Sales debate
Is the 915 versus G50 gearbox debate still relevant in 2024?
Back in the day, it used to be the question that everyone asked. Our question this month isn’t which is best but, rather, is the debate relevant with buyers today?
Air-cooled expert Jonathan Aucott of Avantgarde Classics cuts straight to the chase. “The G50 3.2 is a much better car than a 915,” he states, boldly. He counters that by adding no one says a ‘1973 RS is a great car, shame about the 915’, “but that’s because you bring a dierent mindset to that sort of car,” he explains.
Aucott continues: “You’re tuned into the car, prepared for the more visceral experience, so are happy to tune in and work at the challenge of the gear change.” In comparison, the beauty of the 3.2 is its reliability and useability, he says, so the G50 suits those characteristics.
Phil Raby of Philip Raby Specialist Cars admits he was probably as guilty as anyone in his journalist days of debating the old trope, “but these days, it doesn’t seem to be spoken about so much,” he says. “The 915 isn’t a bad gearbox, just dierent.” What is important with the 915, he explains, is to let the oil warm up, then ease it through the gears. “Otherwise you cause wear, and slowly the ‘box gets worse and worse,” he explains.
Both our experts highlight the more important point of buying on condition. “G50s of any condition all seem to drive about the same,” says Aucott, “but 915s seem to be a mix of good and bad, denitely deteriorating with age,” he counters. Both our panel agree that rebuilding one doesn’t mean perfection. “The gearbox is only part of it, as the linkages also need to be set up properly,” says Aucott. Raby agrees, saying that, “Even a small adjustment can make a huge dierence there.”
The answer in today’s market isn’t which is best or why, but to buy the best example of either you can, considering how you’ll use it. “Which is why you really should drive a potential car,” says Raby. “Most customers are perfectly happy with the 915,” he reveals. “Don’t get hung up on either. What’s more important is to buy a good example.”