I had missed the initial walkaround given to the editors about the 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera -- it was mandatory before getting behind its wheel due to all its "quirks" -- but after watching editor James Riswick's handy newbie tutorial video (loved that!) and getting an introduction from editor Mark Takahashi, who said he "likes it uh lot," I felt a bit more prepared to pilot this 26-year-old car.
I was intimidated by its lack of power steering and speedometer function as well as its finicky shifter, but I reasoned that if I could drive our '84 Ferrari 308 I could handle this. And I liked it wayyy more than the Ferrari. (I'm only comparing the two because they're the only two sports cars from the '80s that I've driven.) Sure, it doesn't have power steering but then again it didn't feel like I was trying to arm wrestle Andre the Giant like the 308 did. OK, that's an exaggeration but you get my drift. I sweated buckets every time I drove the Ferrari.
And all those warnings about the precise way to shift the 911 -- "putting it in 1st gear feels like dislocating a cat's leg," cringe! -- only made it seem more terrifying to deal with than it actually was. Piece of cake! If anything it feels like when your weird friend dislocates his shoulder and pops it back in. He's OK after that. Not terrifying at all.
Anyway, for all its idiosyncrasies, I could get used to this car. It's definitely easier to imagine as a daily driver than the Ferrari.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
tjpark01 says:
08:37 PM, 04/18/11
Try parallel parking it, and driving it in the rain before you come to any conclusions. Yes it's easier to imagine as a daily driver than a Ferrari, like Nick Nolte would be a better roommate than OJ Simpson.
bodyblue says:
06:32 AM, 04/19/11
"like Nick Nolte would be a better roommate than OJ Simpson."
LOL LOL
pauldun170 says:
06:46 AM, 04/19/11
The problem with relying on auto journalists (who drive dozens\hundreds of different cars a year and\or pudgy out of shape people ("Those who complain about having to do anything besides hit the gas and turn the wheel with a pinky") is that they make big deals out of things that owners (those people who have just one car and drive it every day) write off as non issue after a month of daily driving.
Clutch action?
you get used to it and it becomes the new normal
Heavy steering?
You get used to it and it becomes the new normal
Summary: Just drive the Porsche and ONLY the Porsche for a month or two. This way when you eventually start driving other cars again we can listen to you remark about how overboosted and numb they all are.
ptcdawg says:
07:36 AM, 04/19/11
Only 2 cars from the 80's? LMAO.....
REDSHRK says:
09:15 AM, 04/19/11
Lots of folks on these forums react like cars from the 80's are relics and death-traps. They're not really that old and probably have more in common with modern cars of today than cars 20 years older (ie 1960s).
It's interesting reading how the two 1980's cars that Edmunds sampled were supposed to be cream of the crop in their day, were (and still are) relatively expensive, yet are actually behind other cars of the era.
I drove a 1986 BMW 635CSi for 8 years as a daily driver. It had power steering. It had ABS. It had a trip computer, range function, memory electric seats (even headrests), and when the original TRX tires were swapped with newer Yokohamas, it drove, handled, and braked better (and safer) than many "modern" cars. Yes, it had its quirks and the A/C was garbage but I never felt unsafe driving it like many of the sentiments here about the 911 (and previously 308).
ptcdawg says:
09:33 AM, 04/19/11
Those original 6's were sweet rides. I put about 30K miles on an 82 633i manual. Loads of fun. Or was it an 81?
sodiezl350 says:
05:05 PM, 04/19/11
So does it have power windows?
REDSHRK says:
12:00 PM, 04/20/11
Yes, power windows, sunroof, locks. Check control system to test brake pad wear, lights, coolant level, etc. Was the first car with a service interval indicator that had graduated warning lamps until service was required much like today's cars. Mine was (unfortunately) an automatic and it even had switchable Sport/Economy modes like today's cars - all back in 1986. A 6 series of the day makes the 911 fee archaic, but the point was that it was ahead of its time, still a relatively safe car on the road today and that all the people on the forums saying IL shouldn't be driving an 85 911 for safety concerns are probably overreacting - just use caution.
joefrompa says:
12:57 PM, 04/20/11
Oh yeah- well my 1988 ford thunderbird turbo coupe had an electronic damping system that could be switched from "normal" to "sport", as well as a switch for regular fuel or premium.
Ha!
PaulyG911 says:
05:14 AM, 04/24/11
Porsche had a cutting edge car in the mid-80's with ABS, power steering, a funky electro-mechanical LSD, great balance due to its rear transaxle, sophisticated rear suspension, and all the other goodies wrapped in a very futuristic body: the 928. It was badmouthed as a too heavy (3400 lbs) grand tourer by the Porsche aficionados of the time.
Porsche also had a great handling car with amazing balance, lots of power, and many of the now-required goodies: the 944 (especially the turbo versions). Also badmouthed by many of the Porsche snobs as not a real Porsche since it was water-cooled, had the engine in the front, and had its roots in a VW (just ignore the 356's pedestrian roots). Makes a great track car, however.
Ultimately, the 3.2 911 is neither the fastest (although is is fast) nor the most modern design (it was pretty obsolete even in the 1980's) but there is a certain purity to the car. Driving one, even today, will make you smile more than any other car out there. Besides, it is probably the last essentially hand built car that is affordable to purchase and relatively dependable.