A lunch time drive - 997 vs. a 71T

[DByers]

So today I met my polar opposite. A vendor I deal with showed up today to take me to lunch and was driving his new 997 Carrera S (tip) that was fully loaded. Not even plates yet. He picked it up last week. Now my 71 is stripped of what some would call "creature comforts" and I call "distractions". She runs the 2.2 with a few mods and a suspension geared for street/track use. So today Stay Puff goes up against a 997.

Two completely different 911's

This person is a new car owner. Never has owned or driven or been a passenger in an older car. His Porsche ownership has been 996's and now this 997. Once the car is two years old its gone. I on the other hand have really never driven or been a passenger in another 911 other then my 71 which I have owned since 85 (my senior year in HS). Other then taking MikeZ's cab with 3.6 for a short drive once and riding with Ingo in his 74 with 3.6 for a short ride once or twice, I have never driven or been a passenger in a new sports car let alone a Porsche. In fact I have never been in but 2 (pre 73) older Porsche's in my life and one is mine. How sad is that!

So, two completely different owners

Today that ended.

We decided that we would take his 997 to lunch and after we return to the office we would take my 71 for a drive. Well he throws me the keys and allows me to drive his less then week old 997. I take the long route to lunch which lets me take some nice twisties. After about a 1/2 hour we got on the freeway and head to the watering hole for lunch. He comments on how well I drive his car and that he was surprised on how fast I could take some corners. I wasn't pushing to say the least but I knew the roads since its my local area and honestly I push the wife's burb harder thru that course then I was his 997. Kind of let me know how he drives his car though.

During lunch we swap stories about past cars we have owned and I quickly realize that my history with cars is on the other side of the track compared to his. He ask's how I liked his car. I said it was very nice. Easy to drive. Responsive for its weight and lots of power when needed. I must admit it was extremely nice to drive. Sunroof, AC, radio & even cup holders! Man at one point I thought the seat would be able to give me a massage! Now remember this is the first time I have ever driven a new Porsche, EVER. So my observations a little skewed more then likely.

After lunch I drive us back to the office and we take Stay Puff out for a drive. Now she is a little older and likes things a certain way so I drive first and get her up to temp and explain to him her little quirks. We take the same route as we did in the 997 and before we hit the twisty stretch I pull over and let him have a go. He has a little trouble with first but figures it out with no grinding. We run thru the area without incident and 15 minutes later we are at the point to get on the freeway. I tell him to turn it around and go back the same way we came. This time I encourage him to "drive" the car. I tell him no shifting until I say so and no getting off the gas until I say. We take off and make the shift from 1st to 2nd at 4k. The next 20 minutes is all 2nd and 3rd at 4k to 6k and above with the gas pedal at the floor. Plenty of twisties and short straights for him to get the feel of an early 911. Back at the office he had the biggest grin on his face. He looked over and said "how much". I laughed as if. We talked a little more and he was just a little kid who had figured out how to ride a bike. He couldn't stop talking about how the car felt awesome and it was so "real". So much different then his. Again he asked how much. I said if he was serious about an early car that I knew several people who could help him find "his". He said he would contact me next week for some info on early 911's and I also pointed him to this site. He is also down for the OTR event in November to really get a feel for his 997 on the track.

He left in his 997 with not such a big grin and in his words " A better understanding of the marquee ".

I jumped back into my car and felt at home. Went for another short spirited drive and upon parking back at the office noticed the big grin on my mug in the mirror. As nice as other 911's may be, Stay Puff will always give me the biggest grin.

She is "my" 911

Todays Winner

[klaucke]

Fantastic story and write up! Thanks for sharing, good job converting another water-pumper...

[herman maire]

Yeah...great story. The story alone put a smile on my mug heh,heh.

I love to hear/read that the big unaffordable(for me) ticket items dont always have the biggest fun factor... Very cool.

BTW...Your car looks great.

[pwd72s]

Great write-up Dan. You explained perfectly the "IT" that some owners of the new cars never get....

