2020 Porsche 911 S vs 2010 Porsche 911 S: Which Is Best?

By Christian Moe - August 10, 2020

Throttle House shows you exactly how much $100,000 worth of German engineering by Porsche will really buy you.

Every new 911 strikes a serious divide through fans and owners. Some are excited about more power and refinement while others lament the reduction of that “special sauce” that makes the 911 so magical.

First it was the addition of water cooling. Then the cars got bigger and uglier. Then we lost the hydraulic steering. The latest misstep/stroke of genius, is the addition of turbochargers across the lineup. You no longer need a Turbo, to get turbocharged performance. It leaves everyone arguing over which Porsche is the best Porsche. Do you pay for the keys to the latest and greatest 911 to come from Stuttgart, or do you search the used market for a nice example of the company’s remarkable past? This new video from Throttle House takes a look at this exact question.

What starts as a review for the all-new 992 generation Porsche 911 Carrera S quickly turns into a tale of the $100k question. Is the new $150k Porsche 911 Carrera S better than a $50k Porsche 911 S from a decade ago? It’s a question we hear a lot from people asking about buying a sports car. With more than five decades of cars, which 911 is the best to buy?

Lots of folks avoid the air-cooled cars for fears of overheating in traffic. Many others skip the vintage cars thanks to their reputation for biting back at owners who don’t know how to properly drive them. Then you actually get behind the wheel of one you understand why there are so many fans of air-cooled cars. They are so light, so lithe, and so mechanical in all the best ways. It is a proper machine that begs to be pushed.

Obviously, then then the old cars are the best. But then you take one look at the new 911, and it makes perfect sense to buy a new one. You have the same gorgeous and iconic silhouette, just with more room, a much nicer interior, and gobs more performance. You lose some engine noise to the turbochargers, but objectively the 992 is the best 911 in almost every measurable quantity.

This is what makes the choice such a conundrum. Do you take a slower and less refined car to secure better steering feel and a cheaper price? Do you take the most comfortable and highest performing version instead of dealing with a vintage car?

The video does its best to explain the actual subtleties between the two cars, while also throwing in an air-cooled 993 to act as a counterpoint to the more modern cars. The result is 20 minutes of sexy Porsche visuals and flat-six exhaust. It’s a visualization of the internal struggle facing enthusiasts all the time. The new car is safer, faster, more luxurious, better on fuel economy, and more reliable. The older car is more visceral, more engaging to drive, sounds better, and it is way cheaper. Both cars have flat-six engines, both cars have manual transmissions. There is no wrong choice here, but somehow both choices feel wrong.

We know 20 minutes is a little long for a YouTube video, but we promise this one is worth the watch. And of course, after you see what our hosts decide, it is your turn to chime in. Hit the forum and let us know which of these sexy Stuttgart sports cars you are taking home.