Porsche’s 911 is one of the best cars of all time. However, some versions are better than others. We sift through over 55 years of Porsche history to separate the good from the bad.
Key Points
- The Porsche 911 has maintained a cult following since its release in 1964 and was massively successful on the rally and GT racetrack.
- Original Porsche 911 went from 0 to 60 in 8.3 seconds, before Porsche enlarged the engine several times over a 25-year span.
- The latest generation of the 911 comes loaded with modern technology, with Porsche eyeing a hybrid version for release in 2024.
First-gen. 911 Was Light on Power, Big on Potential as Engine Lineup Grew
The 911s’ place in the Porsche lineup was simple; it was the bigger version of the 356, with two more seats. The original 911 was not the powerful race car we know today. In fact, it was powered by a feeble 148 horsepower 2.0L H6 that produced 140 lb.-ft. of torque.
The original 911 (1964-1969) would go from 0 to 60 in 8.3 seconds, which is a tenth of a second slower than the 2021 Honda Civic. However, Porsche enlarged the engine several times over the 25-year span.
Porsche 930: Original 911 Turbo Brought 300 HP to the Table
It would be a crime to talk about the Porsche 911 without talking about the 930, which is the turbo version–and a sacred machine to most motoring enthusiasts. When it was released, it was the fastest production car in Germany. This was an astonishing accomplishment, especially when you consider it had to go up against the other great German manufacturers like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
The original 911 Turbo came with a 260 horsepower, 3.0L H6 engine. That engine would swell to a 300 horsepower, 3.3L H6 in 1978, thanks to a massive refresh. Other improvements included an intercooler, anti-roll bars, and larger brakes.
Porsche 964: New 911 is First with AWD, Tiptronic Automatic Transmission
When the Porsche 964 was released in 1989, Porsche claimed that it was 85% new. The new 911 came with some significant new technology, too. It was also the first with a Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard power steering and ABS.
Plus, it offered the first AWD 911, branded the Carrera 4 (the traditional RWD version of the 964 was labeled the Carrera 2). Porsche offered a turbo version again for the 964. However, they did not have enough time to turbocharge the 3.6L H6 engine, so they reused the 3.3L Turbo from the 930. And they still improved upon the 930’s setup by decreasing turbo lag. This was the last generation to offer the Targa roof until the 991 brought it back in 2012.
Porsche 993: Last Air-cooled 911 Got 15% More Power
Perhaps because of its styling, the Porsche 993 (1995-1998) is often regarded as the 911 Holy Grail by enthusiasts. Porsche addicts swoon from the jaw-dropping looks of the 993. Nevertheless, looks aren’t the only reason the 993 is regarded as the best 911 by the majority of Porsche enthusiasts.
Performance is what makes the 993 the perfect 10. When Porsche released the 993, they made sure they fixed everything that was wrong with the 964. Besides increasing power by 15%, for the first time, they offered a six-speed transmission, dual-flow exhaust, and larger brakes. Porsche didn’t stop there; they also improved the 964’s power steering and AWD systems.
The 993 Turbo took several risks. Rather than simply turbocharging the 3.6L engine for the first time, they decided to take it a step further and twin turbocharge it. To save weight, they introduced alloy hollow spoke wheels.
Then, Porsche decided to turn it up to 11 and release the Porsche 911 GT2. Although the GT2’s success speaks for itself, Porsche claimed it produced 450 horsepower. The last reason why 911 enthusiasts seem to go absolutely mental in the presence of the 993 is that it’s the last air-cooled 911.
Porsche 996: 911 Gets Polarizing Redesigned Headlights, Water-cooled Engine
The Porsche 996 (1999-2004) is clearly the odd man out in the 911 family and doesn’t get much love. At the time, Porsche was in dire straits and knew they needed a solution to help solve their financial crisis. So, they decided to completely redo their 911 to increase sales. For the first time since the 911’s initial release, nearly 35 years prior, the 911 had a new chassis. It was also the first time a 911 featured a water-cooled engine as well as a GT3 model.
