Porsche 911: All the same, crap to drive, just crap!

[TW]Fox · 16 Oct 2010 at 11:39

semi-pro waster said:
I've read the thread with some interest but just to check - is there absolutely no room for intangibles in your views on cars? Nothing about personal preference at all?

Absolutely, but as your analogy goes on to prove..

Let's use the analogy of how people select a partner - it's not quite the same but it's close enough to do here. Some people like their partner slim, others a bit chunkier, some prefer blondes, others brunettes, some redheads, some want sporty, others want someone who will look classy on their arm and has impeccable manners

..A plethora of different reasons which explain why you'd like Girl A and not Girl B. Don't give him a get out of jail free card, I think its becoming abdundantly clear he's just bashing Porsche for no real reason, has been caught out, and is now struggling because he knows that actually if he drove a 911, he'd probably love it.

It's all about personal preference, so it's rather stupid to say you can use 'personal preference' as a reason for thinking the 911 is boring without having to justify such an opinion. I have personal preference for BMW over Mercedes for example and if asked could provide you with a whole host of reasons why this personal preference exists.

Joshy · 16 Oct 2010 at 11:45

I like turbocharged cars.

I like older cars.

I like Barges.

My Soarer is all three of those things, a 996 C2S isn't. Doesn't make it a bad car, just not my sort of thing.

You've got your sound bite, flame away

.

[TW]Fox · 16 Oct 2010 at 11:48

There, that wasn't difficult was it? Though a 1998 911 is hardly a new car.

So it seems none of those reasons for disliking a 911 are in any way down to anything wrong with the car at all. I wonder why you'd argue about how dull they were for long when it seems all thats wrong with them in your eyes is that they dont have a turbo and are too sporty :confused:

Joshy · 16 Oct 2010 at 11:51

Didn't say they were dull, I said that they weren't exciting to me. I find cars "exciting" and "interesting" that many others do not.

The main issue here seems to be that people are ignoring that this is my personal opinion.

Will Gill · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:01

not ignoring, questioning, I base my opinions on experience, you base yours on assumption

rypt · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:19

I dunno about the GT3RS, but I would have an R8 over the regular 911 any day

peterattheboro · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:26

rypt said:
I dunno about the GT3RS, but I would have an R8 over the regular 911 any day

You take that back!! :mad:

PikeyPriest · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:39

rypt said:
I dunno about the GT3RS, but I would have an R8 over the regular 911 any day

Get out!

Though slightly off-topic, anyone driven caymans? How do they compare to the 911?

DM · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:40

PikeyPriest said:
Get out!

Though slightly off-topic, anyone driven caymans? How do they compare to the 911?

They drive great, maybe better than a 996 but no back seats.

Housey · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:44

They have better balance than a 911 and are easier to exploit because of it. They don't have the balance challenges you associate with a 911 so things like braking hard in a bend will not die you dead in the same way they do in a 911. Less of a challenge for sure but still fantastic cars. I watched Fifth Gear last night and feel the Cayman Needle was driving was FUBAR as I have NEVER experienced understeer like he was getting and that is simply untypical. Can only have been tyres of geo WELL out.

DM · 16 Oct 2010 at 13:52

Housey said:
They have better balance than a 911 and are easier to exploit because of it. They don't have the balance challenges you associate with a 911 so things like braking hard in a bend will not die you dead in the same way they do in a 911. Less of a challenge for sure but still fantastic cars. I watched Fifth Gear last night and feel the Cayman Needle was driving was FUBAR as I have NEVER experienced understeer like he was getting and that is simply untypical. Can only have been tyres of geo WELL out.

See Housey is your veritable racing driver, im too scared to drive fast now in case i get another ban

Fett · 16 Oct 2010 at 15:55

BigT said:
I can't be bothered to go through every page on this thread, but has anyone expressed the opinion of having driven one and thought, "Nah, not for me, didn't get on with it"?

Me. Competent and fairly well screwed together but left feeling pretty neutral about it and a bit disappointed. So tried another and another and still felt the same. Talked to Housey about them off the forum, tried again but moved up the range and things fell into place.

I don't think Joshy has to break it down any further...people in the same postion as himself (those that have not driven one or have little knowledge about them) have made the same decision about the NSX and it's perfectly acceptable.

