Rennthusiast, I've had a very fortunate Life. I've owned virtually every 911 Model from 1971 911T, 911 RSR 3.0, 934, 993 RS/CS, 930 Turbo Ruf 5 speed 550 BHP, 997 3.6 Turbo, and right through to now my 2008 997 Manual C2S 3.8. The 997 is the Best 911 I've owned for the road. It is unlike later 991 Series, because it is smaller and for me,just the Right Size.I've tried the 991.2 3.0TT. Fine car. Not for me. Not enough feedback.Too expensive too. Secondly, almost any earlier 911 is the right mix of Engine,Brakes, Suspension and Gear Ratios,as to simply cover all bases. Two biggest mistakes I notice Porsche 911 Owners make are in making changes to their 911,before they know it. There are 100 911 Engineers at Zuffenhausen whom have forgotten more than any Indie workshop knows about 911's, especially how to extract power and Handling. Stick to your Porsche Dealers mechanics, if you're not a professional Race Driver. If you're not happy with the way it was BUILT, buy something else. You'll soon come back to a 911. Second issue is, 911's are meant to be Driven. Hard, so get some Driver Coaching at a Circuit near you. You'll find you're well short of undeveloped talent well before the 911 has run out of inbuilt technical handling and braking expertise. I teach Race Driver Instruction. One word of advice: SMOOTH. Just practice being SMOOTH.The speed and lower Lap times will come later. I've Raced with and know Jochen Mass, Walter Rohrl, and many other Porsche Race Drivers, & Raced at Circuits like Nurburgring,Spa,Paul Ricard, Bathurst, Phillip Island. Their key is Smooth. THEN, when you've mastered your best 911 Circuit potential you'll realize how good a 911 can be.
A couple of mistakes that I made was 1.Believing that my nearby "Porsche specialist" mechanic could properly fix my classic Porsche 911. Every single time I brought my car to him, it was never fixed right. However, the one thing he did get right was his invoice and swiping my credit card. That he was perfect with. 2. Believing in PPI's. I paid for three different PPI's done by three different independent shops, and all three were a complete waste of my money. The first one missed all the rust on the car that was not visible in photos. The second missed that the transmission was not shifting right. The third missed that it overheated in two minutes of driving, convertible top didn't work and needed it new tires + wheel alignment. You need to do your own "PPI" as far as I am concerned. For these reasons, I will never own another used Porsche. It's new (with a warranty) or nothing. But I do enjoy watching videos on classic Porsches!
Yes! Believing that a PPI is this all powerful safety net is a huge mistake. The last one I got missed that the car was in an accident, missed that the car was re-sprayed and missed that the entire engine was internally corroded and was a ticking time bomb. Do your own PPI or bring a real Porsche specialist with you when you look at the car. That reminds me of a recommendation of my own. Go see the car yourself. If you can’t see it yourself then don’t buy it. This goes for Bringatrailer listings as well.
@@overbuiltlimited absolutely. if you can't become a Porsche expert, become a PPI Selection expert. & BAT? do you really want to go up against a stranger with $100M in the bank who's been drinking for a few hours?
I agree PPI are generally a waste of money on an air cooled learn about them and do you own assessment except for have tools to do a compression check is all you need
From my humble experience “tracking “ primarily street Porsche cars in the past and as you get the bitten by the “bug” in taking them to the track and start to get better at it, getting a bit faster and pushing the car bit more every time,just learning all together regardless if it’s Air or Water cooled PCars it just seems to slowly deteriorate it’s mechanicals. With a need to always improve and upgrade the car as you progress in the journey which seemed to me being ever ending (car was at the shop) every other week. Finally so I decided to have a dedicated “track car” for this purpose and just keep my street car intact and enjoy the cruise!
Tracking a road car will quickly let you know that it is a road car. I agree, if you get the track bug, the road car is not good enough. Trying to make a compromise (track/road car) is just that, a compromise. You likely won’t really like the car for either. And yes, tracking a car abuses the parts.
an honest, revealing & useful list of venal sins. self-knowledge / self-critique is key to old Porsche ownership (actually, keys to a lot in life). for others so afflicted, whaddaya do? 1> develop skepticism about everything. always do worst-case analysis based upon fact-based info prior to purchase. what facts? that which you got from an independent expert (ind. from you, the seller & whatever shop worked on the car). no guaranty, but as close as one can get. if you miss a car - good... let someone else buy the surprise valve guide job. 2 & 3> applied discipline. work at it & develop it as a tool. make lists & research each item ad nauseum. "hmm, why did the factory do that? how id they address that issue? why do I want to change it? what will be my return? what are the downside risks & costs? for practice, go to estate sales / find things you want / don't but them / track all the $ you didn't blow. this approach will lead to "fewer mods of higher value". more generally, own & drive the car for awhile before doing anything... give it time to reveal itself... & that the clutch is about shot, so maybe not buy the new carpeting & seats the day-before. 4> too valuable / pretty to drive long & hard? another reckoning w/ the truth of one's nature. it's ok to baby a beater &/or to beat a #2 example... as long as you can live with that. it's a private matter, whether one's character or wallet. 5> basic a priori issue; know what you want, what you cannot stand, & what is a must-have. allow the outside world to inform you, but don't allow it to rule over you. I recommend to folks seeking their special car to commemorate the spec in detail / in writing & keep tweeking until no more edits. then start hunting & avoid anything not like their spec (or very close to it). for those hung up on color for a long time, I suspect it is because they aren't ready, so color is an emerg brake stuck on. anyway, I suggest to them, "what's it matter? ya can't see the damn exterior color while driving..." I've seen too many cases of folks choosing a (shall we say) dubious example due to its beloved color. a fine example repainted (or wrapped) might end up less expensive than a mess in meissen. 6> EVERY owner of ANY Porsche should get instruction & track time. from a very good teacher, not merely a scary hot shoe. it's fun! it's educational! it calms & focuses one's driving in the cruel & crazy world! it might save you life! 7> speaking of life - it is too short for lasting regrets... turn regretful experience into educational ones - the pain lessens. circumstances & fortune ($ & luck) often dictate. heck! after a few years, one might get a divorce from Porsches... move on to Morgan 3 Wheelers, who knows? who cares? at least you (one hopes) take a lesser hit on a car than the one-time love of one's life.
