Old Sports Car or New Sports Car?
Posted by: David Hurth / Category: Commentary, Porsche, Road Test
A couple of weeks ago, I was able to drive the new Porsche 911 (991) Carrera S and the new Porsche Boxster S (the drives were setup by the great folks at the Santa Barbara Automotive Group and you can read more about driving both cars here). Now my daily driver is a 1983 Porsche 944 and the experience in the Porsche 911 Carrera S totally blew away the experience I get in my Porsche 944. However, in 1983 the Porsche 944 was the base model, so the new Porsche Boxster S, although not the lowest powered Boxster, may offer a better comparison.
On a track there would be no comparison between these two cars. The new Porshce Boxster S is much quicker than my old 944, with a 0-62MPH time of just 4.8 seconds versus a 0-60MPH of at best 7.8 seconds in the 944 (this time is according to and old Motor Trend test, but the official Porsche time was 8.3 seconds). While my personal Porsche 944 may be a bit quicker due to weight reduction, a short shifter and a throttle response cam (other than this, it is currently stock), it still wouldn’t be able to keep up with the Boxster. Perhaps in the corners it could keep up (although I think the Boxster would still be a bit faster), but in the straights it would not stand a chance.
However, on the road (where most people will spend most of their time), I didn’t really notice the performance difference. Perhaps this is because the new Boxster is so well balanced and even with the top down was a pretty quiet ride (unless pushed). The only way I could really tell it was quicker was by watching the speedometer, but because the ride was so good, it didn’t give as many queues to how fast I was going. The car I drove had PDK and did not have the sports exhaust option, so if it was a 6-speed manual and had the sports exhaust I think it would have fixed this issue (so, if you are going to buy a new Porsche Boxster S, get it in the 6-speed manual and get the sports exhaust). Even when I had it in the “sport” mode I still didn’t get very many queues to the speed. That is until I stepped on the gas a bit more and then the engine came alive. Unfortunately, on the road you can’t do that too often, and since the car is so quick it didn’t require too many revs to move it on the street.
This is in contrast to driving my old Porsche 944. Due to the weight reduction (I’ve removed pretty much all of the sound deadening, the radio, the rear seats, currently most of the headliner, although a new one is going to go back in) and the throttle response cam the car pulls better than a stock 1983 Porsche 944 would. As a result you still get a feeling that you are passing pretty much everyone on the road and because of the lack of sound deadening you can hear the engine and exhaust sound very well, even while idling. Partly due to the manual steering the 944 communicates everything on the road as you drive, giving you a very driver centered experience (this is something lost in the Boxster due to the electronic steering). When you couple this with the 5-speed manual and you get quite an experience. One issue with early 944s is the position of the steering wheel is a little low for most people and you can’t adjust it (something that isn’t an issue in the new Boxster).
Now my Porsche 944 is a project car, and as such there is a lot of “in-process” items. So, it doesn’t give you the nice interior that you get in the new Porsche Boxster (at least not yet). But the feel of the car is still very good, even in its current condition. Of course the car is old and currently has a little over 150,000 miles on the original engine. I’ve owned the car for four years and the only major problem I’ve had so far is the clutch going out. If this happens to you in a 944, be prepared to spend between $800 – $2,000 depending on if you do the work yourself or if you have a shop do it (I had a mechanic friend of mine do it and it cost about $1,200).
The new Porsche Boxster is like a precision tool that is really perfect for everyday use. The engine has quite a sound when pushed a bit, but calms right down for everyday driving. While both cars offer an open air experience, the experience is much better in the new Porsche Boxster S. As an everyday driver for someone that wants a civilized sports car that offers incredible performance when you want it, it is hard to find a better car than the Porsche Boxster S. If fitted with the right options it can give you that true sports car feeling when you want it to, or just a fun in the sun drive.
With my Porsche 944, you can’t turn off the true sports car feeling. It isn’t as relaxed a car to drive (although in stock form, it can be), but is always a lot of fun. There is a simpleness to the car that is kind of refreshing and it makes you feel like it is going fast all of the time (even though the new Toyota Camry next to you could dust you from stop light to stop light). Where both cars are at their best is in the corners. Both are so well balanced, but the 944 requires small corrections as you drive it in the corners. Contrast this to how the Boxster allows you to just set your line and drive quickly through the corners.
