Mike Murphy

https://jalopnik.com/every-generatio...ked-1850221031

hatchetf15

Thanks for the link! Would swap the LWB with the 997 only because a LWB Targa is the THE iconic Porsche to me. I’d drive my gold metallic ‘72 S Targa to the track and switch it out for my 917 many, many times in my dreams.

philbert996

Satanist hate the 996

GC996

Good to see the 996 is moving up in the world of 911. I find it interesting that the 964 has as well. Two 911 models that were slighted early on, but now sought after.

frederik

Fun article. I didn't expect the 996 to end up so high in the list, but then again, the author is a 996 owner. I do fully agree with the ranking of the 993 -- I also found it a bit disappointing to drive compared with earlier and later 911s, and somehow its styling doesn't get better with age IMO.

Zooming out though, any 911 is a great car and I would probably have a lot of fun in a 74-77 coupe with a rebuilt engine.

Marv

After owning both a 964 C4 and a 993 Carrera, I would have reversed the order.

Partly because of all the issues with the 964, such as the LUK flywheel, dual distributors, and rotting pins on the engine management unit in the frunk. Those issues are better than the motor problems of the 996. The 964 was a transition car between the late 80's Carrera and the 993, which dialed out those issues and improved the body by eliminating the add-on plastic rockers.

Another blow against my 964 was the all-wheel drive. That was clunky and I believe I would have had a better opinion of the 964 had it been a C2.

All that aside, it only took 1 hour to joust me out of my 993 when I spied a 2004 GT3 on the lot of my local dealer. They said it was the fastest delivery of a car they had ever made.

hkovalcik

Can attest to the 997 take. My old man has a 997.2 green on tan Carrera S, 6spd manual. It is a perfect and beautiful car.

Marv

Probably the last of the true driver's car.

Breakthru

Was surprised to see the 996 so high on the list, but makes sense since the author owns one. Most people who hate them never owned one.

Also, agree on the 997 RS, but I also may be biased haha

motoo344

Personally, I like the 993, 996, and 997. After the 997s everything starts getting too big and less and less analog. Not to say those cars aren't amazing performance machines just don't do much for me. Then again most of the cars I like tend to be from the years of those generations.

Marv

Agree with all of your points and add the fact that I simply can't afford the new cars.

motoo344

For sure but I think like most cars the newer stuff will be more affordable one day and I still think I will prefer the 996 eras of cars. My current stable is all cars from that era, 04 MINI, 99 911, and 03 Cobra. In the past I've owned a 2000 Camaro SS, 2001 Mustang GT, 2002 BMW M3, 2004 R32, 2001 Audi S4, 2005 Jetta GLI. Probably more I am forgetting at this point so I am bit biased lol.

Porschetech3

I agree... the 996 is just such a departure from the rest with the aero headlights, the pedals that swivel at the top .It still has the highest quality materials and engineering of Porsche ( although some missed the mark and need re-engineered) ....It set the stage for the cars that followed..

That's what drew me to it in the first place....The improved Aero was big ...and I knew the design issues could be fixed, but was glad they were there to make it affordable for me...

Formerly996fried

Exactly.....and I'll add..........

....after owning several 356's, 912, 914, I just wanted something similar to my old 356 cab, but with some amenities, like a decent heater.....air? I'll put the damn top-down...... Perhaps overall, I think that PAG has come a long way by using efficient coatings, on both surfaces....at least it is far better than the old bitumen coatings that made many of the 356's Flinstone vehicles or early 911's for that matter. Look, aesthetics, it has the essence of the 356, which never needed to have a lot of appendages....and while I'm not thrilled about the design of the space age flowing dash, it's growing on me...all of which is because there is a lack of current *$%&#@ nannyisms, these 996.1's in comparison to the latest seem to retain some of the early DNA.....
And they simply cost less than an eighty-grand Ford F150, ( I'll keep my old Nissan ) even if an engine rebuild is required or have it Rabyized....it's a hell of a deal.....

Damn the economy and AT SPEED GENTLEMEN!

damage98MO

What color green is it? If I won the lottery I would repaint my 996.1. I'm into those deep metallic candy apple greens, frosty ice metallic greens, my latest favorite is the Aston Zagato Green, it's kind a misty pearl green. Oh yeah there's a color I just love, I saw it on a Lamborghini, Verde Ermes. Swoon. 💚 🍏 💚. Maybe some day. Green. Did I mention green?