1985 Porsche 911: A Newbie's Video Tour

Fantastic video. Also, marry me James!

Okay, time to man up. My favorite cars from the 80s had no power steering (or power windows or power locks). They ALL had the "industrial" parking brake. But, it helped you feel more connected to the car and the road. Oh, and the arm strength will come once you drive it enough.

Of course, the Germans were just figuring out how to do a decent air conditioner in their cars in the mid-80s. Also, the vent distribution was all done by vacuum off the motor back then (which would explain why it doesn't work on the Porsche). Come to think of it, it never worked well. I guess that's why I always drove with the windows down. :)

If you really want to try an old car, try a 1967 Porsche 911 (two years after I was born). Your '85 model will feel totally modern. :)

One more thing...on the defroster, go look up the term "heat exchanger". It was the last vestige of the old air-cooled beetles that stayed in the 911 until then...that's how your heater and defroster worked back then (pulling warm air from the engine).

I love this video! James should do one of these for all the LT cars!

Well done sir,thanks.:)

At 38 seconds, the tachometer is shown as being fixed into it's normal position.

Well done people, well done. But remember, part of being able to spend OPM (other peoples money) on this car is immediately blogging about the things you do. Don't make me spot stuff in a video....

Penske will be happy to see they put the speedo and tach back the factory way....it does look much better! Nice video Rick!

Great job with the video. I wish you guys had done one with the Ferrari.

Nice video. Jriz, man up - if you drive this car everyday your shoulders, back, and arms will beef up. Your legs will harden and fill out. Your significant other will be pleasantly surprised :)

What were you revving it too each time on 1st gear take-off? Looked/sounded like ~2500 rpms? Nice way to shorten a clutch's life, if so!

I kinda laughed at this video honestly - the car is bad-ass looking on the outside and sounds great, but for $5k more you would've gotten a similar-mileage'd 1995/1996 Carrera 2 911, with working radio and other controls, and all the other substantial advancements it had made.

I'm starting to love this long-term test in a way I haven't loved any other long termer in awhile, but that's one thing I'm going to have a hard time getting over...

This was a lot of fun to watch. Nice!

Great video, James!

The HVAC system in early Porsches has been called "Hitler's Revenge" for reasons you now know.

The rotary knob between the seats regulates heat temperature. My car has automatic heat control so I don't have the two little red things you pull up.

These cars never had much in the way of A/C so you're not missing much there.

The non-working speedo must be a pain in the neck...this ain't a great example you bought, but you all knew that going in.

I like the non-power steering. Yes, it's like wrestling a bear at low speeds, especially with those Turbo flares and rear tires. Someone once said these old 911s drive like a truck in the city and you can only connect with them at high speeds. I think it's true...they seem to want to go fast and were designed for that. Can't wait to see you shoot a video on some twisty back roads.

I do wish you would have found a safe place to open it up in the first two gears...I have never been in an old 911....just newer ones and one 70's death trap 914.

Can we get a video like this for the Miata? If you're a fan of old 911's, there's a great series on Top Gear where James drives his 80's 911 from London to the Top Gear track. It's catnip for car nerds.

I find I tend to say the same things about Mitsubishi Outlanders on the road.

To Mitsubishi drivers everywhere: Wake Up and Drive! You are slower than Grandpa in his Crown Vic!

You seem to be quite complainer/wimp. You should try driving a 3 on a tree. Who needs a guide? I couldn't get past the first minute of your whining. Get a Camry.

I hate stopping what I'm doing to watch videos more than a few seconds, but that was worth every moment. Thanks for putting together a great summary of your (and probably many editors') initial impressions, jriz

Great 'first impression' video James, I look forward to more of these.

Thanks for the great video.

@proffsionl - looks to me like this 911 is just about the same as a '67, a real antique! The age isn't 'interesting' or 'quirky', it's going to get in the way of enjoying this car as a real sports car.

In addition to all the other problems that need fixing, jriz notes that the front suspension is wacky, confirmed by the crooked steering wheel when driving straight.

At least I know not to look at 911s this old!

The car doesn't appeal to me at all. I hope nobody gets hurt driving this around on the highway or in city. Gearbox is too distracting, no hydraulic support for the steering, cables hanging out. Nothing works except the engine and the brakes. Good luck. I have a feeling you might need it.

