Air-Cooled Porsche 911 (964)

Time flies—it’s already been two full years since our 964 was delivered. My husband often said, “Thanks to the regular maintenance over these two years, it’s gotten into really good shape! I think it’s getting close to how it felt when it was brand new.” But with the chaos of childbirth and periods when the 964 was parked far from home, I hadn’t driven it at all.

ポルシェ911（空冷964型）の足回り全般を純正部品で交換！

空冷ポルシェ 911（964）の予防整備 – デスビベルト、ブロアモーター等交換。

Then, just this month, when the 964 returned from its inspection, my husband said,

Why don’t you take it for a spin after such a long time? It really has improved.

So I decided to drive it for the first time in six months. (I’ll write about the inspection details later.)

Opening the 964’s door after a long time, I was struck again by the impressive solidity, like a steel vault. Then, as I crouched to get inside, the unique scent greeted me, the soft leather seats felt different from modern Porsches, and the analog five-gauge cluster surrounded me. All my senses were immersed in the 964, and I felt a pleasantly nostalgic sensation, like I had time-traveled back to that era.

When I started the engine, the simple, mechanical sound was distinct from the water-cooled Porsches I usually drive. Even at idle, the engine’s working presence was audible directly from the car.

After checking the seat position, I shifted into D, released the parking brake, and eased off the brake. The 964 began to move slowly. “I can see why, when driving the MT version, you don’t need to rev the engine to get going,” I thought, as I took care to warm it up gently and drove slowly and carefully at first.

Since I usually drive cars with light power steering, the 964’s steering felt very heavy. Turning at intersections required conscious effort to push and pull the wheel. But after two or three minutes, I got used to the weight, and strangely, I started enjoying the feeling of truly being in control.

The brakes have a short stroke and feel heavy. When I first drove the 964, I was surprised, thinking, “Oh, I can’t press it with my usual force!” But strangely, after getting used to it a bit, I found, “This actually makes fine adjustments easier, and pressing the brake gives a satisfying, strong response.”

Like New: Porsche 911 (964)

The refreshed 964 felt so lively it was hard to believe it was a car made 30 years ago. The engine was energetic and responsive. It was like discovering that an old man you thought was frail is actually muscular, agile, and far more capable than many young people. (I’m terrible at metaphors.)

My husband had told me in advance, “Once the engine’s warmed up, try driving it fixed in second gear,” so I rolled down the windows and drove along Route 2 just like that. It felt fantastic. Of course, I’m sure mountain roads and winding routes would be even more fun, but just driving on ordinary roads was enjoyable. I felt like Magnus Walker himself (laughs).

I was also surprised at how much the ride quality had improved. The flatness and road grip had increased, the car felt rock-solid and stable, dry yet smooth, with just the right firmness. I even thought, “It might ride better than the raw 992 I got when it was new.” (Though the 992’s ride has improved a lot since then.)

I only drove the 964 for about 20 minutes that day, but it really made me realize how much maintenance can change a car. I’m truly grateful to Be-Force, who always takes care of our 964.

After returning home, I told my husband,

It’s gotten so much better! Amazing! The engine feels lively, the ride is fantastic, and it doesn’t feel like a 30-year-old car at all. I even felt like it rides better than the 992 did when it was new. I think I finally understand why you say it’s so much fun!

He replied,

Right? Sure, the 992 is better at high-speed stability, but it really has improved. It has a different charm from the thrilling GT3—you don’t have to push it hard to enjoy it, and you just want to keep driving forever. That said, there’s still room for maintenance, and the ride can get even better, so I want to keep fixing it up as much as possible.

Our 964 has only about 60,000 kilometers on it, but I’m sure as we drive it more and more, its character will deepen. I’m looking forward to it.