[azasadny]

Thanks for sharing that!!

[Jim Richards]

Long hoods just...

[randywebb]

Nice -- He should keep the 997 tho. Not only will it make a nifty parts runner for an early car, it is good for a long cruise (like across the US, etc.).

[livi]

Good story !

But can you tell us more of what you think of the 997. How was it to drive ?

Like to know - since I most likely never will have the opportunity myself.

[Type911]

Dan,
Great story...you nailed it...the essence of an early 911

Your car looks really good too !

[jorian]

Great story Dan. Another convert.

[Jeremy Cottrell]

Ha Ha!! Great story Dan. It's so much fun when you can bring a guy from the other side of the tracks back over to our side, showing him how much fun we are having........ at a fraction of the price! However, after driving a few 997s, I do have to admit, they drive wonderfully, and would make great daily transportation.

With that said, I have driven some modded 996s and, well, was impressed. Not quite as connected as an early car, but quite fun nonetheless. Since the 996 is getting so cheap, it may be our new track car bargain, but I digress, that is another thread unto itself.

[SLO-BOB]

Great story! Driving a nice vintage Porsche the way it should be driven is a joy few will experience.

However, I'll bet if you would have pushed that 997 to it's limits you'de have quite a grin going yourself!

All great cars.

[DByers]

randywebb, He intends to keep the 997, at least for another two years. Then he will upgrade again. He just needs a longhood to drive on the weekends to get that "feeling".

livi - I probably never will be able to buy a new Porsche myself. If I could my 71T would still be in the garage getting more drive time. Even though they are both Porsche's they are completely different. I think everybody should have both! The driving "experience" was lost somewhere between the AC, power everthing and cupholders . For me as a person who falls into the "less is more" catagory, the 997 is a nice vehicle, just not a car that I could own without a backup like a longhood. Great for the long drives probably. Good feel for a car that heavy. Nice response and brakes were firm. Steering was crisp yet a little muted. Say like driving with ski gloves. Overall you just knew that there was more to the car, if Porsche would just let it out. Maybe thats where the GT3 and GT3RS come in. Again vehicles out of my reach at this time. I think this 997 at the track could be boring. With all the the technical advances it seems the driver skill is secondary. Remember this is my first and only time driving something this new in regards to a sportscar.

everyone else, thanks for the complements on Stay Puff. She is pretty in her own way. Rock chips and all.

[MRM]

That wasn't a very fair comparison. You have a 71 Targa with some tasteful mods. All he has is a brand new 997 that is showroom stock. Of course Stay Puff is going to dominate that kind of comparison.

[DavidI]

Outstanding story. Our older, comfortless P-cars are the essence of driving. You probably gave that guy one of the best car days of his life. Good job Dan.

David

[kach22i]

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

[JeremyD]

You need to negotiate pricing if he's a vendor and showing up in a brand new 997.

But great story.

[Peter C2]

What a great story! Brings back the memory of my first drive in a early 911. I ended up selling my 964 for a '71 911T.

Thanks for sharing!

[450knotOffice]

Great writeup and story, Dan. It put a huge grin on my face. I have to say, though, that this is the reason why I'll never give up my 2500 pound '84, yet I love my new (to me) 996 too.

[jdm61]

My dad and brother both have 996 cabs. I haven't driven a 997 yet. i have also driven a 993 a few years back ,my brother'sold RS America and, of course, 80's Carreras. Nothing older than that They are all great cars, but they are VERY different. Compared to the RS, the 993 felt more comfy and the 996 felt quite a bit larger AND more comfy. I live in central Florida, so that improved A/C is a good thing. i hear tell that the 997 reminds foloks of the 993 a bit more, but the new cars are very different. The biggest difference may be the power steering on the newer cars. The 996's seem like they can go faster without any effort......maybe too efortless. A question of personal taste, but if someone offered me a new 997 Turbo with the Sport Chrono package or GT3 if i would give up my Carrera, i might have to take them up on that offer even though it is water cooled....lol