911 911 Turbo - All generation

[Centurion]

I think I need to visit my local Porsche dealer for posteres of some of these beasts.

 

[LaArtist]

wow man all of them are so hot.. .. love that pic..thnx for posting

 

[donau]

Real nice..thanks for the picture...

 

[siko]

Sweet pic.. thanks Luwalira!

 

[zetableh]

Turbo 997 rims == the awesome

 

[Centurion]

Larger picture for your desktop.

 

[drronh]

The air cooled ones are the best

 

[Matt]

yep. ^^^^993, 965, 930 are all air cooled.

I actually really enjoyed that poem. Thx Luw

 

[audi_rudy]

wow all of thost are hot. Even the older ones still look great. Thanks for posting

 

[Deutsch]

Where did you find those pics Luw?

 

[donau]

The air cooled ones are the best

I have heard that before and since you obviously have a lot of personal experience, if I may ask, could you sum up briefly why that is and how one gets to that judgement? The reason for asking is that I am playing with thoughts of buying a "reasonably priced" Porsche. And the models I have been considering are the Cayman, a couple of years old Carrera 4S (for the wide body), or perhaps a 993 Turbo which I know is air cooled. I did test drive a 993 Turbo once and had the thrill of my lifetime with the way the acceleration felt in the seat of the pants. But then again I prefer the looks of the 996 generation.

 

[drronh]

I have heard that before and since you obviously have a lot of personal experience, if I may ask, could you sum up briefly why that is and how one gets to that judgement? The reason for asking is that I am playing with thoughts of buying a "reasonably priced" Porsche. And the models I have been considering are the Cayman, a couple of years old Carrera 4S (for the wide body), or perhaps a 993 Turbo which I know is air cooled. I did test drive a 993 Turbo once and had the thrill of my lifetime with the way the acceleration felt in the seat of the pants. But then again I prefer the looks of the 996 generation.

Its mostly personal taste- get what you like after experiencing them all. For me the older cars are more authentic Porsche- not just air cooled, but more exciting to drive- the newer ones are more sterile, anyone can drive them well. You can tell you're in a German car with your eyes closed in one of the older ones- the smell, the feel. The newer ones seem like they could have been built anywhere. Don't get me wrong, the newer ones are great cars too. I've had a 2002 C4S and have a 2004 GT3 now, but they are more like daily drivers while my turbos are "keepers". A friend had a 996 turbo and I drove it a few days, it was fast, but not as exciting as the previous generations. I picked up my 965 last night and drove it home and honestly it felt kind of slow compared to the more modern machinery, but I still enjoy it more. The 965 spent the night in the garage and the GT3 was kicked outside. I probably would buy a 2003-4 GT2 if I found a nice one to add to my collection, and I considered ordering a 997 GT2, but I don't think they will make one. So I am first on the list for a 997 GT3 RS at the local dealer (one of the better allocated dealers in the country).

I am probably older than a lot of you and that makes a big difference too- we tend to want the cars we couldn't have when we were teenagers and in our 20's.

 

[donau]

Its mostly personal taste- get what you like after experiencing them all. For me the older cars are more authentic Porsche- not just air cooled, but more exciting to drive- the newer ones are more sterile, anyone can drive them well. You can tell you're in a German car with your eyes closed in one of the older ones- the smell, the feel. The newer ones seem like they could have been built anywhere. Don't get me wrong, the newer ones are great cars too. I've had a 2002 C4S and have a 2004 GT3 now, but they are more like daily drivers while my turbos are "keepers". A friend had a 996 turbo and I drove it a few days, it was fast, but not as exciting as the previous generations. I picked up my 965 last night and drove it home and honestly it felt kind of slow compared to the more modern machinery, but I still enjoy it more. The 965 spent the night in the garage and the GT3 was kicked outside. I probably would buy a 2003-4 GT2 if I found a nice one to add to my collection, and I considered ordering a 997 GT2, but I don't think they will make one. So I am first on the list for a 997 GT3 RS at the local dealer (one of the better allocated dealers in the country).

