Will the 991 generation become a cult classic?

With one in five 911s ever produced hailing from the 991 era, there’s no denying it’s the most populous generation by quite some distance, well received in showrooms for the entirety of its eight-year production cycle. But how will the 991 be viewed by enthusiasts in 20 years? We asked the views of two specialists in the independent Porsche dealer network who have had plenty of experience selling many different iterations of 991 over the last few years.

Karl Meyer, owner of Porsche buying specilaists 2911, is a huge fan of the 991-generation 911, and believes the Gen1 cars are most likely to capture the imaginations of enthusiasts in the coming years. “I think enthusiasts will seek out those last naturally aspirated cars from 20122015, particularly in GTS form. That really is a fantastic car,” he says. However, Meyer doesn’t think we’ll need to wait 20 years before the charm of the 991 is realised: “The 991.1 represents a big step up over the 997.2 in terms of performance, but already a comparable model can be had for vaguely similar money. Unless you’re dead set on the 997’s more traditional 911 footprint and interior layout, I can see more and more people seeking out a 991 in the next two to three years,” he says.

High praise indeed from Daly, but does Jamie Tyler of Paragon Porsche agree? “991s have always proved popular with our customers. They’re phenomenally capable sports cars and have exceptional build quality, so they resonate, and I think as prices come down, more and more people will look to get into them. They do still have problems like any car, so it’s important to buy the right example that’s been properly cared for and had all the right work done either through Porsche Warranty at the time or otherwise, but they are a lot of car for the money,” he says.

Does Tyler think the 991 will be the 911 to buy in 20 years? “It’s difficult to say. We had a period where the 964 was unpopular, but now look at it! 996s are popular at the moment, but finding a good example is difficult. Who knows, at the rate the automotive industry is currently moving towards electrification and driverless technology, we might already be talking about the 911 as a good modern classic in as little as five years - and that includes the turbocharged Gen2s.”

Overall, both specialists talk very highly of the 991 as a sound 911 purchase, not so much as an investment due to the high production numbers, but certainly in terms of buying a 911 to drive and enjoy - maybe even for the next 20 years and beyond!