Porsche 911 (964)

The 964 looked like a gently modernised G-series, but Porsche described it as about 85 per cent new. Coil springs replaced the torsion bars that had been used since 1964, and power steering and ABS became standard. The engine was a new 3.6-litre twin-spark flat-six with 250 PS.

It was launched as the four-wheel-drive Carrera 4, with a system developed from experience with the 959. The rear-drive Carrera 2 followed for 1990, along with the Tiptronic automatic. A retractable rear spoiler rose at speed.

The Carrera RS of 1991 and 1992 was a stripped, stiffened car with 260 PS, and the Turbo returned first with the old 3.3-litre engine and then, for 1993, with a 360 PS 3.6. Around 63,000 cars of all types were built.

Variants

Variant	Years	Notes
Carrera 4	1989–1994	Four-wheel drive, 250 PS.
Carrera 2	1989–1994	Rear-wheel drive; manual or Tiptronic.
Carrera RS	1991–1992	260 PS, lightened; not officially sold in the US, which got the RS America.
Turbo 3.3 / Turbo 3.6	1990–1994	320 PS, then 360 PS.
Speedster / Turbo-look cabriolet	1992–1994	Late-production specials.

On a road trip

The 964 is the point where the 911 became easy to live with without losing its character. Power steering and ABS take the effort out of a long mountain day, the car is still narrow, and the engine has strong mid-range pull. A Carrera 4 is reassuring on a wet pass. An RS is firm to the point of discomfort on a poor surface.