Why These 5 Porsche 911s Have Left the Deepest Mark on My Driving Journey
For automotive journalists, testing vehicles isn’t just a job—it’s a lifelong passion. Over my career, I’ve had the privilege of driving hundreds of high-performance cars, but few have captured my heart quite like the Porsche 911. With nearly 40 years behind the wheel, I’ve witnessed the evolution of this iconic machine, from its raw, uncompromising roots to today’s digitally enhanced masterpieces.
It’s hard to believe that four decades have passed since I first experienced a 911. My introduction to this legend was a white 3.0-liter Carrera, complete with black Fuchs alloys, no rear wing, and a five-speed manual. At the time, it was being tested alongside a 944 Turbo. While the 944 was technically superior—faster, more powerful, and easier to drive on any road—the 911 possessed an undeniable allure. It was a car that demanded respect, one that made me question my own judgment and ultimately won me over with its soul-stirring character.
The Evolution of an Icon
Over the years, the 911 has continuously reinvented itself, proving that an icon can evolve without losing its essence. Apart from a brief scare in the early 1990s with the 964 generation, Porsche has consistently refined its flagship model, keeping it fresh, exciting, and relevant in a rapidly changing automotive landscape.
If I were to spend my own money on a new car today, the 911 would still be on my shortlist. From the early, demanding models to the modern track rockets, these five examples represent the pinnacles of Porsche’s engineering prowess and driving passion.
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Why These 5 Porsche 911s Have Left the Deepest Mark on My Driving Journey
For automotive journalists, testing vehicles isn’t just a job—it’s a lifelong passion. Over my career, I’ve had the privilege of driving hundreds of high-performance cars, but few have captured my heart quite like the Porsche 911. With nearly 40 years behind the wheel, I’ve witnessed the evolution of this iconic machine, from its raw, uncompromising roots to today’s digitally enhanced masterpieces.
It’s hard to believe that four decades have passed since I first experienced a 911. My introduction to this legend was a white 3.0-liter Carrera, complete with black Fuchs alloys, no rear wing, and a five-speed manual. At the time, it was being tested alongside a 944 Turbo. While the 944 was technically superior—faster, more powerful, and easier to drive on any road—the 911 possessed an undeniable allure. It was a car that demanded respect, one that made me question my own judgment and ultimately won me over with its soul-stirring character.
The Evolution of an Icon
Over the years, the 911 has continuously reinvented itself, proving that an icon can evolve without losing its essence. Apart from a brief scare in the early 1990s with the 964 generation, Porsche has consistently refined its flagship model, keeping it fresh, exciting, and relevant in a rapidly changing automotive landscape.
If I were to spend my own money on a new car today, the 911 would still be on my shortlist. From the early, demanding models to the modern track rockets, these five examples represent the pinnacles of Porsche’s engineering prowess and driving passion.
The Original 911 Turbo (930)
The legend of the 911 Turbo began long before I ever got behind the wheel. Veteran road testers of the 1970s spoke of the original 930 in hushed, almost reverent tones. They described it as a car that punished the timid and rewarded the bold—a true Widowmaker, they warned. Its infamous turbo lag meant the difference between a smooth, controlled launch and a terrifying surge of power that could spin the car out of control on a wet road.
For years, I wondered if these stories were exaggerated. It took me 35 years to finally experience the real thing.
When I drove this specific 930, one of the first 30 production Turbos ever built and now part of Porsche’s private collection, I was acutely aware of its fearsome reputation. I started cautiously, trying to understand the car’s behavior as I eased into the throttle. To my surprise, the engine was incredibly tractable at low RPMs. Cruising at 45 mph in fifth gear felt effortless, with the engine humming gently.
However, around 3,500 RPM, the magic happened. The turbo spooled up, and 0.8 bar of boost flooded the intake. The acceleration was palpable, but it wasn’t the violent punch I’d expected. It was a controlled surge of power, a reminder that while this car was fast, it wasn’t necessarily a death sentence.
I discovered the secret to driving this beast: keep the 3.0-liter flat-six spinning above 4,000 RPM. Yes, there is turbo lag—significant by today’s standards—but it’s manageable if you anticipate it. Even half a century later, this 911 is incredibly quick. First gear hits 50 mph, second reaches 90 mph, and third can hit nearly 130 mph. Using just second and third gears, you can obliterate most winding two-lane roads. With 256 horsepower and weighing just over 2,500 pounds, the 930 is agile in corners and devastatingly fast for its time. For a 1970s car, it was practically alien.
