A newbie's 993 experience
Discussion
On Friday afternoon my Dad called while I was still at work. He asked if I was available to pick up a customer of his' 993 from the local Porsche dealer, an hour or so away. 
Although choosing between writing ant build scripts for another hour or driving one of my favourite looking 911s was a tough call for me, I made my excuses for leaving work early and headed off with grin attached to face. If you were born prior to the '80s then you'll just have to think back and imagine what it would have been like to be 24 and called up to be offered this sort of task. Yes I do appreciate my luck!
Walking in, a lovely looking girl greeted me kindly in the dealer and asked how they could help. Perhaps she was just grateful that I was the only customer ever to visit that was in her age bracket, but I was surprised that she was so friendly. But perhaps not as surprised as her when I told her I'd come to pick up 'my' 911
.
Anyway.. the car is a late Targa model with 75k miles that I have actually driven only briefly once before. I am not very familar with it, and jumping into Friday rush hour traffic and crawling along the M5 is not an ideal way to familiarize yourself. It was surprising how everybody looks at you driving this relatively modest car, especially when you have to rev the fantastic sounding engine just a little to crawl forward. My smugness for this was punished though - I realised the door was not closed properly and I couldn't find the door handle to open and close it, for 10 minutes. I had to stick my hand out of the window to use the outside handle, and probably looked pretty ridiculous doing so.
Actually first I had to locate the electric window switches, and figure out which one was which, before I could stick my hand out of the window. I had to do this in the dark because I never figured out how to turn on the interior light. And this was not the last of my moments of panicked confusion in the cockpit, all watched by bemused onlookers stationary in there BMWs and Mondeos alongside me. Another few minutes was spent wondering why the fan would not turn off (The 'heat front windscreen' button was pressed) and my decision to try out some of the interior buttons revealed a bizarre array of electrically operated blinds and glass panels reminding me of a fancy hotel conference room. I noticed that the light switch was the only control NOT illuminated, just like my old Mercedes. How amusing that was for me - who said the Germans don't have a sense of humour? After all this I was never brave enough to press the button with an exclamation mark on.
So to the driving. When the road cleared the first thing I noticed was that it has a lot of engine. It then has more engine when something kicks in at 3000 rpm (is this a Varioram/cam car because if so it's really cool). This is all mated to a surprisingly smooth ride and good general refinement. The steering disappointed me hugely however. I expected it to feel alive and full of feedback - nervous even - given the light front end, but it was sadly stodgy and gloopy and didn't make me feel like I was in a sports car. This combined with the impression of lots of grip, short wheelbase, lots of torque, wet roads and a lack of electronics made sure I was extremely careful. When moving along quickly the suspension and car in general felt very capable but I was not endowed with the feeling of a high level of confidence in what the car was telling me, or of huge fun. I still loved driving it, and it hasn't dampened by 911 enthusiasm, but I was a little disappointed about the feel available and how relatively normal it felt (odd pedals and cabin excluded).
Perhaps this is just normal and part of learning to drive a 911? I love the sound, looks, and sportscar/GT car balance of the 993, but was sad that it didn't feel quite like the German Lotus (sorry if that is an evil word to use around here!) Elise I was hoping for. Esspecially when I posted here once about a similar short drive in a 996 and was surprised at the steering feel and feeling of being in a nimble sports car rather than German GT car. Shouldn't it be the other way round?
