RE: 996 Turbo S

Monday 2nd August 2004

996 Turbo S

Nick Hall took the new model to the Nurburgring for some high speed hooning


There is no more extreme a test track on this Earth than the old Nurburgring, it’s a Mecca of motorsport and driving fanatics and needs no introduction. So offered the chance to sample this piece of motoring heaven for the first time I couldn’t pass it up – especially behind the wheel of the new 450bhp Porsche 911 Turbo S.

F1 stopped coming to the Eifel Mountains after Niki Lauda’s near fatal accident in 1976. His ears burned off while marshals rushed to rescue him, and the difficulty marshalling this track that is close to seven times as long as a modern Grand Prix track became apparent.

Serious sportscars and club racers still come here, though, and on set days of the month the track opens its legendary doors to the public for €12 a lap. It would never be allowed in most countries and on a wet day it is akin to population control – culling the stupid. They helicopter out the terminally injured, and don’t credit their deaths to the Nordschleife. Old hands reckon on at least one a month, though, and most of them – perhaps inevitably – are bikers.

Learning

Experienced drivers will dish out as much advice as you can handle and even provide a few hot passenger laps – a vital experience for the Nordschleife novice. Jamie Martin, a Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, or hypnotist to you and me, chauffeured me round the old ‘Ring in his Honda Integra. It was an educational and sobering experience.

This track has 157 corners, which makes it impossible to learn in one day, and due to rollercoaster twists and turns the next tight bend can come out of nowhere. Also the margin for error is virtually non-existent. The barrier hugs the circuit, separated from the track by just a metre of grass for much of this 14-mile winding snake of a road. And with a collection of evil cambers for each corner and high kerbs that require the utmost respect, deviate from the line and a small moment can turn into a massive accident in a heartbeat.

Many have found out to their cost that missing the important cambers that can cradle you into the apex can spit you and your steed into the opposing wall. Several websites are devoted to smashed cars at the old ‘Ring, and it was significant that the most committed drivers took old Golfs, Fiat Unos, 3-series BMWs and cheap road-legal racing saloons. Those driving supercars tended to take things a little easier.

The first lap of this place will blow your mind, it’s the ultimate challenge of man and machine. Luckily, my machine was pretty close to the ultimate.

911 Style

Releasing a ‘Sport’ version of the classic 911 bi-turbo is a bizarre concept in itself, like Rolls Royce sending out an ‘L’ edition. But with horsepower figures climbing rapidly amongst the competition, Porsche clearly felt its wide-bodied superpower needed a boost. A number of saloon cars are now hovering around 500bhp, it wouldn’t do for one of Germany’s premier sportscars to be outshone too brilliantly in any department.

This particular example was a Turbo with the ‘Sport’ kit retrospectively fitted, so it missed out on the metallic paintwork – leaving us with a near-luminous yellow car for a 2000-mile odyssey round Germany’s deep South and finally on to the Nordschleife.

It was a price worth paying, but you don’t expect pitying looks from local women when you’re driving one of the finest cars Germany has to offer. It was a shame, because the interior is stunning. Dressed in swathes of fine leather, and seductive carbon-fibre, the new 911 S also benefits from a fantastic Sat-Nav system, which even had the contours of the Nordschleife in its memory banks, and in-built phone.

More importantly, though, it has an extra 30bhp over the ‘standard’ 911 Turbo due to larger turbos, an engorged intercooler and a remapped ECU. In truth this hasn’t impacted on the major figures, with the 0-62mph time dropping to 4.2s and the top-end rising a minimal amount to 191mph.

Porsche has concentrated on the in-gear acceleration, releasing an extra 80Nm of torque to take the Porsche up to 474lb/ft (620Nm). This means that the extra power is focussed on ballistic overtaking moves, and also increasing the already impressive range of this 3.6-litre engine.

