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Category: Double Take

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Double Take: 964 Turbos – 3.3 vs 3.6

Published November 14, 2014 by Rob

The 930 remains my favorite of the 911 Turbos, but that doesn’t mean I do not appreciate the greatness of its successor based off of the 964. And unlike the 930, which spent most of its life utilizing a 4-speed manual, the 964 came straight out of the box with the 5-speed transmission only available in the final year of 930 production. However, because initially the 964 carried over the 3.3 liter turbocharged engine from the 930, which was later replaced with a turbocharged 3.6 liter engine, there are a couple different options to choose from when on the market for a 964 Turbo. Though as we shall see here they fall within dramatically different cost scales. Here we will look at the two most common variants: the standard 3.3 liter 964 Turbo produced from 1990-1992 and the 911 Turbo 3.6 produced from 1993-1994. Each of these also came in a small-production Turbo S form, which remain some of the most sought after 911s on the market.

We’ll start with this 1991 Porsche 911 Turbo, located in Brooklyn, with just 28,140 miles on it:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 Porsche 911 Turbo on eBay

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Tuner Tuesday Ruf-off: 1978 Porsche 930 Slantnose v. 1987 930

Published November 11, 2014 by Carter

Just as AMG is synonymous with early tuned Mercedes-Benz models, Ruf seems to be inseparable from the Porsche 930. It’s almost cliche to upgrade the 911 Turbo to Ruf specs; but they’re the go-to tuner for all things air-cooled. But for every Yellowbird that an enthusiast wishes they had created, there are many more pretenders that bolt on some Ruf parts and claim they’re Ruf-converted cars. Does that make them more valuable? Probably not, in general – faster, yes, but as we saw with last week’s 1979 930, although well executed more people are looking for either real Ruf cars or all-original examples. Today I have another two “Ruf” cars to face off – which wears the mods better and which is a better deal?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Porsche 930 Slantnose on eBay

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Mercedes-Benz R107 SL Extravaganza

Published November 11, 2014 by Paul

It’s no secret that the Mercedes-Benz R107 SL is riding a popularity wave at the present time. With an almost 20 year production run, there’s a version for pretty much everyone. But which to choose? Today we’ll look at four very different R107s, from a mid-seventies example right up to the final 560SL that appeared on these shores. We’ll start with this low mileage 560SL for sale in Florida.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL on eBay

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To Force or Not to Force? 1987 944 Turbo v. 1989 944 S2

Published November 9, 2014 by Carter

For some time, there has been an ongoing conflict in my head. All of me agrees that the Porsche 944 is a pretty awesome car; great looks, handling and performance in a bargain package with classic Porsche reliability and build quality. But I fight with myself over just which of the Porsche 944s I prefer. Some days, the forced induction Turbo captures my imagination; there’s been a 1989 Turbo in my family now for two decades and it’s a wonderful car. But I have to admit that it’s not been without its problems, and while it’s a cool package it seems almost too predictable as the “go to” “cheap” Porsche. Should it be criticized for being a spectacular performance bargain? That may not be fair, but just like the BMW E30 represents a good balance of performance and practicality, it’s sometimes just too popular for me. What’s the alternative? Well, the 944 has its own answer: the 944S2. Visually, the two are nearly indistinguishable to most non-enthusiasts. But the driving experience is quite different; the M44/51 turbo motor is legendary as a tuning platform and offers typical ’80s lag-prone explosive launches, while the M44/41 big 3.0 16V motor has seemingly effortless torque at your disposal but loves to run up the tach as well. Stand on it in a drag race, and the Turbo will win – nearly a second faster to 60 miles per an hour and 5 m.p.h. faster on the top end. But if you’re a clever S2 driver and catch the Turbo slightly off-guard, you’ll be right with them – and the S2 isn’t about drag racing, it’s about making a better all-around driver. So the S2 is the better choice? Well, perhaps – but then there’s the mystique of the Turbo model. Who doesn’t want to say they own a Porsche Turbo, really? Today I have an example of each – which will be the winner?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo on eBay

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Double Take: 1973 and 1974 BMW Bavarias

Published November 8, 2014 by Paul

Following on to the S-Class Double Take we featured earlier today, here’s another pair highlighting that car’s competition: the BMW E3, or New Six. After the success of the smaller New Class, BMW decided to try its hand at luxury vehicles once again. These larger sedans, powered by straight six engines, would be a decided departure from the luxury sedan formula, adding a dash of sport into the equation. Unique to the US market was the Bavaria, priced more in line with the 2500 model but with the larger engine of the 2800. Eventually the engine would increase in size to 3.0 liters in 1972 and the Bavaria would continue on, slotted beneath the 3.0S.

To start, we’ll take a look at this restored Bavaria for sale in Pennsylvania.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1973 BMW Bavaria on eBay

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