Most of these apply to just about any car going on 30-40 years old. I like watching your adventures, it reminds me that it's not all fun and games! Guards Red is the quintessential color for any Porsche, especially from that era, in my opinion. I wouldn't change the color of any car of that vintage. Best to sell it and get the one you want.
My list is exactly as your list! Never underestimate the Porsche tax. Always and I mean always babysit the guy that has your car; working on it. Frequently the work will take tooooo long and the costs add up.
I love how honest you are here. Blue callipers and the 997 alloys were just terrible, terrible. You could feel your decisions were tacky/unsure. You are honest Will and this I love. 993 is looking much better 👌🙌😎
Regarding the color, I wouldn't hesitate to wrap the car in the color you love. Bonus is it protects the factory paint, and keeps it original color for resale later. I personally love bright colors and Gurads Red looks great.
I had a 1983 911 SC, which was a bucket list car for me. Had I known then what I know now, I never would've bought that car. I would've gotten the next gen 911, with the 3.2 engine and G50 transmission. The SC engine was known for breaking head studs, and I had six of mine break before 100K miles, which required a complete engine rebuild. And the 915 transmission in that car was hands-down the worst transmission I've ever operated in 40+ years of driving. My advice to anyone thinking of buying an air-cooled 911, don't get one older than whenever the year with the G50 transmission came out.
Track time is key… I was blown away in my early 20’s when my dad put me in his 993 “race car”. I call it a race car because it was a track prepped car that was built from two different wrecked 993’s. He ran it in “G” class in PCA so it had to be pretty much stock other than brakes, suspension, and all the safety stuff (cage, fire suppression, ext), oh and zero interior… but holy hell did the limits of that thing surprise me! And yes I didn’t even find the limit until my third track weekend when I finally started really pushing the limits and had one very “fun” typical lift off power spin at about 110 mph lol. As far as paint I pretty much agree that you should keep it factory with the exception of if your doing an “outlaw” build and bringing a car back to life that is in very rough shape… I inherited a 77’ euro spec 911 from my dad 4 years ago… him went to Germany to get the car and imported it himself in the early 80’s… he drove it until about 1992 or so and then it just sat parked in a garage or barn until he passed… so it’s been sitting for 30 years practically and “needs a little tlc”… it’s brown with cork interior and a factory original whale tail. When I was a kid I couldn’t stand the Brown paint, but now I like it and could never see myself changing it. The paint does need a little work, it seems like the clear coat is peeling pretty bad on the hood and roof… which is weird because I don’t remember my dad ever getting the car painted and just recently learned original paint is single stage… I don’t know lol, maybe he just had it clear coated to try and protect it? But even if he did that it would have been before my earliest memory of the car since he had it before I was born…
Another great video, I can relate to the last mistake that should've gotten into air-cooled Porsche along time ago, since purchasing my first 1986 3.2 Carrera a few months ago I am now totally addicted!
Good video summary but I wish you would have given more details on which mods you weren’t big on. I certainly realize that mods are a personal taste but why the regrets? The 964 was a beautiful car, too bad the mechanicals weren’t on par when you purchased it. Honestly though, I would rather see a fixable mechanical issue than rust and bad paint/bondo work. I’ve owned aircooled Porsche’s for 29 years on and off but I enjoy listening to new owners take on the cars. They are an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone.
I don't agree that you made a mistake with your mods - unless a buddy has one and lets you drive their car, you won't know, so it's not impulsive to jump into them. Now, as far as Guards Red, find a blue one and sell it to me. Actually, I prefer Porsche's great range of blue, too (and green).
I would say on #1, the cheaper you pay for the 911, the more your fix-it budget needs to be. I bought a cheap G-body, and I have spent more on fixing it than what I paid for it. Otherwise, yeah, spot on.
Funny about the guards red! I almost didn't buy that car because of the color but couldn't ignore the great background and documentation. Glad you're still enloying it, but I'll look for the sale and purchase video in the future ;-)
Always look forward to starting Saturday’s off with your video!! Agree with you on so many points you made. One thing though if you want to track I would purchase a air cooled car specific for the track and not wear out or possibly damage your nice back road rippers. Have a great weekend.
