white out

I'm in the market for a new DD as I have grown tired of my E36M3. I live in Michigan.

I will be putting around 15k miles/year on the car and it will see snow and temperatures below zero degrees F. My garage is underground and stays between 50-70 degrees F throughout the year. I plan on picking up a set of winter or all season tires.

I am aware of the IMS failure and debating an LS1 swap before an IMS failure and selling the good 3.4, which should total around $3k after selling the 3.4. Sorry to the purists, but it would be reliable and have turbo power in an inconspicuous shell.

The '84 doesn't have an LSD (which is a major concern); has cat pipe deleted; some 964 turbo wheels; sunroof car; the owner has owned the car for 10+ years and is selling for a 997; no rust; super clean; 120k miles; only thing that doesn't work is a/c.

There are a few 996's that I'm looking at. All are basically stock with 90-140k miles. I have seen some C4's, which I'm not opposed to, but I think that a C2 is a better route for fuel mileage and lack of driveline power loss. That is, unless the C4 AWD can be pulled and put back in. Which would be a nice option for summer/winter driving.

As far as winter driving, I drove my Viper ACR with worn PS2's through 1/2 of a winter and on a road trip I was caught in a blizzard at the Vail Pass in it; drove Murci in the snow on many occasions; and last winter kicked off with a non-LSD BMW 2002; followed with an E36M3 on non-aggressive summer tires. So I'm well versed in low, performance cars in snow.

With that info, please give me your input on which 911 I should go with and why.

Thanks,
Nick

Ghosteh

You're joking, right?

When I lived in Michigan's UP, I bought a new Silverado truck as my DD. 3 years later, the undercarriage looked like it had been parked in the Atlantic ocean for a season. I think I took my 928 out ONCE in the winter during that time, but only on plowed (not salted) roads... and I hated myself for doing it.

Just decide which car you'd rather destroy.

Personally, I'd buy a Hyundai and leave the P-car sitting in a nice heated garage for half the year. But then, I was taught to take care of my toys.

white out

I ended up buying a 996.

The 996 is my "beater" car so that my Murcielago doesn't have to deal with winter.

Nick

FabianS

Must be nice to have a 996 as your beater car.

white out

It's not a true "beater" but that's what most people in the midwest (I assume Canada too) refer to their daily drivers in winter.

I enjoy the car very much for the short period of time that I've had it. This should make for a good DD. I am now looking for a roof rack and how to implement heated seats.

Nick

trevor9098

I thought Ghosteh's response was a bit snide sounding. Granted, this is the Internet, so context and other cues are missing. That said, the 996 is undoubetdly a "beater" for a Murcielago owner.

muskaroxs

we need pics of both cars together white out!

white out

all the cars:

Jim Michaels

In my opinion, the '99 would make a better DD, as it is more refined (moving from sports car more toward a grand touring car). The '84 is "more raw" as they say, and might make a better weekend toy, but I don't think I would appreciate it as a DD (I had an '88 weekend toy). If you want something in between those two poles, those would be a 964 and a 993. I really like the 993; the last and probably "best" of the water-cooled 911s.

white out

I was looking for 964's but couldn't find anything good that wasn't in Cali, 993 was out of budget for DD.

Jim Michaels

The '87 to '89 911s are very popular (for their improved transmission and clutch) among the more classic 911s (those with torsion bars instead of coil springs with dampeners). Thus, good ones also have somewhat higher prices (in the neighborhood of $20k to $25k). None of the older 911s had very good OEM A/C, however.

DaveCarrera4

This thread is ridiculous, but I'll chime in. The 964 has the best AWD for winter, as it is true lock up. 993 to 996 C4 is more for handling purposes than traction. That said, OP is really worried about another 1 mpg loss in efficiency with the AWD???? Get an old 4x4 truck.

white out

Two year old thread.
LS1 996 has been built, driven and sold. After seeing how air cooled prices have skyrocketed, I should have picked up the '84 and kept it.