That all sounds good. Now, what’s so bad about it? Porsche didn’t have enough money to completely redo the 911, so they kept the suspension and Targa roof system from the 993.
However, what hurt Porsche fans the most was the fried egg-looking headlights. This is ironic because the 996 wasn’t the first car to feature them. In 1997, Porsche used them on their 911 GT1 car, and there wasn’t even a slight grumble about it then.
Porsche 997: Returns to Original ‘Round’ Headlights, Receives Interior Upgrade
Proving that Porsche admirers are quick to forgive and forget, they welcomed the 997 (2005-2011) with open arms. It was easy for them to add it to their garage because it marked a clear departure from the 996 with its return to round headlights. In fact, Porsche focused mostly on interior and exterior styling when designing the 997.
Porsche would restyle the 997 again in 2009 for a mid-cycle refresh. And, they didn’t forget about the keystone of the 911 brand: performance. They released over 30 different models, including some of the fastest models the 911 had ever seen. These models included the highly sought-after GT2 RS and sacred GT3 RS 4.0.
Porsche 991: An All-new Platform & a Switch to Turbo-only Engines
When the 991 (2012-2019) was released, enthusiasts loved the way it looked and claimed it was the best-looking 911 in decades. Porsche completely redesigned the 911 for the 991, making it the third completely new platform in 911 history.
Purists were quick to get over the looks as they hated the new electric steering, claiming it ruined the feel of a 911. They also griped for the same reason when Porsche decided to make all Carreras turbocharged from 2015 onwards.
However, Porsche brought back the original Targa top resembling the one found on the 964. They also offered a new seven-speed transmission for the first time. Whether purists liked it or not, it was a successful 911, during its run it sold the one-millionth Porsche 911.
Porsche 992: Latest Models Have More Tech than Ever, with ‘Hybrid’ Version Incoming
The 992 (2019-present) is the latest generation of the 911 and it comes loaded with modern technology. Originally, Porsche only released four models being the Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera S, and Carrera 4s all being powered by a 3.0L H6 Turbo engine. In 2020, they decided to release the Targa 4 and Targa 4s and announce the Turbo and Turbo S. The Turbo and Turbo S come with a 3.7L twin-turbocharged engine.
Finally, in early 2021 Porsche released the GT3 and GT3 Touring models. The GT3 uses the 4.0L H6 engine found on the 991. It looks like Porsche plans to release even more configurations for the 992 with a hybrid version slated to release in 2024.
What are the Best and Worst Years for the Porsche 911?
As we said in the beginning, the Porsche 911 is a massively successful car, and it’s no wonder why. There has not been a bad version of it in over 50 years. That being said, when purchasing a 911, you need to know what you want from it. If you want the original 911 recipe that purists love, then a 911 (1964-1989), 930 (1975-1989), 964 (1990-1994), or 993 (1995-1998) is for you.
If you want to use the 911 as an investment the three best options are the 911 (1964-1989), 930 (1975-1989), and 993 (1995-1998). Now, if you’re buying a 911 on a budget there’s really only one that comes to mind, the 996 (1999-2004). For those who want a modern Porsche but are okay with spending more for better looks than the 996, check out the 997 (2005-2011) or 991 (2012-2018). Finally, for those who want the latest edition, the 992 (2019-Present) is promising with several different configurations.
Old-school charm and such aside, we suggest the 2011 Carrera 997, the first of the 991 series. These can be found on the market for a cool $50,000 with standard features and about 46k miles. That’s nearly half of what you’d spend on a 2019 or newer.
Further backing our thoughts on the 2011 model, there were no registered complaints with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), and only a single recall. The recall only affected 584 units so far, and is due to a strut pin that may fracture and allow the strut to separate from the vehicle.
What’s the worst year for the Porsche 911? We’ll have to agree with enthusiasts, the 996 models (1999-2004) are the worst years of the 911 (yes, the non-circular headlights were the dealbreaker for us). In particular, be wary of the 2002 model, which had 13 registered complaints, three recalls, and an investigation.
Photos: Porsche
