A Year Later, Behind the Wheel of the Air-Cooled Porsche 911 (964)

The other day, I drove my husband’s air-cooled Porsche 911 (964 model) for the first time in a whole year, and I’d like to share my impressions.

My husband had urged me dozens of times before, saying things like “Why don’t you drive the 964?” “The suspension’s been refreshed, it’s way better now.” But I was reluctant to get behind the wheel.

The reason was that I had the impression that the 964 was difficult to drive.

I understood that the 964’s performance was amazing and that it drove far better than you’d expect from a Porsche made 30 years ago.

However, it obviously lacks the electronic controls found in modern Porsches, the steering is heavy, and driving on mountain roads like the Royu Driveway was challenging. If you took corners too slowly at intersections, you might not make the turn cleanly…

These impressions stuck with me, and no matter how much my husband said, “We’ve maintained the 964 regularly, so it’s much better than when we first got it,” I just didn’t feel like driving it.

But recently, I had no choice but to drive the 964, and when I did…

It was incredibly good (laughs).

It no longer felt like “an old car that still drives well,” but rather, it felt like the car had been rejuvenated.

There was no need to be overly cautious when driving this old car. The driving felt expansive, and I got the sensation of “this must be how it felt when it was brand new back then.”

It was solid, heavy on the road, with the grounded feeling I love, yet the steering was surprisingly light and effortless, without any heaviness. (This seems largely thanks to switching to a lithium-ion battery.)

When the light turned green and I pressed the accelerator a little, I enjoyed a smooth, lively acceleration. Also, I liked that it didn’t just feel fast but seemed to still have untapped power under the hood.

It Even Overshadows My Swift Sport…

The reason I felt the 964 was so good is partly because it’s a fantastic car, but even more so because my husband regularly performs preventive maintenance and replaces aging parts carefully.

I’ve also heard many stories that driving a 964 that hasn’t been well cared for feels completely different.

Our 964, now five years since delivery, still shows no major issues (nothing requiring an overhaul, for example). That said, small problems like a broken engine belt or slight unusual noises do pop up occasionally.

Each time, my husband cheerfully says,

“I’m off to Be-Force for a bit.”

and takes the 964 to his trusted shop.

It’s not that he’s happy about the problems themselves, but rather that each repair improves the car’s performance, rejuvenates it, and brings the 964 closer to how it was when new—and that process makes him happy.

I realize that for people who don’t mind the daily upkeep, an air-cooled Porsche is truly wonderful. (For me, it’s definitely too much work, haha.)

Actually, right after driving the 964 that day, I drove my beloved Swift Sport, and the car I had loved so much suddenly felt a bit underwhelming.

I found myself muttering things like, “Huh? Has it always felt this light? The acceleration is quick, but you really can tell it’s a different class from the Porsche.”

I don’t think it’s fair to compare a Porsche and a Swift Sport—they’re just different cars—but the fact that the air-cooled 911 improved so much that it changed even my impression of the Swift Sport’s driving says a lot. (Though after driving the Swift Sport more, I eventually returned to appreciating it again.)

I want to drive the 964 again when I get the chance. Next time, I’d love to take it on the Royu Driveway and other mountain roads.