They always want to race a Porsche...

[Carl83911]

I know that my car can be beat by the new rice burners zipping around out there. It seems that everytime some kid with a supped up ricer sees my car, they always want to test it.

This happened a couple of days ago resulting in an unfortunate accident.

I pulled out of the parking lot after doing a little grocery shopping. I noticed this kid in a black WRX (hyundai?) right behind me. This kid followed me passed me up slowed down and pulled up right behind me again. Obviously checking out and sizing up my car. Then he decided that he wanted to race. Pulling up along side, he began reving his motor egging me on to race. I just ignored him. we pulled up at an intersection where he was behind me and I was behind a BMW 645. I could see in my rear view mirror that this kid was itching to show me his muscle. The light turned green and the 645 ahead pulled ahead. I followed waiting for a clear lane change. This kid was on my arse... When it was safe to change lane to the right, I did and kinda gave it a little more gas. I guess the kid took this as a signal that I was interested and he stepped on the gas and coming up right behind me passed the 645 and changed lane on to the left lane to pass me. We were coming around a bend and as we came around, this kid had his car full throttle and passing me up like I was standing still. I looked ahead and saw a car crossing an intersection. I slowed down but it was too late for the kid in the nice WRX. I saw him lock up the breaks and the other vehicle crossing did the same and BAM!!!!! head on. Nasty crash.. I pulled over along with the BMW645 and we walked over the the accident to make sure everyone was ok. They were. but both cars were totalled.

I have a 83 SC. I don't pretend to be fast. I just look fast and drive smarter.

[ischmitz]

Darvin's selection process at work...

[ToddM]

Anybody who drives a 83SC is either smart or just got really lucky in making a good purchase

[Rodsrsr]

The reason he try ed to race you is that the Subaru wrx will most definitely embarrass you if its an sti (300 hp) Obviously it was too much for him. And it is not a Hyundai by any means. Unfortunately these kids probably think its a great accomplishment to beat a 24 year old Porsche. That being said, true the STI will waste you but it probably wont be around in 24 years like your Porsche.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by Rodsrsr
And it is not a Hyundai by any means.

It may as well be. Rice Boyz =

I would've calmly walked over to the rice-loser, unzipped my fly and urinated on him through his smashed driver's window.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by Carl83911
... I noticed this kid in a black WRX (hyundai?) ....

Without meaning to, you have PRECISELY cited the difference between the iconic 911 and so, so many of the Japanese cars. Most guys, even car guys...can't tell the difference between them. They all merge in your mind.

The WRX and a host of others will most certainly beat us in a sprint and maybe elsewhere too... but they aren't even in the race in the minds of most people. "A 911?...you drive a 911?"

Believe me, you beat the kid

[diverdan]

Heck, it has been hard for me to admit I am getting old. However as I learn to accept that it is easier to accept that my SCs Carrera 3.2s and even the 930s are getting old too which is okay. The new technology is pretty awesome and even some of the cheaper family sedans are in the acceleration races.

So why do I still drive my P cars? They still beat the tar out of that new stuff with soul. The Porsches will still be around for many years to come and yes, the financial bottom line will still be better.

There will always be something unexplicable about these early Porsches and I don't envy anybody elses ride! I'm smiling and that is what counts.

Diverdan

[bpoteat]

Guys, the WRX is as an iconic car and FAR from any kind of hyundai. It is a purebred rally car with racing in its veins. Not trying to be rude, but the fact that you guys can't tell the difference between it and other japanese cars says more about you than it does the car.

And it isn't just because it has modern technology - it smokes nearly every other car on the road today including many Porsches, new or old - and yes, it can do it on the track too.

I love 911s and pretty much all Porsches, but the WRX is one of the few cars being made today that most car guys (who aren't in love with one make) agree WILL be around in 20 years. It has tremendous character - actually, IMO, much more than any new 911 and its rally racing heritage is unrivaled.

Anway, I'm not trying to start any comparison or flame-war - just want to defend a great car. There needs to be MORE companies trying to make cars like the WRX. It's obvious the guy driving the WRX in the OP was an idiot, but don't blame the car for his stupidity. Give the WRX a try and you might find out why it is such a popular car these days.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally posted by bpoteat
Not trying to be rude, but the fact that you guys can't tell the difference between it and other japanese cars says more about you than it does the car.

It's not that I can't tell the difference, but I don't really care to know the difference. They're all rolling turd-bombs as far as I'm concerned.

[bpoteat]

Originally posted by Danny_Ocean
It's not that I can't tell the difference, but I don't really care to know the difference. They're all rolling turd-bombs as far as I'm concerned.

That's what I'm talking about. What is the "they" that you are referring ot as turd-bombs? Foreign car? Japanese cars? Cars that aren't Porsche? The WRX has historically completely dominated its competition in its racing category, just as Porsche did in its day. You act like the WRX and a freaking Hyndai Sonata are the same thing. That's like comparing a VW Jetta to a Porsche 911. They're both German right?

