Table of contents for No. 226 in Total 911

Our annual feature looking at the best Porsche models to buy for the year ahead is always popular with readers. We’ve witnessed the market fall back slightly in the past few months as economic pressures around the world begin to bite, which I believe is a good thing. The values of some cars, particularly the air-cooled models, have gotten a bit silly in recent years, pricing a lot of people out of the market. These cars belong in the hands of enthusiasts who can appreciate them and, most importantly, drive them – exactly as they were intended. The same goes for modern GT cars too, which have also seen a slight fall-back. In times like this there are opportunities and great deals to be had, so I hope our look…

Among the crowded world of boutique modifiers that are associated with Porsche today, one brand stands head and shoulders above the rest: RUF. Not just for its work, nor its history dating back to 1939, but because it isn’t – as everyone else is today – a modifier. It sits in the rare strata above that: a manufacturer. A RUF isn’t actually a 911, but a car of its own, as depicted by the ‘W09’ VIN. The company’s legend was cemented when it made a viral video before such videos were a marketing tool, in filming its test driver Stefan Roser’s showboating lap in the original CTR around the Nürburgring in 1987. The result was an action-filled lap – actually two – filled with near-constant sideways action and tyre smoke.…

911s in the data file are organised in rows according to release date, beginning with the very first model in 1964. Many models were available in Coupe, Targa and Cabriolet forms, with the option of automatic transmission. Here, data has been provided from the Coupe variants unless stated. All data here has been compiled, where possible, from Porsche’s own figures. General valuations This reflects the general market trend for a model’s used value compared to the previous financial quarter. The review for 2023 Q4 will be April. The review for 2023 Q1 was January. Ratings Each model is rated out of five in our half-star system according to their performance, handling, appearance and desirability. Sales debate Which model is the most desirable right now? Philip Raby, of Philip Raby Specialist…

Porsche celebrates 25 years of 996 It’s the 25th anniversary of the trailblazing 996, the first water-cooled 911 and the car that helped saved the brand When Porsche revealed the 996 generation of the 911 at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1997 it was a game changer. The car broke with convention in a number of ways, and wasn’t without controversy. Some 25 years on, Porsche has been fondly recalling that era, with insights from the major players involved in its creation. With the exception of the rear-engined, rear-wheel drive concept, pretty much everything else was novel when it came to the 996. Retaining the principles of the six-cylinder boxer engine, the new 911 broke with Porsche tradition by being cooled not by air, but water. And that wasn’t all.…

A combination of factors has dictated our browsing this month for interesting Porsche. Last month’s RSR recreation by Josh Sadler inevitably sent us looking at racers, as has our recent experience of the new 992 GT3 RS. Every time a new RS lands we find ourselves not just being blown away by it, but also asking why wouldn’t you buy a dedicated race/track car instead? After all, if you’re that invested in track driving then the GT3 RS, however incredible it is, won’t deliver the same experience as a proper racer. We know this after having experienced and, if we’re being honest, frightened ourselves in a 991 GT3 Cup car. Frightening can be both fun and challenging, particularly in relation to a GT3 Cup car. This is a racer that’s…

New Columnist Andy Gaunt Melbourne, Australia @last_rasp Last Rasp Curb and Canyon Model 964 CARRERA 4 Year 1990 Acquired MAY 2017 It’s my first time writing a piece for Total 911. This is what I wanted; I actually put my hand up for it. Now I’m staring at the stark white of an empty Word doc, wondering what to write. It’s more daunting than I’d imagined. “Just start writing, Andy. Start with your Porsche history.” Okay… As a kid born in the early 70s, Porsche was always on my radar. My parents were enthusiasts. Dad had raced and rallied and, if memory serves me, mum even had a stint as a navigator alongside him. So they had an appreciation for cars and would point out Porsche whenever one passed us…

Between the late 1950s and the end of air-cooling, the German and Dutch police forces ran Porsche fleets of several hundred cars. In 1973, the Belgian Gendarmerie became Porsche’s third police customer. The Gendarmerie operated as a civilian police force under a military command structure. Among its responsibilities was road policing. By 1970, Belgium had a motorway network that not only facilitated traffic flow, but criminal activity as well. The Gendarmerie drove the BMW 2002ti to chase wrong-doers, but the low-geared, 100bhp 2002 was just not fast enough. It cast about for a more potent vehicle and alighted upon the Porsche 911. The Gendarmerie was an autonomous body and wielded considerable influence: in 1973 and through Porsche importer D’Ieteren it ordered 20 911Es. These were Targas because the police believed…

This time last year when discussing the 911 marketplace we stated “the only thing that is certain is uncertainty.” Now, though, there’s a feeling that – the odd hiccup aside – that’s changed. Our collective expert insight from Paragon Porsche, Cridfords, Hexagon Classics, Jonathan Franklin Cars and RPM Technik describe 2022 as a year that became a bit more predictable post-Covid but, like everyday life, retains a few hangovers from that disruptive period of time. Supply of new cars has been picking up – in some areas too much – with all our commentators noting that some models have reached the point of market saturation, with plenty of availability of models like the 992 Turbo S seeing that car, which was once commanding significant premiums over list, now settling back.…

991 GT2 RS MR driven We’re at Silverstone in winter and it’s raining, somewhat predictably. It looks like the weather gods are playing the same trick they did last time we met the people from JCR Developments to borrow a car. That was a 991 Speedster which, precipitation aside, impressed hugely. At least today we’ll have a roof over our heads. Currently, said roof belongs to a pit garage where the JCR Developments 911 GT2 RS MR, the car we’re here to drive, is parked. It’s chucking it down outside, so photographer Alisdair takes the opportunity to fill his Canon’s memory card, while I chat to JCR Developments’ founder Jonny Cocker. The 991 GT2 RS MR replaces the aforementioned Speedster, the car used to aid refinement of JCR’s products for…

Data file Full specs, ratings and market values of every Porsche 911 model from 1963 to 2022 can be found starting on page 76 Plus Showroom Looking for a new 911? The classifieds from our independent specialist partners are the first place where you should start your search Servicing & tuning Get the very best from your Porsche 911 with the help of our selected performance and maintenance specialists Porsche lifestyle Helping you make the right lifestyle choices to complement you and your 911. Don’t just drive Porsche, live the brand Insurance & finance Get your Porsche covered with the best insurance deals for road and track to ensure happy, safe motoring…