The newest 911's cockpit also received an extensive redesign for '95. Among the many revised components are the steering wheel (now complete with an airbag), door panels (redesigned for storage and speaker mounting) and bucket seats.
Despite these changes, the general feeling you get when climbing in the Porsche 911 is akin to meeting an old friend. Large, backlit analog dials, long a 911 staple, face the driver, with the tachometer taking its rightful place center stage.
A new automatic climate-control system makes temperature adjustment a snap, and many of the secondary controls and accessory switches have been relocated for user-friendly operation.
Safety is a critical issue for Porsche, as evidenced by the fact that it was the first manufacturer to equip all of its cars with anti-lock brakes. Front and rear passengers are held firmly in place by 3-point seat belts, and a sturdy cage structure surrounds the compartment, helping meet 1997 federal side-impact regulations.
Although the cockpit appears to be all business, there are enough amenities to qualify the 911 as a luxury car, including power windows, cruise control, central locking and alarm system, and a 6-speaker AM/FM/ cassette stereo.
In addition, the rear seats in the 911 coupe fold down to augment the front luggage well, which is larger than before and holds a surprising amount of gear.
Porsche hasn't retained the 911's basic powertrain configuration for so long without reason. Very simply, it works.
The powerful engine is smooth all the way to redline, the skilled chassis makes a better driver of anyone who climbs behind the wheel, and the driver inputs - steering, shifting and braking - are as direct and responsive as any mechanical connections can be.
Remarkable for a car that can hold a full "GO" on the skid-pad is its level of comfort during the daily grind. The suspension feels pure sports-car through tight corners and sweeping on-ramps, yet it handles rough surfaces without the hopping that plagues many so-called sport suspensions.
No less terrific is the power-assist rack-and-pinion steering. It translates the driver's hand movements into precise directives to the front wheels without a hint of ambiguity. There's still a little of the traditional kickback through the steering wheel when the front tires encounter bumps, but it is accepted more as part of the communication process than as an annoyance.
Know this going in: The 911 not a quiet car, but the noises are wonderful. There's no other sound in the world like the air-cooled flat 6-cylinder winding up; the sensation from the driver's seat of being pushed easily through the barriers of wind and time can only be described as exhilarating.
On the practical side, the powerplant is capable of impressive fuel economy. With its large fuel tank and effective 6-speed transmission, the Porsche 911 boasts range as well as speed, with EPA fuel economy numbers of 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.