The 5 Porsche 911s That Changed My Driving Life
It’s hard to believe, but it has been four decades since I first got behind the wheel of a Porsche 911. That initial test was with a white 3.0-liter Carrera, a stripped-down machine with black Fuchs alloys, no rear spoiler, and no power steering. It was a raw, 5-speed manual experience, and while it was undoubtedly fast, it felt raw compared to the 944 Turbo I tested it against. That 944 was a formidable car, offering more power and smoother delivery for the same price. Yet, as I wrote back then, “I’d take the 911 Carrera home.” It wasn’t just about speed; it was about character. The 911 demanded respect, and for those who understood it, it repaid that attention with an unparalleled driving connection.
Since that first drive, I have evaluated dozens of 911 models. With very few exceptions—the 964 felt like a step backward in the early 1990s—Porsche has continuously refined its icon. They have managed to keep the 911 relevant, exciting, and deeply engaging for every generation. After 40 years, the 911 remains one of the few new cars I would still buy with my own money. Of all the 911s I’ve driven, these are the five that have left the most indelible mark on my automotive memory.
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The 5 Porsche 911s That Changed My Driving Life
It’s hard to believe, but it has been four decades since I first got behind the wheel of a Porsche 911. That initial test was with a white 3.0-liter Carrera, a stripped-down machine with black Fuchs alloys, no rear spoiler, and no power steering. It was a raw, 5-speed manual experience, and while it was undoubtedly fast, it felt raw compared to the 944 Turbo I tested it against. That 944 was a formidable car, offering more power and smoother delivery for the same price. Yet, as I wrote back then, “I’d take the 911 Carrera home.” It wasn’t just about speed; it was about character. The 911 demanded respect, and for those who understood it, it repaid that attention with an unparalleled driving connection.
Since that first drive, I have evaluated dozens of 911 models. With very few exceptions—the 964 felt like a step backward in the early 1990s—Porsche has continuously refined its icon. They have managed to keep the 911 relevant, exciting, and deeply engaging for every generation. After 40 years, the 911 remains one of the few new cars I would still buy with my own money. Of all the 911s I’ve driven, these are the five that have left the most indelible mark on my automotive memory.
The Original 930: A Raw Masterpiece
When I first heard whispers of the original Porsche 911 Turbo, or 930, seasoned road testers spoke of it with a mix of awe and terror. They called it a car that demanded ultimate respect, an unforgiving beast where a mistake was not tolerated. For 35 years, I waited to experience this legendary car myself, and when I finally got the chance, it was in the form of one of the first 30 production Turbos ever built, now part of Porsche’s exclusive classic fleet.
Driving it felt surreal. Aware of its fearsome reputation, I started gently, mapping the powerband. The 3.0-liter flat-six was surprisingly tractable at low RPMs, but once the turbo hit its stride around 3,500 RPM, the surge was undeniable. I had expected a violent kick, but instead, I found a thrilling, escalating acceleration that never felt completely overwhelming. The trick, I learned, was to keep the engine spinning above 4,000 RPM. Yes, there was turbo lag, a significant amount by today’s standards, but it was manageable.
Even today, the 930 is wickedly fast. First gear reaches 50 mph, second to 90 mph, and third climbs to nearly 130 mph. This means that a winding backroad could be thoroughly conquered using only the second and third gears. With only 256 horsepower, it weighs just 2,513 pounds, making it agile and responsive. Half a century later, the 930 remains an incredibly impressive performer that still delivers an visceral, adrenaline-fueled driving experience that feels truly special.
The 993 Generation: A Perfect Union of Soul and Science
For Porsche purists, the 993 is the last of the Mohicans—the final air-cooled 911. It’s the car that combines the classic 911 feel with the precision of modern engineering. While the earlier 964 generation felt like Porsche was drifting away from its roots, the 993 brought the magic back. When I first drove it in 1994, it felt like the 911 of the future. The front end still required loading on corner entry, and the rear end felt lively in rough turns, but the two ends now worked together with a new synergy. The 993 was still doing what a 911 does best, but with a much larger margin for error.
