The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T (Vol XVII)

[chris116]

Mr Sandman said:

In short, its great fun in the right environment but it needs another 200bhp to overcome its heft.

Sounds like you need a VelociRaptor.

http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/vehicles/ford/...

[0a]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C700652

[GreatPretender]

Output Flange said:

I quite fancy the idea of taking the M5 to Scandiwegia on a set of winters. Which month did you go in?

End of January (i.e. almost four years to the day).

Most of the roads are well ploughed, but obviously there's no avoiding the overnight flurry, which in the mountains can take a while for Jorn Bjorn Oyvidsen to get his tractor out the next day. At some points I was up to the number plate in fresh powder, but obviously I survived the experience. And what an experience.

You'd be a brave man to take the E28 up into the Fjords though. No phone reception, no people, no... nothing. When that last photo by the lake was taken at approx 13.00, I'd seen one car since I set off from Drammen at about 06.00 that morning. Rural Norway makes a trip to the Cairngorms look like rush-hour in Beijing.

[GreatPretender]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Objectively, its replacement was in a different league, but in reality, my C2S was probably the best car I ever owned. It just did everything so well and fitted into my life perfectly. Particular highlights were:

- 175VMAX on the Autobahn at night, keeping tow with a well driven 535d right down the A1 through northern Germany (did a whole tank in 45mins)
- Lapping the Nordschleife in 8.31 on a cold March day (GT3 a year later was an 8.12 by comparison)
- Moved house twice in it (squeezed a chest of drawers in the passenger seat and a bike)
- Drove three girls to Oslo in it (as I recall they were particularly grateful)
- Easily commuted through London on a daily basis, picking up a couple of battle scars along the way

I should have kept it, but then one fateful day I nipped by my OPC and stumbled upon the Clubby with all the options they had in their window...

I do want another one though. I think, like the E39/E46 era with BMW, the 997/987 era was Porsche's zenith. The 991 era leaves me totally cold; a neighbour of mine just picked up a new RS in Riviera with orange wheels (welcome to the Middle East) and I haven't even bothered to nip over for a better look.

[Patrick Bateman]

Not sure how that 'unburstable reliability' line from your profile will sit with the bore-score crew.

[Output Flange]

GreatPretender said:

The 991 era leaves me totally cold

I'm mostly with you on that, although I must admit that I'm really curious about the 991.2 - for reasons I don't claim to understand, the idea of a turbo lump in it really appeals.

I'm currently banging out a minimum of 600 miles per week in my 530d, with almost all of it on the M1 and M6. I'm absolutely gagging to go and do some driving just for fun so a snowy trip in the M5 gets a tingle going in the old chap, as does the idea of getting back on a track.

[rejn]

I'm with the general feeling on here of 997 versus 991.

I think I just lag a generation behind the latest on most things, though. I'm not sure I should even admit this, but when the Ferrari 355 came out, I wasn't that impressed - I remember telling a good friend at the time that it looked like a Toyota. Funnily enough, it's grown on me. Quite a lot, actually.

For now, I'll take a Cobalt Blue 997 Turbo, thanks.

Something like this

[barchetta_boy]

I borrowed a good friend's 997 C4S cab recently to drive to Liverpool (I live in west kent). Apart from the chavvy Turbo wheels (he is in recruitment) I just thought what a fabulous fabulous car.

Ballisitically quick, can get the kids in the back, the refinement of a coupe (almost) when cruising at speed, you can drop the roof in seconds, great sound, great looks... just the total all round sports/GT for grown-ups. You can see why they are so popular.

I was seriously tempted but the image is a problem. Not for me, I hasten to add, but getting the coffee beans twice a week would become wearing. When I'm driving my partner's V8 Vantage it's like going back a hundred years, people are practically doffing their caps when they let me out of junctions.

Anyway, I picked up the 928 from Precision Porsche at the weekend, and I think sale plans will have to be postponed AGAIN... I'm £35k in I may as well stay in for the next 10... what a noise, what a car...

[Output Flange]

barchetta_boy said:

...getting the coffee beans twice a week would become wearing...

In three years, I've not had it once.

Well, at least not because of the car I've been driving.

[GreatPretender]

Patrick Bateman said:

Not sure how that 'unburstable reliability' line from your profile will sit with the bore-score crew.

Never had any issues with mine, nor has there been any issues with any of the four M96/7-engined cars that have come and gone in the family. Can only say what I see.

[Output Flange]

And then we all go for beers in Oslo, right?

[rejn]

olly22n said:

Output Flange said:

And then we all go for beers in Oslo, right?

Right.

I'll be there in 24 hours.

http://binged.it/1JXMdnz

sounds great

Olly - you live in Stamford? I grew up around there - including about 13 years at Stamford School.

[Gruber]

rejn said:

I'm with the general feeling on here of 997 versus 991.

I think I just lag a generation behind the latest on most things, though. I'm not sure I should even admit this, but when the Ferrari 355 came out, I wasn't that impressed - I remember telling a good friend at the time that it looked like a Toyota. Funnily enough, it's grown on me. Quite a lot, actually.

For now, I'll take a Cobalt Blue 997 Turbo, thanks.

Something like this

What's the general concensus on the Turbos (if there is one)? I've only ever had a very short drive of a 996 Turbo and it was brutally quick but didn't feel all that engaging. Is the 997 similar? Did I just need to bear with it? Are they a grower? Is a C2S a more satisfying drive?

I've never owned a Porsche*

(*924s don't count).

[PGM]

Couple of mine in the snow since we're on the theme:

Pan on Holme Moss on winter tyres:



997S.2 Les Menuires on summer tyres!





Timelapse I did of the ski trip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fg2Bv39m_U

[NomduJour]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

There's a Range Rover version of it on the way, L560.

[rejn]

olly22n said:

Touche!

What year did you leave?

The summer of 1989. You?

[W00DY]

I need snow. And a Porsche.

Sadly even this is out of budget currently

[W00DY]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...



8 large seems steep, but I do think it ought not to.

[GreatPretender]

Gruber said:

What's the general concensus on the Turbos (if there is one)? I've only ever had a very short drive of a 996 Turbo and it was brutally quick but didn't feel all that engaging. Is the 997 similar? Did I just need to bear with it? Are they a grower? Is a C2S a more satisfying drive?

I've never owned a Porsche*

(*924s don't count).

Devastating weapons, but designed to be a bit softer. You also lose that induction howl, which for me is a big part of the 911 thing. Wouldn't say no to a Spanish 997.1 Tubby though (notwithstanding those gashtastic wheels).

I still think the cooking Carrera is the sweet spot of the range. GT3 is great if you've got another daily and the Turbo is the one to have if you absolutely, positively need to kill every last mother fker in the room, but then you pay for the privilege and to some extent lose a bit of what makes the 911 a 911.

[s m]

Hot hatch