Great video - I will say I have seen some color interesting things assoicted with color changes: If you have a less desirable color but the condition and paint is in excellent condition it does tend to grow on me and on the flip side I have seen some color changes from a less desirable color if done really well to a rare or paint to sample color actually help a car appreciate. The most valuable cars do seem to be the low production super desirable colors and I think if you can find what you want just tie it up with a serious deposit and if it is a good car as well buy it as fast as you can. I missed a car because I dragged my feet and regret it to this day.
I have a 1973 911 T Targa with mechanical fuel injection. Giving consideration to trading or selling out of the car eventually, would you do a nut and bolt restore or cosmetic repaint, engine rebuild, interior?
I personally would never do a full restoration given how long it would take, not to mention the money. I drive at least one of my Porsches daily so I couldn’t go 2 years without the car. Very expensive and very, very time consuming.
My biggest mistake of Porsche ownership? Running out of talent late one night in a long fast corner, in what was possibly the most ragged SC on the road in Austria back then. I hit a tree backwards, RIP poor G series 😢
@@Rennthusiast noting was saleable off the wreck, the tree took care of engine and transmission, the curb of all 4 Fuchs alloys + suspension and I punched out the original Blaupunkt Radio when hitting said tree backwards. A swollen hand and bruised ego were my worst injuries 😄
Great video, biggest mistakes I made was selling my 964 and 993. Did really realize what I had, and thought I could always go and get another one down the road. Well with prices where they are for these cars 3x what I sold them for, it’s not likely going to happen anytime soon.
Well at least when you buy a 911 and dump money into it you get some of it back.....I tried that with an 85 928S and I got KILLED - pisses me off I went down that rabbit hole.
Ouch. Yes, you tend to get most of it back with a 911 and if you buy right and make the right moves you can make money. You also have to have a good mechanic or do the work yourself.
I have enjoyed watching your channel. I have a 1974 911 I just had the engine and transmission rebuilt and I’ve installed the engine and transmission and I’m just about ready to start the car up after working on it for a year and I only have one Porsche they are very expensive and I can only afford to own this one. I personally do as much of the work on the car personally myself that I have the mechanical ability to do. May be a way to learn not to make mistakes is actually do the mechanical work yourself and not go to a Porsche mechanic with a wheel barrel load of money and dump it on the floor and say do this to it for me. Maybe get a little bit more of a hands-on approach of doing some of the work personally yourself instead of hiring everything done by someone else. That’s just my thought.
You have gotten to explore a lot of the menu by jumping in & doing. Being clear on philosophy of use early on is great bot look at the stories you have to share, thank you for that.
Hello there I have 911 1991 C2 is anyone know why the car is overheating when I'm driving in the city in traffic when I am on the highway no problem ? Thanks
Figuring out what you like and what your needs are is not always obvious. That is the journey. Try something, see if you like it, repeat. Over time what you try becomes more focused.
LOL. I love my Petrol Blue SC, but I think the wife would have been more on-board if I had gone with the Guards Red I had originally been looking into... It doesn't matter the make/model... if she sees a red car on the road, she instantly thinks it is beautiful. I'm with you regarding intent... I want a driver too. 👍
On the blue colored topic, I have a 87 g50 cabriolet in Lagoon Green Metalic. Paint to sample. Looks like sky blue in the sun and greenish blue in the dark. Must see color. I love it but it will be going on bring a trailer in the next month. I want a coupe. Love the channel keep it up
Can relate to buying something too nice, my lo mi 6 speed 997TT freaks me out to drive because i don't want to put a nick in it and I really haven't been able to enjoy it.
Well, it's an easy fix to get out on the track, but I would do it with a Porsche club that puts you on track with cars of a similar vintage, and offers tuition; I would not take it out on an open-pit event - that might be your regret #8.
My experience, being involved w the track and many Pcars since 1986 (DEs and some racing) ... you are going to be slow on the track compared to the newer water cooled cars. My friends and I can jump in an older Boxter and blow away the cars you show in your B-roll. No brag just fact. The newer Porsche technology is so much better ... and in many cases for less money (compared to the current 911 prices for older 911s - which are ridiculous). If you look at the track experience, the cost justification for older 911s vs newer water cooled - it is not worth the higher cost. Sure this will bring up some armchair comments but come on ... for the cost of a Gbody 911 or 964 or 993 ... you can, for example, get a 997 or 991 (or Boxter or Cayman) in stock configuration and they will dust these early 911s, even w all the mods you have done or can do. Go to a PCA DE down at Road Atlanta or VIR and see what I mean. Please don't get me wrong, the early 911 variants have nostalgia and are fun but as far as performance on a track, well that old dog don't hunt very well anymore. A great companion but no longer an athlete.
Can’t deny anything you’re saying. I have track experience in a track built e36 M3, so I’ve been there done that RE seeing just how quick the newer Porsches are on track. I am interested in getting my air cooled Porsches out there not to win but for skill development purposes. Also, I would rather do a vintage event vs DE with newer cars. Although I wouldn’t be afraid to.
You stated that you wouldn’t buy the 964 again, but if you were to put the same mods and sorted it out like your 993, which one in your opinion is the better driver car and why please?
That’s a great question, and one I haven’t ever considered! I think I would still prefer the 993. It has a level of refinement that makes it hugely appealing, meaning that it’s a great backroads ripper but also is a great around-town car. I did prefer the gearing in the 964 over the 993. The 5 gears vs 6 gears made it feel faster. But to answer your question, I would still prefer the 993.
