I'd like to hear from or get some thoughts here from members here that are old enough to have moved from the 356's to the early 911's from let say, 1965-1968S?

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Two completely different cars, owning a 911S will tell you little about owning a 356.

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'55 Cab 1300 Super Race Car
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Race Car-in process
'63 GS 2133 coupe
'67 S Original Owner

I know several guys who have restored many a 356 and decided to restore an early 911, and were very overwhelmed by the complexity of a 911, compared to the 356.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

Working on a '65 as a summer driver for the misses right now. A lot more shit going on in these compared to a 356. Enjoying the experience a lot. Not sure if it is more complex, just more areas/parts to address.

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'56 Coupe
'57 Coupe
'59 Cab 
'60 Coupe

It gets worse the newer they get. Trying to find someone who can re-build and tune MFI is tough, compared to someone who can do carbs.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

Indeed. I also have a more modern 911, the misses drives it. Just replaced all suspension arms and a host of other parts. Will not touch any of the electronics nor some of the hard to get to engine stuff. To much shit going on with those cars. Glad to pay somebody else to do those jobs. You gotta love the simple design of the 356, everything is easy to get to, simple, made of quality materials etc. the perfect cars for amateurs like me to work on

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'56 Coupe
'57 Coupe
'59 Cab 
'60 Coupe

I must have done things backwards. I got this in 1997:



And this in 2004:



A few points:

Complexity (at least in my view as an Aerospace Systems Engineer) isn't hugely different although the 911's wiring diagram has twice as much stuff as the 356's. The '65 911 adds backup lights and the ability to turn on the parking lights on one side via the turn signal lever.

Engine Access is easier in the 911 as is engine R&R (although the 911 engine-transaxle is a lot heavier than the 356 engine).

Fuel Consumption is way, way less in the 356.

Noise The 356 is quieter and the radio's easier to hear. An interesting thing about the Cabriolet is that near 60 mph with the top down (if it's not too windy, i.e. turbulent) the 356 Cab's aerodynamics form a sort of cone of silence and it's really, really quiet.

Driveability

1. All the controls are lighter in the 911 and its rack-and-pinion steering is incredible.
2. The early 911's low-end torque is underwhelming (the 2.4 liter cars are supposed to be different) so you shift gears a lot; the 356 is happy in just about any gear.
3. 140 hp DIN in the 911 doesn't sound like a lot but it's effortlessly fast. A 356A with "Speedster" gears... not so much.

There's nothing wrong with having one of each! Not that I could have one of either with today's prices...

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356 coupes are as noisy as the 911 coupes. Life in the tin can.

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'55 Cab 1300 Super Race Car
'57 Speedster
'59 Sunroof
'60 Devin D Race Car-in process
'63 GS 2133 coupe
'67 S Original Owner

Personally I like different ends of the spectrum. I have a 60 Roadster, and a 95 993 as my drivers. Working on a bunch of projects that are years away from the road. I also have a C43 AMG Mercedes for raw speed, and a 65 Mustang for getting ice cream with the kids and doing local car shows.
Having Porsches that we only 10-15 years apart seems kind of redundant. I know a 911S is a far different car from a 356, but they are still both air cooled cars with early and sometimes crude systems. Variety is nice.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

Bring it by my place so I can show you how to drive it properly hahaha

Lord yes.

I had to change the water pump on my Boxster. It was roughly $ 250 for parts (one pump, one gasket and a couple jugs of genuine Porsche anti-freeze). I understand the whole job at an independent Porsche repair shop is over $ 1,000! That's a ton of labor charge.

It's kind of like rebuilding an engine in a bottle: the pump's hidden just below the opening in the firewall behind the seats and the little 6 mm bolts that hold it on a murder to get a wrench on.

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My '73 S is a hell of a lot quicker. The engine noises are more modern. The steering is more precise, but they both are unassisted which is dynamite. The link between the old and new is strong, but the progress is immense.

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#6386

You can not compare a 911 and a 356/912, anymore then you can compare hang gliding and fighter jets.
I have owned quite a few 911's, and, honestly....intoxicating as they are, they are also a pain in the ass to do even basic maintenance (valve adj/carb adj, or God help you the MFI goes sideways....) I finally swore off of 911's 2 years ago, sold my last one and bought my T-5 coupe....and my brain went "AHHHhhhhhhhh"...peace at last.

You like the "900" body style (it IS mightly purdy) then, may I suggest a 912...

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Member # 1809 , June 1978
'60 Cab-'60 Rdstr-Envimo S:90
'60 Rdstr-'64 C Cpe-'62 Cab
Envimo S:90-'63 Cpe-'62 Cpe
above…all Sold and long gone….
current Garage Pals…
IM Roadster D
1960 T-5 Coupe (52nd one built)
1968 912 Coupe