I'm a Mercedes guy so I won't pretend to know anything substantial about the fabled 911, just the standard info that any self respecting car guy retains. Since I am around Porsche's of 80s-00s vintages more often, I thought I would write about my road trip in a rare (to Australia) little red 964. Yes, that's right, the slightly uglier but still attractive elusive middle child sandwiched between the 930 and the 993.
Tasked with the mission of safely delivering this rare beast to a collector in the Southern coastal NSW town of Kiama, my colleague and I set off early in the morning to avoid Sydney traffic. This started with me falling arse first into the 964 then dragging my feet in after. Is there a Porsche entry etiquette that enables big men to keep their dignity?
First thing I noted with the 964 is that it must have been one of the first Porsche's to be equipped with the tiptronic 4 speed? Purists will disagree with that appointment but I was relieved because my feet don't work magic with the off centre, tiny midget pedals the car is equipped with. Anyway, the 964 was mint, having traveled only 50,000km's from new and with every-which-way electric seats and air-con I was surprised at the luxuries.
Slightly dizzy from the fumes of the flat 6 3.6 we headed off. 10 minutes later we were at the mechanic with a broken thermostat informing the car that it was significantly hotter than it was. Having expressed shipped a new one and fixed the thermostat we headed off the next day. It wasn't until about 2 hours into the journey that I realised with the roof off, Journey on the radio and me in the passenger seat that I felt a little less masculine than I would have liked.
Once you descend the gorge down to Wollongong, I forget it's name, the roads really start to open up as you head towards Berry and Kiama and the 964 just came into it's own. I was amazed that an 80s engineered vehicle can still feel so planted and new. Speed has no relevance either and the security the car gives you to do ludicrous figures is startling. I can liken this road-holding and high speed security to only one other vehicle of the era and my personal favourite the W140 S class (ownership experience coming soon).
The only thing holding the 964 back is the flat 6. I don't know if it's due to the air cooled factor or that it was a 40 degrees celsius day. Maybe it was a marketing ploy of Porsche for the owners to come back in an trade up to the Turbo. Although I believe it a culmination of all these plus a lack of a 5th gear. The 964 needed more poke. It was quick but not Porsche quick. We were left in the dust by a 04 Maloo HSV 5.7 who wanted to race.
We made our destination on schedule, a deal was finalized and long story short I found myself coming home in a 2010 Cayenne. A vehicle I really enjoyed. Whilst there I was treated to a viewing of an enviable Porsche collection. Including a very rare 930 Turbo. See pictures.
In closing I really liked the 964, it drove amazingly well for it's age and I can see the collector appeal. The interior is simple and well engineered and a comfortable place to be once you eventually get in.
993s are now commanding stupid money and i'm not sure If I can see the value yet. So, if you are after an air cooled modern Porsche classic that is sure to increase in value but is affordable at the moment, get a hold of the forgotten 911, the 964. Preferably Turbo.
