Hi again,
I have my dad to thank for my infatuation with cars. When I was little, we’d hop in his 1963 Porsche 356 Cabriolet and drive down the Pacific Coast to watch races at Laguna Seca. He still has the 356, and while I’ve driven it multiple times, I’ve never felt truly safe or comfortable behind its wheel.
Well, I drove it for the first time in five years, and decided it deserved a write-up. As usual, I put the full story of the day
on my blog here.
The Porsche 356 was as intimidating as I remembered. I felt so vulnerable on the road without modern brakes, power, tires or safety systems.
That said, the little 356 was also highly rewarding; in open-air summer motoring in this antique is a treat! The controls are heavy and clunky, and require careful and deliberate inputs. The flat-four engine makes a better sound than any modern four-banger, and needs careful footwork to keep from stalling. (I felt so proud whenever I got my footwork and shift work right!) The car is downright slow—keeping up with the speed limit can be a challenge in the hills—but the enjoyment of keeping the engine humming, feeling the steering weight build in the corners, and smelling the world around you as it passes by can’t be beat.
Immediately after I drove the 356 I hopped into a friend’s 2021 MX-5 Miata. Mazda puts so much attention into driving pleasure when designing the MX-5 that I thought the Miata might be the modern equivalent to the 356.
Well, the two cars couldn't be more different!
Thanks to the Miata’s modern engine, brakes and chassis, I felt much safer and confident in the Mazda on busy mountain roads. I also found myself blitzing corners and clipping apexes like I’d do on a race track. And yet, the ND Miata didn't give me the buzz and enjoyment that I found in the 356; its steering is muted and its engine hardly sings.
So, while I'm still not comfortable driving the death trap Porsche 356, for a summer cruise it challenges and thrills in ways the Miata can’t match!
Best,
Mike
