The Greatest Porsche Road Car?

[1990C4S]

The thread Baz started got me thinking...and my 'exposure' is wayyy too limited to answer the question for 'greatest Porsche', let alone 'greatest road car of all time'.

I doubt I have even sat in, let alone driven, any of the top ten Porsche models.

There are a lot people saying (paid or unpaid) that this is the greatest road car ever.

Jason and Jason thinks it #1, all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlcCJ1iMw4c&ab_channel=EngineeringExplained

Here's another opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2tZ_jBPeoI&ab_channel=ThrottleHouse

I know CP won't agree with either video (Miata/BMZ, etc), anybody have a different vote?

[Zeke]

By "road" car I assume you mean not a race car in street trim. I have heard good things about the Panamera. Shouldn't be much discomfort there. IDK, never been in one.

[cockerpunk]

i mean here is my opinion on the whole "greatest" question. what makes porsches great is not that they make 100k+ dollar cars that are 'amazing' if you are spending that kind of money, the car better be ****ing perfect, and if it isnt, the company that built it, are morons. its not an impressive feat to make 100k+ cars that are 'perfect' ... if you failed at that, you are **** company.

the magic of porsche is that every car they have made was good. I've driven a lot of porsches, and all of them were good (as long as the work was done to keep them in good shape).

and thus the symbol of greatest of porsche for me, is the 986 boxster. you can go and buy one for 10 grand right now, and it will be a fantastic car. you dont even need the S model. and you can spend 10x that on other cars, and some of them wont even be as good. like thats how well done porsches are.

and you really can't say that of any other car brand. cure, there are makes and models and trim levels that are great ... but you just cant say, its a porsche sports car? yeah, its good. you cant even say "its a corvette?" oh its good. cause there have been some serious dingers of corvettes for example.

[David]

I got a chance to drive many of the modern Porsches at a PCA DE last year when a dealer brought out several cars for lunch drives. The 911S (992S) was about as amazing a car as I could imagine.

We have a Cayman and Panamera which are also pretty amazing but if I had to pick it would be the 992. Not sure I'd put a GT car on the list since they're so track focused. I would NOT put a Taycan on the list! Also not a Cayenne. Too trucky.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by Zeke

By "road" car I assume you mean not a race car in street trim. I have heard good things about the Panamera. Shouldn't be much discomfort there. IDK, never been in one.

I think the best description is 'best driver's sports car', not track, not a GT car.

To me, a Panamera is a GT, like an Aston Martin, or a Bentley.

[DWBOX2000]

986? Boy that should get some responses.
I have a base and an S so I possibly agree with you. Unless you need a back seat, what’s not to like as a street car. Priced right, unique design, quick enough, comfortable for a sports car, used parts available, handling and brakes, still somewhat workable for a DIY. People bark about motor issues. From my sample of 4 m96 motors, all ran flawlessly. Lucky, maybe? I think a convertible is obvious. Summer cruising with the top down is pretty darn nice. As mentioned, road car. Cool, weekend car, 73 RS.

[oldE]

I think the answer is quite subjective. Who is driving and what roads will they be on?
I tend to value a balance of road holding and suspension compliance which I suspect may be biased towards the ability to deal with frost damaged two lane roads. I loved my 924s in this regard as the higher profile tires were more compliant than the 944s or the 944 Turbo I drove.
Of course I would have gladly accepted the Turbo's power, but I digress.
I want a car which will handle a four hour journey over a mixture of rural 2 lane, limited access highway and 4 lane and deliver me at the end feeling pleased. Not much to ask, is it?

Best
Les

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by oldE

I think the answer is quite subjective. Who is driving and what roads will they be on?
I tend to value a balance of road holding and suspension compliance which I suspect may be biased towards the ability to deal with frost damaged two lane roads. I loved my 924s in this regard as the higher profile tires were more compliant than the 944s or the 944 Turbo I drove.
Of course I would have gladly accepted the Turbo's power, but I digress.
I want a car which will handle a four hour journey over a mixture of rural 2 lane, limited access highway and 4 lane and deliver me at the end feeling pleased. Not much to ask, is it?

Best
Les

That.

I simply love my 85 911 as a road car. 100% analog, 200 HP and I can run through gears and not be going crazy fast. It is comfortable enough to have my wife ride with me for 12 hour drives. Great AC and heat.

No doubt newer cars are better in almost all respects, except looks and value.

[ramonesfreak]

I think the S/T is their best car ever but I have as much chance getting a ride on the space shuttle so what’s the point of thinking about it

[look 171]

I have always heard the water pumper turbos can do everything very well while it isn't laser focus on one thing. I like to buy one of those one day when I grow up.

I think a 991 or 992 GTS will be the ultimate aggressive street Porsche. I hate to think the elec. Porsche may just be the ultimate if you don't need to go too far and worry about charging.

[unclebilly]

Cayenne Turbo S…

[WPOZZZ]

GT2RS. However, for day in day out use dealing with stop and go traffic, potholes, grocery shopping... Cayenne GTS with ride height adjustable suspension.

[ramonesfreak]

Still beyond my budget but for an attainable Porsche this is what I would get and probably the best everyday use Porsche road sports car

[Eric 951]

The answer is obviously the Miata

[OK-944]

Exactly what Glen said (minus a few HP) applies to my 944.

...and I'm perfectly happy with my "not-so-aggressive" street Porsche!

[DWBOX2000]

I was thinking about this again am I have to go 944 base. The hatch back is the closer for me. A practical sports car that won’t knock out your fillings.
Never drove a 928. A Panamera styling is not my cup of tea though I’m sure are pretty amazing on the highway.

[ltusler]

Ok after we pick the greatest car, can we figure out what oil to use in it?

[ramonesfreak]

i’ve been very tempted to get a 944 turbo for years. when i was a teenager my friend lived next door and his dad had a brand new red 944 and then a 944 turbo. a white one with white interior. an 87 i think but i don’t think a Turbo Cup. it was some special model i recall. loved seeing them everyday and sitting in them. the neighbor down from him and another friend had a dad with a brand new 928 bronze with maroon interior. my friend let me drive it before i had my license when his dad was at work. i remember 2nd gear was broken. stunning car. we would sit on our bikes in the garage looking at it. nobody i ever knew had a 911 around here.

[cockerpunk]

the 944 turbo is IMO probably the best looking car of the 1980s. bar none. the proportions are just ****ing perfect.

but they are a hassle to own. wrecking grade engineering. and way more expensive to maintain than most porsches.

[URY914]

1970 914-4 1.7

The definition of a road car.
Your butt is 6" off the road surface and you feel every bump in the road.