There aren’t many nameplates in motoring that have as long and as storied - not to mention complicated - a history as the Porsche 911. The firm has created some of the best sporting cars of the modern age in the form of the Boxster, Cayman and Panamera, but none are as revered as the original and best.
The 911 first appeared in 1963 as a replacement for the 356 - the German firm’s first offering – and in common with all 911s that have followed, that car was notable for its unconventional rear-engined layout, excellent performance, and admirable practicality for a thoroughbred sports car. That basic formula has remained ever since, right throughout the seven generations of 911 that followed.
But, during those decades, each generation has been iterated and evolved in a variety of small, incremental ways to spawn literally countless different versions with a variety of different specs, and a dedicated and complicated nomenclature that only the purest of Porsche purists can truly comprehend (ask yourself: do you know your Targa 4s from your Dakars? Your Carrera Ts from your Carrera GTS models? Your Tiptronics from your PDKs?). The 911 represents an illustrious history of engineering excellence and success that few in the motoring world can match. Here, we look back on six decades of the 911.
Porsche 911 Generations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Porsche 911 Pros and Cons
- 992 (2019-present)
- 991 (2010-2018)
- 997 (2004-2010)
- 996 (1998-2004)
- 993 (1993-1997)
- 964 (1989-1993)
- G-K SERIES 911 (1973-1989)
- PRE-1973 911
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Porsche 911 years are the best?
Blimey, what a question. That’s a debate that’s raged for several decades across pub tables and internet forums the world over, and everyone seems to have a different answer. For some, it’ll be the early air-cooled examples, while for others, it’ll be the stat-busting technological marvels that are the most modern cars. If you’re looking for a happy medium, though, you could do a lot worse than the 997, built between 2004 and 2010. It’s old enough to still have the authentically analogue feel of more classic 911s (helped greatly by being the last 911 with hydraulic power steering rather than electric), but new enough to carry some more modern suspension and engine technology for greatly enhanced dynamic ability. In the scheme of 911 models, it’s also reasonably affordable to buy, having neither the classic status of the oldest examples, nor the fresh-out-the-box appeal of the newer ones.
Which Porsche 911 years are the worst?
We’ll start this answer by saying that Porsche has never made a ‘bad’ 911, so as long as you buy one in good nick that’s been looked after meticulously, you’ll have a very lovely car on your hands regardless of which generation you choose. It’s probably true, though, that the 996, built between 1998 and 2004, is the least-loved of the various generations of 911. Purists never warmed to its water-cooled engine (ironically) or the fried-egg-style headlights on early models, although that latter gripe was fixed by a mid-life refresh. For those less bothered by tradition and minute mechanical detail, though, a well-kept 996 is still a very enjoyable thing.
Is a used Porsche 911 a good deal?
It can be, but there are a few very important things to remember here. The first - and most important - is that there’s no such thing as a cheap Porsche, and that applies to both purchase prices and running costs. If you see a 911 advertised with a bargain pricetag, then the chances are that it’s probably not been looked after very well (and these things reeeeeally need to be), and there’s probably some wallet-demolishing issue lurking somewhere underneath all that curvaceous bodywork, just waiting to relieve you of all your hard-earned. Don’t scrimp, insist on a complete service history with a bulging file of receipts, and buy the best-kept example you can afford. It’s also worth investing in the advisory services of a professional Porsche specialist when buying, to make sure that your chosen car’s condition and history are everything they should be. And, once you’ve procured your Porsche, you’ll need to set aside a very hefty budget for maintenance and repair work, because scrimping on it will cause your pride and joy to deteriorate very quickly.
Porsche 911 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- One of the finest driver’s cars of all time
- Glamorous to look at inside and out
- Most are civilised enough to use daily
Cons:
- Expensive to buy and maintain
- Slightly ubiquitous for a supercar
- A poorly kept one will be an absolute money pit
992 (2019-present)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- The most technologically advanced 911 of the lot
While many previous generations of the 911 have courted controversy with Porsche purists in some way – be it with water-cooled engines, electric power steering, a perceived over-reliance on turbocharging in the pursuit of better fuel economy, or other such sacrileges – the 992 is rather different in that there’s no huge step-change between it and its predecessor: it’s merely a more modern evolution of what went before. As a result, it offers a similar breadth of talent to the 991, albeit it in an even more polished way, and like previous 911s, there’s a version to suit every taste and budget. There’s the standard 911 Carrera and the 911 Carrera S, both available with four-wheel drive instead of the standard rear-wheel drive, these called 911 Carrera 4 and 911 Carrera 4S, respectively. Then there are the Turbo models, the Turbo (it’s actually a twin-turbo) and Turbo S, which offer hypercar pace, yet retain the civility and usability of a standard Carrera: even the WLTP MPG figures aren’t too crazy. The track-focused GTS and GT3 models, meanwhile, lose their rear seats, but add bigger brakes, wheels and tyres, plus bigger wings for enhanced aerodynamics and more power from their motorsport-derived 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engines.
