996 Turbo: Why the dissin’, Yo?

Power Steering plus is a software upgrade that changes the steering ratio at low speed, making the car feel more nimble in parking lots, etc. You won't notice the difference while driving at speed, but folks who pay for it note that it does make a difference maneuvering in parking lots, getting into parking spaces, etc...

 

I'm not sure just what I can add, beyond the fact that you have a lot of wheel time in a pretty amazing spectrum of vehicles -- so I trust your reviews!

Ultimately, the hardest thing about offering car feedback is not quite knowing where the other party is in their automotive journey and what their "needs" are. I can tell you -- from driving yours, coaching folks at autocross, and following them on track -- that there is no question that the 718 is a faster car than the 981. It is a step forward in engine torque and power, to say nothing of its suspension and hanlding. The 718 will lap a track more quickly than its equivalent 981, all else being equal. Plus, as you called out, it is easily tune-able for more power. There is a lot to love in that formula -- particularly when you can get all that at a discount.

Now for the "but". While the flat-four sound is not as awful as many people would have you believe (idle is by far when the motor sounds its worst), it is no match for Porsche's classic normally aspirated flat-6. And there's the rub. Few of us -- probably none of us in this chat - buy cars based purely on reason. So faster may not count for as much as the "feel" of the car; its sound and looks. That's why I found myself chasing 718s and 981s in a 987 Cayman. The 987 just felt and sounded and looked right to me.

There is the 2nd part of Porsche's evolution to reckon with, too. Porsches have gotten faster larger, and more "refined" (read: insulated) over the years. My little Cayman felt like a go-kart compared to the 981. The 991s I've driven feel like limousines compared to my 997. Sure the newer cars are faster and easier to drive quickly, but for whatever reason I'm attracted to the noise, the feel, the looks, and the sensations of the older cars. Plus, I like the challenge of extracting speed from a car that's not quite as easy to drive. (As a friend says: I paid extra for the built-in excuse for being slow)

I do covet Porsche's newer stuff. When a GT2RS out-drags you and walks away so quickly that you look down to check that you haven't left the parking brake on, it's hard not to. 718s and 992s are amazing cars. And if you want fast and comfortable no-hassles motoring, they've got it all. But if you're looking for something that makes you feel close to the machine and that offers a greater sensation of and participation in the drive, I'm afraid they don't match the 'raw' feel of the older cars.

You won't lose with either choice. Just be sure to drive your Porsche, whichever you choose.

 

I probably wasn’t so put off by the noise because I still had an air cooled buggy in the stable for a fair amount of the time I had the T

All true, and at the end of the day…you see what’s in the garage now, and back seats or no it would still be the choice!

 

It is hard to improve on your current stable. Plus, you have great ideas for the 996...

 

Walter likes ‘em

 

The fact Porsche purists cringe over the 996 is plus for me…

p car people are strange imho… the most miserable car people ever!

now with that said I’m becoming a fan..of the ‘brand’

picked up a clean 996 tt mt car 1 yr ago! It is a special thing… and they respond to mods very well!

I liked it so much I got my wife a 991.1 tt pdk to daily… man what a car!!!


Both put my old gated 360 in the rear view mirror… and no sticky buttons!

my 996 lic plate— ONOH2O

 

Classic plate. [emoji4]

There probably are miserable purists, but having owned two Ferraris and now on my third Porsche (second 911), I’ve really come to appreciate the classic 911s. I remember the original Acura/Honda NSX was praised for being the first daily-drivable car in its category, but Porsche is the original race-on-Sunday, drive-it-to-work-on-Monday sports car. Porsche is more expensive to keep on the road, but having owned Ferrari puts it in perspective.

The Porsche community is a genuine enthusiast group. Yes, there are badge snobs who couldn’t find the engine on a bet, but by and large the owners of any of the older Porsches are a devoted lot. Our neighbor and friend is a wealthy builder, and he puts hundreds of thousands of miles on his daily driver Macans but at his Newport Beach home he has a ‘99 911 cabriolet, a long-term car he told me he’s keeping for life.

