1989 Porsche 911

The Porsche (vehicle) family tree has strong roots and over time has come to produce many varities; some along carefully established 'traditional'lines and other strains, exciting and bold new ventures. I never thought I'd see a water-cooled Porsche, let alone a Porsche SUV!

I had had a mishap in my '81 Targa involving a motorist on her cell phone, a deer and an on ramp full of spilled gravel. Not a good combination for my Targa's longevity, however the unconscious motor-mouth motorist and the deer were unscathed!

With my insurance and salvage money in my account I started shopping and it was as if the big guy smiled down and said, "Hey, you did a nice job avoiding the deer and someone who in all liklihood should become an endangered specie...Check this out!" My first monied-morning on eBay there was a black on black 911 Carrera Cabriolet. It was being sold by a dealership that sells frequently here on eBay and it had a 'Buy-IT-NOW' feature just screaming at me.

The 1989 911 was the stepping off point in my mind. 1990 brought with it a different body style that has yet to grow on me. It also introduced a larger engine, at that time unproven on the streets. The 3,2 workhorse that came along in 1983-89 was solid and reliable and has many, many untapped horses available through aftermarket products. The car I bought had 145K miles on it;in some circles that is high mileage, but with care and proper maintenance, a stroll through the garden for a Porsche.

This is a very civil sports car. It is relatively quiet for a perfomance car and even with the top down a conversation with your co-pilot isn't an exercise in futility. I get about 25 MPG on mid-grade gas.

All the soft-touch stuff is there:A/C, stereos and speakers, power locks & windows and a top that drops with the push of a button, even cruise control. The front seats are really comfy and the carpeting is top notch. The jump seats in back are novel. All are in either leather or a leather-looking substitute, quite refined.

But this is afterall a sports car! The air-cooled engine develops about 214 HP and while this model is not as quick or fast as some of its predecessors, it is a kick to drive. The rear engine lay out can be a learning experience for the uninitiated, but in most day to day driving situations, no worries.

The clutch, I believe has hydraulic assist and is far easier to engage than either my '81 targa or my older 930. A 1989 911's clutch is more work than the next generation 993, but then that is an genuine apples to oranges comparison!

The 1989 model has the G50 transmission. It is smooth and a lot more precise feeling than the 915 tranny and capable of handling more power too.

The looks of a 1989 Carrera had carried over through the years and are pretty graceful. The 964 (1990-1994)has a different look about it. The 1989 is sometimes viewed as the 'last of an era'. It was offered in a Coupe, a Cabriolet, and I think a Targa. A very collectible Speedster model with a lower profile windscreen,top,and flared widebody like a turbo flowered briefly in 1989. The TURBO was the be-all-end-all performance unit available in coupe or convertible and fitted with a five speed tranny exclusive to that year!

1989 saw the introduction of Porsche all wheel drive.As with a lot of premier year offerings, this option had 'issues' and was not as reliable as its siblings. To get to a 993 Carrera 4, Porsche had to start somewhere!

1989 911 Porsche, You should have one!