PORSCHE 964/ 993

COME 1989 AND BIG ALTERATIONS WERE ANNOUNCED IN A MOVE TO KEEP PORSCHE'S MOST FAMOUS SHAPE VIABLE

The car that began life in 1963 as the Type 901 has undergone constant but subtle change throughout almost 60 years of existence.

Come 1989 and big alterations were announced; a move essential to keeping Porsche’s most famous shape viable well into the century that was about to unfold.

From the outside there was subtle blending of reshaped panels with all-new bumpers. The wheels were bigger, tyre profiles lower and a retractable rear spoiler was introduced.

Significant mechanical and chassis changes also arrived. The familiar flat-six engine grew to 3.6 litres – the Turbo staying at 3.3 – there was a new Tiptronic automatic transmission and ABS braking was standard across the 911 range.

Buried down low at the front was the most significant engineering change to that point in the 911’s lifetime. The torsion bars from the original design were gone, replaced by MacPherson struts with coil springs. Also new and equally controversial was introduction of All-Wheel Drive as an option across the range. Non-turbo cars with this feature were designated ‘Carrera 4’.

Australia was a popular destination for Porsche products and the introduction of a new sports model would routinely be accompanied by a price increase. A jump of $16,000 in the price of a Carrera 2 Coupe at launch was probably fair but within 12 months and as Australia entered its worst recession in 50 years the base price climbed from $148,500 to $175,000.

Looking at cars available in the market it seems that far from abandoning plans to buy a Porsche, those with money preferred to spend $20,000 more on a Carrera 4. These were heavier and slower than the ‘2’ but gave owners confidence that their skills wouldn’t be stretched by a bend that suddenly tightend or an unexpected downpour.

In addition to its popular Coupe, Porsche retained 911 Cabriolets and Targas in its 964 range. An all-new Targa system wherein a glass panel replaced the old-style removable roof was introduced in 1996.

The 911 had never been promoted as a ‘luxury’ car and people who buy them understand that. From 1989 though, Carreras came with climate-control air-conditioning. power steering and electric seat adjusters. 964 Series cars would carry through until late 1994 when the evocative 993 arrived in Australia. Power increased initially from 184 to 200kW and within a year had increased by an additional 10kW.

Six-speed manual transmission was standard, with Tiptronic auto optional on 2WD cars. The Carrera 4 was manual only and with the $18,000 ‘S’ enhancement took on the appearance of the more expensive Turbo.

Leather seats became standard and although less flamboyant than they might have been there was a good range of adjustment and decent comfort. The traditional five-dial Porsche dash was retained, as was the peculiar pedal arrangement.

Annual Australian sales in a depressed, early-1990s market averaged fewer than 100 cars nationally. There haven’t been many imports over ensuing years either so stocks of 964-Series Porsches are limited. Better news exists for 993 buyers with a stronger market and prices for Carrera 2 Tiptronic Coupes and Cabrios beginning at less than $80,000.