Key to this transformation was a revolutionary rear suspension. Porsche replaced the old semi-trailing arms with a new multilink setup that corrected the camber change issues that had plagued 911s since the 1960s. It offered a slight initial toe-out on corner entry that progressively went to toe-in as loads increased, providing incredible stability without sacrificing the playful handling that makes the 911 so desirable.
This groundbreaking suspension was combined with a quicker steering system—2.5 turns lock-to-lock, making the front end feel far more decisive. The new six-speed manual transmission perfectly complemented the 3.6-liter flat-six, which now produced 268 horsepower at 6,100 RPM thanks to lighter internals and a Bosch Motronic 2.0 engine management system. The exterior redesign by Harm Lagaay also smoothed out the 964’s taller front and pulled-down rear, resulting in a sleeker, more beautiful machine. The interior was cleaner, with fewer buttons scattered randomly. The 993 was faster, more forgiving, and undeniably more desirable than ever before. It’s a true benchmark in the history of the 911.
The 996 Generation: The Icon That Saved Porsche
When Porsche decided to switch from air-cooled to water-cooled engines in the 996-series, it was seen as heresy by many purists. It felt like Bob Dylan abandoning his acoustic guitar for an electric one at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. But for me, the 996 was a hero. It was the first clean-sheet redesign of the 911 in 34 years, and in my opinion, it was the 911 that saved Porsche.
The 996 was developed by Porsche R&D chief Horst Marchart and was a stroke of engineering genius. It shared 38 percent of its parts with the all-new, less expensive mid-engine Boxster. Porsche leadership, including iconic CEO Wendelin Weideking, knew they needed the Boxster to keep dealerships busy once the aging 928 and 968 models were retired. “We did two cars for the price of one-and-a-half,” design boss Harm Lagaay said with a smile after the launch.
But the real story of the 996 goes beyond its relationship with the Boxster or its water-cooled engine. It was a revolution in manufacturing. In 1994, it took Porsche 130 hours to build a 993; the 996 took just 60 hours. This was the arrival of the modern 911. It was roomier and equipped with all the features expected of a late 20th-century sports car, yet it remained undeniably a Porsche. More importantly, it still drove like a 911—only better. While it had a new veneer of sophistication, the 996 retained the delicious tactility and urgent response that defined the 911 as a unique sports car. Along with the original Boxster, it pulled Porsche back from the brink of financial disaster.
The 991.2 Carrera: The Best Base Model Ever
Of all the 911s I’ve driven, the one that truly stole my heart was a base model 991.2 Carrera. It managed to win over my colleagues as well, judging by the feedback I received during the press launch. Most press fleets are loaded with high-spec vehicles featuring every option available, seemingly to impress the media. So, when Porsche decided to include a base 911 Carrera in the 991.2 press fleet for our 2017 MotorTrend Car of the Year testing, it was a bold move. In reality, though, it was an inspired one.
The 991.2 introduced a new 3.4-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 370 hp in the base model or 420 hp in the Carrera S. Even in the lower trim, it offered a wide torque band and impressive fuel efficiency. This model showed that even with standard wheels and tires, the chassis was staggeringly communicative and adjustable. Visually, the 991.2 was a subtle refresh of the larger, skillfully reproportioned 991.1, a superbly executed interpretation of classic 911 themes that was both modern and beautiful. The interior also featured a new infotainment interface that looked great and functioned smoothly.
Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch automatic is still a benchmark for smooth, precise shifts. However, the seven-speed manual transmission on the no-frills Carrera delighted with a precise, rifle-bolt action that made driving feel exciting again. MotorTrend’s testing director at the time, Kim Reynolds, perfectly summed up the Carrera’s visceral appeal when he said, “When all cars but one are autonomous, please let this be it, the last human-driven car. For posterity’s sake.” It’s been nearly a decade since I drove it, but I still vividly remember that Guards Red over black beauty—the only option was red seat belts. Occasionally, I browse the ads, looking for a used one. I start doing the math and dreaming…
The 992.1 GT3 RS: Raw Track Power, Road-Legal
RS. It means RennSport, German for racing sport. Those three letters first appeared on a Porsche 911 fifty years ago, the legendary Carrera RS 2.7, a