\u2192\u3010Reference Article\u3011One day my husband bought a Mercedes-Benz SL500 (R129) \u2013 How a car enthusiast husband buys cars<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nA Husband Who Wants 100% Conviction Before Buying<\/h3>\n
When I asked him about it, he said,<\/p>\n
“Right now, I\u2019m torn between the 964 and the 993. So I wanted to get a precise understanding of how the 964 and 993 were evaluated when they were first released, and that\u2019s why I hunted down and bought this Car Graphic magazine.”<\/p>\n
I thought, he\u2019s not a Porsche salesman, so maybe he doesn\u2019t need to know that much… but then again, he never buys anything unless he\u2019s 100% convinced (laughs).<\/p>\n
So, I casually flipped through the magazine that was on the desk. It turned out to be quite fascinating, so today I want to share a summary of the section on the third-generation 911: the 964 Carrera 4<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThat said, even though I tried hard to understand it, there were parts I couldn\u2019t quite grasp due to my limited knowledge (lol)\u2026 so this is just a summary based on what I could understand.<\/p>\n
Overview of the 911 (964 Model)<\/h3>\n
Regarding the 964, the “Carrera 4” was released first, followed by the “Carrera 2.” The 964 Carrera 4 debuted in 1989.<\/strong> That year marked the 25th anniversary of the 911\u2019s birth. It incorporated plenty of know-how from the then cutting-edge “Porsche 959” (a race car packed with Porsche\u2019s latest technology at the time)<\/span>, and was introduced as Porsche\u2019s first mass-produced 4WD sports car.<\/strong><\/p>\nBy the way, the model name “964” includes a “4” because Porsche introduced a 4WD system to the Carrera line. The specs for the 964 are:<\/p>\n
\u30fb[Length] 4,252 mm \u00d7 [Width] 1,652 mm \u00d7 [Height] 1,320 mm
\n\u30fbWeight with full tank: 1,450 kg
\n\u30fbTransmission: 5-speed manual only
\n\u30fbTop speed over 260 km\/h, 0-100 km\/h in 5.9 seconds<\/p>\n
Just looking at size, it\u2019s clear that the current 911 Carrera 4<\/strong> (991 model: [Length] 4,499 mm \u00d7 [Width] 1,852 mm \u00d7 [Height] 1,295 mm)<\/span> is noticeably larger.<\/p>\nWhat Changed from the Previous 930 Model?<\/h3>\n
When comparing to the previous 930, the differences are hard to spot just by looking at the exterior, but almost everything inside was newly designed. The differences in the car\u2019s internals include:<\/p>\n
\u30fbAir conditioning system (air conditioner) was installed<\/strong>
\n\u30fbSuspension adopted coil springs and lightweight alloy trailing arms, reducing noise transmission from rough roads<\/strong>
\n\u30fbLightweight alloy brake calipers, previously discontinued due to cost, were reinstated
\n\u30fbPorsche\u2019s iconic Fuchs forged wheels were discontinued,<\/strong> replaced by 16-inch alloy wheels
\n\u30fbBosch ABS system (anti-lock braking system) became standard equipment<\/strong>
\n\u30fbPower steering was introduced
\n\u30fbEngine displacement expanded from 3.2L to 3.6L, making it the largest flat-six Porsche engine at the time<\/strong><\/p>\nOn the exterior, the biggest change was that the rear spoiler became retractable.<\/strong> Until then, 911 owners who wanted stable high-speed driving had to opt for front air dams or rear spoilers as options. However, many owners disliked these options because they spoiled the 911\u2019s beautiful original silhouette.<\/strong><\/p>\nFrom the 964 onward, you could enjoy excellent high-speed handling without adding such options.<\/p>\n
Car Graphic\u2019s Evaluation by Category<\/h3>\n
Next, let\u2019s look at Car Graphic\u2019s opinions and evaluations for each category.<\/p>\n
\u2460 Steering Feel<\/h4>\n
