What do you love about the 996?

What do you love about the 996?

Author
Discussion

LordHaveMurci

Original Poster:

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
As per title really, I'll start.

I love the fact I can take the family out & still enjoy the drive, the noise it makes (Cargraphic exhaust) is fantastic & it constantly reminds me it is better than me.

Over to you...

rival38

485 posts

144 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
The noise - also have Cargraphic exhaust.
The compact size.
The steering feel
The traction and grip, recent Ohlins R&T + CG geo = very sweet handling/poise/balance.
The feeling of mechanical connection including the heft to the brake pedal & gear change.
The fact that it is not a `valuable car` but a driving car.
That it is low key - it does not attract much attention, let alone look as if it is trying to.
It is amply fast enough, but not so fast that the performance is largely unusable.
It is much more capable than me, and than it looks.
Every day I use it, the day is improved!

rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
That when I was thinking of selling mine (Turbo) it sold before I'd even worked out the sale plan and what to replace it with; that's how popular they are! smile

What I don't like is that it's worth more now some 2 years after I sold it! frown

bgunn

1,416 posts

130 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
That it drives so well.
That it just seems to be more and more satisfying to really string some corners together over time.
That it's comfortable and accomplished so you can take it anywhere, any time.
That it's a bit of an underdog that's starting to come good.
That it's understated.
That I don't know what I'd ever replace it with - never before have I had a car that I'm not planning to change..

Wudee

269 posts

143 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
the looks of the 4S
the underdog image
the price

marky911

4,417 posts

218 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
Looks
Sound
Feel
Analogue experience.
Tinker-ability (if that's a word). You can just do routine maintenance and it'll be fine or you can get stuck in and renew and perfect loads of stuff. It offers many things to many owners.

I think of them like 964 C2s but quicker. wink
You can leave well alone and they're totally fine or you can add better suspension, bucket seats, and a few choice mods and you really have a super sharp, immersive driving tool.

I liked my GT3 the most, but my C2 will be cracking once I'm done with it.

My mate has just had his KWV3s rebuilt and new springs fitted. It's stunning to drive. It sits flat and stiff but rides bumps fantastically. Not crashy at all.
Fresh suspension totally transforms them. Although we know that already eh.
I best get saving for some ohlins.

Great cars!*


*Engine woes not withstanding. hehe




m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
- The noise with the PSE. Not least on cold start
- The way it drives even on my old suspension. That feeling of weigh in the rear is so different to all the other cars I've owned
- I love how 996s look and they were the first new 911 I really remember being launched
- It just feels special to me in a way an E46 M3 didn't (fantastic car that it is)

skinny

5,269 posts

234 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
The front lights. And the engine.

And yep I'm serious!! Some other stuff too

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
skinny said:
The front lights. And the engine.

And yep I'm serious!! Some other stuff too
The failures aside the M96 is a lovely engine. The failures and the Mezger make that a little overlooked. I like the headlights too, particularly the facelift / turbo style.

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Friday 25th August 2017
quotequote all
How about four times winner of EVO Car Of The Year (98/99/00/03) and top five finisher twice (01 & 02).

LaSource

2,622 posts

207 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Focus and simplicity


CarreraLightweightRacing

2,011 posts

208 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
marky911 said:
Looks
Sound, Feel, Analogue experience.
Tinker-ability (if that's a word). You can just do routine maintenance and it'll be fine or you can get stuck in and renew and perfect loads of stuff. It offers many things to many owners.

I think of them like 964 C2s but quicker. wink
You can leave well alone and they're totally fine or you can add better suspension, bucket seats, and a few choice mods and you really have a super sharp, immersive driving tool.

I liked my GT3 the most, but my C2 will be cracking once I'm done with it.

My mate has just had his KWV3s rebuilt and new springs fitted. It's stunning to drive. It sits flat and stiff but rides bumps fantastically. Not crashy at all.
Fresh suspension totally transforms them. Although we know that already eh.
I best get saving for some ohlins.

Great cars!*

  • Engine woes not withstanding. hehe
What Marky says!
The base spec C2 is just such a wonderful platform. Dynamically it has few real rivals. Looks are subjective and the 996 certainly has more haters than adorers on this front. After nearly 3 months without my 996 now, it is getting painful.
For me the things that make the 996 truly great are the steering and balance. It is such a rewarding car and with a small dose of spanner twirling can be made into something truly magical. Just such a shame that improving your Porsche is so heavily frowned upon by the blind masses. They really don't know what they are missing!



Edited by CarreraLightweightRacing on Saturday 26th August 12:40

edh

3,498 posts

268 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
The vfm, the compact size, light weight and all round vision from the drivers seat.

Obviously the control weights, flat six motor - response, revs, sound...

I also think it's in the sweet spot of having enough power to go pretty quickly on the road, but still being able to use max revs / power.

EGTE

996 posts

181 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
C2: Small, light, nimble, analogue, quick, sounds great, stiff shell, great steering and throttle adjustability, simplicity, value for money, great looks and design touches, plus it's got that great 911 traction/weight transfer, too.

A hell of a lot of "driving experience" for the money (or even a lot more money).

cp996

39 posts

148 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
[quote=EGTE]C2: Small, light, nimble, analogue, quick, sounds great, stiff shell, great steering and throttle adjustability, simplicity, value for money, great looks and design touches, plus it's got that great 911 traction/weight transfer, too.

What he said and: 19 years and 90k miles largely hassle free motoring. I've used my 3.4l on track and only ever had a problem when the coolant hose touched the drive belt.


peter-ix04d

1 posts

79 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
My 996 C2 is simply the best car I have ever owned. Absolutely brilliant drivers car, that is fast, handles well, and is totally understated. Take grandkids out in it and go too shops in it. A car for the true driver, not filled with electronic gizmos. An analogue car for an old analogue driver.lol. But always looks a million dollars, too me anyway. The driving is feeling is visceral, cant put into words, but a 911 has a feeling all of its own. Totally different to any car I have ever owned. They can bury me in this baby!

Heathrow

444 posts

129 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
I like the nasp yet torquey nature of the engine, helped by the relative lack of mass. The steering feel is excellent and finally the small footprint of the car.

carrottop

7,251 posts

232 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
That its design has matured in such a way that it now draws looks from drivers of vastly more expensive 'exoctica'. This has recently progressed to the occasional thumbs up smile

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all


Analogue feel
Looks
Ability to work on it myself
Lack of safety net
Overall definitely agree with Cmoose - it is really the sweet spot between modernity and old school


P. S I also have an E46 M3 - that is another hero car of mine and hand on heart I would chose it before I pick a standard 996 (runs for cover)

Digga

40,206 posts

282 months

Sunday 27th August 2017
quotequote all
LaSource said:
Focus and simplicity

^This for me too.

This week I have driven both 991s and a 997 and I still love the stripped-back almost race car retro feel to the 996 cabin.

IMHO the 997 interior is a less resolved and cohesive design and, though very good, the modern 991 is - like most contemporary cars - quite busy with the tinsel and baubles.

I've fitted a very discrete double-din nav/DAB to my car which is practical and useful but relatively unobtrusive. To me the 996 interior feels like driving a classic car.