Hmm... I'm a little bemused. I've read so many people on this forum saying that their 911 is now the slowest vehicle on the road, getting dusted by trucks and ice cream vans, but I just don't get it. Sure, there are plenty of fast modern cars like M3s, Evos and Cayenne Turbos which will out perform our older cars, but personally I find that when I mash the throttle of my 911 there isn't usually much around that will keep up. Surely your Carrera will out accelerate Accords? Maybe everyday cars are more powerful over in the America than they are here or something?

For the most part we are talking off the line...and Accord V6 is no slouch anywhere in the powerband and the new Camry's either. 3rd gear runs in my 911 are great and for the most part not much will hang but you are at uber illegal speeds by then - but then again our 911's are not geared for US type driving...I guess my point is that most people live by the mantra that Porsche is all conquering even the old ones, and that is not true. It is a unique car with a storied history that requires skill to drive and is a great, cheap track car...other than that I find it is lacking in too many areas to list...some are just in denial I guess.

-Jeff

Finally, somebody said it. Amen :)

The easy answer is 'YES'. The average vehicle here is more powerful than the average UK vehicle. I would guess the average displacement to be about double. (Think trucks and SUVs, which aren't anywhere near as prevalent 'over there')

E

Gas guzzling oversized Yank Tanks is just about all we have now. Yeah, there are some smaller cars coming out, but not nearly enough.

Yay big oil!

The 911 is no slouch. Different years mean different things, but I'd stack it up against just about anything from the era in which it was produced.

Ahh.. that's explains a lot! I think our minimal engine size here in the UK has a lot to do with the price of petrol - we buy it by the litre but I think it equates to about £5 a gallon here at the moment, which is over $9!

I was blown away the first time I saw a gas station price board for whatever low rate it was (Vancouver BC)... only when I started filling up did my little brain engage and I realized it was in liters. :)

Whoops, I missed this post.

Yes, now you mention it, it is third gear acceleration when I feel my car does best and still mixes it with the best of 'em, not off the line. Interesting post - I reckon that sums up the situation really.

I certainly agree that some people have this unrealistic idea that somehow their old 911 should be faster and quicker than just about anything out there. The reality is that this is simply a fantasy. There are any number of cars out today that are quicker and faster than our 20 to 40 year old 911's, not including all of the super cars. I can think of quite a few off the top of my head I'd never mess with in my 3.2 Carrera - at least in a straight line drag race. Mitsubishi Evo's, Subaru WRX STi's, most of todays BMW's, Honda S2000's, etc. I also certainly would not provoke a Cayenne TT unless I liked being embarrassed by a SUV in public. That's just the way it is.

With that said, however, let's be realistic. No Camry or Prelude could "dust" a Carrera 3.2 or even (probably) a SC. Both of those cars are certainly quick but they are not quite as quick as the Carrera 3.2's...yet. Just look at the stats for proof.

I get your broader point though.

Gosh my 3.2 used to get left at the lights by people who wherent even aware I was trying to get ahead of them in traffic. Most notoriously by a (very) old lady in a '70s Toyota Corolla. That being said, it wasn't a "Euro"......so I think I was missing a whopping 10hp.

Back to the original question though, we had a Ceyenne Turbo (bone stock) do some hot laps at a Porsche track day. I don't recall the figures, but definatly remember the feeling of utter and total humiliation.

Time to put a Chevy engine in that Carrera.

At a recent track day, I heard a great piece of advice from one driver to another: "There will always be someone who is faster." SmileWavy

Yeah, but not THAT much faster and NOT in a people mover. Specially not one that FUGLY!

Yes, but isn't the Cayenne Turbo S also supposed to be the fastest production Porsche at Nurburing, except for the Carrera GT, GT-3 and latest 911 Turbo? That must leave a whole lot of other P-cars with a flapping jaw.

You mean my stock 72E can't beat a new Corvette? Why, just the other day....................aw never mind;)

I guess in 34 years, its fitting that technology has caught & well past what was once considered a very fast and well handling auto.

If you want something that still can't be put into the shadt, go find a CTR....................

The 0-60 times that people quote for older 911's generally require abusive launch tactics, something the people that own the cars generally shy away from.........mfg's and magazines don't mind as much.:D

sucks that i have to make off i'm not paying attention to the light next to the lady in the sienna, and to keep up with her i have to make so much noise and effort it's embarrassing. still love my cars for what they are.

Yeah, I find it especially embarrassing when I struggle to keep pace with electric wheel chairs - I have to pretend I'm not trying!

hey charles, same year as mine. is it row? just throw a stick in the spokes... works for me.