Favourite Non-GT 911 Owned ?
Discussion
I'm interested in the opinions of serial 911 owners as to which cars you've enjoyed the most.
Did you prefer the normally aspirated or turbo versions?
Did you enjoy air or water-cooled versions the most?
I'm asking because without having driven them I'm wanting to narrow the field somewhat and what I'm interested in is character, driver involvement and pride of ownership.
Whenever I see someone's extensive 911 history I'm always wondering which model(s) they enjoyed the most & perhaps most regretted selling.
While it's pretty unarguable that each succeeding generation of 911 is objectively an improvement upon its predecessor - that doesn't necessarily mean it offers a more enjoyable, memorable and excting driving experience.
What's your pick?
Did you prefer the normally aspirated or turbo versions?
Did you enjoy air or water-cooled versions the most?
I'm asking because without having driven them I'm wanting to narrow the field somewhat and what I'm interested in is character, driver involvement and pride of ownership.
Whenever I see someone's extensive 911 history I'm always wondering which model(s) they enjoyed the most & perhaps most regretted selling.
While it's pretty unarguable that each succeeding generation of 911 is objectively an improvement upon its predecessor - that doesn't necessarily mean it offers a more enjoyable, memorable and excting driving experience.
What's your pick?
My 964 was a great mix of old and new and could be easily used daily although my 3.2 is raw and go kart like.
I have had 996 in 3 different guises and all were very good. The GT2 was special, the turbo was a bit clinical and easy to use and the C4s was underrated IMO.
Had a 997 turbo for a while and this felt much less like a sports car to me and felt much bigger than the 996's. Much more of a GT feeling.
I prefer the air cooled cars now, but could easily be tempted in to a 996 gt3.
I have had 996 in 3 different guises and all were very good. The GT2 was special, the turbo was a bit clinical and easy to use and the C4s was underrated IMO.
Had a 997 turbo for a while and this felt much less like a sports car to me and felt much bigger than the 996's. Much more of a GT feeling.
I prefer the air cooled cars now, but could easily be tempted in to a 996 gt3.
The favourite non-GT memory I have is driving my brothers new 911 in 1982 - cannot work out exactly which car it was. I still remember the delicious steering and the fabulous brakes. Compared to other 1982 cars this was a genuine rocketship!
Of cars I have owned I am going to invoke the Spanish Inquisition and say my 991S. Massively capable, still a 911 at heart (contrary to naysayers) and a car of its age, in the same way the 1982 car was.
In context I have only owned one other non-GT 911 and that was a 1997 993 C2.
Prepare the stocks!
Of cars I have owned I am going to invoke the Spanish Inquisition and say my 991S. Massively capable, still a 911 at heart (contrary to naysayers) and a car of its age, in the same way the 1982 car was.
In context I have only owned one other non-GT 911 and that was a 1997 993 C2.
Prepare the stocks!
I think it depends on what you drive as a daily car. I usually have some sort of older BMW, like an E36 or E46 and even jumping out of one of those made a pre-'89 car feel like a tractor, hence the 964 is my favourite.
My 964 C2 was a great car but my Turbo was my favourite car I've owned so far. I bought a GT3 at the backend of last summer but haven't used it enough yet for it to fully fill the void my Turbo left. In some ways it never will, but in others the GT3 is untouchable.
Some people say the Carreras are nicer to drive than the Turbos but I loved my Turbo as a road car for cruising, blasting and weekends away. Yeah they're a bit laggy but they are a lovely old car with the looks to match their go.
964s are expensive to run though, even just for summer use, if you like things right. In fact the servcing on my GT3 is looking cheaper than the 964. A spark-plug change is just one of a list of jobs that is much simpler, therefore less cost.
All that said, I've got an itch for a pre-'74 car that is only getting stronger as time goes on. Will the GT3 be going as quick as it came? Hmm, we'll see.
My 964 C2 was a great car but my Turbo was my favourite car I've owned so far. I bought a GT3 at the backend of last summer but haven't used it enough yet for it to fully fill the void my Turbo left. In some ways it never will, but in others the GT3 is untouchable.
Some people say the Carreras are nicer to drive than the Turbos but I loved my Turbo as a road car for cruising, blasting and weekends away. Yeah they're a bit laggy but they are a lovely old car with the looks to match their go.
964s are expensive to run though, even just for summer use, if you like things right. In fact the servcing on my GT3 is looking cheaper than the 964. A spark-plug change is just one of a list of jobs that is much simpler, therefore less cost.
All that said, I've got an itch for a pre-'74 car that is only getting stronger as time goes on. Will the GT3 be going as quick as it came? Hmm, we'll see.
To the OP I have been a serial C2 owner, starting with a 964, 993, 996, 997 Gen 1 and 997 Gen 2 and now a current 991. the last three were all C2S and the last two with pdk. It shouldn't be a surprise that each one seemed to me to be an improvement on the last model. The 997 was definitely evolutionary from Gen 1 to Gen 2 but other than that they were definitely a step change each time. So which one is my favourite? The current one of course. A staggeringly capable sports car when you want it to be, and a friendly daily driver or relaxing European GT when you have serious mile munching to do. I don't think you can go wrong with the last couple of iterations, but would be nervous of a 993 or earlier. As far as C2 v C4, I have always felt the 2 wheel drive suits the car, which has massive traction from the rear weight transfer in almost all situations, and the added weight from the 4wd system dulls the experience IMHO. Having said that, a long weekend with a 997 C4S on a spirited Club drive in rubbish weather last year, the added feeling of security was palpable.
So, for what it's worth, get the best and most recent you can afford.
So, for what it's worth, get the best and most recent you can afford.
marky911 said:
My 964 C2 was a great car but my Turbo was my favourite car I've owned so far. I bought a GT3 at the backend of last summer but haven't used it enough yet for it to fully fill the void my Turbo left. In some ways it never will, but in others the GT3 is untouchable.
Some people say the Carreras are nicer to drive than the Turbos but I loved my Turbo as a road car for cruising, blasting and weekends away. Yeah they're a bit laggy but they are a lovely old car with the looks to match their go.
Got to agree with this - driven 3.2s galore and loved them all (targas, coupe, even the wobbly cabs) as well as 993 and 996s but nothing beats the looks and vroom of my 930 - sheer old fashioned unassisted magic!Some people say the Carreras are nicer to drive than the Turbos but I loved my Turbo as a road car for cruising, blasting and weekends away. Yeah they're a bit laggy but they are a lovely old car with the looks to match their go.
I think you have to go try a few. The first 911 I ever drove was a 1989 3.2 Carrera Sport Coupe. That car was what turned me onto the whole 911 thing. But by modern standards it is antiquainted without modern day standards of heating and ventilation. No power steering, abs brakes, traction control or flappy paddles. It was however the most tactile car that I had ever driven. You feel completely involved in the whole driving and visceral experience.
964's and 993's offer the same appeal but with a slightly more modern theme to them. They all share the familiar cabin and that hewn from granite feel.
I've owned manuals and tips, turbo's and normally aspirated and I enjoyed each one for what it was. I'm back in a 3.2 Carrera as I want to have fun at sensible speed and love the old school feel.
964's and 993's offer the same appeal but with a slightly more modern theme to them. They all share the familiar cabin and that hewn from granite feel.
I've owned manuals and tips, turbo's and normally aspirated and I enjoyed each one for what it was. I'm back in a 3.2 Carrera as I want to have fun at sensible speed and love the old school feel.
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