Published by Motorbooks InternationalISBN 0-7603-0947-7U.S. $24.95 www.motorbooks.com
The Porsche 911 has been the subject of hundreds of books and dozens of buyer's guides, so it should come as no surprise there is yet another headed for a bookstore near you. The distinction of Randy Leffingwell's "Porsche 911 Buyer's Guide" is that this one is actually worthwhile.
To begin with, Leffingwell offers some of the best step-by-step instructions on how to inspect a used 911 to have ever reached the printed page. This first chapter alone is worth the book's $24.95 price tag.
The would-be buyer is led through various levels of scrutiny, each highlighting important elements such as the electronics, interior and the body. Leffingwell's guide insists the car meet certain criteria before the buyer moves to the next level of poking and prodding. If the possible purchase fails any of these simple appraisals, Leffingwell rightly suggests the shopper thank the seller for his time and begin his search anew.
The second chapter looks into problems specific to the Targas and Cabriolets. This is something rarely addressed, as the open 911s are usually handled as mere footnotes to the Coupes. Chapter three offers an excellent discussion on the pros and cons of buying a gray-market car and, more importantly, how to tell if a seller is trying to peddle one of these shady vehicles without revealing its sordid past.
For the remainder of the book, Leffingwell details the particulars of the 911, from the 1965 "O" series to the 2001 Turbo. And with each car he itemizes the good and the bad, the exceptional and the sometimes horrendous.
The model years are separated into chapters. Beginning with an informational description, Leffingwell adds specification and parts lists. There is also a rating sheet for distinctions in handling, acceleration and the like. As with all ratings, there is always a suspicion of bias, but the author explains the rating standard was produced from a variety of sources.
Leffingwell has further amassed excerpts from what the automotive press was saying about the 911 that year, such things as "Superb is a poor word for the suspension..." and "There is no such thing as a nonsporting Porsche." Many of these passages are like the master works of old English writers once thought lost and now gleefully reprinted for a new generation to enjoy.
On two-page photo spreads, Leffingwell has added information bubbles headlining improvements and continuing problems. Many of these notes are cumulative; that is, problems that occur in one year but not corrected by the factory are recognized in each succeeding chapter. This is explained in the introduction, but, if one for example simply scans the chapter covering the 1980 911 and found the warning "Sunroof leaks, as from 1970," it may not be clear that the complete explanation for the faulty roof is in the chapter about the 1970 911.
If there is one criticism of this book, it's with the photographs. Buyer's guides, of course, are not meant to be coffee-table books, but every Porsche addict knows, and most likely owns, Leffingwell's renowned photo essay book, "Porsche Legends," one of the best photographic studies ever compiled of the German marque.
Clearly, the cars in this guide were positioned in driveways and sales lots to reflect how a used 911 may be viewed, but as Leffingwell's name is on the book's spin, I had expectations of spectacular eye candy on every page.