Porsche’s Return to Its Roots

The other day, my husband was talking about something.

He said, “Among the people I know, quite a few buy relatively new Porsche models, gain experience, and then gradually switch to older models or add them to their collection. It’s like a kind of Porsche ‘return to the ancestors’ (laughs). For example, some who drove the latest 991 (992 generation) gradually went back to the late 991, then the early 991… or someone who had a 718 switched to a 981. While other car brands also have people moving from new models to classics, with Porsche, it seems many choose to go just one generation back, like from 718 to 981 or 992 to 991.”

He went on.

Indeed, looking at Porsche owners around my husband, many own the latest models and appreciate their excellence. Yet, despite having no major complaints, they often move back to slightly older models (including my husband himself).

Why is that? He continued,

When we say someone “loves cars,” it can mean different things: some love driving itself, others prefer the latest models as outstanding industrial products. Some prioritize design, others want to display their cars beautifully in a garage and admire them. There are really all kinds of enthusiasts. For those like me who love driving, it seems many prefer the analog feel, the engine’s character, and the natural, flowing engine sound. Porsche’s driving experience, with its high basic performance and analog charm, is truly the best. You become one with the car, feeling its performance with all your senses, experiencing an indescribable thrill. So, for driving enthusiasts like us, rather than the cyborg-like brilliance of the latest Porsche, we seek models that feel more natural and allow for human involvement, which leads us to ‘return to the ancestors.’

He said.

I might like cars more than the average person, but I’m not someone who can’t get enough of driving.

I just want “the time I spend driving every day to be enjoyable,” so I want a car that’s fun and reliable in terms of performance.

So when I imagine myself buying a Porsche, I think “a newer model with electronic controls that lets me drive safely and enjoyably in any weather or road condition” suits me best.

I understand that models like the 964, where your driving skill directly shows, are wonderful cars, but when I drive them, I often find myself thinking, “I’m not a very good driver,” or “I really drifted wide on that corner…” and I wonder if I’m really suited to owning one (sweat).

Understanding Analog’s Appeal Through Knowing the Latest

Perhaps the appeal of analog cars becomes clearer precisely because you know the latest models.

In fact, a couple we’ve known for a long time bought a 981 Boxster a few years ago, switched to a 718 Spyder a year ago, and just recently switched back to a 981 Boxster Spyder.

This person loves driving so much that they probably drive more than my husband does, fitting in drives between a busy work schedule, covering about 20,000 km per year.

When they switched from the 981 Boxster to the 718 Spyder a year ago, my husband and others advised them, “I really think the 981 suits you best. If you’re going to buy, why not another 981 model?” But they ended up buying the 718 Spyder.

After receiving the 718 Spyder, they appreciated its high performance, incredible handling, and suspension—significant improvements over the 981—but they just couldn’t forget the engine sound and feel of the 981, which led them to switch back to the 981 Boxster Spyder.

They said,

“Having experienced the excellence of the latest model, I was convinced the 981 suits me best, so I bought the 981 Spyder. I’ve decided I will never let go of this 981 Spyder and will keep it forever.”

I thought it was wonderful that after experiencing the latest models and understanding the strengths of both, they chose to return to an earlier generation.

That said, the Porsche passion runs deep, so it’s not impossible that the ‘return to the ancestors’ might continue further—to the 964, 930, Narrow Body, and eventually the 356… (laughs)