A 911 (964) that feels like new

I picked up the keys and headed home. Driving a few dozen meters on Route 43 in front of the shop, I exclaimed, ‘Wow, it’s totally different!!‘ I couldn’t help but say it out loud. I could clearly feel the roundness of the tires. It was the first time I truly felt the tires rolling on this car.

Brand new front shocks

It glides smoothly forward. I’d say the sensation is about 20-30% better than before. Even over rough patches or manhole covers, the “clunk, rattle” noises are almost gone.

Previously, while the shocks absorbed impacts reasonably well, on uneven surfaces there was a noise like an airplane passing through turbulent air, but now it’s much quieter. You can hear it faintly from the rear if you listen carefully, but it’s almost nonexistent from the front. The front’s road contact and smoothness really stand out. Pitching has been greatly reduced, and the vertical movement of my head while driving is much less.

NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) is generally suppressed, and the 964 suddenly became a very comfortable car.

Starting from a stoplight and accelerating to overtake, I also felt the improvement here. The throttle response delay has been significantly reduced and feels much better. This is probably thanks to replacing the engine mounts and Tiptronic mount.

The latest water-cooled Porsches have a feature called PADM (Porsche Active Drivetrain Mount), which stiffens or softens the mounts depending on the driving mode. This makes the car feel sharper and more muscular in sport mode, and it’s a similar feeling here.

The car moves as if it’s lighter and leaner, like losing body fat.

As you might guess, I didn’t head straight home but immediately went to Royu Driveway, then tested it at Sand Double Crink. Points that weren’t noticeable in town gradually became clear.

First, corners are easier to drive! Much easier. Before, I had to follow the RR basics carefully—lifting off the throttle to put weight on the front, then applying throttle early to get traction to turn—but now it turns well even if I’m a bit lazy.

And it turns smoothly. Of course, it’s not as easy to drive as the latest water-cooled Porsches, but this makes driving more relaxed.

I also noticed changes mid-corner. Thanks to stronger front road contact, the car tries to pull in more firmly mid-turn. This is a feeling I often get in the GT3, and now I’m experiencing something similar in the 964.

The Tiptronic shifts feel crisp too. Previously, when holding 2nd gear at high revs and lifting off the throttle, there was a slight backlash feeling and a sudden engine brake effect, but that has been greatly reduced. I’m not sure if it’s thanks to the Tiptronic mount replacement, but the automatic transmission definitely feels better.

The front ride height has risen quite a bit. This is still the lowest setting.

On the straight stretch of Royu Tunnel, the improved straight-line stability is clearly noticeable. The car runs straight and sharp. It wasn’t bad before, but here I feel about 10-20% more stability. It makes me want to try a long-distance cruise.

On the Royu Esses climbing from Arima side, which is a challenging section for RR cars and especially air-cooled Porsches, tight narrow corners and steep winding roads. When I first bought this 964, I casually drove here and was shocked at how poorly it turned. Driving the refreshed 964 here now feels like a completely different experience.

Of course, weight transfer is important in an RR, but the ease of driving is totally different. I can drive more relaxed now.

At Sand Double Crink, I focused on rough surfaces and medium-speed corners. The front suspension’s vertical movement is definitely reduced. Compared to modern water-cooled Porsches, the ride quality still loses out, but I can clearly feel the suspension working well, making the ride flat and pleasant.

Since the 911 has a heavy rear, the rear suspension is stiff, but the front is lighter and softer. This makes the 911 relatively comfortable for a true sports car, and this refresh really made that clear.

On the way home, I re-evaluated on familiar roads. The difference was obvious. Ride comfort and ease of driving have improved significantly. Imagining how this 911 drove back in 1992, 28 years ago, felt like a time machine experience.

This refresh cost a fair amount, but I’m really glad we did it. Without it, I might have gone on not truly knowing the real 964. If you own a classic Porsche and your budget allows, I highly recommend refreshing the suspension. The driver’s satisfaction is high, and more importantly, the car itself seems to come alive and rejoice.

Next, I’m planning a body refresh. The journey to bring it as close to new as possible is still long.