That smell would have to be originating from the brake pads.

Have you inspected them? Is there any wheel bearing grease on the rotor?

 

I've had my 89 for 3 years and it has been very good to me. Good luck with your search.

 

If you're still looking, this might help:

http://pages.ebay.com/buy/guides/bud...:6000:SEARCH:2

 

I would think a well bought 911 would be cheaper to run than a WRX STi, especially when insurance and depreciation are factored in.

 

I bought an 80 911 SC in 1996. I paid $9200 for it. Over the 11 years I owned it, the only major cost I had was $2200 to rebuild the transmission. Other than that, the only other expenses I had were regular maintenance items: oil, brakes, gas. I did a lot of improvements like sway bars, turbo tie rods, etc... but those were items that I chose to spend money on, the car did not NEED it. I sold it in 2007 and got $8800. so over 10 years it only depreciated $300!
It cost me about $600 a year to insure that car.

 

KI, that's a good story. I've got my '79 for sale at $12,500. It's for sale, and I'd take less as there are 325k miles on the car, with about 160k miles on the engine after a rebuild in 1995. I put $11k into the rebuild instead of buying another car. Engine is strong. I love the SC's, and enjoyed the article in the latest Panorama about the popularity of these cars. Like you, I put stuff on it just for fun, not because the car needed anything. I'm selling it because I found a 996 C4S I really like, with cupholders and airbags and stuff my wife thought I should have after turning 61. I'll miss it, and I bet you occasionally miss yours as well.

 

Judgejon,

I miss the simplicity and reliability of my SC, but I have moved on. I got it when I was 32, so I still thought I was 18, and liked taking the Targa top off, the stiff suspension etc... Once I turned 40, my body didn't care for the stiff ride, sun on my head, etc...and I longed for air conditioning and more power, Enter the 993. As I evolved (or rather devolved!) my needs needed similar adjustment. If I had the room, I would have loved to have kept the SC as it is a fantastic car, but I know that I would not have driven it much.

I love my 993!

 

You are proposing a nonresonant sibilation?

Do you really think a Sti could out run an early 911 of this configuration in any road race?

 

KI, ditto re the C4S. Cheers....

 

I was speaking of the total cost of ownership. When you factor in depreciation and high insurance cost, the SC or Carrera should come out way ahead. Maintaining them might be another story...