finally drove a 996 today
 

A friend of our came over for dinner and he's got a '00 cab. He had never driven an older 911 (although he had a sweet '67 MB280 before this car), and I hadn't driven a 996, so it was obvious that there needed to be a drive swap. He liked the SC, but didn't wind it out like it likes (used to all that low end grunt from his car). I didn't really get to open up the 996, but it is a pretty fun car. Tons of juice and it got to 80 pretty quick. Seemed pretty tossable, but not as go-kart as the SC. I'd have to put some more time behind the wheel but it felt like a 911 to me, and a pretty fun ride. And it was funny because I knew when he arrived by the sound...a flat 6 sounds like a flat 6 even if it has water in its veins...

They've gotten a bad rap, but I think are great handling cars. Their feel improves as you get to know them better, like other 911's. There's much more low-end, and you can kick-ass before even getting out of second gear. I never really tested the absolute limits of my 99 before selling it, but the car was incredible, I'll miss it.

Keith

I agree that they have gotten a bad rap. A buddy of mine has an '03 that I have driven a couple of times and the power is terrific, and it shifts like a dream. He added a factory sport exhaust last week and now it sounds terrific too.

OK, you have convinced me. I'm selling my car tommorow and buying one!

I got a chanced to go for a ride in one, as well as drive it. It was a 99 coupe. The owner really got on it. Ran it all the way through redline, up to like 8000 ( I think that's the top) I was really impressed. It had that snap you back in the seat feel. But the breaks were equally impressive. We were doing 100 down hill coming into a turn, and it was just no problem to drop it down to 45-50 and smothly take the turn. When I drove it, I noticed a few thing's I didn't like. The engine is to quite, I found my self at 5 or 6k and I didn't even notice.The guages also feel very fake and plastic. All in all I was very impressed, and I can't even imagine what a gt2 is like to drive!
Eric