911 Review, comparisons of the models

[Bob's Flat-Six]

If you have owned several models or have driven the different years can you give a comparison? What you liked or disliked.

And what year model do you think you would drive the most if you had a selection thru say 1989.

The reason I'm asking is I have an itch for an earlier model
But I love my SC

[Aussie]

The early models pre 73 are very light to drive and feel a bit like a go cart. As long as you can live with no air condidtioning and a noisy ride there a fun car to drive. I personally like the look of the early models, and their lack of refinement.

[dd74]

Undoubtedly "improvements" were made with each later year 911. But are they improvements that you care about?

Before I bought my 911, I drove another 911 that was 14 years it's junior. But I decided on the '74 over the '88. Much of the decision came with the rawness of the ride and its responsiveness: harsh, loud, and all coming on very immediately.

Refinements IMO mean heaviness and luxury, neither of which are my idea of a pure sporting experience.

[cantdrv55]

I feel the same way about my SC. It's a brute to drive because the clutch is stiff, the shifter is notchy and the engine is way loud. But I'd rather be in it than in my wife's '87. Her car is too civilized because it has cruise control, A/C, a stereo w/changer and 12 way power driver and passenger seats. The addition of creature comforts subtracts from the go kart feel and appeal.

[Jack Olsen]

This is always good reading.

[jluetjen]

Here's my $0.02.

1) They're all 911's. You can sit in any of the aircooled models and the dash looks pretty much the same, the engine sounds similar, the view over the cowl is pretty much the same. The differences are all in the subtleties and inflections. But compared to the rest of the world's cars -- they all feel like 911's.

2) Later models are more refined and heavier then earlier models. As a result of the weight and significantly wider tires, they tend to sit more solidly on the road. You don't feel every cat's eye and bump as you do in an earlier model. The engine note is more muffled due to the CIS or EFI plenum muffling the intake note. Also the engine develops its peak torque lower in the rev range. Because the engines are larger, they pull harder from low rev's, but because of the cam timing they don't sing at the upper rev ranges like the earlier engines do. In musical terms their engines tend to be beritones while the earlier engines can reach tenor.

3) Earlier cars on the other hand are lighter and react faster. Assuming that they're in good shape, they still feel "all of one piece", but it's a lighter piece. They generally don't feel any slower, and in many cases may not be any slower then the newer cars once they are rolling. They generally do lag off the line a bit since they don't develop the initial torque of the later larger engines. On the other hand carbs and even more so MFI give instant throttle response and a wonderful tenor induction note at higher rev ranges. They have a much more involved driving experience since the brakes are unassisted, you have to shift more to keep the engine in the power band and the cars reacts to every little input from both the road and the driver.

4) Finally -- to me at least -- Targa's feel noticibly different too. Along with being heavier then the corresponding coupe, they also feel to me like the weight is higher in the car and so it felt to me like there was a heavy pendlum (like on a metrinone) that was causing the car to lean one way and then the other going through S's. Almost like the car had a higher center of gravity then the suspension designers planned on.

But at the end of the day, the overwhelming impression I've gotten while driving 911's from different eras was -- "Wow - it's just like my car! Except...". But like fine wines, it's the subtle differences between the different vintages which make the experience.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Thanks to all for their replys