5 best and 5 worst Porsche 911 models over the years

Porsche is one of those automakers who do their own thing. We see Japanese automakers excelling in sports cars, just like German manufacturers like BMW and Audi. Brands like Ford make amazing pickup trucks, well, so do Chevy and Toyota. For every Ferrari, there is a Lamborghini… You see. But the level of sophistication and class that Porsche brings to its cars is the best, at least in its segment. Porsche offers a window to the world of luxury and superb performance at a price lower than that of brands like Bentley or Rolls-Royce.

Much of that status Porsche enjoys comes from its 911 series. These are the quintessential sports car series that we associate with Porsche. The 911 became a performance car when Porsche introduced it in 1964. Times have changed and 911 cars have changed with them, evolving and degrading over the years. There were also outside players who tried to reinvent the 911. People like Singer and RUF managed to improve all the good sides of the car, but today we are committed to the Porsche factory in Zuffenhausen in Stuttgart. and the cars that came out of it alone. They broke the mark of one million 911 cars produced in 2017, and we’ll take a look at the 5 best and 5 worst of them.

ten Good: 2020 911 992

The latest eighth generation of Porsche seems to be performing very well so far. The latest 911 brilliantly bridges the gap between comfortable touring and breathtaking performance. Speaking of which, you get quick acceleration from the peak torque even before the engine hits 2,000 rpm.

Stunning handling is Porsche’s bread and butter, and it’s no different here, too. Porsche’s modern push is successful but the interior won’t appeal to everyone. The only thing preventing it from ranking higher on the list is the lack of sonic sensations previously seen in older models.

9 Good: 1974 911 Turbo (930)

The 930 generation of the 911 made its debut in 1974, it was the first time that Porshe installed a turbo in one of them. Thanks to the quality and success of this car, today we can enjoy some of the best turbocharged Porsches. The 930 911 Turbo was fitted with a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 260 horsepower. Later models were even upgraded to 300 HP.

Initially there was a turbo lag which would be considered a deciding factor today. But the acceleration was still impressive enough to overcome it, and handling was excellent, as always. These cars aren’t completely different from each other, but the 911 Turbo had wider wheel arches and a whale tail spoiler that looked cool.

Related: 10 Things Every Gearbox Should Know About The Porsche 911 Turbo

8 Good: 1973 911 2.7 RS

The Porsche 911 2.7 RS made its debut in 1973. We know, Porsche’s naming system is not the most efficient, these figures can be confusing. But this one is worth remembering because it was so good. When it came out, it was the fastest production 911.

The 2.7 refers to its 207 horsepower 2.7-liter boxer-six engine. Another cool feature of it was the lightweight chassis. Combine the two and you have a fast and nimble car. In fact, many consider it to be one of the most maneuverable cars ever made!

seven Good: 2019 911 GT3 RS

The RS stands for the performance version of the 911 and GT3 models. It doesn’t have a turbo, so any little lag that was present has been eliminated. The NA 4.0-liter flat-six engine produced 520 horsepower, which was enough to achieve a 0-100 km / h time of 3.2 seconds.

Porsche also used a lot of carbon fiber for the bodywork, so it’s even lighter, faster and more agile. The 911 GT3 RS is a complete package for any sports car enthusiast. Porsche also made it modern, aerodynamic and its look is still stunning.

Related: Jeremy Clarkson Takes A Porsche 911 GT3 RS For A Ride

6 Good: 1967 911R

Due to Porsche’s unsuccessful attempt to homologate the 911R, only 23 examples were made. These 911Rs competed as racing cars in non-production categories or as rally cars. Since they don’t have to worry about the rules of production cars, Porsche has put everything in place.

The steel monocoque was made exclusively from fiberglass and was built by Karl Baur. Ferdinand Piëch’s 1967 Porsche 911R is the lightest Porsche ever built, and you can only imagine how amazing it was in terms of handling and speed. It was a pure sports car, and any sports fan would love to drive it just once.

5 Bad: 1963 911

Originally known as the 901 before Peugeot sued Porsche, the original 911 started it all. How come it’s in the bottom half of the list, you might ask. Well, it’s because of one reason. The original might be great, but (most) later versions are just plain better.

The air-cooled, horizontally opposed “flat” six-cylinder engine first used in this car, which also mounted behind the rear axle, defined what the 911 sports car will be for years to come. It has become the car known as the one that offers exceptionally incredible driving dynamics thanks to its lightweight chassis.

4 Bad: 2005 911 997

Let’s put one thing aside: the 997 generation Porsche 911 is NOT a bad sports car. But the other generations are so great that it pales in comparison. Porsche has tried out many different versions of the 911 generation 2005-2011.

There is a 911 speedster which was a throwback to the iconic Porsche 356 speedster, even the main 911 seemed to pay homage to previous 911s. There is therefore little originality in these models. There’s no downgrade here, but not enough upgrades either.

3 Bad: 1989 911 964

When the 964 generation 911 was released, they were heavily criticized for their bodywork which favored larger bumpers. The interior has also been scrutinized for being too bland. But the main culprit here was its new four-wheel drive option.

Subsequent generations used a four-wheel drive system, but it was improved and optimized. The 964 was not helped. Instead, they spoiled the car’s handling beyond reason. A sports car that understeers a lot is by no means a good car, especially for a car like the 911.

Related: Porsche Sneaks Into 964 Leichtbau With A Little White Lie

2 Bad: 1973 911T

The 911T replaced the four-cylinder 912. The 912 was a small 90 hp car resembling a beetle. But the smaller engine was also lighter, so at least it was fun to drive. The 911T produced 20 more hp, so it was more powerful.

Still, the rear was heavier thanks to a larger engine and a new K-Jetronic CIS (Continuous Fuel Injection) system from Bosch. Still, the result was a mess of understeer that was the opposite of the 911’s main feature: incredible handling.

1 Bad: 2004 911 996

If there is one model that Porsche would like to review before its release, it would probably be the 996. The turbo model is a reliable sports car that performs very well, but there is an IMS failure issue that affected some naturally aspirated. models.

The front bumper assembly taken straight from the Boxster doesn’t fare well with 911 purists. The build quality of a few versions of the 911 reminds us of everything that went wrong in the ’90s, electrical problems to the poor quality of the interior up to engine failures.

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