Drove a 996 for the first time yesterday..

[andymin]

I had to go in to work yesterday (Saturday). Anyway a supplier dropped by to pick something up from me, I didn't really know him except by talking on the phone a few times.

Went downstairs to meet him, and what do I see parked outside through the glass doors. A brand new 996 coupe, in black with the GT3 look, 18 inch wheels etc. I just had to go and look, so we went outside and got talking, I mentioned that I was a 911 owner and told him about my Carrera 3.0. We talked a little more and he just handed me the keys and said do I want a drive.

What can I say. The car was fantastic to drive, throughly modern, extremely fast (punched it from the lights a couple of times) the engine noise from within the car was quite low even though it had a sports exhaust. Didn't get a chance to try and corner quickly or really try out the handling though. When he drove away afterwards the car had a real nice deep raspy sound, certainly louder than a stock 996.

Nothing else to say, I have been converted to watercooling and I want one! considered an upgrade to a 993 for a while now but may get a 996 instead.

The best bit was, he said he had traded in a 3 months old BMW M3 for it and had so far not regreted his decision. Also he had owned a 944 S2 some years ago but never a 911.

regards

Andrew

77 Carrera 3.0

[Doug Zielke]

Andy, I suspect your reaction to the modern car is the same one most Porsche enthusiasts would have.....if they were being honest with themselves.

I too have driven a 993 and 996, and my wife owned a Boxster S for a brief period of time. They are fantastic, high performance cars.

Having said that, did you ever notice at a Porsche car show, the oldest cars (356's) always command the most attention?

[nostatic]

Its funny because if you read BA's words, he pretty much says that every evolution of the 911 was a "better car". I guess you can argue with what *better* means, but perhaps a more appropriate word is *more*. Each year brought more power, more comfort, more performance. But along with that is more complicated, more expensive to service, etc.

I think the disconnect in this places lies in the decrease in DIY-friendliness over the years, costs of buying and maintenance, and more importantly, "vibe". Some of it is probably snobbery. Nothing necessarily wrong with that though. I admit to have at various times of my life being a pre-CBS strat snob, tube amp snob, etc. But there also is an argument to cars (and guitars) having a bit of soul. The more visceral nature of the earlier cars is also a big factor...many enthusiast don't want insulation and comfort, but rather a firm connectedness with the road and driving experience.

Or maybe everyones just a bunch of Luddites...but I've been called worse.

[billwagnon]

I'm not sure of the reason for the animosity I perceive between the 996 owners and the old school. For myself, I think I have much more in common with someone who owns an old Mercedes or BMW than a new Porsche owner, even if it's a 993. An older car is what I can afford and it's also simpler so (I think) I can do more on it myself. After owning beat up 60s Mustangs etc I just like old cars, and having a nice old car is the best of everything. I also like the rarity. Mini Coopers are excellent, but they are EVERYWHERE now. I like driving a car that you don't see every day (unless you're in S. CA).

The 996s are supercars by any measure and I love seeing them on the highway. If someone can buy one that is great! But I don't see myself ever doing that.

BTW I also just went out to Porsche's site and now think those Cayenne's are neat. What convinced me - they are taking an interest in maintaining off road trails and keeping those areas open. I've seen with mountain biking that if the users don't take care of the trail it won't stay open. I don't know how many Cayenne owners will go off-road but I now can see that the Cayenne is more like the Paris-Dakar rally 959 than it is like an X5.

[Matt Smith]

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Porsche World Roadshow a few months back, and had the oppertunity to absolutely thrash the entire 2002 year model line up: Boxters, Boxter S, carrera 2/4, Carrera Cabs, 911 Turbo etc. Everything. We did the lot- road course, slalom, race track, braking tests, accelleration runs, Moose tests, you name it, all day long.
I very much doubt you would get that chance even if you went to a dealership with a suitcase bulging with $$1000 dollar bills and a desire to own a brand spanking new 911 NOW

Great fun of course, but at the end of the day I found myself asking if I would actually wish to part with the do$h and buy one. Probably not. I'm not even entirely sure why. Perhaps it was the newness, lack of character or something, but I had expected to be more excited for the money.

Having said that, the Turbo was something else. I found myself thinking of driving in an ENTIRELY different way. Basically, this thing goes and stops so well (and with the stability management), you just sort of look at the point in the road you want to be at and you are there. Too easy!
Approach a corner too fast? Simple: mash the brake to the floor. You will stop. Go round the corner too fast? No worries: PCM will take over and suck you round like a hoover. Tired of how your eyeballs sit in your eye sockets? Soloution: depress accelerator in second gear and hold on

Had to admit though, driving home again in my old Double Flapper was easily as much fun. You get out what you put in, ultimately.

[Matt Smith]

Static: tears well in my eyes when I think of the day I sold my '70 issue quad socket JMP 100W Tube Marshall to a spotty geek with post CBS syndrome and a (Heaven Forbid) sensibly short axe strap.

[pbs911]

I looked at and sat in a 996 and that was enough for me. Too plastic, too convoluted to work on.

Personally, I would rather have my SC and give the rest of the money to Wayne, as I replace the car piece by piece.

[andymin]

One thing that surprised me a little was that there was no 'kick in the back' when accerating, the power came in smoothly all the way up to redline. Thats the thing I like about mine, the way it takes off at 4,000 revs.

Incidently the guy that owns this car initially wanted a 993TT and actually drove one at the dealers.

regards

Andrew

77 Carrera 3.0

[Blackdimonds]

After driving a 99 996 coupe last month, I too am a convert to the new cars. The 996 has great brakes, good handling (could use a stiffer set up), good power (even with the A/C on), and an unbelivable tranny! Don't get me wrong, I am not about to sell the race prepaired SC and buy a 996, but I will jump over the Carrera, 964, and 993 and go right to the 996 when I add to the collection. I always want to have a "race car" in the garage, but I would love to have a 996 for the tours and long trips in our area. The only other car that I think I would like more is the long rumored Boxster coupe (235 hp, AWD, mid engine!) That would be a car I would order today!

P.S. Those who are still bashing the 996 may have not had a chance to drive one of these great machines, or they may just want to cling to the past. After all, I love taking that 20 year old SC of mine around the track, even though the 996s are passing me right and left.