Porsche 911 992 review
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991 (2010-2018)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- First 911 with electric power steering
The 991 was a larger, more adept all-rounder than its predecessors, with sports and GT car genes mixing and – controversially at first – electronically assisted power steering. In launch form it had a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre flat-six, though a turbocharged 3.0-litre replaced that in its second-generation form as Porsche sought to reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption. More than ever before, the 991 represents the 911 as a consummate all-rounder, with a breadth of ability that is as staggering as the choice of models. For a highlight, don’t miss the outrageous 691bhp GT2 RS.
Porsche 911 991 review
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997 (2004-2010)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- Last 911 with hydraulic power steering
The 997 replaced the 996’s unloved lines with those harking back to its 993 air-cooled relation. That instantly won it more fans, and the 997 is coveted by 911 enthusiasts as a result. Its enduring popularity isn’t just down to the looks. It is also, for example, the last 911 to use hydraulically assisted power steering, which allows for rich detail to flow through the wheel, while the rest of the drivetrain (engines ranged from 3.6 to 4.0 litres depending on model) is sublime. The 997 GT3 or GT3 RS, with their screaming naturally aspirated engine and six-speed manual gearbox, remains a high point in the 911’s rich history.
Porsche 911 997 review
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996 (1998-2004)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- First of the water-cooled 911s
Arguably Porsche’s difficult ‘second album’, the 996 upset the air-cooled 911 purists with its switch to water-cooled engines, not to mention dramatic changes to the car’s interior and exterior styling. Controversial it might have been, but the 996 still set the template for the modern 911 as we know it, not to mention introduced us to the GT3 and its RS spin-off. A standard 996 Carrera is an incredibly enjoyable car to drive, and in second-generation form, with the neater headlights (as pictured above), it looks great, too.
Porsche 911 996 review
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993 (1993-1997)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- Last air-cooled 911, first with multilink rear suspension
As the last of the air-cooled 911s, the 993 marked the end of an era. Porsche bowed out by adding technology such as multi-link rear suspension to improve the cornering, while the now familiar model line-up was more accomplished – and more powerful – than ever before. Due to the way it combines a classic interior with distinctive styling, that air-cooled engine and modern driving manners, the 993 has become hugely popular with those after vintage 911 thrills mixed with day-to-day usability.
964 (1989-1993)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- Available with four-wheel drive for the first time
The 964 was, according to Porsche, over 80 per cent new, yet still retained the proportions of the earliest 911s. There were big differences under the skin, too, not least the introduction of 959-inspired all-wheel drive for the Carrera 4 model, which was sold alongside the rear-wheel-drive Carrera 2, introducing an extra level of diversity into the Carrera models. Other additions to the range included another Turbo, a Targa model and a Cabriolet, along with an RS that, with just under 260bhp, is now half as powerful as its modern day equivalent, the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
G-K SERIES 911 (1973-1989)
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Cabriolet
- Targa
Notable Features:
- Normalised the Carrera name
In late 1973 the 911 gained rubber impact bumpers to meet US low-speed impact regulations, marking the first major step in its design evolution. Engines included the 2.7 with electronic fuel injection, a 3.0-litre and latterly a 3.2. The G-Series cemented the famous Porsche 911 Carrera name into the regular 911 lexicon (outside the RSs that used it before), while the Porsche 911 Turbo, designated ‘930’, offered supercar levels of performance. During this period Porsche also released its first hypercar in the shape of the 959, which was a technological marvel complete with a pioneering four-wheel-drive system. In 1983, the first 911 Cabriolet was released.
PRE-1973 911
Bodystyles:
- Coupe
- Targa
Notable Features:
- 356 replacement was the first of the line
Launched in 1963, the Porsche 911 spent its first decade being powered by an air-cooled flat-six engine that was upgraded over time as the desire for more horsepower took hold. The earliest 911s used a 2.0-litre engine, while in later models it swelled to 2.2-, 2.4- and eventually 2.7 litres. At the same time the model range grew from the base 911 to include the E, T, and S, as well as the legendary 2.7 RS of 1973. Plenty of racing variants were offered during this period, such as the ST and the fabled R, as was a partially open-roofed 911, badged as the 911 Targa.