How To Buy An Air Cooled Porsche: 12 Tips For Buying Your First Air Cooled 911

Looking for tips for how to buy an air cooled Porsche (or really any vintage vehicle) without getting burned? 🔥

Look no further. Here are 12 easy-to-apply tips for safely picking up your first (or 10th) classic air cooled Porsche 911.

I've literally spent well over $100,000 buying, repairing and modifying air cooled Porsches. I've done some things right and I've also made some expensive rookie mistakes.

Learn from my experience and get air cooled Porsche buying advice to help you get the 911 that best fits your needs...and do it in a way that minimizes your risk and costs and maximizes your enjoyment of the 911 of your dreams.

I currently own a 1995 Porsche 993 911 and a 1986 Porsche 911 3.2 coupe and between these 2 cars, I've learned a lot about buying, maintaining, improving and modifying "the last of the air cooled" as well as the quintessential "cool" Porsche 911: the G body coupe.

In this video, I'll give you ideas for:

- Making sure you select the right air cooled Porsche 911 for your needs, whether it's the first or 10th example you're buying
- How to make sure you're able to keep the car on the road once you own it
- How to protect yourself in the purchase process
- What you should expect from an air cooled Porsche mechanic
- How to think about a PPI for any air cooled Porsche you're considering
- Tips for choosing the right air cooled mechanic
- Porsche 911 buying advice for acquiring a car from a distance

0:00 Start
1:27 Tip #1: Setting your Porsche 911 ownership goals
2:54 Tip #2: Research, research, research - where to find the info you need
4:07 Tip #3: The importance of a good air cooled Porsche mechanic
6:00 Tip #4: Air cooled 911 reliability
7:23 Tip #5: Be patient
8:39 Tip #6: Get comfortable with the remote car purchasing process
10:07 Tip #7: Balance patience with urgency
11:43 Tip #8: “Buy” the seller as much as you’re buying the car
13:21 Tip #9: Get a pre-purchase inspection
16:35 Tip #10: Set aside 5% - 10% of purchase amount for maintenance
18:32 Tip #11: Be ready to buy a 2nd Air Cooled Porsche
19:08 Tip #12: Don’t be afraid to ask for advice in the community

Useful Air Cooled Porsche 911 Articles:

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About My Channel:

Rennthusiast (formerly Bavarian Enthusiast TV) is for the most part a Porsche 911 channel centering on experiencing air cooled Porsches, but will also feature other vintage, analog vehicles I add to the collection. The channel is the result of my deep passion for air cooled Porsches, my interest in the air cooled Porsche community, my obsession with modding, improving, buying and selling cars in general and my desire to put myself out there on YouTube and share these passions with other enthusiasts.

Porsches I currently own or have owned:

1995 Porsche 911 993 Coupe in polar silver
1986 Porsche 911 Carrera in guards red
2007 Porsche 911 997.1 Turbo in guards red (SOLD)
2009 Porsche 911 997.2 C4S PDK (SOLD)

Please subscribe to my channel.

IG: @Rennthusiast

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#aircooledporsche #buyingporsche911 #porsche911 #porsche911buying advice

[briani]

Excellent video. These tips are spot on and wish I would have seen this years ago before buying my air cooled 911’s. Learned the hard way-follow these tips!

[hnobody]

No. 8 is the key. Unless you're a collector or a dude with money to absolutely burn, join your local PCA, be patient and ask around within the club. The market is literally swamped with half-assed "dealers" and flippers who continue to artificially inflate the market price for cobbled-together beaters and pseudo-restos. Find someone who knows their car inside and out - the good and the bad - and be prepared to pay a fair price for the right car. Even better, look for people who have wrenched their own cars - they are most likely to have a car you can trust, they will know the real market pretty well in terms of price and value and they will attach value to a buyer who will love the car as much as they have. Every aircooled 911 has a story, the most important thing is buying your car from someone who knows as much of the entire story as possible.

