Driving the 911 Every Day

It’s been about two weeks since our air-cooled 911 (964 C2) arrived at our home. After taking delivery, my husband made a point of using the 911 for all his daily drives—commuting, errands, everything—to really get a feel for its ride and character. About a week in, he came home and said,

“I feel like the 911 has really come alive since this morning. The engine revs so smoothly and rhythmically. It hadn’t run properly for years, so maybe it’s finally settling in. The roughness in the moving parts seems to be fading. It’s just so enjoyable to drive now.”

So, I’d like to share my husband’s first impressions of our air-cooled 911 (964) from right after purchase through the first week.

Right After Delivery & One Week Later

Right After Delivery

Right after delivery, my husband felt “It’s definitely a great car, but I don’t quite understand its true charm yet.” He said,

“The rigidity and handling are good, but honestly, the Boxster has more power, a smoother ride, and the engine revs so freely. Hmm, I still don’t really get what’s so special about the air-cooled 911.”

One Week Later

After about a week with the air-cooled 911, he said, “Tomorrow I’m going to drive the Boxster again after a while—wonder how it’ll feel?” and headed out to the Royu Driveway early in the morning. When he came back, this was his impression:

“After driving the Boxster again, it actually felt a bit lacking. First, the Boxster’s ride felt incredibly smooth, with all vibrations and shocks nicely absorbed, making it super comfortable. But I started thinking it’d be nice if the ride was a bit more disciplined and with less body roll.”

I never expected him to say that about the Boxster he adores so much…!

Overall First Impressions

Based on that, after a week of driving, I summarized my husband’s changing perspective on the air-cooled 911 and how he felt about it. (A detailed review will come later.)

① A Strange Sense of Partnership

While modern Porsches outperform it in terms of performance, the sense of partnership with this car is incredible. I’m not sure why exactly, but maybe it’s the perfectly compact size, the unique cockpit atmosphere, the sound of the doors, and various other factors that create this feeling. Day by day, his affection grows, making him want to take it everywhere.

② Feeling Like Carrying Porsche on Your Back

There’s a saying “wearing a Porsche,” but for him, it feels more like “carrying Porsche on your back.” It’s like wearing a backpack with the straps perfectly adjusted to fit your body—snug, secure, and easy to move around in. No looseness, so you can move freely without getting tired. That’s the feeling.

③ Lane Changes Are a Joy

The handling is more direct, with less body roll, making lane changes incredibly fun. The Boxster’s handling is also direct, but the 911 feels like it moves more laterally. While the Boxster’s movement is always based on a circular motion, the 911 feels like it moves with sharper angles.

④ The Engine Sound Is Pleasing

At first, he didn’t understand what was so good about the unique noise of the air-cooled engine. But after driving it every day, the engine smoothed out, and that distinctive sound started to feel really satisfying. At low revs, it rumbles deeply, and when revved, it delivers a sharp mechanical noise. It’s a different kind of pleasure than the typical supercar engine roar. It’s hard to describe, but it’s somewhat like the sound of an older motorcycle engine.

⑤ Summary

He says he still can’t claim to fully understand the charm of air-cooled cars yet, but he feels more and more like driving it every day. So maybe he’s starting to get it. He also mentioned that “air-cooled cars might be easier to understand if you think of them like motorcycles.” He sometimes rides a bike (a Serow 250), and compared to cars, bikes aren’t exactly comfortable—they require more attention and physical effort. But motorcycles have their own unique appeal, and fun doesn’t always come from comfort or high performance. After driving the 964, he feels it’s somewhat similar to that motorcycle vibe.

He also laughed recently saying, “Now I’m starting to want to try even older air-cooled models! I might even end up with a 356 someday!” Looks like he’s already fully swallowed by the air-cooled Porsche world just one week after delivery… It’s scary to imagine where he’ll be in a few years (lol).