Although choosing between writing ant build scripts for another hour or driving one of my favourite looking 911s was a tough call for me, I made my excuses for leaving work early and headed off with grin attached to face. If you were born prior to the '80s then you'll just have to think back and imagine what it would have been like to be 24 and called up to be offered this sort of task. Yes I do appreciate my luck! Walking in, a lovely looking girl greeted me kindly in the dealer and asked how they could help. Perhaps she was just grateful that I was the only customer ever to visit that was in her age bracket, but I was surprised that she was so friendly. But perhaps not as surprised as her when I told her I'd come to pick up 'my' 911
. Anyway.. the car is a late Targa model with 75k miles that I have actually driven only briefly once before. I am not very familar with it, and jumping into Friday rush hour traffic and crawling along the M5 is not an ideal way to familiarize yourself. It was surprising how everybody looks at you driving this relatively modest car, especially when you have to rev the fantastic sounding engine just a little to crawl forward. My smugness for this was punished though - I realised the door was not closed properly and I couldn't find the door handle to open and close it, for 10 minutes. I had to stick my hand out of the window to use the outside handle, and probably looked pretty ridiculous doing so.
Actually first I had to locate the electric window switches, and figure out which one was which, before I could stick my hand out of the window. I had to do this in the dark because I never figured out how to turn on the interior light. And this was not the last of my moments of panicked confusion in the cockpit, all watched by bemused onlookers stationary in there BMWs and Mondeos alongside me. Another few minutes was spent wondering why the fan would not turn off (The 'heat front windscreen' button was pressed) and my decision to try out some of the interior buttons revealed a bizarre array of electrically operated blinds and glass panels reminding me of a fancy hotel conference room. I noticed that the light switch was the only control NOT illuminated, just like my old Mercedes. How amusing that was for me - who said the Germans don't have a sense of humour? After all this I was never brave enough to press the button with an exclamation mark on.
So to the driving. When the road cleared the first thing I noticed was that it has a lot of engine. It then has more engine when something kicks in at 3000 rpm (is this a Varioram/cam car because if so it's really cool). This is all mated to a surprisingly smooth ride and good general refinement. The steering disappointed me hugely however. I expected it to feel alive and full of feedback - nervous even - given the light front end, but it was sadly stodgy and gloopy and didn't make me feel like I was in a sports car. This combined with the impression of lots of grip, short wheelbase, lots of torque, wet roads and a lack of electronics made sure I was extremely careful. When moving along quickly the suspension and car in general felt very capable but I was not endowed with the feeling of a high level of confidence in what the car was telling me, or of huge fun. I still loved driving it, and it hasn't dampened by 911 enthusiasm, but I was a little disappointed about the feel available and how relatively normal it felt (odd pedals and cabin excluded).
Perhaps this is just normal and part of learning to drive a 911? I love the sound, looks, and sportscar/GT car balance of the 993, but was sad that it didn't feel quite like the German Lotus (sorry if that is an evil word to use around here!) Elise I was hoping for. Esspecially when I posted here once about a similar short drive in a 996 and was surprised at the steering feel and feeling of being in a nimble sports car rather than German GT car. Shouldn't it be the other way round?
Your first drive in a Beetle is always a memorable one.
I am surprised at your comments about the steering. It can feel "dead" at lower speeds but does come alive as you push on. In fact when I drove my first 993 I was convinced that it had a wheel balance problem, such was the liveliness of the steering. Ultimately, I guess steering feel is relative.
There's no getting away from the "comedy" ergonomics. They are bad even by the standards of yesteryear.
pp
I am surprised at your comments about the steering. It can feel "dead" at lower speeds but does come alive as you push on. In fact when I drove my first 993 I was convinced that it had a wheel balance problem, such was the liveliness of the steering. Ultimately, I guess steering feel is relative.
There's no getting away from the "comedy" ergonomics. They are bad even by the standards of yesteryear.
pp
That's quite an entertaining, but dare I say reasonably appropriate, review of a 993.
But it's amazing how quickly they grow on you, once you get used to the quirks and traits.
I'd be loathe to part with mine.
And it was interesting to hear quite a few water-cooled 911 owners at the ace breakfast meet saying how much they missed their old 993's.
But it's amazing how quickly they grow on you, once you get used to the quirks and traits.
I'd be loathe to part with mine.
And it was interesting to hear quite a few water-cooled 911 owners at the ace breakfast meet saying how much they missed their old 993's.
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