A Long-Awaited Drive in the Air-Cooled Porsche 911 (964)

About two and a half years ago, my husband bought an air-cooled Porsche 911 (964 C2) with around 50,000 km on the clock, and now it’s about to surpass 70,000 km.

Wow, that’s quite a distance.

Over these two years, my husband has performed multiple maintenance sessions on the 964 and replaced some interior parts, bringing it to a really great condition. Every time he drives it, he raves, “This is amazing!”

Just the other day, when he was picking up our eldest daughter, he said, “Why don’t you take the 964 for a spin after a while?” So I decided to drive it for the first time in about a month.

My impression after driving it again was:

“Wait, was the 964 always this fast?”

Since it was just a quick trip nearby to pick someone up, I wasn’t pushing the speed, but the acceleration from a standstill was incredibly smooth and strong, making it feel very fast.

I remember when the 964 was first delivered, the acceleration in stop-and-go city traffic felt a bit sluggish, but now the acceleration is so smooth and lively—it’s really enjoyable.

My husband often says that “just cruising along Route 2 at a relaxed pace without speeding is incredibly fun” when driving the 964, and I can definitely see how it’s enjoyable even without pushing it hard.

The Different Types of Fun Porsche Offers

When we say “cars are fun,” I think the kind of fun varies depending on the car. Looking at the Porsches we currently have at home, each has its own unique charm. It’s not about which is better or worse, or which model ranks higher or lower—it’s about the different qualities of enjoyment each one offers.

The GT3 Touring (991 late model, MT) is truly a race car, and with its incredible performance, it delivers the “thrilling excitement of a racing engine.” The Boxster GTS (981), as a convertible, offers an “entertainment for the senses” with its wonderfully satisfying engine sound.

The 911 Cabriolet (992) has the “reliable fun you can enjoy at any speed range,” while the air-cooled Porsche 911 (964) brings an “analog, nostalgic kind of fun.”

The Cayenne E-Hybrid offers “comfort and ease of driving combined with enjoyment,” and the Panamera Turbo we had before provided “the dual pleasures of luxury and sportiness.”

Of course, every Porsche model excels at the core abilities of “accelerating, cornering, and braking” at a very high level, but on top of that, each offers a different kind of fun, which is why every one is enjoyable to drive. (And my husband is inevitably adding more cars to the collection… lol)

Also, even models from the same year can feel completely different depending on options, tires, and driving style, which is another deep aspect of Porsche. I realize this every time I get to drive various models.

My husband also says,

“What I find fascinating about owning multiple Porsches is that there’s no single model that’s ‘the one and only.’ Even after a long time since delivery, each model always surprises me with something amazing every time I drive it. So, the top-tier models or trims aren’t necessarily the best in every way—that’s part of what makes Porsche so interesting.”

So, today we’re setting off for Fuji Speedway to participate in a driving event this Sunday.

My husband will be driving the 911 Cabriolet (992), and I’ll follow in the Cayenne, which will be my first long-distance drive in it, so I’m really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, the forecast for the event day is 100% rain…

Also, this week’s Clubhouse won’t be held as usual on Saturday at 10 pm. Instead, I’m thinking of streaming from the road to Fuji, and maybe doing a talk with my husband on Sunday after the event (fingers crossed it doesn’t get canceled due to heavy rain).

I’ll announce it on Twitter just before, but if you have Clubhouse, please follow us for this opportunity!