I am probably older than a lot of you and that makes a big difference too- we tend to want the cars we couldn't have when we were teenagers and in our 20's.

Thanks, I appreciate the response. I'm still intrigued about your comment that the turbos are keepers and the GT3 and C4S are daily drivers. Is that because they (the Turbos) don't feel like normal cars, which is what I experienced when I did the clutch drop with the 993 Turbo and let it rip, and you don't get the others to do that, or is it something else about the feel of the car? For me the 993 Turbo was unique in comparing it with an M5 or E55 in that in M5 and E55 one feels safe and isolated, while in the 993 Turbo I did not feel safe at all, on a narrow and slightly winding road going from 0 to 110 mph in what felt like 2 or 3 seconds, which I know of course can't be, but that's how it felt. It felt scary but exhilarating at the same time. But anyway, I'd be interested to hear if you'd like to elaborate on the daily driver vs. keepers - comment.
I know what you mean about age. I am not all that old, but don't consider myself physically young either. Mentally yes, still a 60's hippie. But the Porsche bug only bit me a couple of years ago and the desire to have one has been evolving and growing ever since.

 

[drronh]

That's a big part of it "scary but exhilarating", new cars lack the scary part! But its only scary at first, once you get used to it, its not scary anymore- you remided me of the first time I rode in a 911 turbo- 1987. The only exhilarating 996 turbo I have driven is the Gemballa 650. Another part is the mystique of the early turbos- they were not available in the US 1980-1986, and the only other cars in the same league were Ferraris and Lamborghinis and the quality on those were terrible and they were unreliable. Now every manufacturer builds reliable well made cars that can go 0-60 in 5-6 secs, hit 150 mph or more, and stop "on a dime". It is a better time now for car enthusiasts, but a car like a 996 turbo stands out from the crowd less in 2004 that the 930 did in the late 1970's.

 

[donau]

That's a big part of it "scary but exhilarating", new cars lack the scary part! But its only scary at first, once you get used to it, its not scary anymore- you remided me of the first time I rode in a 911 turbo- 1987. The only exhilarating 996 turbo I have driven is the Gemballa 650. Another part is the mystique of the early turbos- they were not available in the US 1980-1986, and the only other cars in the same league were Ferraris and Lamborghinis and the quality on those were terrible and they were unreliable. Now every manufacturer builds reliable well made cars that can go 0-60 in 5-6 secs, hit 150 mph or more, and stop "on a dime". It is a better time now for car enthusiasts, but a car like a 996 turbo stands out from the crowd less in 2004 that the 930 did in the late 1970's.

Thanks, I appreciate the answers and am looking forward to perhaps some more converstions on this topic at a later date.

 

[Matt]

You may be referring to my M5 write up where I compared my driving experience in teh M5 and the 993 turbo. THe turbo is an awsome car and shouldnt be overlooked. The 993 still has that porsche feel (where the door pings and the no frills environment) while the 996 may not offer that authenticness (not sure if thats a word).

 

[Deutsch]

You may be referring to my M5 write up where I compared my driving experience in teh M5 and the 993 turbo. THe turbo is an awsome car and shouldnt be overlooked. The 993 still has that porsche feel (where the door pings and the no frills environment) while the 996 may not offer that authenticness (not sure if thats a word).

*authenticity

 

[Matt]

aww, thats what I was looking for......

 

[donau]

You may be referring to my M5 write up where I compared my driving experience in teh M5 and the 993 turbo. THe turbo is an awsome car and shouldnt be overlooked. The 993 still has that porsche feel (where the door pings and the no frills environment) while the 996 may not offer that authenticness (not sure if thats a word).

Thanks Matt. Actually I had not read that thread yet but now I have and I think you wrote a great write up of your experiences. Quite interesting that our experiences were so similar. Kinda validates the experiences as more objective when several people experience the same thing. Reading you and drronh write about the older turbos, 993 Turbo in this case naturally makes me think about this car more and more. Unfortunately I prefer the exterior bodystyling of the 996 and 997. But the interior is fun. I liked the way the clutch and break pedals were too, sticking out of the floor just like in my grandfathers old MB 170Va, instead of hanging from the top.