abe

I bought a very nice 911 83SC from a guy who was the second owner for about 8 years. He didn't use the car much anymore since his kids took most of his time. I wonder if he will regret the decision once his kids are off to college.
I went through the same thing with my 280sl....didn't use it much for many years watching my kid grow up. Now that he is gone, I am glad I kept it and I have rediscoverd an old love.\abe

mal28

not quite an 80's but I regret seeing my 90's 993, I loved that car

purrybonker

Yeah, I miss my '87 cab a WHOLE lot. 911's are such different cars through the successive generations (even putting 70's and 80's in the same box is a bit of a stretch) that each has it's own charms.

911's are like women, we should all have the opportunity to try as many types/models and generations as possible while having the wisdom to realize that it's really only practical to try to hold onto one particular car at a time.

3.2 Carreras are my personal favorite to take for a ride, as was a certain redhead from Chicago. But they both had to go long ago, in favor of something more technically advanced, skilled and comfortable.

I wouldn't go back.

linklaw

I recently sold a 1987 Targa and a Boxster to buy my wife a new car. I am now driving the 2005 911S that I bought earlier this year and never even think about the old Targa. I have had a 1977 Targa, a 1984 Targa and the 1987 Targa. I like driving the 2005 better than any of them. John

Leader

Sold my 1988 Carrera shortly after I had ordered my 997S three years ago, which meant a long wait with no 911.
However, I sold it to my neighbor (who loves it) so, I get to see it quite often.
If I had the garage space, I would have loved to keep it. I had it for quite a while and had made it just about perfect.

Edgy01

Sadly, I sold my 1981 narrow-body turbo which was the most incredible car ever,--second only to the 997S. That car had the most incredible leather interior, performance second to none, and was a true sleeper. From the outside, it looked like just another 911SC. But on the track or on the turnpike,--wow! (162 mph gear limited).

Thankfully, the 997's performance and handling is so good it helps me to forget.

Vitamin_J

This is the worst thread ever. I had an original 71 Targa Ruf 930 conversion. My God that car was stunning...

dD/dt

Regrets? Yes and no.

Yes, because it was a 1988 3.2, my favorite year of what I will always consider the classic vintage of this car. And my first p-car.

No, because it had turned into a garage queen (no time to drive it during residency). And because it would have been destroyed by Katrina like all my other stuff was anyway, had I not sold it. At least now it's in Chicago bringing happiness to someone.

dgcate

My first Porsche 911, a 75 targa. I miss the excitement of such a great car (remember, this was 1980 ) I do not miss the mechanicals and problems.

One of the '89's I owned.

Don't regret sellin'. But miss drivin' them, I do.

As was said, it's hard to miss anything too much when what you've got (997) is a vastly superior car, in every way imaginable

997, esq

Love these old 911s. I have thought about getting one for a more traditional 911 experience, but have worried it won't stand up well to a 997.

Leader

It won't.

Alan Smithee

I had a 1980 911SC for 12 years, and drove it less than 1,000 miles per year...sold it about 5 years ago. Now I'm looking for a 280SL...

The SC was a great car...great color, great options, and great condition. But today I'd rather have the 911T I had in college...it was exported to Japan back in the early 1990s.

purrybonker

I miss it, I miss it, I miss it...

But.... now it looks old and I can't help but think the same thing everytime I see one go down the road.

A blast on the track, more of a "sports car" than the 996 or 997 imho...

Analog Theory

I bought my 1st Porsche (at 29) as a brand new 996 (September 1998). One of the 1st 996's to roll off the line. I lovingly referred to it as a Monday morning after Oktoberfest build. Porsche proactively replaced that one less than two years later with a new 2001 996 - fantastic car. I did start to feel however that I missed out on a generation and then some of Porsche heritage (not to open Pandora's box about air vs/ water cooled debate) but my thinking was that the water cooled cars will be around "from now on...forever?" and that the opportunity to experience air cooled ownership was subject to the law of diminishing returns...and so I acted.

Having since owned a 1980 911SC, 1987 Carrera and my current (favorite by a long margin 1997 993 nicely modified). They are all fantastic cars. As a former partner in a Porsche exclusive motorsports facility I also get lots of seat time in every car they make (my personal current favorite - 997GT3 by a long margin). That said, (for me and me alone), getting to experience the unique nature of the air cooled 911 has been very satisying for someone that dreamt of Porsche ownership from about 7 years old (to current).

And so long story a little longer (and to your actual question)...as much as I hope my next car is in fact a 997GT3 (MK II perhaps)...I could never part with this 993. It's like an old baseball glove...just keeps getting better not older. In fact, the only reason I sold my 87 was to get the 993.

purrybonker

Besides, the 3.2 Carreras were great in snow - even without modern conveniences like C4/PSM/ABS etc, etc....

Looking for pics of my '87 I stumbled across these of a May road trip through the Rockies where I got caught in a storm. The highway/pass was closed about an hour after I went through - I rushed to try to beat the incoming storm and was able to get to low ground before it socked in the high pass totally.

and yes, the speedo does read 'round 100 mph - and yes, that is real speed, not wheel spin.