Depends on the owner’s objectives and preferences. I would say that a solid foundation is a must then go from there. Do you want performance or concours? Are you a purist or a hot rod type? I think it’s about setting goals for your experience.
Another mistake you made is that you made your local shop and employees quite a bit more wealthy. Like any trend, smart people figure out how to make bank by glomming on to the scene and picking your pockets. Porsche's need a lot of rehabbing and that hurts too. Having said all that, your cars look really good and I presume you are proud of them, but man, you spent a boat-load of dough!
I’m not willing to go do the math bc it would be too time consuming but big picture I am about at breakeven thanks to the appreciation in the air cooled 911 market. I have exited a couple of these cars to the good and the ones I still own were bought fairly well and have appreciated. So at the end of the day, it’s definitely cost me some $$$ to enjoy this hobby, meet cool people, shoot cool content and experience these amazing machines….but not as much as you may think. Also, my philosophy is that I can’t take it with me so why not enjoy it while I’m here 😄 Oh, and how is it a mistake to patronize shops that provide a service I need? I’ll give you this much: there are without question profiteers in the air cooled world. I have seen it firsthand. But there are also good people with amazing skills and good hearts. Thanks for watching.
I personally like the looks of a 964 more than of the (in my perspective) overhyped 993 which to me looks a bit like „compressed from above“. One big negative of the 964 though is that it’s a hell of a lot effort (time, work & cost) to maintain the engine as the motor has to come out (to the bottom) completely. Maintenance costs of more modern, water cooled engines are way less. And what I don’t like in general about the air cooled ones are these standing pedals which I always thought is weird (just like in the VW Beetle 50 years back). Apart from that: beautiful cars for sure! Says me …a former Porsche salesman 😮
You're buying a used car do your homework. Porsche 911 is a great car and isn't cheap to work on. I've been a mechanic 42 years and I repair my cars, boat, and bikes, otherwise I couldn't afford these. Great video.
@@Rennthusiast Thank you for that (very nice looking). Mine was a very nice example red sunroof S (2.7L) and I sold it for $10,500. Pretty sure they are a tad more expensive these days.
Tedious you say! . Far from it fella!! Will seems a genuine guy, and puts out some very interesting videos, more so on this particular presentation..... A big 👍 up to you Will, for allowing us genuine Porsche fans to have our say, by way of the comments. Beats me, how UA-cam haven't discovered the shyster n question, and expelled him from their channel. PS and no, I'm not referring to you gren lol. Read Will's posts on this video, and you will discover one disingenuous prolific shyster.. Thanks Will for helping us expose him.
I guess the main lesson learned from is don't buy a Porsche, spend tens of thousands sorting it out to enjoy the reliability for a few months, then find a reason you don't like the car either a mod you made or the color, and then sell it. And then repeat several times a year. Got it, lol.😋
Here are but 4 of his channels.. Just dial in the videos exactly as shown. No link provided 1/ CastrolzAuto - is mileage correction illegal 2/ DiagnosticWorldz - Digi Prog 3 3/ DominatorParts - mileage correction 4/ AutoBlob - Porsche Speedo - 100mph
Rennthusiast, I've had a very fortunate Life. I've owned virtually every 911 Model from 1971 911T, 911 RSR 3.0, 934, 993 RS/CS, 930 Turbo Ruf 5 speed 550 BHP, 997 3.6 Turbo, and right through to now my 2008 997 Manual C2S 3.8. The 997 is the Best 911 I've owned for the road. It is unlike later 991 Series, because it is smaller and for me,just the Right Size.I've tried the 991.2 3.0TT. Fine car. Not for me. Not enough feedback.Too expensive too. Secondly, almost any earlier 911 is the right mix of Engine,Brakes, Suspension and Gear Ratios,as to simply cover all bases.
Two biggest mistakes I notice Porsche 911 Owners make are in making changes to their 911,before they know it. There are 100 911 Engineers at Zuffenhausen whom have forgotten more than any Indie workshop knows about 911's, especially how to extract power and Handling. Stick to your Porsche Dealers mechanics, if you're not a professional Race Driver. If you're not happy with the way it was BUILT, buy something else. You'll soon come back to a 911.
Second issue is, 911's are meant to be Driven. Hard, so get some Driver Coaching at a Circuit near you. You'll find you're well short of undeveloped talent well before the 911 has run out of inbuilt technical handling and braking expertise. I teach Race Driver Instruction. One word of advice: SMOOTH. Just practice being SMOOTH.The speed and lower Lap times will come later. I've Raced with and know Jochen Mass, Walter Rohrl, and many other Porsche Race Drivers, & Raced at Circuits like Nurburgring,Spa,Paul Ricard, Bathurst, Phillip Island. Their key is Smooth. THEN, when you've mastered your best 911 Circuit potential you'll realize how good a 911 can be.
Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. Thank you also for watching.
A couple of mistakes that I made was 1.Believing that my nearby "Porsche specialist" mechanic could properly fix my classic Porsche 911. Every single time I brought my car to him, it was never fixed right. However, the one thing he did get right was his invoice and swiping my credit card. That he was perfect with. 2. Believing in PPI's. I paid for three different PPI's done by three different independent shops, and all three were a complete waste of my money. The first one missed all the rust on the car that was not visible in photos. The second missed that the transmission was not shifting right. The third missed that it overheated in two minutes of driving, convertible top didn't work and needed it new tires + wheel alignment. You need to do your own "PPI" as far as I am concerned. For these reasons, I will never own another used Porsche. It's new (with a warranty) or nothing. But I do enjoy watching videos on classic Porsches!
