Ok, I get it, these cars (even the old ones) are fast - Wow was that fun!

[Scott S]

I had a fun (eye opening) experience yesterday I thought I would share.

I bought my car last January - a 77"S" with a 3.2 and some other mods. I have put about 750 miles on it, mostly around town and the rest on a couple of nice day commutes to the office. In that time I have driven on the highway ONCE - and there was traffic - so I probably hit 65 or so. The car drove great and felt powerful - but I never got to really open it up rev wise.

Yesterday I had a couple spare hours and decided to to take the car down to the shop and get it tucked in for the winter. There is just a ton of construction on what would be my normal route, so I went a different way. I had forgotten that I-25 north of Denver turns to a 75mph speed limit not far from our place. I realised this as I hit the on ramp, so instinctively I put the throttle down like I would in my truck. This was a looooong, straight, wide, and empty 3 lane on-ramp merging on to an interstate with hardly any traffic (it was 6:45am on a Sunday). I have felt the car pull pretty good in second gear, but have never been anywhere where I could push third. It was like driving an old turbo car - around 3-3500 rpm the car just went nuts/pulled like a train - it was actually startling to me! I probably never went over 85 - 90, but I got there quick. SO fun. Pulled into the center lane, dropped down to the posted limit, and continued my 25 minute drive.

About half way there I was forced into the fast lane due to a slow semi. As I was passing, I could see a car coming/closing on me, so without shifting from 5th, I gave the car a push so I could get past the truck and get back over/out of the way of faster traffic. Again, without issue, the car just pulled. It was like I down shifted.

I really did not give this car the credit it deserves - I mean c'mon, it is almost 37 years old. I have been randomly driving a 2012 C4 and a 2013 boxster over the past year. They are fast - and I expected them to be. However, my '77 was purchased, knowing that while it is pretty, it is a total bastard (lots of previous owner mods), and therefore a great car to mess with. (I would love to build an IROC or 934 clone). While having the 3.2 was a plus, I did not buy the car based on any sort of search for performance. That chipped 3.2 is just an awesome motor. And, whomever set up the suspension on my car did a great job - tracks SO well and just feels solid.

Just so so pleased. Great fall morning in a neat old car. I am jealous of you that live in areas where you can do this all year round!

I cant imagine what the 3.2 cars felt like when they were new, compared to the other stuff on the road. What a rocket ship.

[GH85Carrera]

When the 1984 Carrera hit the US market it was the fastest production car sold in America. The whopping 200 HP was big power back then.

[Rich Gas]

I love you man... Nice set up... I have a stock 84 with new everything and a sport cat. I look in the garage every half hour just to make sure it's still there. Show us some pictures!!

Rich

[hbueno]

To me, the key point in your message is the fact the car is 37 years old. I don't know if you're old enough to remember 1977, but I do. The mid-70's to the late 80's were the dark years in the automotive world. Just think how it it must have felt back then to go from, let's say, a Ford Mustang II to a 911. I imagine it must have been like comparing a buckboard to a spaceship. Even though the 911 was already an old design by then, it was still a better car than many of its comtemporaries.

My 79 SC has the stock 3.0 and it wakes up at around 4000 RPM with a noticeable change in exhaust sound from rumble to snarl. It's definitely fun to accelerate out of toll gates or onramps.

If you think a 3.2 911 is fun, you should try a 928. The 928 was so far ahead of its time it's not funny. My 84 is not the pinnacle of the 928, but to me, it has eye opening effortless power. The engine has a wider torque band and wakes up at lower revs and just keeps on going.

Hugo

[Scott S]

My first car was a gray market 1978 "golf" (rabbit) GTI with a whopping 1.6l motor. It came with all of the cool euro stuff - I think it made 85 hp. In college (1988 or so) I blew the head gasket autocrossing. I scraped together some money and called a company called Techtonics and ordered their "2020" kit to rebuild the motor, including a big valve (8 valve) head. I think I recall the final estimated HP to be 125-130 or so at the crank. At the "red light drag races" that little green rabbit would just lay waste to Mustang GT's and IROC's - it was absolutely hillarious. Yep, that was a very strange time in the auto industry.

[Scott S]

found a pic... nice hair.......

[hbueno]

LOL, and regular shorts, not the ankle length monstrosities of today paired with knee length t-shirts.

Hugo

[Rich Gas]

Wow! Gorgeous... Ummm the car. Ivan Lendl shorts.

Weird time, that's why we bought 1960s American iron back then, or BMW 2002tii or 320i. Loved those little cars. Alpha GTV 2000 etc.

Rich

Ps. I've owned 4 928s of all varieties. Have a 9 volume printed German set of shop manuals to this day.
My wife loved the red one. I owned red, purple, black...great colors with the 928. Fast and luxurious.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by hbueno

LOL, and regular shorts, not the ankle length monstrosities of today paired with knee length t-shirts.

Hugo

Well, if you call male hot-pants "regular"!

[madmmac]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

When the 1984 Carrera hit the US market it was the fastest production car sold in America. The whopping 200 HP was big power back then.

it was the rare 2'fer....quickest 0-60 and highest top speed for the year.

[HawgRyder]

I used to own an old TR3...bought it not running...found out the engine was a Coventry Climax 2.7L.
It took me and my friends over a year to rebuild the engine...but finally got it into the car and went for a run.
Amazing!
Over the next couple of years I had many instances of "playing" with Covettes and other so-called high powered cars.
In 3rd gear (ZF 5 speed) it was running about 5500RPM @ 95MPH.
When a Corvette tried to pass me on the highway (401 in Ontario) I could just push the throttle and upshift 2 more times to leave him in the dust.
I often wonder what went through teir minds as they watched me drive away....LOL
Bob

[BE911SC]

I love the grunt of my 3.2. Cruising along in 4th on the freeway, press down on it and whoom, 90 mph right now.

[mikeferg75]

U still have the sweater don't you?

[Charles Freeborn]

They go around corners pretty well too....

[PushingMyLuck]

So, it took you 10 months to floor the pedal?

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by Scott S

found a pic... nice hair.......

Yeah, a little bit Flock of Seagulls for sure...

Ahh, the 80s, when guys used more hairspray than chicks. Or maybe that was just me...

[maresdesign]

Originally Posted by pushingmyluck

so, it took you 10 months to floor the pedal?

+1

[JeremyD]

3.6 is fun too - just for the record.

[Quadcammer]

adding a couple turbos to that 3.6 is even better.

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

When the 1984 Carrera hit the US market it was the fastest production car sold in America. The whopping 200 HP was big power back then.

The 928 had 300HP back then....