OT: What is the most RELIABLE Porsche engine?, 911 (SC 3.0), (Carrera 3.2) or (964 3.6) Options

[levonfarra]

I want to eventually get a 911. Not sure what the best and most desirable ones are. My budget is 10K if I keep my daily driver or 15k if I sell my daily driver.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks,

Levon

[914-8]

Historically, the 3.0 was very reliable.

But I think today, overall, the 3.2 will be more reliable. First, it has an advantage in that it is just plain newer than the 3.0. 3.0s are now 25 to 30 year old engines. 3.2s are 19 to 24 year old engines.

The injection system on the 3.2 is IMO more reliable these days. It is a simpler system. 25-30 year old CIS parts are now starting to get old. The CIS system (which I like) is a bit rube-goldberg-esqe in its design. Motronic is more straightforward. The smog system on the 3.2 is simpler.

The biggest issue that the 3.0 is now facing is broken head studs. They are 25-30 years old now, and I bet a good percentage of 3.0s on the road today have at least one broken head stud. The 3.2s don't seem to have as much of a problem with that.

I've had both SC and Carrera. If I were in your position, I would stretch to the $15K and buy the best Carrera you can find. For that money, you can find a nice, solid one, that will in the long run likely be less expensive to own than a $10K SC. IMO. the SC was the best value 5-10 years ago, but today, the Carrera is now in the "sweet spot" for age/depreciation, and is the better value.