Yes! Believing that a PPI is this all powerful safety net is a huge mistake. The last one I got missed that the car was in an accident, missed that the car was re-sprayed and missed that the entire engine was internally corroded and was a ticking time bomb. Do your own PPI or bring a real Porsche specialist with you when you look at the car.
That reminds me of a recommendation of my own. Go see the car yourself. If you can’t see it yourself then don’t buy it. This goes for Bringatrailer listings as well.
@@overbuiltlimited absolutely. if you can't become a Porsche expert, become a PPI Selection expert. & BAT? do you really want to go up against a stranger with $100M in the bank who's been drinking for a few hours?
Buy the seller.
I agree PPI are generally a waste of money on an air cooled learn about them and do you own assessment except for have tools to do a compression check is all you need
Oh man. I agree with this 1000%
From my humble experience “tracking “ primarily street Porsche cars in the past and as you get the bitten by the “bug” in taking them to the track and start to get better at it, getting a bit faster and pushing the car bit more every time,just learning all together regardless if it’s Air or Water cooled PCars it just seems to slowly deteriorate it’s mechanicals. With a need to always improve and upgrade the car as you progress in the journey which seemed to me being ever ending (car was at the shop) every other week.
Finally so I decided to have a dedicated “track car” for this purpose and just keep my street car intact and enjoy the cruise!
Tracking a road car will quickly let you know that it is a road car. I agree, if you get the track bug, the road car is not good enough.
Trying to make a compromise (track/road car) is just that, a compromise. You likely won’t really like the car for either.
And yes, tracking a car abuses the parts.
Came here for the cars stayed for the humble honesty. Great to hear from those who don’t see themselves as gatekeeper but purely enthusiasts.
My gosh, that 3.2 pops! Beauty.
an honest, revealing & useful list of venal sins. self-knowledge / self-critique is key to old Porsche ownership (actually, keys to a lot in life). for others so afflicted, whaddaya do?
1> develop skepticism about everything. always do worst-case analysis based upon fact-based info prior to purchase. what facts? that which you got from an independent expert (ind. from you, the seller & whatever shop worked on the car). no guaranty, but as close as one can get. if you miss a car - good... let someone else buy the surprise valve guide job.
2 & 3> applied discipline. work at it & develop it as a tool. make lists & research each item ad nauseum. "hmm, why did the factory do that? how id they address that issue? why do I want to change it? what will be my return? what are the downside risks & costs? for practice, go to estate sales / find things you want / don't but them / track all the $ you didn't blow. this approach will lead to "fewer mods of higher value". more generally, own & drive the car for awhile before doing anything... give it time to reveal itself... & that the clutch is about shot, so maybe not buy the new carpeting & seats the day-before.
4> too valuable / pretty to drive long & hard? another reckoning w/ the truth of one's nature. it's ok to baby a beater &/or to beat a #2 example... as long as you can live with that. it's a private matter, whether one's character or wallet.
5> basic a priori issue; know what you want, what you cannot stand, & what is a must-have. allow the outside world to inform you, but don't allow it to rule over you. I recommend to folks seeking their special car to commemorate the spec in detail / in writing & keep tweeking until no more edits. then start hunting & avoid anything not like their spec (or very close to it). for those hung up on color for a long time, I suspect it is because they aren't ready, so color is an emerg brake stuck on. anyway, I suggest to them, "what's it matter? ya can't see the damn exterior color while driving..." I've seen too many cases of folks choosing a (shall we say) dubious example due to its beloved color. a fine example repainted (or wrapped) might end up less expensive than a mess in meissen.
6> EVERY owner of ANY Porsche should get instruction & track time. from a very good teacher, not merely a scary hot shoe. it's fun! it's educational! it calms & focuses one's driving in the cruel & crazy world! it might save you life!
7> speaking of life - it is too short for lasting regrets... turn regretful experience into educational ones - the pain lessens. circumstances & fortune ($ & luck) often dictate. heck! after a few years, one might get a divorce from Porsches... move on to Morgan 3 Wheelers, who knows? who cares? at least you (one hopes) take a lesser hit on a car than the one-time love of one's life.
Most of these apply to just about any car going on 30-40 years old. I like watching your adventures, it reminds me that it's not all fun and games! Guards Red is the quintessential color for any Porsche, especially from that era, in my opinion. I wouldn't change the color of any car of that vintage. Best to sell it and get the one you want.
My list is exactly as your list! Never underestimate the Porsche tax. Always and I mean always babysit the guy that has your car; working on it. Frequently the work will take tooooo long and the costs add up.
I love how honest you are here. Blue callipers and the 997 alloys were just terrible, terrible. You could feel your decisions were tacky/unsure. You are honest Will and this I love. 993 is looking much better 👌🙌😎
These are not mistakes. These are learning moments.
Regarding the color, I wouldn't hesitate to wrap the car in the color you love. Bonus is it protects the factory paint, and keeps it original color for resale later. I personally love bright colors and Gurads Red looks great.
