Should I buy a used Porsche 911 and drive through Europe?

[Ruprect]

Mid life crisis?

[AtW]

Mid life crisis?

Mid Wife

[DimPrawn]

Mid life crisis?

You never had one? They're great!

[doodab]

IMO choice of car doesn't matter that much, but you want something reliable, ideally 4WD (assuming you are going in the winter), with a bit of room in for souvenirs, snowboards and that sort of thing. Comfort & space are key on a trip of several weeks to a few months, and a lack of flashness / preciousness is good too, unless you plan to spend a small fortune on parking in major cities.

If I was going to do it in a "fun" old car I would look at an Audi Quattro or if I was feeling especially adventurous a Lancia Delta Integrale, or perhaps a comedy 4x4 truck type thing, and I'd definitely look for a LHD & fit winter tyres. Flogging it after could be an issue though.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Should I buy a used Porsche 911 and drive through
Europe?

Yes

[beaker]

Mid life crisis?

If this is my mid life crisis, I'll be dead by 60.

Still, may as well enjoy it. I don't have much in the old pension pot

[NickFitz]

Seems like fun

Yes.

I'm not even reading the rest of the thread before replying. If it seems like fun, and you're in a position to do it, then do it. This applies to every moment of life

[minsky1]

Just over £20k gets you 911 Turbo with like 50k miles over nearly 10 years but it looks more or less like new 997 - better deal than brand new BMW 3 series

Presumably in that age and price bracket your talking about a 996 or 996 turbo? ..... wouldn't touch one with a bargepole.

996's in general suffer from a range of problems. They were the first water cooled 911 and they didnt get it right at the first attempt. RMS failure (engine out fix), intermediate shaft bearing failure (new/recon engine), cracked cylinder liners (silsleeve repair by autofarm or new/recon engine) etc.

996 Turbo's have their own subset of problems too, they use a different engine block to the standard carrera's.

If your looking for a bulletproof 911 to do a run like this in, go for a 993 - reliable and can take the punishment.

[DimPrawn]

IMO choice of car doesn't matter that much, but you want something reliable, ideally 4WD (assuming you are going in the winter), with a bit of room in for souvenirs, snowboards and that sort of thing. Comfort & space are key on a trip of several weeks to a few months, and a lack of flashness / preciousness is good too, unless you plan to spend a small fortune on parking in major cities.

If I was going to do it in a "fun" old car I would look at an Audi Quattro or if I was feeling especially adventurous a Lancia Delta Integrale, or perhaps a comedy 4x4 truck type thing, and I'd definitely look for a LHD & fit winter tyres. Flogging it after could be an issue though.

Doesn't the fact you are doing it in a 911 make part of the excitement?

Anyway the Turbo is 4WD, the 911 has two small seats in the back and plenty of boot space up front.

If you are going to do it, do it in a 996 Turbo.

[DimPrawn]

Presumably in that age and price bracket your talking about a 996 or 996 turbo? ..... wouldn't touch one with a bargepole.

996's in general suffer from a range of problems. They were the first water cooled 911 and they didnt get it right at the first attempt. RMS failure (engine out fix), intermediate shaft bearing failure (new/recon engine), cracked cylinder liners (silsleeve repair by autofarm or new/recon engine) etc.

996 Turbo's have their own subset of problems too, they use a different engine block to the standard carrera's.

If your looking for a bulletproof 911 to do a run like this in, go for a 993 - reliable and can take the punishment.

Disagree. As you say the 996 Turbo engine is a different block from the rest of the 996 range and doesn't suffer the failures that the other 996 engines do. It's a very reliable engine considering it's got over 400 bhp. You are also getting 4WD which is essential if you are travelling in winter.

The air cooled engines are very expensive to maintain and repair and the handling of the 993 is "interesting" verging on dangerous. Winter in Europe in a 993 RWD with the engine hanging over the arse? No thanks.