Rotty · 17 Oct 2010 at 14:10

Housey said:
They have better balance than a 911 and are easier to exploit because of it. They don't have the balance challenges you associate with a 911 so things like braking hard in a bend will not die you dead in the same way they do in a 911. Less of a challenge for sure but still fantastic cars. I watched Fifth Gear last night and feel the Cayman Needle was driving was FUBAR as I have NEVER experienced understeer like he was getting and that is simply untypical. Can only have been tyres of geo WELL out.

there was definitely something wrong with that Cayman ( as well as the colour

) , the handling on mine is amazingly precise and I have never experienced anything like that

Firestar_3x · 18 Oct 2010 at 10:39

If i had the money today i'd be tempted to run out and buy this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2124616.htm

Never driven a C4 what are they like vs. a C2?

DM · 18 Oct 2010 at 10:50

Firestar_3x said:
If i had the money today i'd be tempted to run out and buy this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2124616.htm

Never driven a C4 what are they like vs. a C2?

I think they are better but then im no where near the edge when i drive so they just feel more planted.

You do lose half the boot space under the bonnet though.

Some people say C4 somehow detracts from the 911 experience, i dont think that, but i wouldnt purposely look for a C4 over a C2 i would just buy the best car at whatever my budget was.

What i would say now though is at 20k these days you are not far off a 997, which is a better car.

At 15k for a chance your arm 911 i would have a pop at a decent history 996, but at 20k i really would find the other 5-7k and get a 997.

Firestar_3x · 18 Oct 2010 at 11:03

Boot space isn't really too much of an issue, i was used to putting up with my MX5 for several years so i could live with that could always use the rear as storage should i use the car for business trips.

Main reason i'm looking into the C4 is its all weather ability, its going to snow in Aberdeen this week and if i was in something powerfull and RWD i'd have a hard task getting out of Scotland.

Yea i was thinking that ref the price, what are running costs like 996 vs. 997? its just a passing interest at the moment to satisfy my curiosity / fill my knowledge so i can make a more informed choice down the line.

DM · 18 Oct 2010 at 11:12

Firestar_3x said:
Boot space isn't really too much of an issue, i was used to putting up with my MX5 for several years so i could live with that could always use the rear as storage should i use to for business trips.

Main reason i'm looking into the C4 is its all weather ability, its going to snow in Aberdeen this week and if i was in something powerfull and RWD i'd have a hard task getting out of Scotland.

Yea i was thinking that ref the price, what are running costs like 996 vs. 997? its just a passing interest at the moment to satisfy my curiosity / fill my knowledge so i can make a more informed choice down the line.

Running costs are the same, later 996s went onto the 2 year service schedule same as a 997, but i always had mine done yearly anyway.

One thing i would point out is someone who can handle a spanner like you can do most things yourself.

Brakes, rads etc cost a fortune if you are paying, but are cheap if you can do it yourself.

Firestar_3x · 18 Oct 2010 at 11:33

Cheers for that Mark, like you say i would spanner on it myself, mainly because i enjoy doing that sort of thing, plus i don't think it could throw up too much that i couldn't deal with, clear downside of home diy is devaluation of the car, however i keep my vehicals so whatever i got would be on the wrong side of 130k by the time it came to be sold.

What are you experiences tyre wise i.e. wear rates and i take it fitting non N rated rubber messes with the cars road manners?

DM · 18 Oct 2010 at 11:41

Firestar_3x said:
Cheers for that Mark, like you say i would spanner on it myself, mainly because i enjoy doing that sort of thing, plus i don't think it could throw up too much that i couldn't deal with, clear downside of home diy is devaluation of the car, however i keep my vehicals so whatever i got would be on the wrong side of 130k by the time it came to be sold.

What are you experiences tyre wise i.e. wear rates and i take it fitting non N rated rubber messes with the cars road manners?

In your boat i would get the service done at a respected indy to keep the history straight and do whatever i could myself.

The general opinion is that you want 4 matching tyres, i never did any sort of miles in my 993 996s or 997s so i never had to buy tyres. Stick to N rated tyres and matching sets. Depending how you drive you will get 10k+

Im basing that on the fact all mine had new tyres when i got them and only ever did 5k miles ish and the tyres were still fine.

Cayennes now they eat tyres in 5k miles, monsters.

You got a choice realy Michelin or Pirelli

Backs dearer than fronts.

[TW]Fox · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:28

Firestar_3x said:
its going to snow in Aberdeen this week

Weather.com disagres with you, its going to rain. What is it with the snow paranoia of people around here?

and if i was in something powerfull and RWD i'd have a hard task getting out of Scotland.

To be honest if you genuinelly do live somewhere where snow is so frequent that it's a proper concern, a 911 C2 on proper tyres will get a lot further than a C4S without snow tyres.