porschemikeandnancy

Okay, here is my latest "mad" idea. My current daily driver is a '95 993 cab. Great car. I don't drive many miles/year, maybe 7000. Our "regular" car is a relatively new 3 series BMW. I also have a combination sport/naked motorcycle, which is now 2 years old with 700 miles on it.

I'm thinking of perhaps finding a nice 356 Cabriolet and also buying a daily driver for myself. Selling the '95 993.

When I lived up north, I had a 525 BMW (stick shift) as my daily driver and an 87 911 cabriolet plus a motorcycle (then a 600 cc sport bike).

Here is my conundrum. I don't think I would get as much enjoyment out of driving the 356. It is 50 or so years old and simply does not compare to my 993.

Even as an "occasional" Sunday car.

What do you think? (I recall driving a 356 Coupe in an autocross many years ago. I vividly recall "terminal oversteer".

David in LA

I think you'd be disappointed with the 356's performance and would be paranoid driving it. I would keep the 993 as a daily driver, sell the bike and build a 917 RSK replica for a Sunday car

http://www.thunderranch.com/rsk.html

goofballdeluxe

I had a '63 356 convertible. Fun as it was on certain levels, I'd say it's more fun to dream of owning than to actually own and drive. There's nothing the 356 can offer that the 993 cannot, from a motoring perspective.

Also, it is worth mentioning that the prices on a nice 356 drop-top are now north of six-figures. And God help you if you ever get into an accident with another car of any size; 356's are tiny tin cans.

But they are lovely to look at, and fun to drive up the coast on a lovely summer day.

Canyon56

I feel the same way. The older cars are great for collecting but not quite so for driving and living with day in and day out.

The same goes for older Ferraris, etc.. While I love the looks of the '60s versions, not only are they expensive but in the end they really aren't exactly that fun to drive....

roche

when you say "getting enjoyment" out of driving your cab, do you mean performance? if so, yes, the 993 is light years ahead of the 356. although it is a lot of fun driving the 356 at speed through corners...totally different than any other car i've driven...you gotta try to keep your momentum up!

other than the performance performance comparison to the 993, i like driving my 356 more. i get 100X more stares, thumbs up, etc than when i drove either of my former 993s. senior citizens, middle aged, teenagers, young kids.......they all love the 356s.

993Brendan

I have to agree with several of the posts above.

My first car was a 1978 VW Bus which I sold back in 1992 and always regretted letting go of. So in 2005 I got the bright idea that I woudl buy another one (the wife called it the "Time Machine"). After locating said Time Machine, I found that the experience of enjoying it paled in comparison to my memory of my first one. First, the car was now twice as old as it was the first time I owned it (hard to believe my 993 is now older than my first bus was when I owned it!). Secondly, I had become accustomed to newer powerful cars and the feeling of 55 hp pushing me along was disappointing. Third, it was a VW bus- it loved to break down.

On a similar note, my dad bought a 1953 MGTF a few months back and let me drive it last week. The brakes were almost non-existant and I found the experience of driving it extremely scary- bad brakes, no seatbelts, etc. That said, my dad loves it.

I would keep your current set up!

1pcarnut

Since you like motorcycles I'll tell you my story. I ride a modern sport-touring bike. I had a notion it would be fun to have a Yamaha XS650 and found a very nice low mileage 1976 back in New York. With much anticipation, had it shipped out, gave it a good polishing, tuned it up and had it looking like new. Went for about a 3 hour ride one Sunday and upon getting home, came to the conclusion that while it was beautiful to look at, got loads of nice comments, it was a pain to ride. It was slow, handled poorly and needed way too much modernizing to make it worth the trouble. Put it up for sale shortly after that.

A 356 may get tons of kudos and thumbs up, and if that's what you're after, go for it. But, if you are into the driving experience, I suspect you will have it dawn on you that your 993 is far more rewarding to pilot down those twisty roads.

beers4all

While I appreciate the vintage cars (like most car nuts), the 993 is about as vintage as I care to venture. I've found that the C2S and my RS4 make a perfect set for recreational and commuting purposes throughout the seasons. Good luck - it's a fun thing to figure out.

matt777

I've been through a handful of muscle cars the last 10 years. I get them restored and then drive them for a few months before realizing that they have very limited use. I then sell them and build something else. To me, a 356 would be great along side my 993 but not instead of it.

993/907

Been there done that with '66 Bug. Bought a new one off the showroom floor for $2175, drove it for 5 years, sold it, always missed it. 10 years ago I restored a '66. Just wasn't the same. Poor brakes, dim 6v headlights, crappy seats (could it be that I was 50 pounds heavier?). Sold it with no regrets.

SMehder

My stable consist of a 993 and a 912.


Yes, the 993 is fun to drive on long trips. But the real fun car to drive is the 912. I took both to the track (VIIR) over consecutive weekends. Drove neither on the track but returning home there is a good section of read that is fun to drive. I have to honestly say that I had more fund driving the 912 on those roads than the 993. Each has it's own characteristics, but I don't ever see myself getting rid of the 912.

The point of the matter is that the older cars still have alot of fun left in them. Maybe not as a DD, but for weekend fun, definately. While the 356 is more cramped, it is fun. But to have the 356 pleasure with more space and better engineering go the 912.

timothymoffat

Ideal set of cars?

1. Rolls Royce Phantom DD
2. Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel (winter DD and toy hauler)
3. Porsche 993 RS (weekend/fun car)
4. Mclaren F1 (weekend/fun car)


Sorry, had to put that out there. As to the 356, I'd try to drive one to truly see if you enjoy it. I don't mean a quick blast around an auto-x course either; drive it like you would your 993. I get the feeling you want a 356 more for the way it looks.

got*ki

Simple - Two issues to address:

dcdude

- Early 3.2 cab - way better driver than a 356 at 1/3 the price. Summer daily driver.
- Subi STi - winter daily driver. Great in NH snow. Practical "wagon" with enthusiast cred.
- BMW for wifey (keep it)
- 993 becomes your garage queen

Thatcher

Five cars, least expensive to most expensive:

Bmw z4 M coupe
Porsche 993 TT
Ferrari F55
2010 or 2011 Porsche GT3 RS
Ferrari F40

and i'd be happy as a clam.