On the road
Look for evidence of regular, caring maintenance, with annual oil changes even on cars used infrequently (condensation pollutes the oil). Brake fluid should have been changed every three years (check the brakes all function evenly) and tyres get hard after 10 years. With twin spark-plugs, changing the awkward lower row is often neglected. A well-maintained car with higher recent mileage may give less trouble in the short term than a low-mileage one. Oil seals harden and leak in infrequently used cars: oil leaks may just need new cam-cover gaskets, but the classic 911 story of the cam-cover oil leak that turned into a full engine rebuild applies to 964s, too. Be prepared for broken head studs and a £5000-plus bill if leaks are significant.
Lag is normal on the 964 turbo: a skilled driver will cope, but it will bite the unwary. Check for past accident damage and for blue smoke when accelerating, indicating a worn turbo (smoke on the overrun, on all 964s, means worn valve guides). Autocar testers loved the Tiptronic gearbox, finding it well suited to the boxer engine and commenting: ‘Most of the time it seems almost telepathic.’ The secret was its Intelligent Shift Program, controlled by ECU and designed to avoid unwanted changes mid-corner. It’s durable, but if the torque converter is noisy, it’s approaching rebuild time.
The Cabriolet roof takes 20 secs to lower; few cars will still have the optional hood cover, which added £879 to the price when it was new.