I had a 1983 911 SC, which was a bucket list car for me. Had I known then what I know now, I never would've bought that car. I would've gotten the next gen 911, with the 3.2 engine and G50 transmission. The SC engine was known for breaking head studs, and I had six of mine break before 100K miles, which required a complete engine rebuild. And the 915 transmission in that car was hands-down the worst transmission I've ever operated in 40+ years of driving. My advice to anyone thinking of buying an air-cooled 911, don't get one older than whenever the year with the G50 transmission came out.
Love your videos and your transparency. What are the two silver circles on the glove box area on the dash in this car?
Are you talking about the rally clocks in the 86 Carrera?
My air-cooled 911 mistake was selling my '95 black cabriolet:( and opting for a new '99 model. Live and learn.
That guards red is stunning. I wish my night blue 993 had the same color.
LOL, I can relate to ALL of the "mistakes" you were good enough to share. Thanks for sharing your insight!
I admire your honesty.
Track time is key… I was blown away in my early 20’s when my dad put me in his 993 “race car”. I call it a race car because it was a track prepped car that was built from two different wrecked 993’s. He ran it in “G” class in PCA so it had to be pretty much stock other than brakes, suspension, and all the safety stuff (cage, fire suppression, ext), oh and zero interior… but holy hell did the limits of that thing surprise me! And yes I didn’t even find the limit until my third track weekend when I finally started really pushing the limits and had one very “fun” typical lift off power spin at about 110 mph lol.
As far as paint I pretty much agree that you should keep it factory with the exception of if your doing an “outlaw” build and bringing a car back to life that is in very rough shape…
I inherited a 77’ euro spec 911 from my dad 4 years ago… him went to Germany to get the car and imported it himself in the early 80’s… he drove it until about 1992 or so and then it just sat parked in a garage or barn until he passed… so it’s been sitting for 30 years practically and “needs a little tlc”… it’s brown with cork interior and a factory original whale tail. When I was a kid I couldn’t stand the Brown paint, but now I like it and could never see myself changing it. The paint does need a little work, it seems like the clear coat is peeling pretty bad on the hood and roof… which is weird because I don’t remember my dad ever getting the car painted and just recently learned original paint is single stage… I don’t know lol, maybe he just had it clear coated to try and protect it? But even if he did that it would have been before my earliest memory of the car since he had it before I was born…
Another great video, I can relate to the last mistake that should've gotten into air-cooled Porsche along time ago, since purchasing my first 1986 3.2 Carrera a few months ago I am now totally addicted!
Good video summary but I wish you would have given more details on which mods you weren’t big on. I certainly realize that mods are a personal taste but why the regrets? The 964 was a beautiful car, too bad the mechanicals weren’t on par when you purchased it. Honestly though, I would rather see a fixable mechanical issue than rust and bad paint/bondo work. I’ve owned aircooled Porsche’s for 29 years on and off but I enjoy listening to new owners take on the cars. They are an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone.
Will... you're done well, your journey thus far has been epic.. you are blessed.
I don't agree that you made a mistake with your mods - unless a buddy has one and lets you drive their car, you won't know, so it's not impulsive to jump into them. Now, as far as Guards Red, find a blue one and sell it to me. Actually, I prefer Porsche's great range of blue, too (and green).
I would say on #1, the cheaper you pay for the 911, the more your fix-it budget needs to be. I bought a cheap G-body, and I have spent more on fixing it than what I paid for it. Otherwise, yeah, spot on.
Thus the rule: by the best you can afford up front. Cheaper in the long run
@@johnrodgers6049 - I cannot upvote this enough
Yes sir, newbie with the 911 2 years and found one - major work….. but look forward to final product. Your videos help n the development process.
Really glad to hear that. It a lot of the reason I do the videos.
Funny about the guards red! I almost didn't buy that car because of the color but couldn't ignore the great background and documentation. Glad you're still enloying it, but I'll look for the sale and purchase video in the future ;-)
Great content, keep it coming!
love the g body in g red
Always look forward to starting Saturday’s off with your video!! Agree with you on so many points you made. One thing though if you want to track I would purchase a air cooled car specific for the track and not wear out or possibly damage your nice back road rippers. Have a great weekend.
Great video - I will say I have seen some color interesting things assoicted with color changes: If you have a less desirable color but the condition and paint is in excellent condition it does tend to grow on me and on the flip side I have seen some color changes from a less desirable color if done really well to a rare or paint to sample color actually help a car appreciate. The most valuable cars do seem to be the low production super desirable colors and I think if you can find what you want just tie it up with a serious deposit and if it is a good car as well buy it as fast as you can. I missed a car because I dragged my feet and regret it to this day.
Best advice, enjoy the car, track it, mods are cool but take your time. As far as regrets....dont go there, every day take it in.
I would beg to differ; "track time" will allow you to feel the potential not the limitation!
Great video! Been there, done that. I can see a hotrod 2.2 for the longhood in the near future. 😁
#1 Mistake: I sold my 993 in 2020 😩
Ouch
👍 Great video!
Thx for the topic suggestion 🙏🏽
I have a 1973 911 T Targa with mechanical fuel injection. Giving consideration to trading or selling out of the car eventually, would you do a nut and bolt restore or cosmetic repaint, engine rebuild, interior?