[spencerkosior]

Great video! Totally agree with being very patient but also ready to rock. I looked for over 3years and I sent four 964s for PPI before pulling the trigger on my carrera 4! Tip #13 - Have fun!!! You’re on the hunt for your aircooled 911!!

[oibal]

I've a 1996 993 C2 iris blue metallic. Multi full-concours winner. I just completed the 60, 000 mile service and it runs like a Swiss watch. 6 speed manny tranny (G50). I also changed the 0.45 Ohm ballast resistors for the oil cooler and HVAC. (What a pain.) I also changed both lower camshaft cover gaskets coz they were 'sweating' onto the heat exchangers. I've had people pull up beside me, at the lights, offering ca$h in a suitcase!
Mine has an LSD and I've found that Mobil 1 75W90 LS turns the gearbox into butter no matter the season (winter/summer).

[tu_alum]

Loved your 12 tips, all sound advice, especially number 11. Porsche says there is no substitute - and I would add, there is no cure.

[dedwardmalick]

Nice video. Spot on. I had 3 air cooled Porsche's. I had a PPI on my 80 SC by a shop recommended by the seller and it was a disaster. Live and learn. All the best.

[MrJobba]

Great vid! I was in the same boat. I had a really nice 79 SC that I recently parted with. I really enjoyed looking at it, however, I spent way more time driving the 964. Personally I like the extra power from the 964, 993. Good luck!

[aminmolavi]

This was excellent. Very useful for a newbie looking to take the plunge. Thank you!

[pauldaly]

Yes, they get under your skin. I have a 993, a 912 (1968), a 930 (1979) and a project 911 (1977). Started out by restoring a beetle and fell in love with the simplicity of aircooled engines. I have had a few other porsches - a 1979 911 and a 928 S4, all great cars. Thanks for the tips, I broke many rules when I bought mine and I‘m still paying the price with the 930 which just has one issue after another, its not really sorted yet, should have, could have been more careful but got caught up in the excitement of possibly owning a 930.

[walterbaransky]

Outstanding and informative videos with needed topics. Keep it up!!!

[horologie]

This video was so needed on YouTube. Your channel is becoming one of my favourites.

[john_dee]

Good tips on things like preparing to jump. Obviously spoken from experience.

[franknutt]

I have 2, like you a 993 and a 3.2. I’ve had 11 911’s over 25 years. They definitely get under your skin.
We also have a YouTube channel. Keep you vids coming

[wikster]

Great information in your videos. Much appreciated! Your video on your 2007 and why your selling it was in recommended list today. Subscribed after that and have watched several of your others. Great channel ! I've been a Porsche fanatic since I was 5 years old and got to ride in my uncles 63 356B. The 70's to mid 80's 911s are my favorites by far. Particularly the 930 turbos, all out of reach with what they're going for these days. I've never owned one, driven many, and hope to eventually have one in the garage. Congratulations on your cars and look forward to your future videos. Thanks again for the content and take care.

[benceccarelli]

Great video! I am in the market for a 996...but still great advice. I just subscribed!

[trevormacdougall]

Excellent video, Will. I’ve had similar experiences with the two cars I have acquired. Equally fanatical as you are :)

[pecanthecat]

great video! we are learning so much about these air cooled beauties... you're making it hard to say goodbye to ours in the next few months. ummmph!

[shovel_head]

Hey thanks for your valuable information because I am disabled veteran with limited resources so for me this is very valuable

[NickKlonizos-dqks]

I’ve used the same mechanic at the local dealership in my area for 30 years. I walk in the workshop and talk to him about my car (air cooled) all the time. So there are trustworthy dealerships. Just sayin….live your videos!

[arighosal]

Hey Will another great vid 👍🏽. Informative and helpful. I ordered a 992 arriving in June. Owned 996, 997 and 991 before this 992. So never owned an air-cooled but would love to add one. My fave is 964. In fact a resto-modded 964 would be ideal. It helps to have a specialist where you are; for me in the DC area there are some but looks like you have a nice set up w/Dave @sonderwerks. Look forward to your insight into the air-cooled scene. Keep up the great work!