On the styling front, I have to say the new Porsche Boxster just looks more like a Porsche. Its new more masculine styling and big side air intakes make it a real looker and from the front it resembles a Porsche 911 (at least to the average non-Porsche guy). With the Porsche 944, the styling is very 80′s, but in a good way. It gives the car a cool retro look, however, most non-car guys (and many non-Porsche guys) will not know that it is a Porsche unless they read it on the car. You get a lot of people asking you what it is (I’ve had people ask if it was a Corvette or a Datsun Z car), so it is not as recognizable as a Porsche as the Boxster.
Both cars are amazing in their own way, but what is better Old or New? The simple answer is the New car is better in nearly every way. Having said this, the old car requires that you use more of the car to drive which creates a more immersive driving experience. Where the new car is hardly sweating to pass a slower car, the old car requires thought and planning to use as much of the cars available power to get around the car. I personally find myself wanting to be in the older car, even though the newer car is just plain better. I guess I personally just prefer older cars a bit more.
How about you? What would you choose Old or New? Let us know in the comments below.
Special thanks to the Santa Barbara Automotive Group for setting up the drive in the new Porsche Boxster S and the new Porsche 911 Carrera S.
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9 Responses to “Old Sports Car or New Sports Car?”
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August 1st, 2012 at 2:42 am
Last summer I purchased my first Porsche – a ’94 968 coupe. A very strong runner for only $9k. Will have it resprayed soon as the original black paintwork is wearing thin on the roof and hood. The new ones are very nice but way out of most of our budgets.
August 1st, 2012 at 1:27 pm
After owning a 1985 944 for several years I recently sold it and replaced it with a newer car (still of German origin but not Porsche). I agree with you that the 944 is a simpler car, and lacks the panache of the technologically adavanced newer models. no matter how good my new car is I still find myself yearning for the more visceral feel of the 944. I always had a smile on my face after driving it, even it was only to the grocery store and back. I miss my ol’ 944..
August 1st, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Who are you kidding? While the 944 was technically a “Porsche,” it was a completely different concept from the rear-engine 911 and in no way compares to an old or new 911 or Boxter.
August 1st, 2012 at 2:57 pm
John – I understand what you are saying and I totally agree with you about the 911 (although an old air cooled 911 is something pretty special). However, the Boxster while going about how it does things differently is sold in the same market position as the 944 was. Both cars are also balanced cars, although through different engine placement.
In the post I compared the new Boxter to my old 944 because that is what I drive as a daily driver. While I was totally blown away by the 911, the Boxster while better in every way than my 944 just didn’t give me as close an experience as my 944. This was probably largely due to the PDK transmission and lack of sports exhaust (with my 944 having pretty much no sound deadening I get quite a sense of speed).
So, if Porsche was to give me a new Boxster with the right options to drive everyday, I may have a different opinion. The new Porsche Boxster is a great car and possibly the best roadster available today. However, if given a choice between a new Porsche Boxster and an old Porsche (especially an old air cooled 911), I personally would probably get the old car.
August 2nd, 2012 at 9:46 pm
I have a 944 and have been wanting a 911.I have test driven several 90′s Porsches and a couple of 80′s.Exactly what you said in your story,the 90′s car lacked the visceral experience. Everytime I drive my 944 I come back with a smile.I have done several pcaucr autocross events.These are fun,timed events with no prizes.I have only been beaten by a 911 once. It drives the 911 guys crazy!All I have is bigger sway bars,the rest is stock.I recently had a chance to have a track day on a tighter racetrack than a big,long straightaway track and I was all over everybody of all car makes including 911′s all day.It was fun being the underdog.No abs,traction control,etc.It makes you a great driver with practice.911 is in my heart one day.I will probably get an 80′s 911 for that similar visceral feel I have now. As my buddy says..”you can spend a lot more money,but will you be having anymore fun!?”
Cheers,
Dave S.
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Dave – Totally agree with you. I’m actually looking at buying an 80′s 911 in the near future (I’m actually thinking of getting a 1983 911 SC and a 1983 928S, so that I would own the entire U.S. ’83 model lineup). I love my 944, but the sound of the air cooled, rear engined 80s 911 is just too tempting.
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