RE: The problem with Porsches: Tell Me I'm Wrong
Discussion
hadabit said:
.. The new GTS, which is a perfectly balanced and powerful machine is every bit as much fun to drive at 50mph on a country road as it is when pressed into a power-slide on the track. It can be a long range cruiser, a grocery getter, a commuter, or a track day weapon.....your choice. But in all applications, it is just fun to drive, and dare I admit it....comfortable. And that is the common element with all of the company's car's. They make you feel good when you drive them.
GTS - best of the current na bunch as an all rounder.Robert Elise said:
to "live with" yes, a modern Porsche. Which is why you dialled into it so easily, it's comfortable and does everything for you. For a more rewarding drive you want an old 2.7, that'll stop you driving and texting!
Do you ever miss you old darlings at the weekend sometimes?
Do you ever miss you old darlings at the weekend sometimes?
Robert Elise said:
to "live with" yes, a modern Porsche. Which is why you dialled into it so easily, it's comfortable and does everything for you. For a more rewarding drive you want an old 2.7, that'll stop you driving and texting!
Do you ever miss you old darlings at the weekend sometimes?
I absolutely do miss them. Do you ever miss you old darlings at the weekend sometimes?
I'm one of those tedious so-and-sos that loves mk1 MX5s (have owned 2 as DDs, now after a 'keeper'). I gravitate towards simplicity, lightness, and a generally pared-back approach to building sports cars. At a 'stocky' 6'2", Id happily fold myself into a little old Lotus, even as a DD.
It seems obvious that a modern Porsche would be preferable to live with. Perhaps what I should have said was that I was surprised how uncompromised the driving experience was in comparison to the older, more basic, 'analogue' stuff that we all love so much. I wouldn't really feel like I was missing out on (much) of the 'pure' driving thrills were an eg. 987 Boxster to be my only car. I'm under the impression that modern 911s have more/ more intrusive driver aids than modern Boxsters, on account of the engine location being more likely to get the average driver into trouble... happy to be corrected on this.
As far as my ability levels go, I'm thus far unproven in 911s and suspect that I'd need to learn to handle the rear-enginedness in a safe, on-track environment. I'd probably do myself a mischief in any pre-997 RWD 911 on the road if I explored the limits. Internet horror stories aside, this is the main thing putting me off an early manual 996- I don't want to own something that I can't confidently grab by the scruff... I also don't want to feel nannied/ insulated from what the car is doing- hence feeling that perhaps it's me that has to up my game...
Totally agree re the 2.7 986 by the way- already wondering if I've missed the boat on the good ~£5-5.5K examples.
Ofcourse what I should really do is stop being a big Jessie and get myself a nice early manual 996 before I miss those in the £10-12K price range. After all, IMS bork affects less than 5% of 3.4 996s... doesn't it?
anonymous said:
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That's interesting, I am sure I've read in various buying guides that the 2001 model year onwards 3.6 was the better one for avoiding this problem. Just shows what a mine field it is. I have been pondering about buying an old Porsche recently as some money is coming my way in the next year or so, but the IMS problem puts me off. Thinking older Boxster or 996 Carrera type stuff.Definitely not, pretty strong consensus that your best off buying either the latter engined cars from 2009 onwards or going for 98-01 986 and 996 but as cmoose says one always needs to check individual cars with Porsche as they have always done odd things with build years and the exact spec on them when going through model transitions. Earliest 996 cars also have a proper cable throttle and less electronic intervention but good luck to anyone finding a low mileage mint one these days for reasonable money. That ship has long since sailed 2 to 3 years ago.
I bought an R26 Megane yesterday, its one of those cars that really does bring this whole thread into sharp focus. If I sell my race car which is now highly likely I could be Porsche-less for the first time in 15 years.