Whinge on about air-cooled classics if you will, but this is the new generation of Porsche and the water-cooled unit, especially with a pair of turbos strapped on, is a mightily impressive bit of kit. This car provides a donkey kick to the lower back at speeds where lesser cars are hitting their terminal velocity.

Any gap in the Autobahn traffic bigger than the car itself becomes a legitimate space, forget about building up speed. This car could just impose authority on, for instance, a highly modified Golf that decided to have a go at about 120mph. He disappeared in the rear view mirror within a matter of seconds as the speedo crept up to 180mph on a derestricted stretch of road.

Stable

The pure stability of this car at this speed explains why Porsche has spent four decades tweaking the same basic shape, despite taking criticism for doing so, smoothing the lines and honing the most aerodynamically impressive piece of kit in this sector. The rear wing rearing up to provide a twin-foil at speeds of over 75mph is just an ornate piece of automotive artwork, the true strength of this machine lies in its rock solid composure just 10mph shy of its top speed. If it wasn’t for the traffic flying back to meet the car at video game speeds, it would actually feel slow.

Lift off and the car shifts its balance and the sense of speed starts to hit home, but the Porsche remains surefooted even under heavy braking. This is a rare occurrence, by the way, as the Ceramic Composite Brakes, part of the upgrade, are phenomenal.

They are 50 per cent lighter than the steel units they replace, and way more effective. On the Autobahn shedding close to three figures took the merest nudge on the middle pedal and I locked up only once on the public road – chasing a 590bhp Ruf R Turbo across German backroads – so capable are the brakes and huge rubber footprints digging in to the road. I had to stand on the anchors on a few occasions to avoid wiping a sizable chunk off the £99,300 car’s front end. But unlike other Porsches, this car never felt like breaking away.

Balance

Kept on a trailing throttle, the Porsche performs even better due to the intelligent four-wheel-drive. If the back starts to slide the car feeds power to the front wheel. So this car, driven on the throttle, can get the driver out of trouble.

At the Nordschleife I had to tighten the line dramatically to make many corners or account for an errant biker slicing down the inside line. Cars, bikes, trucks and even tour buses are out on circuit at the same time, throwing other hazards into the mix. Coming into the banked Karrussel bend, perhaps the Nordschleife’s most famous bend, I was forced to launch down the inside of a double decker bus, which wisely hugged the outside of the bend and avoided the angled concrete slabs that compressed the outside suspension, held the car in the corner and let the Porsche take a 200-degree bend at more than 80mph.

I also had to hang on when I went in all wrong, skipping over the crest of the camber towards the high kerbs. Every time the 1590kg beast hauled me out of trouble, sometimes in a lurid powerslide but mostly with an unhurried calm that belied the speed on the clock.

It’s a hugely effective weapon that is, perhaps, too good for the public road. The GT2 and GT3, not to mention the stunning if less powerful RS, offer a purer, more challenging driving experience. The 911 Turbo S is a more complete machine, hugely capable, even though it might be a little less fun. On the road, that is. On a track, particularly this one, the 911 Turbo S was, quite literally a life-saver.

Nick Hall

Photography by Thomas Angus of www.Image404.com

Author
Discussion

granville

Original Poster:

18,764 posts

260 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Reading this makes me realise why I will always be 'schleife poultry...because I know it would be the end of me, even in a PSM mobile.

A literally awesome place - I must issue a loud & mighty 'hail' to those with the balls to have a flutter.

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Indeed, DeR, indeed.

5 short years ago I was the fresh and eager owner of a 993 C2. I was flushed with the sheer hoonability of the machine, and in awe of its pedigree and explicit mechanical soul. It popped and banged and breathed through its sports exhaust , and was in love.

I took it to the ring. It was like an illicit weekend of fun with a new girl. I got carried away, went around the track a little too excitably, and on one of the rings numerous corners, she nearly killed me.

We both survived intact. To the hardcore ringmeister it was probably a minor moment, but to the new 911 freshman like myslef it was an epiphany. I learned to respect 911's after that.

