Awakening from Summer Hibernation, the 964

The air-cooled Porsche 911 (964C2) had been resting since early July. My husband had disconnected the battery because he thought, “Driving it in traffic with temperatures over 38°C isn’t ideal….”

真夏は空冷ポルシェ911（964C2）に乗らないのでバッテリーを切って『夏眠』だ

However, the 964’s summer hibernation ended sooner than expected (my husband had put it to sleep but apparently couldn’t wait to drive it), so recently I got to drive it for the first time in months. Just minutes after starting to drive, I thought:

Was the 964 always this easy to drive and this much fun?

When the 964 was delivered last fall, my first impression was “It’s definitely fun, but demands real driving skill from the driver.” I was honestly surprised, thinking, “The Panamera handles things well even for someone like me, but the 964 is a whole different story.”

The 964’s behavior depends almost entirely on the driver’s skill, making me feel as if the 911 was testing me. I remember being tense throughout the drive.

Also, the steering was heavy, and at very low speeds, the car barely turned in corners. I often wondered, “Why doesn’t this small car have better maneuverability… lol,” which made it feel more challenging than fun at times.

But after a few months, driving the 964 again this time, I didn’t feel that difficulty. Instead, it felt like the car fit me better and was genuinely enjoyable to drive. I even tweeted:

なんか、前に乗った時よりも、はるかに、さらに、良い車に感じたのはなぜだろう。ポルシェ911 964C2、めっちゃええ車だ。エアコンもちゃんときくしw pic.twitter.com/Ne9K16csfT

— Mina – ポルシェブロガー (@Mina_Panamera) September 3, 2019

A follower replied:

I think it’s because your driving has improved. The way you smoothly lift off the accelerator when turning and those little things that make driving a Porsche so satisfying show its depth.

My driving has, uh, improved…? (ﾟдﾟ)！？

Reading that comment made me grin (lol). While I haven’t improved drastically, it’s true that I’ve become more attentive to the car’s voice when driving.

Lately, I’ve been driving my beloved BMW 320i manual almost daily, always trying to perform “smooth and careful accelerator/brake work,” “clutch operation,” and “steering” as best as I can.

Sometimes I slip up and think, “Oops, that shift shock was a bit rough just now.” But each time, I reflect on what went wrong and consciously try to improve. (What am I even aiming for? lol)

The Depth of Porsche

As I’ve heard on Twitter and experienced myself, Porsche truly is a car with incredible depth. It’s tough on beginner drivers like I was, but if you listen with your senses and hear the car’s voice, the car opens its heart to you, and driving becomes a joy.

The more my driving skills improve, the more fun driving becomes. Every time I press the accelerator, take a corner, or brake, I feel more moved.

Porsche surely holds hundreds of times more depth and enjoyment than I can imagine. When talking to Porsche owners, I often hear:

“It took 100,000 km just to finish the break-in,” “I’m still driving a 30-year-old Porsche.”

The more you drive, the richer and more rewarding the experience becomes. Porsches are also durable and well-made industrial products.

The more I learn, the more I’m amazed by Porsche, and the more I drive, the bigger a fan I become. I really want to keep improving my driving.

Lately, I’ve been muttering to myself while browsing Car Sensor, “If I were to buy a Porsche myself, it’d definitely be a manual.” Hearing this, my husband laughed out loud:

“What’s gotten into you lately? You used to say manual was nonsense, but you’ve totally changed 180 degrees lol.”

Unknowingly, I’m steadily being pulled deeper into the Porsche world. It’s quite something.

So, (for whatever reason), I made a video of the air-cooled Porsche. Since there’s still limited footage and engine sound material of the 964, it’s a short video focusing mainly on the engine sound. I’d be delighted if you’d watch it.

And please consider subscribing to the channel.