The 993-Generation Porsche 911
For purists, the 993 represents the last of the “real” 911s—the final air-cooled model and a true mechanical masterpiece. When I first drove the 993 in 1994, it was positioned as the future of the 911. Porsche was breaking new ground, challenging Isaac Newton’s laws of physics with engineering that made the car faster, more stable, and easier to drive than ever before.
While the front end still required the driver to load the weight before corner entry to hit the apex, and the rear end still required respect on uneven surfaces, the overall synergy between the chassis components was vastly improved. The 993 still felt like a 911, but with a much larger margin for error.
The star of the show was the new rear suspension. Porsche replaced the semi-trailing arms with a multilink setup that allowed for controlled toe changes during cornering. This significantly reduced camber change, the Achilles’ heel of 911s since 1963. The steering was also 16% quicker (2.5 turns lock-to-lock), making the front end feel much more decisive. It was coupled with a new six-speed manual transmission that allowed the 3.6-liter flat-six to reach its 268-horsepower peak at 6,100 RPM thanks to lighter internal components, advanced Bosch engine management, and a new dual exhaust.
Compared to the 964 it replaced, the 993 was a revelation. It wasn’t just the engineering upgrades—led by Ulrich Bez, who would later head Aston Martin—but also the exterior redesign by Harm Lagaay. Lagaay corrected what he saw as the 964’s visual flaws: a front end that was too tall and a rear that looked pushed down. The interior was cleaner too, with fewer randomly placed buttons. The 993 was faster, more forgiving, and, most importantly, more desirable than ever.
The 996-Generation Porsche 911
At the time of its release, the 996 was heresy to Porsche purists. Installing a water-cooled flat-six in the tail of the 911 was considered sacrilege, akin to Bob Dylan switching to a Fender Strat at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. But for me, the 996—the first complete redesign of the 911 in 34 years—was a hero car.
This car single-handedly saved Porsche from extinction.
Developed under the direction of R&D chief Horst Marchart, the 996 was a brilliant piece of engineering. It shared 38% of its parts with the new, less expensive mid-engine roadster that the world would come to know as the Boxster. The iconoclastic Porsche boss, Wendelin Wiedeking, knew that the Boxster was essential for the dealers, offering something else to sell once the aging 928 and 968 models were discontinued. Design chief Harm Lagaay humorously described it as “doing two cars for the price of one and a half.”
But the 996 was more than just a cost-saving exercise. In 1994, it took 130 hours to build a 993; the 996 took only 60 hours. The modern 911 had arrived. It was roomier and equipped with all the features expected of a late 20th-century sports car, yet it remained instantly recognizable as a 911.
Most importantly, it still felt like a 911, but a better version. There was a new level of sophistication to its performance, but the 996 retained the delicious tactility and urgent response that made the 911 unique. Along with the original Boxster, this car was Porsche’s lifeline.
The 991.2-Generation Porsche 911 Carrera
Of all the 911s I have ever driven, a base 991.2 Carrera genuinely stole my heart. Judging by the feedback I received from colleagues who also tested it, it stole everyone else’s too.
Most press fleets are filled with high-spec models loaded with options, presumably because PR departments believe we are impressed by such things. Porsche Cars North America’s decision to include a base 911 Carrera in the roster of 991.2 models for our 2017 MotorTrend Car of the Year testing was a bold move, but in truth, it was inspired.
The 991.2 introduced a new 3.4-liter turbocharged engine, available with 370 hp in the base Carrera or 420 hp in the Carrera S. Even in base trim, this engine provided a broad torque band and impressive efficiency. The Carrera also proved that the chassis remained staggeringly communicative and adjustable, even on standard wheel/tire combinations. Visually, the 991.2 was a subtle refresh of the larger, skillfully proportioned 991.1. It was a superb interpretation of classic 911 themes, modernized and beautiful. The interior featured a new infotainment interface that was both visually appealing and easy to use.
Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission remains a benchmark for smooth, precise shifting. However, the seven-speed manual on the no-frills Carrera was a delight with