Back to back drives 911 & RX-7

[Jims5543]

I had to run by my office this morning. I keep the RX-7 in the garage there. I decided to start it up and take it for a ride since I have not drven it since taking delivery of my 911.

I chose an old school 911 for a reason and I hope I can convey that reason clearly. I sold my 2003 MINI to buy the 911. The urge to get an older 911 vs. a newer one hit me after a DE for the first time in the MINI instead of my RX-7.

The MINI was too easy to drive at its limits. It almost drove itself. If I braked too deep, no problem the ABS made me feel like a hero that could do no wrong as I trail braked into the corner with the stop peddle vibrating under my foot in protest.

If I took a turn too hot, no problem lift the gas for a split second let the back end slide out a little and floor it again and everything was beautiful again.

It wasn't 2 weeks after that DE that I decided to loose the MINI and get another car that demands to be driven. You know, one that leaves you spent after a 30 minute session on the track. That is how my RX-7 leaves me, spent.

I have always lusted after early 911's after my cousin let me drive his 72 911T for a day back in 1986. 20 years later I finally have the car of my dreams.

Driving them back to back was very interesting. The first thing that hit me. The steering wheels. The 911 has a Momo wheel and my RX-7 is stock. The RX-7 felt like it had a garbage can lid for a wheel.

The steering inputs on the 7 felt more disconected than the 911. The 911 felt precise and sharp eager to respond to my every move.

The clutch/shifting on the RX-7 was head and shoulders above the 911. I can feel the clutch and tranny much better. This might be an area of improvement for the 911. It has a factory short shift kit on it but maybe the bushings are wearing out. As far as the clutch goes, I think its just a Porsche thing. This might all be my own problem not the cars as I am very new to the 911.

In all fairness the acceleration cannot be compared. I will say the 911 feels like it pulls harder down low. But the RX-7 is a turbo and the 911 is not so its apples to oranges in all honesty. I am sure a 930 would be a more fair comparison.

Both car are a total rush to drive. The Porsche gets 100X more respect on the street. EVERYONE turns their heads to look at it. The 911 makes scene wherever it goes.

The RX-7 only seems to attract attention from cops and that is a bad thing. It is not a very well regarded car when veiwed upon by the general public. Everyone recognizes a 911. The RX-7 seems to get smirks and frowns.

I am really looking foward to getting the 911 out for an Autocross and tossing it around some in a controlled enviroment where oversteer will only end with applause not an accident.

The kids in the driveway.

[turbo6bar]

Wicked 911!

[skipdup]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
... I am sure a 930 would be a more fair comparison....

That would be a completely unfair comparison! j/k

[jyl]

Jim, that looks like a really sweet 911. Targa, tail, RUF front, and 3.6 - gee, it's got it all.

Are you keeping the RX-7? Do the 911 and the RX-7 seem like they will overlap a little?

Maybe you should sell one and get something out of left field - say, a Caterham 7 . . .

[will944]

Nice looking cars.

With 400HP that RX7 must fly!! Clearly not a good point of comparison

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by jyl
Jim, that looks like a really sweet 911. Targa, tail, RUF front, and 3.6 - gee, it's got it all.

Are you keeping the RX-7? Do the 911 and the RX-7 seem like they will overlap a little?

Maybe you should sell one and get something out of left field - say, a Caterham 7 . . .

I cannot sell the RX-7. Have you ever sold a car an regretted it? I know if I sold the RX-7 I would regret it forever. Besides I have way too much invested in the RX-7 to sell it, I would loose 10's of thousands.

It has been a 20 year dream to own a 911 and I was not going to let owning the RX-7 stop me. Yes, they overlap I am already having problems deciding which car to use at DE's. I am signed up for 2 this winter and had planned on taking the RX-7 but would lie if I said I was not considering the 911.

There is an Autocross locally in 3-4 weeks I fully plan on taking the 911 out and seeing how it handles. I just told a co-worker that it is quite a handfull in turns. I took a sweeping left this morning and was agressive and I had to counter steer to keep he on line. I was only at 1/3 throttle and not going that fast. I suspect this car is going to teach me a lesson next month.

[jyl]

Yes, I sold a cherry 63 Land Rover and have always regretted it. Also the 65 Mustang I sold for $3K.

At AX speeds and tight turns you'll probably find the car plows, to rotate quickly you'll lift off then get back on when pointed the right way. I'm a DE novice so not sure about at those speeds (I wasn't going fast enough to provoke anything).