Driving IMIA's extraordinary air-cooled 911s
Discussion
Thank you for sharing this and IMI A for facilitating this.
I have had my 3.2 for nearly 9 years and the best way I can put it is that it's a car that has to be driven deliberately with positive inputs. I would be fascinated to drive a 964 some day (I have driven one once in ~2003...but it was a complete dog of the highest order) to compare the 2.
I suspect my 3.2 is a keeper but over the years (and especially now it lives in London) there are days and times when I know it's not the right car for the day and don't use it; with a H&S exhaust, they're not cars for hungover days, for example!
I have had my 3.2 for nearly 9 years and the best way I can put it is that it's a car that has to be driven deliberately with positive inputs. I would be fascinated to drive a 964 some day (I have driven one once in ~2003...but it was a complete dog of the highest order) to compare the 2.
I suspect my 3.2 is a keeper but over the years (and especially now it lives in London) there are days and times when I know it's not the right car for the day and don't use it; with a H&S exhaust, they're not cars for hungover days, for example!
Excellent cmoose. The short shift kit I would throw in the bin. The 964 shares the same G50 box as the 3.2. Driving good examples of the marque are the key. But with these cars are getting on in years and the problem is knowing which is a good example. Having been around these delightful cars for over 20 years I know what to expect. Good job IMIA
Edited by graemel on Tuesday 16th June 23:28
Great write up cmoose, very generous IMIA for lending the 3.2 and 964 C2 to make it happen.
Having owned and driven two 3.2's daily for circa 9 years I know how special they are, more so than the 993 C4 that followed (all IMO). The 996 turbo I currently have is in a different league performance wise, but that's not surprising.
This got me thinking that like a number of online/mobile services (e.g AirBNB, Uber etc) maybe this is a pioneering moment for PH'ers. We shouldn't necessarily always be wasting our money buying new cars we should buy a nice example of one (or two) cars and then swap/loan them out to experience others. tick a box and make a more informed decision on whether to make that next step.
Anyway thought provoking write up.
IMIA I'd love a spin in your 964 C2 as I've done the 3.2, 993 but feel that the 964 still has to be experienced!
Having owned and driven two 3.2's daily for circa 9 years I know how special they are, more so than the 993 C4 that followed (all IMO). The 996 turbo I currently have is in a different league performance wise, but that's not surprising.
This got me thinking that like a number of online/mobile services (e.g AirBNB, Uber etc) maybe this is a pioneering moment for PH'ers. We shouldn't necessarily always be wasting our money buying new cars we should buy a nice example of one (or two) cars and then swap/loan them out to experience others. tick a box and make a more informed decision on whether to make that next step.
Anyway thought provoking write up.
IMIA I'd love a spin in your 964 C2 as I've done the 3.2, 993 but feel that the 964 still has to be experienced!
g7jhp said:
Great write up cmoose, very generous IMIA for lending the 3.2 and 964 C2 to make it happen.
Having owned and driven two 3.2's daily for circa 9 years I know how special they are, more so than the 993 C4 that followed (all IMO). The 996 turbo I currently have is in a different league performance wise, but that's not surprising.
This got me thinking that like a number of online/mobile services (e.g AirBNB, Uber etc) maybe this is a pioneering moment for PH'ers. We shouldn't necessarily always be wasting our money buying new cars we should buy a nice example of one (or two) cars and then swap/loan them out to experience others. tick a box and make a more informed decision on whether to make that next step.
Anyway thought provoking write up.
IMIA I'd love a spin in your 964 C2 as I've done the 3.2, 993 but feel that the 964 still has to be experienced!
No probs just drop me a PM. 964 is very soft compared to the 3.2C. I prefer the 3.2C in terms of the driving experience because whilst its quite a raw car its very precise to drive. My only issue with the 3.2C is that it needs to be 200kgs lighter. I guess the 964 is probably similar to the 993 but not as quick but they really are built like Tiger tanks which I love. In the 996t I think you've got the best Porsche has to offer if it has to be just one car for all seasons. I tend to only take the air-cooled out on nice sunny days but use them as much as I can weather permitting rather than just tucking them away.Having owned and driven two 3.2's daily for circa 9 years I know how special they are, more so than the 993 C4 that followed (all IMO). The 996 turbo I currently have is in a different league performance wise, but that's not surprising.
This got me thinking that like a number of online/mobile services (e.g AirBNB, Uber etc) maybe this is a pioneering moment for PH'ers. We shouldn't necessarily always be wasting our money buying new cars we should buy a nice example of one (or two) cars and then swap/loan them out to experience others. tick a box and make a more informed decision on whether to make that next step.
Anyway thought provoking write up.
IMIA I'd love a spin in your 964 C2 as I've done the 3.2, 993 but feel that the 964 still has to be experienced!