I personally would never do a full restoration given how long it would take, not to mention the money. I drive at least one of my Porsches daily so I couldn’t go 2 years without the car. Very expensive and very, very time consuming.
@Rennthusiast Great Advice! Thank you!
My biggest mistake of Porsche ownership?
Running out of talent late one night in a long fast corner, in what was possibly the most ragged SC on the road in Austria back then.
I hit a tree backwards, RIP poor G series 😢
Ouch 😬
@@Rennthusiast noting was saleable off the wreck, the tree took care of engine and transmission, the curb of all 4 Fuchs alloys + suspension and I punched out the original Blaupunkt Radio when hitting said tree backwards.
A swollen hand and bruised ego were my worst injuries 😄
Great video, biggest mistakes I made was selling my 964 and 993. Did really realize what I had, and thought I could always go and get another one down the road. Well with prices where they are for these cars 3x what I sold them for, it’s not likely going to happen anytime soon.
I feel your pain. I have heard this story many times. Maybe they’ll come down at some point but I am not sure I see that happening.
Thankfully i kept my 95 993 with 71k miles...
Well at least when you buy a 911 and dump money into it you get some of it back.....I tried that with an 85 928S and I got KILLED - pisses me off I went down that rabbit hole.
Ouch. Yes, you tend to get most of it back with a 911 and if you buy right and make the right moves you can make money. You also have to have a good mechanic or do the work yourself.
I have enjoyed watching your channel. I have a 1974 911 I just had the engine and transmission rebuilt and I’ve installed the engine and transmission and I’m just about ready to start the car up after working on it for a year and I only have one Porsche they are very expensive and I can only afford to own this one. I personally do as much of the work on the car personally myself that I have the mechanical ability to do. May be a way to learn not to make mistakes is actually do the mechanical work yourself and not go to a Porsche mechanic with a wheel barrel load of money and dump it on the floor and say do this to it for me. Maybe get a little bit more of a hands-on approach of doing some of the work personally yourself instead of hiring everything done by someone else. That’s just my thought.
You have gotten to explore a lot of the menu by jumping in & doing. Being clear on philosophy of use early on is great bot look at the stories you have to share, thank you for that.
Thank you
Hello there I have 911 1991 C2 is anyone know why the car is overheating when I'm driving in the city in traffic when I am on the highway no problem ? Thanks
Figuring out what you like and what your needs are is not always obvious. That is the journey. Try something, see if you like it, repeat. Over time what you try becomes more focused.
Thankfully lessons learned on my first air cooled Porsche have saved me time and pain on the more recent acquisitions.
LOL. I love my Petrol Blue SC, but I think the wife would have been more on-board if I had gone with the Guards Red I had originally been looking into... It doesn't matter the make/model... if she sees a red car on the road, she instantly thinks it is beautiful.
I'm with you regarding intent... I want a driver too. 👍
On the blue colored topic, I have a 87 g50 cabriolet in Lagoon Green Metalic. Paint to sample. Looks like sky blue in the sun and greenish blue in the dark. Must see color. I love it but it will be going on bring a trailer in the next month. I want a coupe. Love the channel keep it up
Good luck with your auction. I’m sure the car will do well.
love your grey 993. if you are ever looking to sell please let me know!
Can relate to buying something too nice, my lo mi 6 speed 997TT freaks me out to drive because i don't want to put a nick in it and I really haven't been able to enjoy it.
Sell it and buy a driver!
put a nick on it yourself... low on a rocker panel. get that outta the way & go for a long drive in new territory.
Modifications lead to modifications to more modification
😄
Haha you got that right
Always seeking just a little bit more. Just a little bit more.
Well, it's an easy fix to get out on the track, but I would do it with a Porsche club that puts you on track with cars of a similar vintage, and offers tuition; I would not take it out on an open-pit event - that might be your regret #8.
Haha for sure. Would do a PCA DE or a vintage event.
My experience, being involved w the track and many Pcars since 1986 (DEs and some racing) ... you are going to be slow on the track compared to the newer water cooled cars. My friends and I can jump in an older Boxter and blow away the cars you show in your B-roll. No brag just fact. The newer Porsche technology is so much better ... and in many cases for less money (compared to the current 911 prices for older 911s - which are ridiculous). If you look at the track experience, the cost justification for older 911s vs newer water cooled - it is not worth the higher cost. Sure this will bring up some armchair comments but come on ... for the cost of a Gbody 911 or 964 or 993 ... you can, for example, get a 997 or 991 (or Boxter or Cayman) in stock configuration and they will dust these early 911s, even w all the mods you have done or can do. Go to a PCA DE down at Road Atlanta or VIR and see what I mean. Please don't get me wrong, the early 911 variants have nostalgia and are fun but as far as performance on a track, well that old dog don't hunt very well anymore. A great companion but no longer an athlete.
Can’t deny anything you’re saying. I have track experience in a track built e36 M3, so I’ve been there done that RE seeing just how quick the newer Porsches are on track.
I am interested in getting my air cooled Porsches out there not to win but for skill development purposes. Also, I would rather do a vintage event vs DE with newer cars.
Although I wouldn’t be afraid to.
i love porche 911s
Where are you based? Those roads look great.
NC
You stated that you wouldn’t buy the 964 again, but if you were to put the same mods and sorted it out like your 993, which one in your opinion is the better driver car and why please?
