996 owner comments

[nostatic]

From the latest Pano "firsthand followup" article. Selected quotes from 996 owners:

"The car...is still too loud. I know it's quieter than the 993 but at 70mph I would like to be able to talk on the phone using my hands-free mike and earplug. ..addition sound proofing option might be good for guys like me who do more with the car than just polish it or race it on the weekends....(I'd like to see) a home link garage door opening system, and arm rest (I added the Bird Automotive armrest with cup holder)."

"specific dislikes include what I consider to be a high level of road noise within the passenger compartment. The last three cars I've driven have been Mercedes sedans. By comparison the 996 is really loud inside. The same comparison can be made for the ride quality."

To be fair, a couple of the owners didn't sound like idiots...but there seemed to be an interesting correlation...those that made sense had owned other p-cars previously (go figure). I was surprised at the number of 1st time owners...

[930Chas]

We could make a killing selling Honda Accords with Porsche badges, all the status of a Porsche logo with all the soul of a Honda.

[island911]

It's surprising how many "outsiders" believe any Porsche is a "luxury car." I suppose this is nothing new to the marketing people at Porsche. The late 70's brought us the 928 "touring car." Now we see Porsche again leveraging the "Luxury" image with the Peppervaggen.
Of course the Luxury buyer is far from an enthusiast. Whatever they buy will be short lived.
On the bright side, perhaps the Peppervaggen is just what Porsche needs to separate the "Luxury Po'suer" from the sportscar enthusiast, and they'l get back to making sportscars. . . I'm dream'n now

[Bill Douglas]

Thats pretty funny. We should send him out for a few laps with Jack, or someone else with one of those overpowered early cars, to give him a better sense of perspective.

[jester911]

This reminds me of a guy I know at work. He actually is a car guy. He has a restored mini cooper and a couple of other cars,one of which is a benz 450 sl conv. He said he had never ridden in a 911 though so I took him for a ride. He said for the price of these cars you would think they would ride smoother.
duh!!

[nostatic]

If you consider these comments, maybe management *isn't* nuts making the pepperwagon. Sure, the purists decry it, but how many purists are buying new p-cars?

[sammyg2]

LOL, I just finished reading that article an hour ago and came to the same conclusions. Some people just do not belong in a Porsche. They should have a new buyer screening process that goes a little deeper than: "do you have enough money?"

My brother's boss has a Ferrari F50. He had to submit an application to Ferrari including his driving resume' just to qualify.
Some of the things necessary were prior documented Ferrari ownership or racing experience. He had both so they reluctantly aggreed to take his $700,000.

[Bobboloo]

I hate to say it but catering to that guy is more in the companys' interest than catering to ours. We're just the guys that advertise the company through our unbridled enthusiasm.

While Porsche is cashing in on their name they are also diluting it in the process. see(Cayenne) Hopefully the Carrera GT will make a good show in GT racing and bring back some of the glory days.

Bobby

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by Bobboloo
I hate to say it but catering to that guy is more in the companys' interest than catering to ours. We're just the guys that advertise the company through our unbridled enthusiasm.

While Porsche is cashing in on their name they are also diluting it in the process. see(Cayenne) Hopefully the Carrera GT will make a good show in GT racing and bring back some of the glory days.

Bobby

Supposedly they have no plans to race the GT.

[Glasgow 911SC]

I wouldn't worry. In 20 years, one of us guys will own it. We will strip out the whole interior and fling it around a track!

[efhughes3]

This is kind of related:

I see this doctor (he's wearing scrubs) from time to time pull into the local Starbuck's in the morning driving a 996. One day I asked him if he had cup holders, and he showed me the one in front of the a/c vent. Last Friday, I'm taking my Targa to work, and I stop into get a cup of coffee. This guy pulls in right behind me, and parks a couple of stalls away. He gets out at about the same time I am, and walks across the the parking lot the SB's and doesn't even look at my car for 1 second. I'm thinking this guy is driving PURELY for status. You'd think if he were into Porsches in the least bit, he'd of at least looked at my car briefly. He's probably one of the guys complaining about the road noise.

[nostatic]

yeah, but Ed, why would anyone want to look at a Targa?

(ducking to avoid heavy objects lobbed by Curt and others)

[efhughes3]

Funny. I'm thefirst to admit that the lines of the coupe are my favorite. But, with weather in the 80's in Dallas these last few days, it would be impossible for one to make an argument against the joy of driving a Targa with the top off!

[cegerer]

"From the latest Pano .... blah, blah, blah."

Yet another reason I let my PCA membership lapse in May. -- Curt

[Tyson Schmidt]

I'm with Curt. Panorama is a worthless publication.

Time to start the "Real Porsche Club of America".

[Weapon Of Choice]

My dad is a first time porsche owner and brought a 996.
actually matt holcomb posted a thread about it 2 months back.

dad has come out of the bmws and the mercs

he is in love with the 996. it is the first time i have seen him wash his car (normally it is my brothers job lol). he is washing it every weekend. he is walking around with a boyish grin on his face every time he drives it.

he had the option of upsizing the rims on the cars from a 17" to 18" or more, but on my advice and his experience didnt. as it made the ride even harsher. (he is 58 years old)
my dad does not race his car, but it is his daily driver to and from work.
this is the first time that i have seen him enthusiastic about a car in a long time, he has dreamed of owning a porsche for over 20 years!
now i know that many here do no like the water cooled vehicle because it has gone against the tradition of the air cooled motor. that is not a concern to me as long as my father is happy in his porsche, and hey i have driven the car and i like it alot too. i am going to get my old man into a few of the older cars, but he is really impressed with the drive of the 996. he described it as the quickest, best handling car that he had ever driven. i will never agree that all 996 owners are gimps or clueless. my father as a first owner never mentions the ride harshness or noise levels in the car even though many of the cars he has driven in the past are smoother and quieter. the reason, he knows he has brought a sports car and knows what to expect.
Actually he was having a laugh before he brought the car about the 'glove box' no longer being an option in the car



i can only hope when it is time to pass the 996 over, i can afford it

[A Quiet Boom]

My dad had a comment that I think sums it up pretty nicely, he's been in the market for and expensive car since his retirement from NASA last month and right now he's down to MB and Jaquar as choices when I asked why not a P-car he said "The cars I'm looking at are a compromise between the high powered sportscar that I want and the luxury I disserve, I'll buy a 911 when I need a new toy, these cars (the MB and Jag) are for everyday transportation" After thinking about it I totally understand, he's taken a new job as an engineering consultant and will be traveling a bit so comfort is important to him something he won't get in a P-car. On the other had he wants to ride in my car every chance he gets so I don't think that "toy" is too far away LOL

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by nostatic
If you consider these comments, maybe management *isn't* nuts making the pepperwagon. Sure, the purists decry it, but how many purists are buying new p-cars?

none. that's the point, i guess, that i've been trying to make. The new P cars? The ones offerered over the last several yers? This "enthusiast" now feels as much loyalty to Porsche as he does to Chrysler, Ford, or GM....none.