20K and sell so quickly that I don't want to miss an opportunity to get my hands on a good deal. If anyone has any leads looking to spend up to 19K and live in the bay area.

Thanks!

Daniel

longhitv

Do your research, make sure that you are happy with the car. There are a hundred reasons not to buy a car, look for the one that says run.
Get a PPI and get two from different shops if you are very worried. For 14k mine has high kms, leaks a little oil from the timing chain cover, and has a rip in the drivers seat, and the baltic blue wasn't exactly what I was looking for.
Come to think of it, the back carpet is faded, and there is a small crack on the bumper and it has flag mirrors instead of the cup mirrors I wanted. Its a cab, and it also has cracks in the fog lights. But I had two different mechanic shops look at it and they both said if I don't buy they will. So after driving it myself I realized its not perfect and neither am I. PPIs will show the upcoming scary mechanical problems, the other quarks are character waiting to be improved