Educate me please
 

I am fairly new to the porsche scene, but cant seem to figure out the number designations like why do the 911 and 996 look the same are they the same car? i know that a 959 was a specialty car much like the current carrera gt is a specialty highend auto

as it was explained to me, 993-996-997 and so on are 911 generation designations.

OK the 996 was the model designation for that style of 911, just like the new 911 is the 997, and so on.
The Cayenne is the 955 I believe.

hmm ok but what about all this gt3 gt2 gt1 stuff i assume those are racing versions of the cars?

also what do the carrera and rs type designations mean?

The Carrera are the base model 911's then the turbo then GT3, GT2, and GT1.
The GT3 is a hardcore 911 but N/A the GT3 RS is a full on track day car version of the GT3, the GT2 is a Hardcore Turbocharged car and then the GT1 is a homologation version of the Lemans style race car.

Don't forget the GT2 is also a scary RWD beast. :D

Here are the last 4 generations of the 911, with the years of production in brackets:

964 ('89-'94) - didn't feature a GT2 or GT3 model
993 ('94-'98 )
996 ('99-'04)
997 ('04-'05) - only Carrera and Carrera S variants so far.

So within each of these series you had Carrera 2 & 4 (i.e 4wd) models, Turbo and Turbo S(FWD Turbo), GT2 (RWD Turbo), GT3 (NA RWD) models plus other versions likes Carrera RS's and so on :wink:
For more detailed info just do a search on google, there should be plenty of stuff out there :D

um the Turbo isn't FWD it's AWD dingo :wink:
I doubt Porsche has ever made a FWD car that would be a huge mistake.

oops :oops: , I meant 4-wheel drive but instead of '4' I used the 'F' from four if that makes sense :wink: In any case it is a all-wheel drive as you say - goes to show you should always double check your posts before posting :)

A couple of small corrections guys.
The 964 Turbo was actually called 965 and it was a rear wheel not an AWD. Previously on 911's history the 911 Turbo of 1976 was code named 930 , the racing version was the famous 935. Both 911's in model designation. In short the other codes are internal designations for the individual model, like the Boxster is the 986 and the Cayenne the 955.
Porsche over the years starting with 901 have given individual numbers in the 900's to all of their projects.
The RS designation comes from the word "renn Sport"which signifies the "racing"version of the chassis. Usually they signify lighter cars with not too many options, usually seem welded , more powerfull engines or blue printed etc, to be used as the basis for privateers,track days, claub racing and Porsche's own racing program. Over the years the also used the RSCS designation ( Renn Sport Club Sport) for club racing cars, CS ( Club Sport ) for lightweight versions of production cars like the 1988 rare 911 CS or the much sought after 968 CS.