Fascination With Air-Cooled Porsches

[sharper410]

Historically Porsche was an air-cooled sports car manufacturer and some people like sticking to the roots of the company. Water cooled, to some, is blasphemy but technologically it makes sense. I think the SUVs and sedans have taken away from the mystique of Porsche even more so than water cooling has. Given that, my 914 with its 3.5l air-cooled 6 is noticeably quicker than my Boxster. But the Boxster is much more "civilized" and easier to drive.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by sharper410

Historically Porsche was an air-cooled sports car manufacturer and some people like sticking to the roots of the company. Water cooled, to some, is blasphemy but technologically it makes sense. I think the SUVs and sedans have taken away from the mystique of Porsche even more so than water cooling has. Given that, my 914 with its 3.5l air-cooled 6 is noticeably quicker than my Boxster. But the Boxster is much more "civilized" and easier to drive.

and the 914 is much lighter than a 986

[Qingdao]

TBH I'd love an air cooled model. BUT the price keeps me 10 000 feet away. Not the initial price; that I almost understand. Its the upkeep that is insane. Thats why I drive a VW. Quirky funny to drive (not a performer), but just a smelly nitty gritty machine. A machine that I might add costs pennies to re-finish. And EVERY city in the world is gonna have parts for it. Normal people can't daily drive an air cooled Porsche properly to work everyday as I do with my VW.

[mikefocke]

I drove a 914 around DC every day for almost two years. '70. Loved that car. Ski rack, etc. But maybe it was taking it skiing that caused me to start worrying about rust. That and the unavailability of parts and service. (My dealer had a spot I parked in at least once a month with my name on it. Never could get the drivers window fixed.) Sold it a week before the warranty expired to a just graduated Dr who took it to Philly. I always wanted it back.

Come to think of it, I have owned 6 VW/Porsche engine cars. One a Plymouth Horizon. One the 914. 2 Boxsters. One Type 3 and one Type 4 wagon. The Boxsters were the only ones that didn't rust on me.