Do you take circuitous back roads when you drive the 911 to work ?

[sugarwood]

My normal commute is about 30 mins, pure highway. When I drive the 911, I try to leave early and take some interesting back roads. This increases my commute to about 45 mins. To me, this makes owning the car worthwhile, as it feels like a waste to drive the 911 on a highway for extended periods. I'm curious if anyone else does this. What sort of trade off do you make?

Also, I have noticed, after my autocross experience, I am much less annoyed if a slow vehicle gets in front of me during my fun drive [1]. I am not remotely approaching the limits anyway. I just view it as a blessing that I won't be getting a ticket. The exception to this is when a slow driver blatantly turns into my lane, and then holds me up. That bothers me.

As an aside, the back roads route has some real sharp turns after long straights. Some almost 90 degrees. I tend to not go fast on the straights (not worth risking a ticket), but try to take the turns with throttle. Often, I downshift into 3rd, and am up to 3000, but feel it would be nice to be at 4000 to enter the turn. What's the right way to do this sort of turn? Do you go directly from 4th to 2nd? Do you down shift twice or all at once? I feel when I am downshifting, I am going too fast for 2nd, but by the time I get to the turn after more braking, 2nd seems like the better gear. Maybe I am shifting too early.

[1]: Does track/AX/DE day make you feel like any car is just fine for street driving?

[scottmandue]

My wife want to go by a shopping center... she started in with a description on how to get there.
I interrupted with "is that the shopping center with the Lamppost Pizza?"
Wife: "Yes"
Me: "I used to go there all the time for pizza, I know where it is."
As we were leaving she asks: "You drove all the way over here to get pizza?"
Me: "Yes, a friend of a friend owns the place and I would drive my Porsche across the mountain road to get here."

[KFC911]

I used to have a 22 mile commute....via Interstate in my truck/van or country back roads in my 911. I KEEP my 911 in the sweet spot 3200+ rpms and she rarely sees the Interstate, so I rarely get out of 3rd with blasts up to 90 mph where appropriate . Every gear is pushed to near redline....you should try it sometimes

30 minutes either way....

[scottmandue]

Thou for my work commute...
All I can say is google map Los Angeles>Exposition Park to San Pedro and it will route you to 20 miles of the most boring, straight, flat, four lane freeway on the planet (the 110 Harbor freeway, that is ironically mentioned in the song "hot rod Lincoln").

Just no way to make my drive to/from work fun or interesting.

[Dantilla]

Nice to live in a semi-rural area.

I can't go anywhere without taking circuitous back roads.

[gamin]

Yes, but all the roads to work are back roads.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

The commute ends past the second mountain range in the distance!

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Thou for my work commute...
All I can say is google map Los Angeles>Exposition Park to San Pedro and it will route you to 20 miles of the most boring, straight, flat, four lane freeway on the planet (the 110 Harbor freeway, that is ironically mentioned in the song "hot rod Lincoln").

Just no way to make my drive to/from work fun or interesting.

After reading that, I'm thankful I at least have the option of extending my commute.

Sometimes, I get jealous of the car videos and flipper car shows when all driving is on rural farm country back roads. I have to remind myself that none of these people live anywhere near this area, and they probably drove an hour just to film that scene.

[sugarwood]

I was driving in Long Island this weekend, and was reminded of this thread. Why? B/c I felt thankful that, despite I am surrounded by highways, at least I have the option of taking back roads to work.

Long Island seemed like exclusively highways and strip malls. It felt like there would be almost no reason to own a Porsche there. I can understand the Camaro, Mustang, Corvette mindset there.

[look 171]

I take the back roads all the time, but they are bumper and bumper, so I jsut drive my truck instead. Its automatic this way, I can text, talk on the phone and have dinner all at the same time.

[bri450sl]

Yes. Every time I leave work driving the Porsche.

[sc_rufctr]

I mostly take the back road when I'm driving my SC but lately I've been using it as my daily. (because the weather has been so good)
Even in traffic it's a joy.

I think we forget how good these cars really are.
They must have been truly out of this world when they were new.

[BK911]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

The commute ends past the second mountain range in the distance!

AWESOME!! Where is that?
Similar to mine.
4 ridge lines to cross and miles of east TN valley roads.
I have several routes to choose from, including the devils triangle, and typically drive a different one each day.
Never the same route twice in a row.
The time and remoteness of the drive usually means I am the only car on the road.
I see more deer, cows and mules than cars.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Thou for my work commute...
All I can say is google map Los Angeles>Exposition Park to San Pedro and it will route you to 20 miles of the most boring, straight, flat, four lane freeway on the planet (the 110 Harbor freeway, that is ironically mentioned in the song "hot rod Lincoln").

Just no way to make my drive to/from work fun or interesting.

Ya wanna bet on that title as most boring! Try interstate 70 from Limon, CO to Topeka, KS. It will make your little drive look like the Nürburgring. I will admit not many or any sane person makes that drive as a commute, but I have driven that route in both directions. There is lots of nothing on that route.

As for me finding a better route on my commute, I only wish. Oklahoma City is laid out on section lines. It is like driving around the outside of squares. I can go north then west, or change it up and go the other direction around the square and go west then north. Whee. The good news is I often leave my house and drive three miles and see NO other moving cars or any traffic of any sort.

[id10t]

Several times on one of those perfect spring or fall mornings when driving the 356 I've called work and said "ya know, I'll be in in 2 hours" and gone buzzing around the back roads

[onewhippedpuppy]

Not many twisty back roads on my way to work, but the 911 or RX7 both make the drive a lot more fun.

[Otter74]

I use my bikes to get to work, and I don't want it any other way.

And I live a long-ass way from any back roads.

but driving my 911 makes just about anything better.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by BK911

AWESOME!! Where is that?
Similar to mine.
4 ridge lines to cross and miles of east TN valley roads.
I have several routes to choose from, including the devils triangle, and typically drive a different one each day.
Never the same route twice in a row.
The time and remoteness of the drive usually means I am the only car on the road.
I see more deer, cows and mules than cars.

That is 250 west from staunton to highland virginia. It's got 4 mtn ranges total. 1.5 drive time of awesomeness. It was one day a week. I don't work there any more. Miss that commute!

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by BK911

I have several routes to choose from, ...and typically drive a different one each day. Never the same route twice in a row.

Wow. I have 2 routes home. Highway or backroad. And, it will be that way forever.