German manufacturer, Porsche, is one of the most profitable car companies of all time. In fact, their 2019 Porsche 911 was the most profitable car of that year of any car. That edition of the 911 though owes it dues to the 1984 Carrera 3.2 that came before it, the 911 that cemented the series into auto-royalty. At the time, seldom seen were cars that carried so much charm yet had such simultaneous imperiousness. The Carrera 3.2 a timeless classic.
The Carrera 3.2 is a beautiful contradiction. It is gentle yet strong, handsome yet elegant and polite yet not to be messed with. Its not everyone’s cup of tea but for its admirers, that’s just the way they like it.
There is something captivating about the character of this car which makes it immortally fashionable, not to be consigned to history. Unsurprisingly then, many hold it in great affection and it is indeed widely held to be the most popular of the series. Why does it have such a reputation?
‘The 911 is a beautiful contradiction. It is gentle yet strong, handsome yet elegant and polite yet not to be messed with. Its not everyone’s cup of tea but for its admirers, that’s just the way they like it. ‘
For starters, the series carries with it a look that has an obstinate attitude, refusing to get pigeon-holed, it refuses to get stale. What keeps it fresh though is the key staples to its continuous style, which ostensibly has added to it’s timeless value. Accordingly, the five-spoke Fuchs are common features to the Porsches iconic wheel design. As is the bent spoiler, circular headlights and wide rear curves. The plain fact is that the overall design is one that did not need much evolution over the years because of it popularity.
The 2-door coupe, although better than many sports cars, is not the most practical luggage carriers however. There is very little space in the back, barely enough to keep two children in the rear seats let alone adults. The seats are comfortable though, made with supportive leather and they look like sports seats too. Ventilation isn’t great so it can feel a bit stuffy, although most of the cars were fitted with air conditioning to the occupants delight.
The 3.2 is a comfortable commuter but it’s not ideal for the everyday commute as it does not have modern ABS braking systems, traction control or power steering. That is of course because of its age but despite this, the car offers a driving experience that it is not comparable to newer, flashier cars. The drive is organic, rustic and primitive. The body feels a connection with the machine and that’s what makes it special.
With its sporting 3.2 litre rear based engine and five-speed transmission, the 911 Porsche Carrera is a true drivers car. It has a rear-mounted flat-six engine that is located at the rear which had become quite the regular theme with Porsche and their 911’s. The engines were air-cooled which were preferred by many of its drivers until the discontinuation of that engine feature. The brake discs were made to be larger then before in effort to be more efficient and it was given a new all round independent suspension.
As long as it was taken care for and maintained, the Carrera 3.2 is an affordable supercar that will turn heads at a reasonable price point. It’s the perfect entry level Porsche for both enthusiasts and newer audiences. Over the decades, this car has kept its imposing character and mellifluous charm. The Carrera and its iconic design has maintained its poise through over the years and shows no signs of dissipation, much to our enrapture. For more visit: https://www.porsche.com/australia/
