Land Jet

I'm kind of surprised that no one so far in this thread has mentioned the part that aerodynamics or performance play in the appeal of the newer cars.
So I will.

Marlon

997 is a modernistic rendition of the 993 - to me the 997 looks more angular, less voluptuous. The 993 has 'natural' curves like Marilyn Monroe. The 997 looks like a skinny model with fake *****. Both have their pluses and minues - and moments. Using that anology: not to suggest that I'd kick either one of them out of the bed for eating crackers of course

supergrass

damn, americans keep getting bigger

CornerCarver

"damn, americans keep getting bigger"

The land of the super size! At least Porsche went back to the headlights and lines that define Porsche.

jimq

The 964 was the last porsche that had the headlights that defined the 911.

Edward

Newer cars always have some kind of appeal, be it more HP, fresh lines, or even the novelty of a new model. But only time will tell which of these "new" attributes will stand the harshest test of all: Time.

The 993, and previous 911s (yes, including the 964) have that "certain something" that still elicits head turns and admiration, even these many decades later. Nothing wrong with loving the new Carreras. But to say it's parentage looks "old" is tantamount to overlooking the sum of your grandfather's wealth of experience simply because he looks, oh, "old."
...or maybe I'm just in denial, and all my graying really isn't a badge of honor

Edward

hotrdd911

I have to say here that I think the owner has grayed very well with his car.

Heard on the radio yesterday that they were talking about what companies had the most cars, over 15 years old, on the road still. Guess which #1 P company had 98% of their 15+ers still on the road.

sonny1

Still the 993 was the last of the breed, and the most developed, so it was the last evolving interaction of earlier cars, and part of the evolution was in the headlights, which defines the brand pretty good., cheers, Sonny.

long_beach_968

I am suprised ppl haven't mentioned this.
Yes we look old next to a 997, but whenever people on the street guess it's year, the oldest guess has been 2001. Obviously these people are not porsche fans, but it is a show of the timeless lines of the 993.

rconnon

I was swarmed by 4 cops the other night, mainly cause i live in the downtown core (yaletown) and my car is pretty damn loud, i assume they thought the car was stolen..

Funny thing is the cop who actually came to my window said, "what year is your car" i replied 1995, he said "it's in amazing shape, i thought it was brand new" i explained the 993/996/997 redesign and then he gave me my license and reg back said beautiful car have a nice night.

Land Jet

Listen, I love the 993 wide body as much as anyone, but to say "it is the most developed and last evolving interaction of earlier cars" is shutting your eyes to progress and the same basic design envelope that is continuing even today in the 997 and beyond. If you can honestly tell me that a 4 valve per cylinder, water cooled head, or Vario-Cam, etc., is not more developed than the 993 engine system, then I feel you have abandoned the very thing that makes Porsche a Porsche. Constant innovation, refinement and pushing the envelope is what makes Porsche a Porsche. The attitude that water cooled cars are not real Porsche, is more personal bias than reality. No offense meant.

Dan V

Porsche Cars North America, Inc., 1995

Edward

Nothing wrong with your testament to technology. But it is you that has missed the point entirely. Read carefully: "...most developed...of the earlier cars...."

If the 993 is understood as the last representative of what I think the poster referred to as an "earlier" car, then he is, indeed, correct. My inference is that he's referring to the 986/996-7 cars as a "later" incarnation, and not in the same lexicon as the "earlier" presumably air-cooled era. At least this is how I am reading it.

No one here is really poo-pooing Porsche's advancements as much as they are basking in the glow of the by-gone era of curves and engine fins.

Edward