That`s why James is for me one of the best editors around here.
He and Mark.
I hope marriage doesn`t take away fun posts like these one, like you usually do! LOL

Geese there are a lot of folks on here that have never had an old car. The car appears safe; it just does not have a lot of modern (or any) modern features. And if anybody thinks they need power steering to be "safe" they are on the wrong blog. The fun of driving an old car and learning its little weird quirks and learning how to deal with and fix them is something that appears to be waning. God forbid it does not have A/C and navi and a radio! The Horror! I would rather drive this car than some of the souless tech-mobiles on the road.

"No hydraulic steering support?" LMAO at some of you babies. No wonder there are so many FWD automatic blah-mobiles on the road.

Great video. Nice way to get more of an idea what an old car is really like for those raised on new transportation modules. It gives me more respect for people I see driving around older Porshes too.

Watching the video makes me want one even more although I would spend a Saturday fixing the odds and ends that don't work. None look difficult for an exotic.

"Gearbox is too distracting, no hydraulic support for the steering, cables hanging out. "

You'd get accustomed to the gearbox after a drive or two, try non power steering if you get a chance (nice mechanical feel you just don't get anymore) and I could fix the wires in about 10 minutes.

Anything else?

"I kinda laughed at this video honestly - the car is bad-ass looking on the outside and sounds great, but for $5k more you would've gotten a similar-mileage'd 1995/1996 Carrera 2 911, with working radio and other controls, and all the other substantial advancements it had made."

I keep reading these kind of sentiments , but I'm not aware of anything of that era in good condition for a little over 20K. This car without the salvage title would cost probably 20-22K even with mileage and issues. Obviously it makes no sense for IL to buy a collectible quality car given the mileage and/or abuse it will get. This car is already near the bottom of the depreciation curve, yet the main items of concern appear to be in good working order.

If you want value, skip air-cooled and go straight to 996. Otherwise I'll wait for someone to post the car they would have bought instead for say up to 20K asking price to drive for a year.

Going in they talked about spending $25k-$30k. For that kind of money they could have gotten a newer/better aircooled 911. I had expected another 'fun car for new Camry/Accord $$' kind of thing.

No power steering? Ah ...

James should've driven the first car, er, pickup, that I drove as a teenager. It had no power steering either! The 55 Chevy pickup was a bear to drive until muscles were developed to steer it.

@ BB... dare I say...told ya so

Also whoever mentioned it, I loved the "James May drives to work in his old 911" videos. Jriz, keep up the good work. Great video, IL is really earning a lot of respect back. Between you and Erin, some great driving-related posts. No 1487-bait, no steering wheel full-lock tests, no lame "Ugliest Car" features. This, suspension walkarounds, GMR drives, and Caption Contests is why I love IL. Keep it coming.

two funny parts from the video got my laugh in for the day

"these wires here kind of make it look like we stole the car"

and who could forget

"come on mr mitsubishi outlander move your ass"

sounds good tho and looks fun to drive honestly

Please do more of these videos for the other cars. They are much more informative than a few paragraphs.

@ptcdawg

Thanks for the memories, I almost forgot about the first pickup I drove with an vague, but heavy, column shifter.

Nice video. I'd like to see more of this type of thing, however, your cameraman needs a bit of practice. LOL

My neighbor just bought a 99 911 Convertible for 17k and it's damn near perfect. I think you guys paid too much for this car.

@bodyblue
the safe factor comes from the lack of any airbag OR modern safety standards. If you get T-boned in this car you are screwed more than in a modern car.
Also the lack of ABS. If this is going to be the daily driver car of the editors, putting another 20k miles in a year on this car these are real issues.

"Going in they talked about spending $25k-$30k. For that kind of money they could have gotten a newer/better aircooled 911. I had expected another 'fun car for new Camry/Accord $$' kind of thing."

Yes, but they elected to spend 16.5K instead. I try not to complain about free beer.

The measure of whether this was a good choice must be in the context of what was spent, not how much farther they could have opened their wallet. The fact is, once you go to 993, you can spend the same or a little more and get a 996 S or possibly even turbo.