In a new TT like the 996Turbo S, it will no doubt require heroic levels of control to tame the beast. It would still scare the bejeesus out of me, but still I would love to give it a try..

But I think I'd enjoy it in a 993 RS even more....

911 habit

294 posts

244 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Most fantastic car!

Not wanting to dilute the TTS, but have you guys seen Uwe Alzen drives the 700BHP+ Alzen Turbo Porsche at Nürburgring Nordschleife? Available from the URL below, truly a fantastic on-board drive in this monster 966 TT – I high recommend it.


http://ensim03.ffm.m2soft.com/renn.tv/shop/product_info.php?products_id=28&osCsid=8a77b4827e624ca904b5c0267c53699b

clubsport

7,257 posts

257 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
A well written review, the guy seems to have got the TT S under his skin.


Topstuff, with the PSM helping out, i would expect the TT to be less of a handful than a fidgety 993RS around the ring.
Are you buying the yellow one??

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
clubsport said:

Are you buying the yellow one??



No. Lovely though the Lovett 993RS is, it is not the optimum car for me.

At that price level the GT3 confuses things.

I think the most likely outcome will be a 993RS from Germany. I plan on going on regular hoons into France with it.

Mobile.de is now permanently open on my desktop !

bad_roo

5,187 posts

236 months

Monday 2nd August 2004
quotequote all
Ah, happy memories. I too took that car to the Nurburgring for a good larruping. Then it was back to the UK with Rockingham all to myself. Joy.





PiB

1,195 posts

269 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
That was a pretty good review.

Those rims are wild.



cyrus1971

855 posts

238 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
Toppstuff - sounds like we had the same incident with a 993C2 on the ring. Only mine ended up with a 10mph conversation with the armco (after burning up 90 mph in a monster fishtail) Off to the ring this weekend in 996TT and looking forwad to a blat at 90% of the track, the car and my own ability.

The best lessons are always the ones you survive.

pdV6

16,442 posts

260 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
PiB said:


que?

bad_roo

5,187 posts

236 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
cyrus1971 said:
Off to the ring this weekend in 996TT and looking forwad to a blat at 90% of the track, the car and my own ability.


Be gentle if you see a 260bhp Evo VIII in your way.

toppstuff

13,698 posts

246 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
cyrus1971 said:
Toppstuff - sounds like we had the same incident with a 993C2 on the ring. Only mine ended up with a 10mph conversation with the armco (after burning up 90 mph in a monster fishtail) Off to the ring this weekend in 996TT and looking forwad to a blat at 90% of the track, the car and my own ability.

The best lessons are always the ones you survive.


Too right !!

I totally lost my C2 coming out of a corner with a wicked camber ! Spun a full 360 and beyond, yet somehow avoided hitting anything.

Have a great time in the TT. Be safe and fast.

dinkel

26,884 posts

257 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
pdV6 said:

PiB said:



que?


Ah, Italian futuristic art begin 20th century. Makes sense.

http://theinternetforum.co.uk/fameacademy/nick1.html

Well, what a car. Never my favourite but todays top 3 makes-the-most-sense-to-have-sportscar . .

911 HUL

dinkel

26,884 posts

257 months

Tuesday 3rd August 2004
quotequote all
http://autozine.kyul.net/911/911_a12.htm

Some serious Pork-info. Most of us surely know but always nice to read.

kedelbach

145 posts

235 months

Wednesday 4th August 2004
quotequote all
Hi all

Great read!

Over on the Smartgroups Ringers discussion list (www.smartgroups.com/groups/ringers) some people, are well, taking issue with the "over 80mph through the Karussel" statement...
Personally I am always too busy trying to keep the steering wheel from jumping out of my hands to look at the speedo, but this does sound a bit fast. Did you mean kph?

otherwise great report, I'm jealous!

cheers
Kurt

www.nurburgring.org.uk/who/details.php?u=167

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
kedelbach said:
Hi all

Did you mean kph?