The steering feel (the sense of control through the steering wheel)<\/span> is very light, with much less kickback. It has outstanding straight-line stability and you can enter and exit corners confidently without worry.<\/strong> The 4WD provides excellent stability, and even if you lift off the throttle mid-corner, it won\u2019t spin out.<\/p>\nThat said, although the oversteer is reduced and spinning is less likely,<\/strong> for fans who love the thrilling driving experience and believe “a 911 that anyone can drive is no longer a 911,” the fun of RWD is still well preserved.<\/strong> The power steering offers a suitably firm feel for a sports car.<\/p>\n\u2461 Four-Wheel Drive<\/h4>\n
Porsche has consistently held the philosophy of “steering with the front wheels, driving force controlled by the rear wheels, and cornering with all four wheels.”<\/strong> For the Carrera 4, driving force is also delivered to the front wheels, split roughly 30% front and 70% rear.<\/p>\nThis differs from the then-common 50:50 setup of 4WD systems like the Audi Quattro, but it preserves Porsche\u2019s ideal handling characteristics. Thanks to the 4WD, the car remains stable even on slippery surfaces or at high speeds.<\/p>\n
\u2462 Manual Transmission<\/h4>\n
When revving to the max 6,800 rpm in each gear, you can reach 65 km\/h in 1st, 110 km\/h in 2nd, 160 km\/h in 3rd, and 210 km\/h in 4th. In 5th gear, the speedometer shows over 275 km\/h. Previously, hitting 270 km\/h in a Porsche made me break out in a cold sweat, but this rear-engine Porsche feels surprisingly safe at those speeds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2463 Ride Comfort<\/h4>\n
The ride is somewhat firm but acceptable for a sports car. Noise levels are much quieter, and wind noise is significantly reduced compared to the previous 930.<\/strong><\/p>\nDrawbacks and Overall Impression<\/h3>\n
On the other hand, some drawbacks were noted.<\/p>\n
\u25a0 Drawbacks<\/h4>\n
The rear lateral rigidity is weak at low speeds, and while you don\u2019t notice it during normal driving, making U-turns or maneuvering in tight spaces is difficult.<\/strong><\/p>\n\u25a0 Overall Impression<\/h4>\n
The 964 Carrera 4 allows stable control without the extreme steering characteristics of previous 911s, where pressing the accelerator caused understeer and lifting off caused oversteer. However, it\u2019s not a highway cruiser focused solely on stability like typical 4WDs; it can be driven confidently at high-speed corners and enjoyed at low-speed corners as well. Truly, it\u2019s a sports car that pursues handling and lets you savor the essence of cornering.<\/strong> Among cars released in 1989, it\u2019s definitely one to watch.<\/p>\nApparently, by September 1989 (six months after release)<\/span>, all units allocated for Japan that year were already sold out, showing how popular it was.<\/p>\nEven within the air-cooled category, there\u2019s so much depth. Personally, I like the 964\u2019s slightly bulging headlights (I don\u2019t know how else to describe it\u2026)<\/span>\u2014I find it cute. So, in a few days, I\u2019d like to write about the 964 Carrera 2 and the 993 as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"About the Air-Cooled Porsche 911 The other day, my husband went all the way to Nagoya to check out an air-cooled model. When I asked him what he thought, he simply said, “Yeah, it was just a good car.” So I figured he wasn\u2019t in a hurry to buy one. But then, a few days later, this magazine arrived at our home. It\u2019s a special edition from the automotive magazine Car Graphic, compiling evaluations and...","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=4840"},"categories":[30,2],"tags":[183,188,222],"yoast_head":"Considering an Air-Cooled Porsche 911 \u2013 Researching the 964 Carrera 4 - \u30dd\u30eb\u30b7\u30a7\u304c\u308f\u304c\u5bb6\u306b\u3084\u3063\u3066\u304d\u305f - \u30aa\u30fc\u30ca\u30fc\u30ba\u30d6\u30ed\u30b0<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A detailed look at the air-cooled Porsche 911, focusing on the 964 Carrera 4. 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