a car thread, 911 to be precise
 

OK I don't get the Porsche 911.
I tried to talk my dad into buying one when I was a young kid because they looked cool.
They were only like 3 or 4 grand ( although at a point when my dad probably made 7 or 8 in year.

Over time the fascination went away and I didn't really track them.
I do know there are something like 30 current varieties.
I look on bring a trailer and I can't make heads or tails out of the bidding. There is like thirteen on there right now.
oil vs H2O cooled, turbo vs normally aspirated, RWD v AWD, cab vs hardtop, std v tiptronic. widebody etc etc etc.
I guess I should be happy I don't have the Porsche bug since I am still happily married. ( although if the right 928 came along I might be in trouble,)
there is a nice looking 77 930 turbo which instantly drew big bids. although I bet a stock stripper 911 of recent vintage could probably beat it given 40 years of development.
I'm sure that GT3 with twice the horsepower would be just a touch quicker.... maybe you know, cuz I'm guessing here.

I detailed and drove a 2016 911 GT3 RS. It is very fast.

That must have been a blast, Ray! Always been a favorite of mine. I'd probably buy one if money were no object and I were driving more to really enjoy it. I did look at a few used ones years ago with a friend who owned one, but ended up buying the first S instead. Not sorry. :)

Jerry, after reading your post, I'm not sure what part you don't get.

The original turbo goes for big bucks because it is a classic. People like the performance, but the high prices are more about the car's place in history.

The 911 has been around since the 60s. All this time Porsche has been revising the
model and introducing what really are new cars that look like the previous car. As with any car manufacturer, some of the cars were better than others. Some had more problems than others. The older versions are lighter than the later versions. They are a more direct driving experience with little to no insulation or perhaps separation of the driver from the road. Some special versions were made in limited numbers and became instant classics. I still remember people buying aftermarket whale tails and wide body kits and the wide wheels for their pedestrian 911s to try to achieve "the look" of the specials.

The 911 always did more with less. Compare road tests of 911s with the other high end sports cars of the same period. The 911s always seemed to have a performance edge over cars that had more horsepower or at least bigger engines. They cost a bit more than the Corvette, but often outperformed the Ferrari for half the price.

In the early 1970s, when every car in the US was slower due to emissions requirements, Porsche introduced cars with electronic fuel injection that had more power than the previous models. Everyone wanted the 1973 911. And they came in three different models so you could find one to fit your budget and driving style.

In competition they were difficult to beat. Privateers had as much success as the factory. And the factory prototypes were world beaters. I still remember watching LeMans races on tv and seeing what looked like stock 911s running with all the different high end factory race cars. It was a very impressive sight.

I'm no 911 expert, so for specifics about the different models, I'd consult the marque experts or buy one of the many books about the history of the 911.

If I had to price a 911 I'd clueless for the most part.
Some hit bring a trailer and the first bid out of the gate is 20 grand. ( not a vintage 930)
It looks unremarkable to me. other slinger at 5 then 6500 then 7 then slowly work there way up.
it's the subtleties I don't get.

Bill, well said. The UK magazine Classic & Sports Car has had some excellent issues in the past that compare the various models. As you say, not every P car was great, while some were outstanding, and the variety over the years is mind boggling.

911 Carrera (Type)
2017-> (991.2)
2012-2016 (991)
2009-2012 (997.2)
2005-2008 (997)
1999-2004 (996)

- Avoid the 996 and 997 if possible due to IMS. Must have Sport Chrono (option 640) if you are getting one with PDK. This option cannot be retrofit after 2012. This option is less important if you can find one with a manual transmission. Porsche was making type 997.2 and 991 in 2012 at the same time. Type 991 was the last 911 that come with a NA engine, all 911 after 991 has "turbo".

It's pretty much like a lot of other models. A nice 66 Mustang will fetch maybe 25K but a Shelby 350 might go for ten times as much. Or compare the price of a 2+2 automatic Jag E-type or a Series 3 coupe to that of a Series 1 roadster.

It was fun but not my cup of tea. Way too much HP for driving on our roads and the damn seats were very difficult to get in and out of. And the cost was 242K. :eek3:

Ray, are you asserting that there is such a thing as too much horsepower? :feint:

:LOL: