[arepb]

Sorry PG but you don't have the full story clear. The 911 is on its sixth major product evolution and to say that 996 was the first 'new design' is inaccurate. Kirk Seaman's retrospective here, while not complete, is a good starting point: http://blog.caranddriver.com/porsche-911-generations-the-leg...

[pg]

to say that 996 was the first 'new design' is inaccurate

The article you link to calls the 996 the "first truly all-new 911."

[nl]

Yeah, but it's like an axe. The 964 replaced the handle, the 993 replaced the head.

The 996 replaced both the head and the handle at the same time - but all 911s have evolved along the same lines,and the 996 just followed that line.

[richiezc]

the 996 and the new 991 are all new designs, and not always for the better depending on your POV.

996: air cool -> water cool 991: hydraulic -> electric steering

Even from a physical standpoint the 996 on are positively large compared to 993 and earlier. Isn't a cayman about the same size as pre 90's 911s?

[arepb]

Those are two different things, though!