I think I already mentioned the first and only previous owner of my 964 kept it for 28 years. I get it though— the car starts and runs perfectly, makes that flat six roar, has an iconic profile everyone knows, and feels like you’re about to compete at Le Mans. Porsche has made these for 60 years not as a marketing play but because they’re honest, enjoyable cars. The 991 and 992 are a bit larger than I prefer, but if forced to buy a showroom new car I would still likely end up with one of these.

As far as air-cooled versus water-cooled… I have a hard time lumping them together as 911s. They are different experiences. Given unlimited money, time and garage space, I’d probably have a 997 GT3, 964 C2, and 1970-71 911S. The Ferrari Daytona in blu sera would be adjacent…





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99% of the people cringing over the 996 have no experience with the 996. Most of them are internet educated with no Porsche experience, but it can also happen among Porsche people who have never driven a 996 and assume all the negative info is the full story.

Even for those with experience, it depends on which 996 model/options you drove. I bought a 2001 996 C4 Tip for my wife when they first came out. She loved the car and used it daily summer and winter (with winter tires), but I didn't really like it because (for me) the Tip and AWD took all the fun out of driving it. That first 996 also didn't have full leather or the 3-spoke, and it was a "sea of beige" (much of which is vinyl without full leather), so it felt cheap to me. Honestly between the Tip and extra 239 lbs Tip and AWD adds, and the monocolor vinyl interior, it felt a bit like a Honda to me. I didn't manually shift with the steering wheel buttons enough (less of a thing back then), but I thought "why do I have to manually shift a Porsche automatic to enjoy the car?". The later 996.2 Tiptronic is more responsive, but the .1 Tip felt like a normal slushbox automatic to me. I spent a decade saying (when asked) the 996 isn't special -- it was a great car for my wife, but it didn't feel like a 911 to me (as someone who owned and drove a ton of air-cooled 911's).

Fast forward a decade after the first 996.1 was gone, and my wife kept talking about the 996 the whole time, so I decided to get another one. I wasn't excited about the search because I didn't love the first one -- but the 996 I ended up with was a 996.1 coupe/6sp/2wd with full leather, contrasting interior, 3-spoke wheel. The C2/2wd made all the difference in the world in driving, and the interior made all the difference in the world for comfort and feel and attractiveness of the interior. This car will be a "forever" car in our family -- one of the best cars I've driven as a pure lightweight sports cars (including cars multiples more expensive).

The Porsche purists should actually love the 996, because honestly a base model (aka lightweight) 996 is the closest thing you'll find, driving feel wise, to the late 60's/early 70's when 911's were lightweight sports cars. The 996 only weighs 35 lbs more to a late-80's G50 3.2 Carrera (3 models prior to the 996). It's still considerably heavier than the late 60's/early 70's 911's, of course, but with double the horsepower and power steering, much of that weight disappears. The earliest 911 are a ton of fun to drive, but (like any vintage car) you can't really drive them for long periods of time because the elements will beat you up. The lightest 996 gives the feel of the early cars, but with meat locker A/C and comfort -- most Porsche "purists" would love the 996 if they had the right experience.

I kind of relish when an internet educated person disses the car. For a Porsche person who hasn't driven one -- they can't know what they don't know, so I understand why they presume the worst. In the PCA events I've been to, I've had nothing but extremely positive comments about the 996.

 

Same thing applies to the 360 haters…. Having spent no time in one even f car folks make presumptions based on Jeremy clarksons review 20 yrs ago.

I have three hated cars—

996 tt mt unloved
360 modena unloved
1970 Mach 1 cj-r unloved by the 69 worshipers

I like the counter grain options… there are values to be had in this space…

I don’t care what internet reviewers think… I go by my feel impression experience… if it stays in our garage there is a serious connection.

 

Good summary. I think it’s all relative. The 996 came between the revered 993 and the widely hailed 997. That’s a tough neighborhood. I’ve driven the 996 MT 2wd and it’s certainly a worthy 911. As you say, a 996 needs to be well optioned.


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Magnus walker had a cool bespoke stripped outlaw 996 c2 lw thing.. makes all the right sounds.

 

Has it been said? The IMS bearing is only a problem for the non-turbo block. The Turbo has the "Mezger" engine casing.

Also, there is a great upgrade for the IMSB, by:
https://lnengineering.com/products/the-definitive-guide-and-faq-for-porsche-ims-bearings.html

$1.000 in parts, 2 days labour