Steve 96C4S

They look so fresh, new, hot, exciting when they first hit the showrooms but then a few years later when the new ones come out, we are barely interested in this "dated" style anymore that just a few years earlier was all the rage in the looks dept.

You want that new model so badly, but then the newer models are released and you want that one even worse. I'm about to go the NYC Auto Show on APril 30th with my uncle and his neighbor again and we'll be salivating over new models that in 5 years may look weak or lame to us.

Fill in the blank - it works this way with many makes and models. The Audi A8, the Mercedes S500, the Lexus LS430 looked so "great" when they first came out as 2005 and 2006 model years but now, they look so dated compared to the newer, more desirable (to most people) models of each version.

Some people thought - "Man, I can't wait till that 2006 Mercedes CL500 or CL55 is 5 years old as I'll definitely be picking up one then"



until the newer models come out and you think "I have GOT to have the newer, nicer looking model". But they're too expensive when new so you have to wait, but then the newest ones come out and you GOT to have that one instead. Vicious cycle in most car lines.

I have to wonder - I love the new CL63 now, and can't imagine it looking dated, but who knows what'll seem hot in 5 years and this car might look déclassé.



déclassé adj. 1. reduced or fallen in status, social position, class or rank; fallen from a high status or rank to a lower one.
2. of inferior grade, rank, status, or prestige

Then there's the 993. When they first came out I thought "I have GOT to get me one of them there 993's one day - Totally hot!". Then, 4 years later, the new 996 water pumpers were out but I still thought "Whoa, the 993 is still the bomb even thought the A/C works better in the 996". Then the 997 came out and I thought "Yeah, the 997 is more comfortable and has that huge Nav screen in dash but heh, the 993 is still wicked looking and more "me".

It's that way with a bunch of older Porsche 911's in different variants for a bunch of people I'm sure. Probably the same with other hot cars like certain Ferraris and classic cars.

I'm just saying that we don't have to worry too much about a newer 911 coming out and thinking, "Damn, my car is totally dated and it's not that great looking anymore compared to all these new ones". We bought into a great look that will always in my opinion look killer.

When I first bought my 1987 BMW 535is I thought - there will never be a hotter BMW than this. But there was, PLENTY. Now it looks utterly dated to me, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a decent looking vehicle, but not super hot looking like it once looked.

The 993 defies time and style. Cool that a 15 year old car is still doing it for us. To this day, as 993 owners regularly mention on here, people still think these cars are relatively new, if not brand new.







Timeless: means the quality of being eternal, ageless, immortal, or not affected by time.

P-daddy

Not me. Always love the 993

race911

Some guys just have the "gotta haves". Which is what the automakers rely on. For me, if they quit with the '73 RS or the '74 RS 3.0 I'd be happy. Love the sophistication that the 993 has, but I can make due with any 911 that has a 9-10:1 lb/hp weight ratio.

For street cars? Yeah, we've got an E90 325i, and it replaced an E46 328i. Only thing I say is a significant improvement is the sport seats. Just spent about 8 hours in them today getting to LA, and driving around a bit once we got here. Never could say the same with the E46. And even a generation back, the E36 still looks presentable. Just that there are so few in decent shape.

Know what I saw yesterday, thinking every single one was junked at least a decade ago? A first generation Scirocco. My first car, a '78 when I was 16. Giugario did an outstanding job on that one, and I think it holds up well 35+ years later.

got*ki

Sounds like how most describe their wife....

Leander

Had my car at the dealer for over three weeks. Apparently it attracted so much interest that they kept it parked right by the entrance.

vjd3

Which would you choose?

robroy72

Out of the current crop of cars, I think the one that will show its age the most is the CTS-V coupe.

vincer77

After about 20 years, the classically styled cars begin to look good again. Case in point is the e30 BMWs, and the SL class MBZ of the 70s. But it is interesting that the 993 never looked old. The 996 already looks old!

Steve 96C4S

Back in the mid 90's I thought I HAD to have this car, and if I could afford one used, I would keep it forever and it would also look fresh, new and hot.

I was wrong... it didn't last the years of time, like a 993.







Land yacht





I may have been wrong, but ... I still want one!

H.H.Chinn

Very few designs prove to be timeless. Porsche set the bar with the 993 design, adjusting each curve to perfection starting with the 959 achieving the sweet spot in asthetics, form, and function.

rw229

IMHO the '74 to '89 911 is THE timeless car. Maybe it's because most of us grew up seeing them on the road and in magazines?

Franklin229

Interesting thread. I think classics are created by automakers who evolve their designs vs continually try to be "on trend". Right now, there are a lot of companies caught in the "creases per square inch" mode-many look dated w/o even leaving the showroom. To me, the new CL is a good example. In retrospect, it also seems that designs that are considered "classic" tend to be simple and clean, only using the elements they need and nothing more.

eloyex

your comment is razor-sharp .. !!! i think i have to agree ...

Mark in Baltimore

Amazing how timeless the 993, and other 911's, are.


LOL.
In the looks department, the SWB, no question. If I had to drive it, the newer one. A 250 GTO would tilt that decision in favor of the 3.0 liter V12 model.

Quadcammer

say what you want, but I don't think there is anything dated about my 05 s500. In fact, the smooth design looks nicer to me than the new ones: