Driving a Classic Porsche Long Distance

Road trips are practiced all over the globe but are practically a religion in the United States. From teenagers crammed into compact cars to retirees in mammoth $200,000 RVs, the road trip is an institution here. And they can be tackled in any kind of vehicle – including a classic Porsche.

It’s easy to think that driving any vintage car over long distances will be hard, or dangerous, or the car won’t make it. Just because they are old, however, doesn’t mean they won’t survive a long journey. After all, back in their day thousands of people used these cars to road trip every year. That’s not to say there aren’t foibles and things to consider, but with some common sense you can cruise from state to state in an old Porsche with no problems.

The positives older Porsches have going for them are numerous. First of all, their fuel tanks are enormous. 22 gallons sits in the front trunk of my 1988 911, and with the stock 23 highway mpg that means you I get an astounding range of 500 miles on a single tank in a car old enough to legally register as a classic. In an old Porsche, you’ll be stopping for bathroom breaks far more often than fuel stops.

Next up is the luggage capacity. For a vintage coupe, the old 911 has a fairly decent cargo capacity. The front trunk can take several duffel bags (hint: the higher up in the frunk you go, the deeper it gets relative to the hood) and the area that is supposedly for rear seats can easily absorb any hard luggage, pet carriers, and small furniture you might have. The amount of luggage capable of being crammed in old Porsches is the stuff of legends.

Lastly, because you’re in a German sports car, you can easily tackle mountain climbs, navigate narrow, twisty roads, and generally pass slower cars at will. Warning: this will become addicting and it is easy to find yourself well in excess of the posted speed limit. This is especially true as every city, county, and state has their own maximum speed limit and they can change very suddenly.

Of course, there are special considerations to make when driving an old Porsche long distance. There are no cup holders for instance. If you are the sort that likes to enjoy a 124oz Triple Big Gulp as you drive, you will be out of luck. Next up would be the radio. Typically, there are just a few speakers in an old 911 (unlike the 27-speaker systems of today’s cars), which can make hearing crystal clear sound while at high speeds difficult. You’ll certainly hear the music, but it won’t be philharmonic quality.

This also relates to what automotive engineers call NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness). That means the amount a vehicle shakes, cracks, and shudders you feel s you go down the road. Modern cars are incredibly comfortable and quiet because they are loaded with hundreds of pounds of sound-deadening material and insulation. But all that weight kills the driving feel of a car. Lose the weight, like in an older car, and you substantially increase the pleasure of driving. The downside of losing sound deadening is that you feel more road vibrations and your body is generally more tired after several hours of driving.

Lastly on the list of things to be aware of is the generally academic heating and cooling systems. Vintage cars in general and air-cooled Porsches in particular are well-known for having ineffectual HVAC systems. The system used to warm the air in older Porsches was the exhaust pipes, generally resulting in the smell of oil and fumes entering the cabin. The AC system, if you’re lucky, will give you slightly cooler air at a rate comparable to someone trying to inflate a balloon with their mouth. Take note: use clothing and the windows to keep yourself warm or cool while driving.

Classic Porsches are very reliable for long distance driving. Moreover, they are incredibly enjoyable. There is no reason to fear spending hours behind the wheel of an old 911.  Indeed, many people every day all over the world are happy they did.

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