People who aren't married to one make recognize a well-built car when they see it. Or you can blindly stick your head in the sand and repeat over and over that nothing is worth owning but an old 911. Without giving any other cars a chance, you wouldn't know even if that wasn't the case.

[RallyJon]

These threads always bring into sharp juxtaposition the knowledgable car enthusiasts who choose Porsche for specific and admirable reasons, and the bash-anything-but-a-Porsche morons who--deep in their murky, neurotic, insecure hearts--HATE the fact that a pimply 19 year old who can't shift driving a fast Subaru will still suck their 911's headlights out anytime, anywhere then go brag about it to his loser friends.

Get over it.

[ErVikingo]

Those cars are rockets. I had one chase me down a local interstate blowing by and then backing off. Pretty cool site with flames shooting out of the exhasut and all.

I exited the Interstate and he followed me and took of an a traffic light like a rocket. At the next intersection he had pulled over and I stopped to talk to him about the car. Too bad the reason he stopped is that he blew the engine......

He had been at it all night long and the car was still on break in. He told me that he had been shifting at the redline all the time and that he had bought a chip and stuff the same day he got the car.

Funny follow up, the dealer fixed the engine under warranty......

Nice kid and nice car. I asked to keep his antics for the track like I do....

[CurtEgerer]

Sounds like an idiot driving the car, but the WRX Sti and the Mitsubishi Evo are serious hardware. These are basically homologation cars - much closer to their racing counterparts than most 911s. Subaru is doing what Porsche used to do in the 70's in regard to racing.

I took this photo of Ken Block's STi at a rally a few weeks ago. Not only were the big factory-backed Subaru teams there, but there were dozens of amateurs rallying older WRX's as well. Very similar to what would have been seen in the 60's and 70's at the road race circuits, but with 911's.



And the same car getting a little air time

[dtw]

Getting past all the Jap car nonsense in this thread, I just have to ask: what did leadfoot have to say for himself as he combed glass out of his hair?

[rexav8r]

I think I'd have to go with Curt on this one. You can't really even compare a 911 and an STi, especially a non-awd 911. We get all 4 seasons around here and in the weather/bad road conditions, I think a Subaru has some very promising strong points, with reliability (supposedly) being a big one.

No, I'll never trade my 911 in on one, and I'll probably buy my next Porsche before a new STi, but I wouldn't shrug it off as junk if the right offer came by...

[jaydubya]

I really like my STi. It is my daily driver and can get up and down Parley's canyon at 1/3 throttle. It really moves and it is stock.

It's ok on the track, but compared to my SC, very easy to drive fast. Slow in, fast out. I can keep up with most stock Evos and STis on the track in my SC, even though they pull me hard on the straights. Part of that is probably the people driving the cars...

Unfortunately all of the Impreza platform cars (WRX, STi) (and probably Evos too, not sure), come from the factory with an absolutely horrid camber curve built into the front suspension geometry. The front suspension gains tons of positive camber when you load it up in a corner. So they push like dogs on corner entry. This can be countered somewhat by running really stiff springs and a giant front swaybar...

What was that quote?

"Any suspension, no matter how poorly designed, can be made to work reasonably well if it just made stiff enough."

That said, for the price you will not find a more fun car than the STi.

[tahoe_snow]

I don't condone street racing, and it sounds like an unfortunate incident.

But I also find the elitism of Porsche ownership more of a negative than a positive. I think we are in a golden era of sports cars that hasn't been seen since the late 60s and early 70s. Manufacturers have finally figured out how to put out high performance cars that meet emissions and safety standards, cheaply, and Subaru has lead the way.

Subaru has taken a lot of Porsche technology (Boxer engine, AWD, big brakes, turbos, etc) and put it out there for $30k.

Wayne asked if the future of the DYI market is the Boxster. I think it is the WRX. They cheap, built like tanks, and easy to work on.

The current generation of enthusiasts will dream of a new 911 GT3, but they'll buy a WRX.

[Zeke]

Well, if the Darwin selection process works, maybe it could help to eliminate about half the posts to this thread.

Or, in a bigger context, the whole thread.

[ToddM]

I have to agree.

The STI is directly related to its racing counterpart.

The only Porsche model available at your local delaership that is directly related to it's racing counterpart is the GT3.

The rest of the Porsche lineup is more more about making cars for the masses.

[88911coupe]

I have to admit I think the WRC cars a VERY cool looking and those "races" or trials are awesome to watch. I got passed yesterday by some kids in some sort of Japanse car which I had to admit looked very interesting and sounded great. They were'nt taunting me, just enjoying a welcome 70 degree day.
However, I'll probably always drive German cars.