# Which is the best Porsche 911? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388 "2013-09-21T17:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/21 "2013-09-23T03:56:49Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > For 911-Class I always liked the looks of the 901, though yeah, I don’t doubt it was tail-happy and needed that extra length. Even as a kid, though, I tended toward the [del]cheaper[/del] more-attainable end of the line and wanted a 912. I like the SWB 911s as well, and I always thought I’d get a 912 and tweak the motor, like that guy that does a $20k 4-cylinder version of the 911’s flat-6, but, you know, _sane_. The bulk of 911 development was done using the 356s engines, so the handling with the bigger 6-cylinders sucked early on. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/22 "2013-09-23T13:56:50Z")
I’ve got a doubleblack **997 S** right now and honestly couldn’t be happier with its performance, reliability and styling. The best thing, it _is_ my daily driver so enjoyment is a persistent, chronic, ongoing affair. While ‘evolved’ from their earlier, truly classic look, this is still a beautiful car. Now, which is the best 911 ever. Ooh, I’m not sure I can pick just one. Fortunately a friend races 7 different models, shares a garage with another guy that has 10 and a mechanic that’s got the 1967 his dad bought new, so I get to surround myself on a fairly frequent basis. While I do think they continue to improve and get better overall each year, nothing gets me quite like the ones I saw on the road as a kid and growing up. So I guess I’d go with the 1984-89. They always stopped me dead in my tracks. Seeing those 20 years ago is what causes me to buy them now. I was at the dealer Friday and looking at some of the new ones (just looking). I must say I think they reminded me in front a bit too much of a Ferrari. Stop that. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/23 "2013-09-24T00:49:03Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > Good cars are wasted on some people. Hey, you take that back! 😃 I got it used. 1st owner replaced the radio and must have messed up some wiring, because when I turned on the A/C, it started an electrical fire under the dash. On the highway. In a construction zone where they had concrete barriers lining the road for 2 miles. All I could do was hit the gas and get to an open area as fast as I could. Bailed out and just watched it burn, along with my cool Members Only jacket! Bad Times.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/24 "2013-09-24T00:50:13Z")
And if you like 964s, [don’t watch this clip!](http://jalopnik.com/watch-this-insane-crash-in-a-vintage-porsche-1365978804) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/25 "2013-09-24T01:04:04Z")
Every time I look at 911s, I go through the same progression – each generation has its pros and cons, and the market seems to have priced them accordingly. One thing that’s common among all the generations is that there always seem to be a more practical and faster car for a fraction of the money. They’re all overpriced, so I never look for long. From that I conclude that you should get a 993, because deep down that’s what you really want. You can’t reason your way through this one, because buying a 911 is unreasonable on it’s face. It’s emotional. Go with your emotions. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/26 "2013-09-24T02:42:43Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > From that I conclude that you should get a 993, because deep down that’s what you really want. Maybe someday. I don’t need any more cars now, and there are other things I’d rather spend my money on. > [@steronz](#): > > You can’t reason your way through this one, because buying a 911 is unreasonable on it’s face. It’s emotional. Go with your emotions. I sold my 911SC because it became impractical. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/27 "2013-09-24T03:26:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I sold my 911SC because it became impractical. 😛 I hate it when cars I buy “become” something they weren’t originally 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/28 "2013-09-24T15:59:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > impractical. 😛 You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Jumbo shrimp, military intelligence, impractical 911. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/29 "2013-09-24T16:14:40Z")
Watched Top Gear yesterday, and was shocked to see a 911 Carrera SC - I forget which year - mentioned as a candidate for worst car EVER! :eek: To their credit, they were not just looking at crap econoboxes, but were looking at quality builders who ought to have known better. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/30 "2013-09-24T16:19:41Z")
Was that the show where they picked the Lexus SC430 as the worst car ever made? (I couldn’t agree more - ugly from every angle.) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/31 "2013-09-24T18:03:56Z")
Aforementioned [garage](https://dumpyourphoto.com/photo/Fmx2nEinX3). For you 993 fans, you may not have seen the Cabriolet in that color before, Riviera Blue, one of 17 in N.A. It cleans up [nice](http://static.dyp.im/7V3lqzWCv9/e93616a13b1543173170a2144fe733c0.JPG). ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/32 "2013-09-24T18:47:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Watched Top Gear yesterday, and was shocked to see a 911 Carrera SC - I forget which year - mentioned as a candidate for worst car EVER! :eek: The Brits and other Europeans have never forgiven Porsche for those bumpers, mandated by USDOT regs. Also, the SC was pretty mild, as Porsche had planned to drop the model after that. The Porsches tossed Ernst Fuhrmann over that, and pretty much every 911 after that was stop-gap while they developed the 993 with practically no money. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/33 "2013-09-24T19:45:13Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > you may not have seen… that color before, Riviera Blue Oh, _Miata_ Blue! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/34 "2013-09-24T19:48:41Z")
Yeah, can’t say I would have bought it but rarity does drive some purchases later. Chick Porsche ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/35 "2013-09-24T23:28:58Z")
Does the 959 count? 'cause if so it’s not close. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/36 "2013-09-25T00:31:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Does the 959 count? 'cause if so it’s not close. Nope. The 959 was never imported to the U.S. during its production run. It was never certified in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/37 "2013-09-25T01:28:53Z")
> **[An Old School Porsche 911 Is The Best Teacher Money Can Buy](https://jalopnik.com/an-old-school-porsche-911-is-the-best-teacher-money-can-1377882967)** > > Yesterday Porsche pulled back the curtain on what is arguably their latest, greatest 911, the 2014 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. It's amazing, I'm sure, but when it comes to Porsches I prefer to go old school. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/38 "2013-09-25T01:32:35Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > [Jalopnik | Obsessed with the culture of cars](http://jalopnik.com/an-old-school-porsche-911-is-the-best-teacher-money-can-1377882967) I have a brochure for the Porsche 911. It’s for the 1968 or 1968 model-year. I _love_ how spartan the interiors were. Very cool. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/39 "2013-09-25T01:36:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Nope. The 959 was never imported to the U.S. during its production run. It was never certified in the U.S. I don’t see anything about US market models only in your OP. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388/40 "2013-09-25T01:37:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Does the 959 count? 'cause if so it’s not close. Yeah, that would be my vote if that model had been allowed. What a sexy beast of a car. I was never much fond of Porsches, but that one had me drooling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-the-best-porsche-911/669388.md?page=3)