Tech & Auto
Ranking The Porsche 911 Generations Worst To Best
By JEFF HARPER
996
The 996 generation, which ran from 1998 to 2004, produced some great high-performance vehicles. However, it had several issues, the most critical being an IMS bearing failure.
Two other issues were exaggerated by buyer perception and were unfavored by Porsche fans: the water-cooled engine and “egg-shaped” headlights.
964
The 964 was produced from 1989 until 1994 and utilized new technology. Porsche claimed it had an 85% redesign despite having a nearly identical body to the previous generation.
In addition to a few physical changes, the 964 was the first 911 to offer features like an automatic transmission with the four-speed “Tiptronic,” power steering, and ABS.
997
Porsche’s 997 generation came in various trim levels, including Cabriolet, Turbo, Targa, Carrera, GTS, GT, and 911 speedster resembling the iconic Porsche 356 version.
This generation, which lasted from 2005 to 2011, combined body styles and performance for its more than 24 models, helping the 997 become the best-selling 911 to date.
991
First introduced in 2011 before its halt for the 992 in 2019, the 991 is a high-performance, technology-filled sports car that’s easy to control.
While the “standard” trims compete with some of the best-performing sports cars on the market, the special edition models like the Speedsters are standouts.
992
The Porsche 992 is the latest in a long line of outstanding Porsche 911 automobiles and comes in 11 trim levels, such as the Carrera and GTS.
The Turbo and Turbo S models are perhaps the signature cars in the 992 series. The Turbo comes equipped with a 3.7-liter flat-six engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.