Jez had mentioned in a post that he drove a 3.2C previously and he didn't like it but the issue is that 90% of the 3.2C out there aren't in tip top condition anymore so I thought it would be interesting to see if he felt the same after driving good one. I see loads of uninformed posts saying the 3.2C aren't very quick but down a give and take twisty b road my 997 turbo wouldn't be able to hang on to the tail of a well driven 3.2C (mainly because the 997t is too big, heavy and can't control its mass as well as a 3.2C as its far too quick for typical UK b roads certainly around the roads near me anyway which are quite narrow and technically challenging).
Its a mystery to me why Porsche decided on the original 964 ride height, especially the front. Simply lowering the height even on standard dampers and springs brings a marked improvement in how they drive. On modern springs/dampers and lowered the 964 is simply superb.
Engine wise the 3.2 lacks a little low down in comparison to the 3.6 but the top end response is sharp mainly due to the lack of a dual mass flywheel in the smaller motor. The 3.6 with a light flywheel is fabulous.
Engine wise the 3.2 lacks a little low down in comparison to the 3.6 but the top end response is sharp mainly due to the lack of a dual mass flywheel in the smaller motor. The 3.6 with a light flywheel is fabulous.
fastgerman said:
Really enjoyed that!
Thank you and the 964 is stunning.
At first I thought you were bad mouthing the aircooled cars but finished well :-)
Yep, but now he's 'in the know'. No one 'in the know' badmouths aircooled. No one! Thank you and the 964 is stunning.
At first I thought you were bad mouthing the aircooled cars but finished well :-)
Was out for short blast in the 930 last night, I keep forgetting how wonderful they are, even though mine is a proverbial pile compared to these stunning examples!
Great write up moose!
Good write up. I can confirm that my 986 boxster was much closer in feel to my 964 than my subsequent 987 boxster was. The 986 retained some of the weight in the controls whereas the 987 felt too light and delicate. Being faster didn't make up for the difference so I got rid of the 987 fairly quickly (the 986 I kept for seven years). Now only the 964 remains on my drive (but it's a bit more of a rawer drive than IMA's lovely original example ).
When considering your possible change backwards from the Cayman to a 986, I think you should consider an early 3.4 996 because this will provide you with the feel you're looking for and some of the character of how the 964 drives. And it's often the case that going back to our heroes (i.e. another 986 boxster) doesn't always work out.
). When considering your possible change backwards from the Cayman to a 986, I think you should consider an early 3.4 996 because this will provide you with the feel you're looking for and some of the character of how the 964 drives. And it's often the case that going back to our heroes (i.e. another 986 boxster) doesn't always work out.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
But if you want a car in such underused, rare condition, you'll need to pay a premium (just like IMIA did, I'm sure!). And obviously, if you paid £15k for such a 996 it would almost certainly work out cheaper than tidying a tired cheap one (and be more pleasurable to own in the meantime).
A really honest and interesting review cmoose. And incredible generosity from IMI A.
There are many rose tinted specs out there and owners living in an 'obsessive bubble'. So its refreshing to read a virgins thoughts....
I bought my own 993 because I thought I had to see what the big deal was. I drove a few, including some 964's and just did not get it. I was coming from a 968 Sport which was SO drivable, you could drift it whilst eating a pastie.
This was 7 years ago and 964RS were 30k.
I had read the magazines and they said they were stupid.
After finding the best car I could find in an ok colour (i wanted red or yellow) I closed my eyes and bought it.
It took me nearly 6 months to discover what I think you started to touch in 3 days. It was a track day at Bruntingthorpe. And it was primarily the weight transfer that clicked with me. Light bulb moment!
I will probably never sell it now.
Edit - Here is a pic from that day 7 years ago with a good friend of mine giving chase in his gorgeous 3.2C. He still has it too!
There are many rose tinted specs out there and owners living in an 'obsessive bubble'. So its refreshing to read a virgins thoughts....
I bought my own 993 because I thought I had to see what the big deal was. I drove a few, including some 964's and just did not get it. I was coming from a 968 Sport which was SO drivable, you could drift it whilst eating a pastie.
This was 7 years ago and 964RS were 30k.
I had read the magazines and they said they were stupid.After finding the best car I could find in an ok colour (i wanted red or yellow) I closed my eyes and bought it.
It took me nearly 6 months to discover what I think you started to touch in 3 days. It was a track day at Bruntingthorpe. And it was primarily the weight transfer that clicked with me. Light bulb moment!
I will probably never sell it now.
Edit - Here is a pic from that day 7 years ago with a good friend of mine giving chase in his gorgeous 3.2C. He still has it too!
Edited by mollytherocker on Wednesday 17th June 20:56
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