Well, it is a trend across many cars. If you notice the side by side pick above, the car isn't taller, but definately wider, which doesn't that help in handling? Also, the engines are more complex, but the side effect is more power, better fuel economy, and better emissions, but a bigger rearend to house it. Did old cars pump out 100 hp/litre and get 28 mpg on the highway? I don't think so. Then you toss in all the saftey standards, including crumple zones, side-impact saftety, airbags, ABS, etc., which requires space Top it off with suspension upgrades, which again improve safety. All in all, I'd take a new 911 over a 50 year-old one any day. Your older, "sportier" 911 is basically a death trap on small wheels, and not necessarily from your agressive driving, but all the other idiots on the road with their Urban Assault Vehicles (aka SUVs).