"My neighbor just bought a 99 911 Convertible for 17k and it's damn near perfect. I think you guys paid too much for this car."

That era is probably the least desirable of all 911s whether merited or not. (I'm not as biased against since I'm not some sort of brand fanatic).

I suspect the used Porsche value curve is something like this

993 overpriced to value
SC and 3.2 and 964 fairly priced to value
996 under priced to value
997 fair priced to value

EVO magazine concurs on the 996 btw, they ran an article saying that in the UK you can probably buy a 996 turbo and drive it a few years with minimal or no depreciation.

Boo! I can't watch this here,but the "new" 911 is quite an interesting car, definetly has a lot of uh, character.

t10 - the 996 and 986 are definitely the undervalued stepchildren of the Porsche family. 996 values are almost ludricrously low.

"your cameraman needs a bit of practice"

I'll inform Takahashi and his suction cup of your suggestion. ;)

Please sell it and get a 993!

make more of these, jriz.

Nice concept for the video, but come on, drive the thing!! One half hearted pull in second gear and thats all we get? How about a couple redline upshifts next time, Grandma!

-Rod

James, you need to do the "Doesn't work" part more like Jeremy Clarkson... make it more fun. :P

"Power steering... no. Radio... doesn't work; speedo-MEH-TER... doesn't work." etc.

I bet the average Z of that vintage has most of it's gauges and switches still working, chintzy though they may be.

You're younger than me!? This news irritates me slightly...

Nice video. I think it's great to just setup a camera in the passenger seat and talk about the car as you drive around in it, it's very informative. Honestly more informative than many blog posts added together...

I used to own a 78 911SC. Very similar to the Carrera. In fact mine had some headwork done to it
so it actually had more top end when you took it past 4000 RPM. The A/C on mine worked but was marginal. The heating controls were slightly more archaic then the 85's were. I had an initial problem with my gearbox splines. Once they were adjusted though the gear box is fine. My speedo worked just fine. So I think this 85's problems are not typical. Further this car has the turbo look with wider tires front and rear which accounts for the heavy steering. My car had light steering even though it was not power assisted. The car was simply great to drive and has a much much better sounding engine then the new 996 and 997's. Porsche simply was not able to duplicate the sound of the flat aircooled six. The GT3 comes closer though. The 80's 911 is a car with a lot of sports car character. Todays 911 is more mainstream in it's ride and demeanor. Technically it may be a better sportscar. However I don't think it's a better 911.

@ jukiemcjuke

The average Z of that period also goes for about a thousand bucks and is driven by quasi homeless dudes.

-Rod

Very cool. Something about this clip resonated strong with me. First car was a '78 320i--my birth year-- with similar feel and idiosyncrasies. Then a 73' Tii--religious experience. Short moment with a 356 in Europe. I sooo miss manual steering, brake feel that you can feel in your neck, and that smell. If you ever drive this car across the Golden Gate Bridge and then the Headlands on a foggy morning and drift into the back roads--you might need a cold shower after. Trust!

Oh yeah, James is hot!

Lets face it, this car is just an old POS and deserves to be made fun of in a Top Gear $5000 supercar challenge. :D

This 911 still makes nice engine noises. Lovely!!

MAKE VIDEOS FOR ALL LONG-TERM VEHICLES!!!!!

You paid $16,500 for that?! What were you thinking?!

It would have been nice to see the car walking up to it and the view out the windshield for perspective. Sounds like you need more seat time with that clutch...

No power steering? No AC? No (working) handbrake? No working speedo? Are you guys gonna fix the problems or let them go like most older car owners?

No power steering? No AC? No (working) handbrake? No working speedo? Are you guys gonna fix the problems or let them go like most older car owners?

Oh, pretty pretty please make more videos of this car. I could listen to an aircooled flat six all day long. Easily my favorite engine note of all time!

No ABS?
You mean you have to rely on your driving ability rather than a microprocessor?

No traction control?
You know that you will have to park it when it rains...

I'm parking my 1999 Wrangler and 1975 2002 for good; I didn't realize that they were virtual deathtraps...

"Come on, Mr. Mitsubishi Outlander, move your a**"
LOL. Classic. Great vid! Count me with those who want more videos like these.

