How does it differ from the Porsche 911?

On the way there, I was asked to take over driving, and I drove with trepidation. Sitting in the driver's seat, I was most impressed by the steering wheel.It is so thin and large that it is unthinkable in this day and age.It is very thin, so it is difficult to apply force, and at low speeds it is a little difficult to operate at times, but once you get used to it, it is not a problem.

The parking brake is located in the lower left portion of the steering wheel, and is released by an action similar to operating a column shift. Stepping on the fairly light clutch and slowly connecting it, the car starts surprisingly easily, which is a bit disconcerting.

The owner also said, "You'll feel almost the same as in a normal car.He said, "You were right," and he was really right.

The manual gearbox is a four-speed, and the shifts themselves are soft and feel like they go into each gear.Engine with a fairly wide gear ratio configuration and a much higher power bandSo when I put it in 3rd gear, thinking that I am turning it a little too much in 2nd gear, the rpm is a little too low.

If you want to enjoy the winding roads of Ashiu, there is no need to use 3rd gear.

Finally in third gear on the straight and cruising along, the truly rhythmic pulse of the car matches the atmosphere of the interior, and it makes you smile. Before a curve, I step on the brake and drop to second gear.The brakes are a bit unreliable, to be honest; compared to the 911, this is probably the biggest difference.

When the steering wheel is turned and the load is applied to the outside, there is absolutely no instability in the rolled posture. The car grips the road surface firmly and turns the curves. This is Porsche.Even such an old car has a strong "Porsche taste.

This feeling is hard to find even in modern cars. It is indescribable.A sense of security from the high ground contact of the tires.During cornering, the response of the steering wheel increases dramatically in response to speed, and the driver is able to clearly feel the road surface and tire conditions.

This feature is exactly the same as that of a modern Porsche.

To think that such a wonderful setting was made more than half a century ago is truly frightening for a manufacturer called Porsche. Perhaps it is becauseDomestic cars of the time must not have been able to stand on their own feet.Porsche's secret sauce had already been brewing since then.

The Porsche-like ride quality could be experienced in this 356, but if you ask me if it feels like a 911, it's not quite the same.

It's just like how a modern 911 rides differently than a Boxster Cayman.The 356 and 911 are distinctly different.In a word, the 356 is more like an ordinary car. To add a little more, "ordinary car" may give the impression of an uninteresting family car, but that is not what I mean. It is a comparison with the 911.

Although they are the same rear-engine car, the 911 has a more clearly defined rear axle, stronger traction on startup, and the flexibility and depth of feeling that allows it to be driven in any direction depending on how the load is applied.

By comparison.The 356 is less rear-engine-like to that extent, and it is difficult to see much difference in driving skill.I think it is a sports car with a lower threshold. I would say that it is a sports car that is a little more accessible.

To say that the relationship is like that between the modern 911 and the Boxster Cayman would be an overstatement, but there seems to be a difference that is close to that. The midship layout of the Boxster Cayman allows everyone to drive reasonably fast without being as conscious of the load as the rear engine. I think the difference is similar in that sense.

This was my first time driving the 356.I was reminded once again of the amazing Porsche engineering of the time.I have had a few experiences with old Porsches in the past, but the more I drive them, the more I am interested in what they were like in the past. The more I drive, the more I get curious about what Porsche was like in the past.This must be the air-cooled Porsche swamp.

It is said that once you enter the swamp, you can never get out, and this experience reminded me once again of the depth of that swamp.