Georg Kacher's 10 Greatest 911's

[Nine17]

The March 2010 Automobile Magazine cover story is Georg Kacher's "10 Greatest 911's [Let the Fistfights Begin]." Uncle Georg lists:

I. '73 Carrera RS 2.7
II. '78 Turbo 3.3
III. '81 911SC Targa
IV. '87 Clubsport
V. '89 911 Speedster
VI. '92 964 Turbo S
VII. '95 993 Carrera RS 3.8
VIII. '98 Turbo S
IX. '04 996 GT2
X. '10 Turbo

I was very happy to see the '87 Clubsport on the list. My '88 GP White/Carrera tail/Victor Ofner motor coupe is a "tribute" to the 28 actually imported to the U.S. and externally similar to the example pictured in the article. In a sidebar Walter Rohrl includes the '89 Carrera 3.2 on his list of "Favorite 911's" as well.

Let the fistfights begin!

[UrQuattro]

Hahah! I have an 81 targa. That and an 83 UrQuattro. So I have two of best sports cars ever made. And my p-car is the 3rd best 911.

Hehe. This rocks.

Michael

[Mikey83835]

I have an '81 SC Targa as well, and so i should feel special I guess, heeh, but wonder why he picked an '81, the '78 an '79 did not have the catalytic converter

[ZAMIRZ]

He should replace the SC Targa with a GT3RS.

[s2per]

I've owned two '81 SC Targas and despite the fact that Kacher chose the car for some slightly sentimental reasons, they are a fine choice for a good "all-around" 911. The ultimate 911? No, not even close. Affordable, serviceable and still a blast to drive? Absolutely!

[tmctguer]

I agree with #5 -- the '89 911 Speedster........i happen to be selling mine, so i could use the endorsement !

[Dantilla]

Why do '73's with the 2.7 get all the credit? What about my '73 with the 3.2?

[crater64]

In the third sentence of his article he referred to my car as "neither fish-nor-fowl" and "awful" (see my sig). While I'm sure many would agree, after that I had a very hard time taking the article seriously.

[bgyglfr]

Man, I sold my 81 SC targa a year ago. If I only knew.

[teamfee3]

really, and '81 Targa and not a GT3? No narrow bodies or short wheel base cars? That's a goofy list.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by Nine17

In a sidebar Walter Rohrl includes the '89 Carrera 3.2 on his list of "Favorite 911's" as well.

Walter Rohrl's list in the same article is a better list, IMO:

1967 911S
1973 911 Carrera RS
1989 911 Carrera
1990 964 C4
1991 964 Carrera RS 3.6
1993 964 Turbo
1995 993 Carrera RS
2008 997 GT3
2010 997 Turbo
2010 997 GT3 RS







Tim

[paulgtr]

it's like making a list of the top ten supermodels

[teamfee3]

Walter Rohrl would know, that's a solid list and hard to argue.

[VinceQN]

No 993 gt2 on anyones list? It is on mines!

[BK911]

How could a 71E coupe and 70T targa NOT make the list? This list sucks!

Yea, lists are pretty subjective. If your car is on it, the list is great. If not, it sucks!

How do you define greatest? At what? Lap times? Comfort? Daily driver? Combo? The list is nothing but a conversation piece.

[equality72521]

My car is technically #2 since the 1978/79 were identical.

[deathpunk dan]

Originally Posted by tchanson

Walter Rohrl's list in the same article is a better list, IMO:

1967 911S
1973 911 Carrera RS
1989 911 Carrera
1990 964 C4
1991 964 Carrera RS 3.6
1993 964 Turbo
1995 993 Carrera RS
2008 997 GT3
2010 997 Turbo
2010 997 GT3 RS

Interesting. I thought many disliked the way the 964 C4 drove? If Mr Rohrl says it's good...it must be!

[Elombard]

I know that 90 C4 is odd...typo?

I am surprised the 996 GT3 not on there and surprised the 997 GT3 is on there....I guess you cant believe everything you read on the internet :-)

I am thinking the last two are there because he is on Porsche pay roll...though I am sure they are very good cars.

[gregwils]

Originally Posted by s2per

I've owned two '81 SC Targas and despite the fact that Kacher chose the car for some slightly sentimental reasons, they are a fine choice for a good "all-around" 911. The ultimate 911? No, not even close. Affordable, serviceable and still a blast to drive? Absolutely!

+1 The vehicle choice was fine, but didn't think his rationale was very strong. It should have been about reliability and durability. I also would have made it a Targa or Coupe. I applaud Automobile for their variety of articles.

[Peter Zimmermann]

See post #10...

Rennlist Discussion Forums

This is my "spin..."

73 Carrera RS 2.7 - High "cool" factor + rarity, but driveability can suffer from MFI that's only operating at 97% instead of 100%. Noisy but fast. I think that the 1967 S belongs here. The RS would not make my list.

78 Turbo 3.3 - Early models had crankshaft/thrust bearing failures. A better pick would have been the '79 Turbo 3.3, better yet, an '89 Turbo w/5-speed transmission. The '78 would not make my list.

81 SC targa - We're batting 3/3. The '81 is fitted with the last year of highly suspect Dilavar head studs, which break at a far higher rate than '82> studs. Would not make my list. 1983 SC Cabriolet (or coupe) is a far better pick.

87 Clubsport - OK

89 Speedster - Wide body (Turbo-Look) model please. Good car for this list.

92 Turbo S - 381 hp/362 lbs torque. That's cool.

95 Carrera RS 3.8 - Accessibility might dampen some enthusiasm for this car, I personally have never seen one. Let's put a '97 Targa in this slot (that's how to get the 993s in the list).

98 Turbo S - Nope. Gotta put the '02 TT (with X50) in this slot. 450 hp, and a glove box. And if you want one as a Cabriolet hold out for an '04.

04 GT2 - Nope. I like the GT3 better. Titanium connecting rods, normally aspirated, better bang for the buck.

10 997 Turbo - Too new to tell, how about the 1997 "911" GT1? I mean, if we're going to pick a car from rarefied air, let's go all the way!