Do Air-Cooled Porsche Seats Cause Back Pain?

Since getting his 964, my husband has found himself saying “my back hurts” a lot more often. I wrote about it recently (Love driving but suffer from back pain? We’d love to hear your tips for making the drive more comfortable), and after receiving lots of advice from readers, he seems to have been trying a few different things.

Then he tried placing a Porsche-branded race-day cushion behind his lower back—and, at last, he was able to drive without back pain.

Apparently, simply placing the cushion behind his lower back in the 964’s driver’s seat made a dramatic difference…

The cushion in an air-cooled Porsche seat is soft, and there’s very little lumbar support. I think that makes your body curl forward at an awkward angle and leaves you hunched over, which is why your back hurts. With the cushion behind my lower back, my back didn’t hurt at all today. And since it’s Porsche gear, it kind of looks like a factory accessory, too. lol

That’s what my husband said. Whatever the reason, I’m glad he found something that works.

An Oil Change for an Air-Cooled 911

On to the 964: since taking delivery last November, my husband had driven it for 5,000 km, so he decided it was time for an oil change. He looked into where to take it for an oil change and settled on b-force, which is close to home. (I previously interviewed the shop’s owner, Mr. Sasabe, for this blog.)

He called to check availability, then brought the 964 in. While he was there, they let him watch the oil change and other work being carried out.

They raised the 964 on a lift and explained what he was looking at underneath, pointing out how different parts fit together. He said it was fascinating to watch the work up close. The oil in the 964 was also surprisingly dirty…

It was the color of dark chocolate and looked almost appetizing (or is that just me? lol)

Air-cooled engines are cooled not only by air but also by the oil itself, so keeping the oil in good condition is especially important. With a modern Porsche, you might hear that an oil change every 10,000 km is fine. But Mr. Sasabe’s advice was that air-cooled Porsches are better off with an oil change about every 5,000 km, if possible.

It really does sound like regular oil changes are essential.

While they were changing the oil, they also checked out another issue: a rattling noise had recently started coming from the door. They took the door apart to investigate, and apparently fixed the problem completely.

That’s impressive. To an amateur like me, taking the door apart like this looks like the kind of job you’d never be able to put back together. But the professionals know what they’re doing. Mr. Sasabe at b-force said that he had completely dismantled Porsches from this era before, so he knows the 964’s construction inside and out.

My husband came home after the oil change and repair looking very pleased. He said:

The great thing about b-force is how easy it is to drop by. They look after the car like a regular doctor looking after you. I also like that you can watch the work, chat about other things you’ve noticed, and have them take a look—there’s a nice, relaxed feel to the place. Even if something seems a little off with the car, I can just ask them about it.

With an air-cooled Porsche or any older car, little things are bound to crop up. It’s reassuring to have a nearby shop you can comfortably turn to for advice—and that’s an important part of the Porsche owner experience.