I bought an R26 Megane yesterday, its one of those cars that really does bring this whole thread into sharp focus. If I sell my race car which is now highly likely I could be Porsche-less for the first time in 15 years.
i am a big fan of all things Porsche. And I think the current boxster is a beautiful machine. I have been fortunate enough to have driven many porkers over the years, but without the slightest doubt the most memorable was a 993 turbo. It is when we fear for our lives that we value them the most. I agree with you.
i am a big fan of all things Porsche. And I think the current boxster is a beautiful machine. I have been fortunate enough to have driven many porkers over the years, but without the slightest doubt the most memorable was a 993 turbo. It is when we fear for our lives that we value them the most. I agree with you.
peterbredde said:
i am a big fan of all things Porsche. And I think the current boxster is a beautiful machine. I have been fortunate enough to have driven many porkers over the years, but without the slightest doubt the most memorable was a 993 turbo. It is when we fear for our lives that we value them the most. I agree with you.
Oddly the worst Porsche I have driven was a 996 turbo. Fast, yes but too soft, too insulating. The best was a 997 gt3 which was noticeably better than a 997 gt2 which was too stiff, the steering wheel too thin and had too much bobbling on the front end.Anyway, took my 3.2 out yesterday and it was brilliant !
People don't know until they have driven a car like it quickly, it's so sensitive at the front grip wise that you have to transfer the weight using brakes and steering and feel when it's biting before getting on the throttle, lovely.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
"The later [996] 3.6-litre engine is pretty much problem-free."Apparently...
Interesting to have that clarified, but the reliability of 996s in general does not make good reading really does it. Tolerable reliability for the earliest 996s.
Saw a lovely 3.4 Cayman in black today and commented to my wife that it would make a fabulous sports car to own, then I remembered Cmoose telling me on another thread (Boxsters) that 3.4 Caymans have a bad rep too!
...so why do motor magazines and the like still use the word "bullet proof" in articles about second hand Porsches. Assume it is lazy journalism!
Saw a lovely 3.4 Cayman in black today and commented to my wife that it would make a fabulous sports car to own, then I remembered Cmoose telling me on another thread (Boxsters) that 3.4 Caymans have a bad rep too!
...so why do motor magazines and the like still use the word "bullet proof" in articles about second hand Porsches. Assume it is lazy journalism!
GreenArrow said:
Interesting to have that clarified, but the reliability of 996s in general does not make good reading really does it. Tolerable reliability for the earliest 996s.
'Reliability of 996s in general does not make good reading/ tolerable reliability for earliest 996s' pretty much sums up the 996 perfectly.Whenever I see someone in a pre-facelift 996, I just want to approach them and ask 'has it borked?'. No 'how much?' or 'how does it handle?', only bork comes to mind...
Ofcourse this probably indicates that the 996 is not for me, but I've just got this nagging feeling that I can still get into a good 3.4 manual for ~£10-12K, and probably for not much longer. There will be the odd car sorted by Hartech coming up for example...
Trying to buy a decent pre-facelift 996 at this point may be an entirely separate 'problem with Porsches'. I maintain that good cars are still out there, possibly for another couple of years...
I feel the same. I've always fancied a Porsche, particularly a 911 and saw a 996 advertised locally for £13995 last week. Was a 996 Carrera 2 3.4 with a GT3 type spoiler. I thought it looked fantastic, but with 80,000 miles on it, how long before something "borks". Then again, based on what happened with the previously unloved 3.0 SC, you just know that at some point people will remember what fantastic drivers cars these 996s were in their day (winning EVO car of the year nearly every year at one point) and the prices will rocket upwards! I could have bought a 3.0 SC for just over 10 grand several times in the late naughties when I had some cash, now you have no chance for that money!
Simple supply and demand. The supply of 986/996 cars is far to great for them to ever follow the path of the much rarer air cooled cars. A really low miles pre 2000 C2 though is a safe bet as long as you don't drive it, putting miles on the thing puts em straight back into the realms of the many thousands of higher miles cars out there.
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