That’s a great question, and one I haven’t ever considered! I think I would still prefer the 993. It has a level of refinement that makes it hugely appealing, meaning that it’s a great backroads ripper but also is a great around-town car. I did prefer the gearing in the 964 over the 993. The 5 gears vs 6 gears made it feel faster. But to answer your question, I would still prefer the 993.
My biggest mistake was NOT buying a 911 5 years ago ....
Would you say that stock cars ar best?
Depends on the owner’s objectives and preferences. I would say that a solid foundation is a must then go from there. Do you want performance or concours? Are you a purist or a hot rod type? I think it’s about setting goals for your experience.
How is track time a mistake when you can go at any time
I mean, I guess what I’m saying is that it’s mistake that I haven’t made time to do it already.
No mention of the water cooled turbo. That was sold fast.
ua-cam.com/video/BhDyfwiST5s/v-deo.html
Where are the great roads you show in the video?
Absolutely NEVER change the color of a 911....
Agree
What brands do wish you had spent less time with?
Another mistake you made is that you made your local shop and employees quite a bit more wealthy. Like any trend, smart people figure out how to make bank by glomming on to the scene and picking your pockets. Porsche's need a lot of rehabbing and that hurts too. Having said all that, your cars look really good and I presume you are proud of them, but man, you spent a boat-load of dough!
I’m not willing to go do the math bc it would be too time consuming but big picture I am about at breakeven thanks to the appreciation in the air cooled 911 market. I have exited a couple of these cars to the good and the ones I still own were bought fairly well and have appreciated.
So at the end of the day, it’s definitely cost me some $$$ to enjoy this hobby, meet cool people, shoot cool content and experience these amazing machines….but not as much as you may think.
Also, my philosophy is that I can’t take it with me so why not enjoy it while I’m here 😄
Oh, and how is it a mistake to patronize shops that provide a service I need? I’ll give you this much: there are without question profiteers in the air cooled world. I have seen it firsthand. But there are also good people with amazing skills and good hearts.
Thanks for watching.
The moment I drove a sports car and sport bike on a race track, I lost any desire to drive them on the street…be forwarned 😏
You need to get up into the mountains with switchbacks and views. Then you’ll love them on the street again.
there is one near me
each "mistake" on your list can be its own episode! :)
Exactly what I was thinking
Air cool life 😎 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
I personally like the looks of a 964 more than of the (in my perspective) overhyped 993 which to me looks a bit like „compressed from above“. One big negative of the 964 though is that it’s a hell of a lot effort (time, work & cost) to maintain the engine as the motor has to come out (to the bottom) completely. Maintenance costs of more modern, water cooled engines are way less. And what I don’t like in general about the air cooled ones are these standing pedals which I always thought is weird (just like in the VW Beetle 50 years back). Apart from that: beautiful cars for sure! Says me …a former Porsche salesman 😮
You mention one of your mistakes being that you got into air cooled Porsches too late in life. How old are you now?
45. Have been buying, loving, selling cars (as a hobby, not for profit) for many years, though.
You're buying a used car do your homework. Porsche 911 is a great car and isn't cheap to work on. I've been a mechanic 42 years and I repair my cars, boat, and bikes, otherwise I couldn't afford these. Great video.
but is a customers
Mistake #1 I made: Don't sell your Air Cooled 911s (thinking a couple years later you would buy another one)
Lol this one is for sale: ua-cam.com/video/biluIHatyN4/v-deo.html
@@Rennthusiast Thank you for that (very nice looking). Mine was a very nice example red sunroof S (2.7L) and I sold it for $10,500. Pretty sure they are a tad more expensive these days.
Haha yes, they def are. Thanks for watching!
I think you guys need to work on keeping it between the mustard and the mayo there. With a 911 too? Come on...
Bottom line…..Rich mans toys! 🤔
How tedious !
It must have been really difficult for you to watch.
Tedious you say! . Far from it fella!! Will seems a genuine guy, and puts out some very interesting videos, more so on this particular presentation..... A big 👍 up to you Will, for allowing us genuine Porsche fans to have our say, by way of the comments. Beats me, how UA-cam haven't discovered the shyster n question, and expelled him from their channel. PS and no, I'm not referring to you gren lol. Read Will's posts on this video, and you will discover one disingenuous prolific shyster.. Thanks Will for helping us expose him.
I guess the main lesson learned from is don't buy a Porsche, spend tens of thousands sorting it out to enjoy the reliability for a few months, then find a reason you don't like the car either a mod you made or the color, and then sell it. And then repeat several times a year. Got it, lol.😋
So that's why you continually post on one of the 10 "odomans" channels!!! Got it, 😉
@@breesanderson6078 Who on earth is odoman??
Here are but 4 of his channels.. Just dial in the videos exactly as shown. No link provided
1/ CastrolzAuto - is mileage correction illegal
2/ DiagnosticWorldz - Digi Prog 3
3/ DominatorParts - mileage correction
4/ AutoBlob - Porsche Speedo - 100mph
@@breesanderson6078 😯WTF and I usually refrain from profanity!! lol...Yet YT are still broadcasting this individual!!!
Here are 2 more!!
Porsche 911 Mileage Correction/Mileage Reset
Cheap Porsche Mileage Correction Change Via OBD2 Port