Quote:
Originally Posted by Perfectlap
But Porsche were obviously intent on manufacturing a new legend when one was already in their stable, one that collectors are now willing to fork over $3 million and higher for if you've been following auctions for the mid-engine cars. It might be a while before any limited production rear-engine Porsche hauls in that kind of coin.
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Keep an eye on the four-cam 356 Carreras. Those are rear-engine Porsches with stratospheric auction values. There is a good article about them in the latest Panorama magazine too.
I do agree that the 986 is based upon a heritage of mid-engine design that started with the 550/718s, and this heritage isn't often recognized or appreciated much by the modern audience. That said it took some major departures from that heritage through water-cooled engines and entry-level furnishings with mass production in mind.
The 911 heritage isn't simply about a rear-engine configuration, it is also about the design and evolution of the flat-6 engine design. Design that was ultimately adopted in the mid-engine 986 design.
In some ways it is a bit silly to call out one design lineage and say it is better than the other, because in reality Porsches' designers and engineers took inspiration from all of the company's previous designs and experiences to inform the design of their newer models. It just starts to get difficult to recognize this design evolution when the factory creates a major departure like the 928 or the Macan for that matter.
I am sure Perfectlap and I agree that we both wish the 986 was released truer to original '93 concept and not plasticized for mass-production. Unfortunately, there is almost always a big departure between what is presented in the concept car and what comes out of the production line.
Back to OP:
Chuck W. stated "Bottom line, they are all great cars with very different personalities."
As someone who is just going through this transition from 986 to 993, I completely agree. There are parts of the 986 driving experience that I prefer, and there are parts of the 993 driving experience that I prefer. The 986 feels more nimble and has more modern comforts and cockpit design. The 993 feels more powerful and raw.
It really comes down to a matter of personal preferences and not what others think. Both are incredibly fun to drive and isn't that what keeps bringing us back?
