Are you looking for the zany fun of owning a Porsche, without some of the rawness found in even earlier models? Even this ‘more modern’ Porsche is still before the era of power steering and quirky pedals. Suspension in these cars holds up surprisingly well and the backend is much more likely to keep its grip if you accelerate through a corner then previously thought at the time for a road car. The advancement of Porsche’s capability that was reached once the hit the ’80’s is apparent. This 911 has a solid reputation for quality and reliability.

So if you decide that a Carrera 3.2 is the Porsche of choice for you, all that is left is to find and purchase one! Easier said than done! Depending on your budget there is a wide range of suitable cars, and probably just as many that you should do your best to avoid. The most desirable models are the ’87-’89 Coupes and Targas, closely followed by the 84′-86 Coupes and Targas. Widebody models only entered the mainstream in 1987 (Limited production) these cars had no unique vehicle identification numbers so fakes do exist. The difference between the widebody variants and the norm are mostly aesthetic, the main difference being the width of the vehicle.

Being in their 30’s, all of these cars are likely to have covered significant miles. Cars with less then 70k miles will carry a significant premium, and if you intend to own as a drivable car, you should be aware that you are effectively devaluing the car with every meter that you put on the odometer. The best buys are cars with over 100k mileage but have been the recipient of ongoing restorative work to keep them properly maintained. Be suspicious of cars that need no work, as there will always be costs, they may just be hidden. There are no bargains at the top end of the market, the owner may be selling the car because he doesn’t have the capital to invest in an upcoming maintenance job (engine rebuilds can cost thousands). Also, some people will overvalue their cars, a likely side effect of owning a car which is so easy to develop an emotional bond with. You may find yourself considering a project car, as it may appear to be considerably cheaper at first glance, but unless you have the skillset, determination and bankroll to see the project through it’s probably not a good idea. You may find yourself in several years with a car just as disassembled, which you now have the tricky job of selling. Save yourself some money and leave the Project cars to us!

RUNNING COSTS

The Porsche Carrera 3.2 is a fairly robust car but suffers from wear and tear like most performance vehicles. An annual service with a Porsche specialist is recommended as they will be the most adept at spotting future problems early. An oil change is likely to be around £100 and it can be a similar price to change the brake light fluid. However, this preventative maintenance is money well spent. Not only does it prevent problems before they get a chance to fully form, having a Porsche specialist mechanic means that they will also be able to spot any other problems likely to occur with the vehicle, much more successfully then a general mechanic would. A well looked after Porsche can pay you back down the line should you choose to sell it on, recouping or returning additional £ depending on how the Porsche market is.

Shock absorbers will last around 20-25 years, assuming they haven’t started leaking. A replacement set will cost around £600 + fitting. On top of this, the wheels will now need ro be re-aligned at a cost of around £300. Replacement disks and pads will cost around £500 per axle.

The 3.2 litre engine should run to at least 125k miles without a cylinder head rebuild (for new valves, guides, etc). A poor service record can significantly shorten the lifetime of those parts. When the car won’t start, it can be the battery, or the early Motronic system’s Achilles heel – the DME relay. The replacement DME Relay part can cost between £25 and £75 (depending if you want genuine or aftermarket parts). A clutch can last up to 100k miles, but the rebuild cost can range from £750 – £1100 depending on the gearbox type.

Interior repairs can be expensive with front seats costing £500 – £700 each to re-upholster, while a set of new carpets can run to £550 – £700.

For any of the parts mentioned above, we are able to help (provided they are still manufactured at the time of reading). We have the largest selection of Porsche parts, all available on our website, which cleverly filters out any results which are irrelevant for your model and year of car!

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR

While all models received full bodyshell zinc coating, today that protection is likely to be aged to the point where corrosion can be a significant issue. Consequently, checking the bodyshell is essential. The external signs of a cheap restoration are uneven panel gaps, overspray on old black seals and uneven paint matching a digital paint gauge can identify where extensive fuller has been used ( in areas such as the front wings, the lower areas of the doors, C-Pillars and under the rim of a Targa’s rear window.

Estimating bodyshell repairs can be very difficult until the outer wings have been taken off, but typically a car that needs new sills and reconstruction of each suspension corner/inner wing isn’t leaving much money left from 15 grand. A full paint job can cost you between 6k and 10k.

An underbody inspection will check the integrity of the sills, the inner wings and use a blunt metal probe for the underbody inspection and be very wary if the underside is covered in fresh looking undersealer. Aged duel and corroded brake piping can split with dangerous results. Costs can be £500 – £700 depending on the extent of the replacement.

Incidentally, the 1987 – on models can be easily identified from the earlier cars underneath by their 4 hard points for garage ramps.

Authenticity can be an issue when cars are advertised as sports. A UK model sport will have the black lip spoiler, a real ‘whale tail’ rear spoiler, sports seats and BILSTEIN sport shock absorbers. A well cared for car will have had shocks replaced, so look for the yellow BILSTEIN sport replacement shocks at the rear. Generally the original standard Boges were black and and the BILSTEIN green.

An engine that smokes, doesn’t start or run evenly should be ignored. Similarly, if a 915 gearbox is difficult to selects 2nd or 3rd hear, it probably needs a rebuild. Always keep an eye out for a rusty exhaust. Ragged interiors and Targa rood seals tell their own story (Targa seal restoration kits are avaliable however).

Driving a 3.2 is essential – not only is this a very different experience to a modern car, but your first-time impressions are very important when it comes to the cars general condition. Important issues will show up in a short drive (5 miles is good).

Now, if you don’t have enough experience to check out the car for yourself, it’s best you admit it to yourself from the beginning. Get a pre-purpose inspection expert (us if you live near London) to look around the car. They will advise on all aspects of the condition of the car, what needs replacing now and what will need replacing around the corner. We will also be able to provide you with details on whether the car is valued correctly.

For any of the parts mentioned in this article, please find the product over on our website (we ship world wide). If you have any questions about the parts you need for our car, our website lets you filter out all results for parts not compatiable with your specific vehicle. Failing that, our expert customer service team are standing by ready to help with and part related queries.

Technical Information