Glad I bought another Carrera!!!
 

I just finished going through an 1985 Carrera, which I gave to my 40 year old Son who has wanted a 911 but could not afford one. I started looking a later Porsche's, the more I drove them the more I realized that they were more comfortable, more quiet, and had way more creature comforts. I was almost convinced to by an automatic so my wife could drive, She does not drive a stick. I found the more I looked at newer stuff the less excited I was getting, I found a great Cab (with holding the year and model to avoid the wrath) and just about ready to purchase from a high line sports car lot, When the Salesman said" This also has the ENGINE SOUND PACKAGE, this package makes these cars sound like the older 911's, It gives you more more intake noise, it was an option, to give more of the sports car sound". I thought to my self, more of a sports car sound? There is an option so you can hear the engine intake? What in the hell am I doing, have I lost it? I am about to give up all that I know is sacred and the ability to do most of my own work. After I regained my thoughts I went home and started looking for the cars that have a real sound, maybe without heated seats and navigation, and a completely silent cockpit, but I thought this is what Porsche was all about, not what Porsche has become. I realize that everyone has to do there own thing and that more modern Porsche's are fine cars and appeal to a lot of people, but I realized they are just not for me. I found a 1987 coupe that had been well-Loved had a correct fantastic paint job. I bought it gave it a complete maintenance some upgrades, a Steve Wong Chip, some new rubber, and I Love the result. I guess I am becoming one of the old farts that is a Classics guy and loves the throaty sound of a 911 tearing through the mountains in the early morning. I might get blown off by "THE KID", in a 300 HP Suburu but I will get over it. I am glad to be back where I belong. JL

+1

you dont have to be old to think the way you do. if i won the megamillions, i would buy every available SC on the planet and hoard them in a giant hanger

i could never live without that oily smell

I love the 80s Carreras (see my sig.) but the 996s and 997s are real sports cars - they are an evolution of the marque, just as the 911 was from the 356, and the 80s Carreras were from the models that went before them.
And don't forget that in the 80s our cars were seen as 'yuppie mobiles' - that is, not as real 911s. And some of them even had heated seats!

Yea, mine's got power windows, mirrors, A/C, sunroof... all the crap that these cars are NOT supposed to have. But it is still air-cooled and wails like a burning pig at 6000rpm, which IS what it is supposed to do.

Funny, how great minds think alike! The other day I was on the highway, and I passed a new Lexus SUV. The driver didn't take kindly to it and started the standard ride my bumper overly aggressive stuff. My immediate thought was the nastiest rattiest most used up 911 [air cooled of course] was far more sublime than just about anything on the road, including his SU TUB and he and all others were pretenders. I'm not delusional about the cars abilities, I'm just enthralled with the sensory pleasures it gives. How does it go? "There is no subistute"

I recently went through the same search process. Decided on an 82 SC. I'm your son's age.

Welcome back. :)

Sold my 84 Carrera and after a few years, I had to have another one. The 80SC has been in my care ever since.

Great write up of how a car gets found and bought. I have a Carrera. I just wish it was as exciting to me as yours is to you.

I did like it more at first and still do. But, I'm not liking it more each month, which is normal for me, but also disturbing. If I had the money. I'd be after something Euro spec. A 3.0 MFI Carrera would be the pinnacle.

Or another early long hood. I'd probably fall for an R Gruppe 912.

My opinion won't be echoed here as much I should think. I've always looked at all 911's as true 911's. To me the "real" ones aren't the long hoods, or strictly the air cooled's. I have a GREAT Carrera, but I'd trade 100 of my 3.2 Carrera's for a 997, or even a 996. They're an incredible evolution of the species.

I know 996 are real sports cars but for me I kind of like the idea that everyone does not have the same car you do. In 1987 there were 3,500 Carrera coupes brought in to the United States, I would think there are 3,500 2002 996s in Los Angeles, I see women driving them in my neighborhood dropping off their kids at school. Like I said I am probably a little archaic in my thinking, but they don't seem that special anymore, JL

Always wanted one and finally bought my first 911 ('89 Cabrio) about a year ago. I am still amazed every time I drive it. These truly are special cars. It is sensory overload in every way imaginable - feel, sounds, smells, vibrations. Owning this car has exceeded every expectation I had. It is not something that can be easily explained to anyone who has never experienced it. I have driven and enjoyed a more modern evolution of the 911 with the water cooled engine and although it was enjoyable in its own way, it just wasnt the same. I found myself longing for my '89 - less power and comfort aside. I would like to experience a mid-90's 911 but havent had the chance yet. For now - I am thrilled with my car as it is and can't imagine ever being without one again.

well said, their is nothing in the world like an air cooled 911 !!!

soo true, this is what Porsche has become..

Its not about pictures. It is about tactile things and about exchanging thoughts. Great starter and ongoing comments. Due to budget constraints I don't have a pre 73 911 S which I would love to have. Nor do I have a 996 nor a 997 which sometimes I think would be fine. I thank my lower means for keeping me in an older air cooled machine that I can DIY and makes those great noises. Newer cars in my opinion are MORE = LESS. Computer aided design leads to cookie cutter similarity and I choose to be a maverick. Character is worth more to me than the finesse of the newer machines. The best thing about old cars is that they get older.

Dan

I recently drove a '09 997 Carrera S. It was everything I expected it to be: fast, quiet, comfortable, stable, beautiful, etc. It was a better car than my '77 911S 3.2 conversion in every way. BUT.........it left me cold. Forget the $100K price tag for a moment. The car was just too STERILE. The "old" 911's are like old friends. I find all their idiosyncracies very familiar and comforting. These cars talk to me; I understand them and therefore love them.

I've been through this before. I had a 996 along with my 85 Carrera and they were very different cars! The 996 was a tip, but it was very fast and handled well. I could probably drive that car to 9/10th with my eyes closed. My Carrera was much slower eventhough it was a RoW car and it was harder to drive even at 7/10ths. This car required lots of driver input and patience. I LOVED it!

Now, I have a 3.4 930 turbo and a 964 turbo. The 930 is much more rewarding to drive and is much faster than the 964t because of all her mods. Sadly, her motor is in pieces as it is undergoing another rebuild as the person who rebuilt it just before I bought her, did a crappy job. I truly miss that car! I drive the 964t sparingly as its mileage is very low (20k), but I drove it last night. It was fun to drive, but it is not my 930. The car is comfortable, quiet and even the ac works. Gawd, I hate that car! lol It is just like my 996.

This pretty much sums it up......;)

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