You are sitting way to far away from the wheel and pedals. In an old 911, you must sit like a German would. Move the seat 2 or 3 clicks forward. Your legs should be apart with one knee touching the door and the other almost touching the dash pad near the ash tray. Then you will find the shifter easier to use and the steering perfect.

With your arms straight out like that you cannot possibly steer a car correctly. Especially a 911 without power steering.

The 911 is not a car that you get used to fast. However, once you do, you will always be comfortable in one. The car that you own is suitable as a Daily Driver only in places without traffic, without extreme heat and with smooth roads. A 964 or 993 is better to have as an every day car, the 964 is the best balance of Old and New 911.

The AC on those cars is never going to blow cold. You can spend about $5000 to replace everything, and you can buy aftermarket upgrades that help a bit, however it will never be like a modern car. Also, the vent in the dash will never blow enough air on your face, ever. So, for a 911 you always drive with the windows open, no matter what. In the rain, you leave them about 2" open, and no water will enter. In the winter, leave them cracked and the heat will still keep you warm because the heater is awesome. In the Summer, all the way open. Also, buy having the windows open you get the right ratio of engine noise to wind. Windows closed and all you will hear is transmission whine, road noise and rattles.

There is no such thing as a $15,000 911. You will pay another $7,000 to $15,000 in the next year if you want the car to be sorted out correctly and be nice. Ignore the maintenance at your peril.

I bought my first 911 7 years ago and at first thought that I made a mistake. Good choice for a cool day with light traffic. You may not choose this car to drive in rush hour on a summer day though. Good luck!

kids these days are such a bunch of whining sissies!

"I'm parking my 1999 Wrangler and 1975 2002 for good; I didn't realize that they were virtual deathtraps..."

Yep......it will avoid getting too many tear stains in the car......you know from all the weeping about stupid crap like saying a car with out those things is unsafe.

Since 2005 I have had to step on the brakes hard enough to activate the ABS exactly ONCE and that was at a very slow speed. Safe, careful and defensive drivers (like me) that know how to anticipate trouble, drive with both hands on the wheel, dont text or talk on the phone while driving rarely need these systems. If your ABS and ETC are being used more than once a month you need driving school.

The more I think about it, the more I feel that a vintage 911 would make the perfect weekend driver/tinkering around car. Of course if I had an 85 like you guys the first thing I would do is look into getting a more modern tranny in the thing. Other than that (and fixing the dang speedo!) I really can't think of much else that I would change on the old girl...you don't really need a radio/heater/ac on a car like this.

"Our long-term 911 was made only two years after I was born..."

Thanks for making me feel old, James. :p I was 12 when this car was made.

"Since 2005 I have had to step on the brakes hard enough to activate the ABS exactly ONCE and that was at a very slow speed. "

I rarely do it on the track- at least when it's dry. On the street the only time I see significant ABS engagement is on snow or ice, and even then it's not all that frequent.

Nice video! But you're making me feel old. I remember driving an '87 911 Targa back when it was a newer car, and they were a bit, well -- characterful even then. Dead reliable, but if you could figure out the heating controls you knew your stuff.

Your car sounds as good as I remember them. The ergonomics of the 996/997 are a different world from the 911s. Better, but I loved those non-airbag steering wheels, big chunky VDO gauges and all the clatter and roar from the engine bay. The modern cars are so much quieter that you can kind of forget there are explosions going on back there.

When you guys are bored of all the modern conveniences of your '85, you should drive my '56.

Heh, you're the same age as me Jriz. More videos like this please (if for no other reason than to see more of you...your wife is a lucky woman lol). Oh, and can Erin do the next video post? Please?!

Time to man up there a bit. You bought a 26 year old car from a brand not know for exemplar reliability. Of course you are going to have a lot of things not working.

As to the manual steering, clutch, heat/aircon controls that’s what you had in 85. Next you’ll complain there isn’t any place to plug in you ipod and that there is no Bluetooth.

Man, the only thing less pleasant than riding in my friend's old 911 is driving the thing. I refuse to ride in it anymore. Just too ridiculous for it's own good, and not really comfortable, fun or practical. It's become a running joke between our friends.

I'm sure it was great thirty years ago, though...

James - this was a wonderful walk-thru, thanks for taking the time!

Kevin