I'll admit this is a bit of an ignorant question because I'm just getting my feet wet as a car-guy.

But I was wondering when do/did cars get too complicated to work on in your home garage. I am a student now and won't be able to afford a project car for a while, so I'm looking to the future wondering if I'll be working on 2000 era cars or still rebuilding the 80's models I see y'all working on.

Lets imagine this is 10 years from now, could you conceivably do a complete rebuild of a 2000 911 in your garage the way you might be able to rebuild a 20 year old 911 now?

Let me know if that question didn't make any sense and I'll try and communicate better, thanks for your time in reading and answering for me.
-durty

 

An air cooled 911 is going to be easier to work on, so 1999.

 

I agree that air cooled Porsches can be easier to work on from a "weekend warrior" standpoint. But technology in vehicles can make work on the vehicle easier...if you learn how to use it.

Modern ECU's can be tuned with a laptop. You might not even need to get your hands dirty (depending on location of ECU of course) The trick is that you need to learn how to use the software effectively in order to get your desired results.

The main difference between lets say and air cooled and a 997 will be the approach on how to work on work or modify the car. Both cars require a basic knowledge of suspension geometry, engine timing, AF ratios, etc. Modern cars will require more knowledge in using computers, wiring harnesses, sensors, and software to read those codes vs the air cooled where there are fewer (if any) ECU codes, ABS sensors, etc...

Also keep in mind, 10 years from now, the technology that is in a 997 rolling off the assembly line will be more common place, and there will be more familiarity as to how to work with it.

 

so turbo911cm how does one learn about using laptops and sensors to get info form your car's ecu and tune/work on your 911?
-durty

 

THIS IS A MODERN CAR! Not some chevy.

 

Start with a book like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Engine-Managem...dp/1932494421/
or this:
http://www.amazon.com/Modify-Managem...dp/0760315825/

Another must have book is the Bosch Automotive Handbook
http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Han...dp/0837615402/


I agree with Turbo911cm. Today's cars will become easier to work on as the public knowledge base grows. Part of the reason early 911s are so easy to work on is that there are forums (Pelican, Rennlist, Early S, etc) where just about ANY question you might have has already been asked, answered, and debated.