Whenever folk from metric-land talk to me about the turbo - they always say ... "Did you mean kph?" So I have to take them out to show them.

Tommorrow I'm taking a South African race driver for a blat who is convinced it'll be 200 kph.

Private road of course. (I have a long driveway)

Steve

dazren

22,612 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
Kurt in the distant past (when I could insure the car for the Ring) I have driven my 996tt with the same engine as the Turbo S through the Karussell a few times. I have never looked at the speedo whilst doing so, though I used to go through it in 3rd gear and pile the power down about 2/3s of the way around. I'm guessing I would have been doing 80/85kmh Domster did you ever take note of the speedo or were too busy admiring how the cup holders were standing up to the strain.

Interesting point about MPH and KPH with the 996 is the ability to switch the digital readout, so that all my reference speeds are in KPH. Wether this is something the article writer did I don't know.

DAZ

kedelbach

145 posts

235 months

Thursday 5th August 2004
quotequote all
hey I'm from 'Murica, so these kilometers are wierd for me too!!

DAZ that sounds about right, really doesn't matter what engine you have in there, try it at 80mph and you're gonna leave the Karussel early!!!

In a Helmut Dahne video (Nordschleife lap record holder on a motorcycle) he goes between 85-95 kph. Cars with softer suspension (similar tires of course) definitely feel better and can safely go faster through the big K than cars with a very tight, stiffly sprung suspension. Its bouncy as H€ll through there!!

So thats why I asked if he meant 80kph, thats a fairly quick speed, not earth shattering, but more realistic than the 80mph BS.

cheers
Kurt

>> Edited by kedelbach on Thursday 5th August 15:56

NickmHall

40 posts

245 months

Saturday 7th August 2004
quotequote all
I may have to own up to a little unintentional exaggeration, as the Porsche was certainly not pulling 80mph on the apex of the corner.

On the exit, though, you don't need to wait for the surface change before feeding in the throttle, as the Porsche gives non-stop grip on the banking. By the time the car popped off the top, it was going at an ungodly rate.

I could be guilty of a little selective memory, as by the time I'd got to the end of that 14 miles my brain had overloaded, as anyone that remembers their first time on the old 'Ring will attest to, so I hope you'll forgive any mental embellishment on my part.

Glad most people enjoyed the piece, though, and for anyone contemplating going then it will provide one of the most intense driving experiences of your life. But tread carefully on the first day!
Cheers
Nick Hall

dinkel

26,884 posts

257 months

Saturday 7th August 2004
quotequote all

Did you try the big N in this as well?

kedelbach

145 posts

235 months

Sunday 8th August 2004
quotequote all
Nick Worte:

"may have to own up to a little unintentional exaggeration"

Fair enough, I've been guilty of this at one time or another also

"On the exit, though, you don't need to wait for the surface change before feeding in the throttle, as the Porsche gives non-stop grip on the banking. By the time the car popped off the top, it was going at an ungodly rate."

True, most start feeding in more throttle about 1/2 way through, with it nailed just before the exit, surely the TT shoots out like a 50 caliber bullet! The exit is a bit smoother than the "little" Karussel, which is less heavily banked *and much shorter) but tends to spit you out sideways and a bit airborn due to a more abrupt change from banking to flat.

"Glad most people enjoyed the piece, though, and for anyone contemplating going then it will provide one of the most intense driving experiences of your life. But tread carefully on the first day!"

Everyone enjoyed the piece, but I'd think about treading "carefully" on every day, not just the first. Just this morning learned a friend who has done THOUSANDS of laps on his motorcycle was airlifted off yesterday after crashing on an oil spill.
In 100 laps I've gone around corners there close enough to the limit that a bit of oil would have sent me into the armco, but then again I drive cars with 1/3 or less the HP of a 997TT, so the impact would be a bit different. Unless you have a full cage, helmet, race seat, etc, really think hard about how much you like to live before pushing the limits at the Ring.

Kurt