1 Is it the right car for you?

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1 1 Is it the right car for you? marriage guidance Tall and short drivers Left-hand drive versions are more comfortable for tall drivers than right-hand drive versions, due to the slightly twisted position of the right-hand drive pedal assembly. Weight of controls All 911 Carrera 3.2 models are fitted with manual steering which can be heavy, particularly if the car is fitted with wide front tyres. Brake boost is provided via a vacuum servo system. Clutch operation from model years 1984 to 1986, inclusive, is manual and, in true Porsche tradition, can be hard on the left leg. In model year 1987 a new hydraulically-operated clutch system was introduced with the G50 transmission system and it s also notoriously heavy to operate and will result in a sore left leg, especially in heavy traffic. Will it fit the garage? Chapter 17 contains a table with each specific model dimensions. Measure your garage and compare, but don t forget the car s doors have to be opened in the garage. Interior space There s plenty of leg room in the front of a 911 Carrera 3.2 for driver and passenger. However, front seat comfort depends on the type of seats installed. The standard comfort seat nicely supports people of average girth. The sport, bucket and racing seats Don t forget to do garage fit measurements with the doors open. are designed for those who are not so wide at the hips. Rear seats are essentially useless for anyone over the age of 12 years. Luggage capacity There is sufficient room in the back with both rear seat backs down to carry a lot of luggage, however keep it light. The front luggage compartment has sufficient room for a soft bag for the heavy items. The 911 Carrera 3.2 series is very sensitive to weight distribution over the front and rear axles and it s a very bad idea to carry extra weight towards the back. Heavy items need to be carried in the luggage compartment. Running costs Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 model servicing costs are higher because it s a Porsche and the service requirements and component wear tolerances are tighter and stricter than for most other cars. Also keep in mind that air-cooled engines with a dry sump burn oil as well as petrol. Fuel economy is not brilliant either, but it s a sports car not a people carrier. 6

2 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet custom-built for Peter Schutz (the man who saved the 911) in September 1985 at Werk Carrera 3.2 Coupé with G50/01 transmission. Standard body style 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet US market model year Standard 911 Carrera 3.2 narrow body style range introduced in model year

3 Turbo-look Cabriolet model with slant nose option. (Courtesy 911 Carrera 3.2 Clubsport (CS) model year Carrera 3.2 turbo-look (wide body) Cabriolet. The last of the 911 Carrera 3.2 model range was the Speedster. (Courtesy Thierry De Wispelaere) 911 Carrera 3.2 Targa police cars. 14

4 See chapter 17 for approved tyres table. Tyre condition is a vital safety issue. 32 Tyre condition and suitability These are thoroughbred sports cars capable of speeds in excess of 152mph (243kph): it is therefore foolish to fit cheap tyres or mixes of tyre brands from side to side and/or front to rear in order to save money. The four black round bits of rubber wrapped around the wheels are the only things adhering the car to the road. A set of Porsche-approved tyres for the 911 Carrera 3.2 not only give it the ability to perform at its maximum in the handling department, but also allows the maximum transfer of power to the road, and ensures the braking system provides maximum stopping power at all times. The 911 Carrera 3.2 is designed to be driven on approved summer tyres in summer and the approved and tested winter tyres in winter: it s not designed around all-season el-cheapo jack-of-all-trade tyres. Check the tyres for: same brand, same tread pattern, correct tyre size front and rear for the installed wheels and in accordance with the owner s manual. See the table in chapter 17 which contains an up to date list of all tyres approved and tested by Porsche for the 911 Carrera 3.2 series. Rating is for tyre condition (blisters and cracks), wear (even, uneven), age (no more than six years old) and suitability for the 911 Carrera 3.2. Steering arm and tie-rod end. It s very important to check this for wear. Steering system All 911 Carrera 3.2 models are fitted with a non-power assisted (manual) steering system. The only checks that can be carried out are for wear. Can the steering wheel be turned any distance left and right without moving the wheels? Does the steering wheel sit centred whilst driving and/or the car track right or left whilst moving? Worn steering arms and tie-rod ends (ball joints) are not uncommon with older cars. 930 Turbo tie-rod ends fitted to these cars are quite common. Rating is for originality, condition and wear. Brake callipers and pads All narrow body 911 Carrera 3.2 Coupé, Targa and Cabriolet models were delivered with cast-iron front and rear brake callipers. All turbo-look (wide body) models were delivered with cast-aluminium front and rear brake callipers. Therefore, it should be easy to determine brake calliper originality based on the body style being inspected. If in doubt ask the owner/seller if he or she is aware of any brake calliper modifications that have been carried out on the car. Often the callipers are painted

5 red, but this is not correct. A common modification is the installation of 930 Turbo front brake callipers and tie-rod ends. Inspect the brake pads; each should have friction material more than 2mm thick. Pads must be changed at 2mm minimum to ensure the warning detectors are not activated because, if they are, they will have to be replaced as well. Rating is for calliper originality and condition as well thickness of the brake pad friction material (will the car need new pads soon?) Vacuum brake booster and master cylinder located in luggage compartment. Cast-iron front brake calliper & vented solid disc (rotor) assembly. (Courtesy Cast-iron rear brake calliper & vented solid disc (rotor) assembly. (Courtesy Front and rear brake pad friction material minimum thickness is 2mm. (Courtesy Albert Usher) Vented, perforated front brake disc (rotor) fitted as part of option M491. (Courtesy Porsche AG archive) Vented, solid rear brake disc (rotor) fitted as part of option M491. (Courtesy Brake discs (rotors) All narrow body 911 Carrera 3.2 models were delivered with solid ventilated front and rear brake discs (rotors). All turbo-look (wide body) models were delivered with perforated (drilled) ventilated front and rear brake discs. Therefore, it should be easy to determine brake disc originality based on the body style being inspected. Porsche never used slotted brake discs for these models. Check brake disc wear by looking for grooves worn into the disc creating a ridge at the periphery. Such a ridge indicates that the brake pads have worn away both faces of the disc and at the next service all will have to be replaced. Rating is for brake disc originality and condition. 33