RE: Porsche 959 v 997 Turbo

[flemke]

Chris944 said:

I always thought the 959 looked pretty horrible. It came in some truly awfuly colours too.

There is a metallic violet car that's in the UK and that has got a disproportionate amount of media coverage, so I can see why that might have made a lasting impression on you.

Apart from that anomaly, however, what are the other "truly awful colours"?

[Carrera2]

flemke said:

TIGA84 said:

Do you drive it as often as the F1? Secondly as someone who clearly has passion for engineering and technical attributes on a car, what made you think to get a 959?

Oh and a third how long have you had it?

I drive the F1 probably three or four times as much, other things being equal. It's that much more involving.

I got the 959 sort of because I felt that I had an obligation to do so, to respect the marque and its history. (Although I admit that I would only have got the Sport version, not the Comfort).
Also, I like it because it is a bit funky. Its interior may be dated, but it's also the nicest that P. have ever done so who cares when it was done or that since then they have done things that look more current but less good?
The body has a number of gorgeous shapes - integration of rear wing into back and sides, oval headlight fairings and overall contour of front corners, unique wing mirrors.
Then there is the bulletproof engine, which is a 962 engine that's just calmed down a bit.

I got it in early '02 or '03 - not sure which.

Hi Flemke,

I know you haven't listed the cars you own in your profile for a reason but I'm continually amazed by your collection.

F1, GT3(?), 959, CGT....

DO you have anything else that we need to be made aware of? Zonda, konesiggggggg etc maybe?

[Dr S]

Nice trip down memory lane. The 959 still is an intriguing car. Even though I find it quite ugly (unless in the Paris-Dakar colour trim) it is a brilliant piece of engineering that truely set standards at its time. A classic to have in the garage.

I don't understand the trade-off decision between 959 and 997. You buy them for very different reasons. The 959 is a collectable icon to be worshiped every day. The 997 is a great every day drive and an insanely fast piece of metal in one. That these "cross-over" cars have their flaws, we know since the invention of SUV's...

For me a 959 to complement my C2S then, prrrlease...

[TIGA84]

flemke said:

Chris944 said:

I always thought the 959 looked pretty horrible. It came in some truly awfuly colours too.

There is a metallic violet car that's in the UK and that has got a disproportionate amount of media coverage, so I can see why that might have made a lasting impression on you.

Apart from that anomaly, however, what are the other "truly awful colours"?

That was a prototype car as well IIRC?

I can only think of Can-Can red leather that might be seen as a tad, well, sudden.

White, Black, Guards, That purple number, and silver? Maybe something like Lapis blue as well from memory are the only colours I've ever seen them in?

[johnww]

Instead of just making a statement "if it was my money..I'd go for "an Austin Martin V8 over the 997 Turbo" because there are "so many other attributes," why not list them for better clarification?? Include price difference too, while you are at it!! And too, what about the Porsche turbo's new ceramic brakes and limited slip? Where these two options present, and did they add to the car's performance?? This report was just too subjective without "real-life data."

To me the write-up sounds like someone who most likely can't buy, but would like to buy a 2007 Porsche Turbo, so he/she brings out these numerous "not so good items" and in that fashion the person feels a bit better about not having the vehicle in their driveway. I like Kevi Hackett's statement "I still feel no desire to own either one....." Come on, get real...I still sense considerable drool running through and allover this statement!! What I have seen about the 2007 Porsche Turbo and read in GTPorsche, 911&Porsche, and in all the US-mags, it is one outstanding automobile. What is also important is the "so much less cash" needed to buy one of these 2007 Porsche Turbos compared to other super cars like the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bugatti. And too, at all US-dealers, try and buy one which doesn't include a 9-12 month wait. Just can't. Looks like US buyers are aggressively buying up these, according to this reviewer, "not so desirable super-cars.

[GuyR]

The UK car you mention was burgandy and I personally quite liked it having seen it in real life. There were two 959s I've seen in that colour, one was pre-production with white wheels, the other full production with normal silver/grey wheels.

The interior on one is multi-coloured, on the other a sort of caramel or sand from memory (both were years back).

Guy

[GuyR]

Oh and another reason to buy a 959 is that it will be worth more than £50k in 5 years time unlike a 997 Turbo...........

Guy

[flemke]

Carrera2 said:

DO you have anything else that we need to be made aware of? Zonda, konesiggggggg etc maybe?

Carrera,

I may have some other things.
I don't have any cars that have truly misconceived bits (such as Zonda back end or K'egg rear window).
I don't like cars that are stylised with junk, such as Veyron spun-aluminium console, or almost everything on the mind-bendingly ugly Spyker.
I don't care for girls' cars, although I admire women who have them and drive them well.
I prefer NA in sports cars.
I can't stand heavy cars.
I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?

Cheers.

[Marki]

flemke said:

I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?

Cheers.

So its mainly Pork then

[Ruxpin]

flemke said:

Carrera2 said:

DO you have anything else that we need to be made aware of? Zonda, konesiggggggg etc maybe?

Carrera,

I may have some other things.
I don't have any cars that have truly misconceived bits (such as Zonda back end or K'egg rear window).
I don't like cars that are stylised with junk, such as Veyron spun-aluminium console, or almost everything on the mind-bendingly ugly Spyker.
I don't care for girls' cars, although I admire women who have them and drive them well.
I prefer NA in sports cars.
I can't stand heavy cars.
I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?

Cheers.

A garage full of lotus's then....

[Carrera2]

flemke said:

Carrera2 said:

DO you have anything else that we need to be made aware of? Zonda, konesiggggggg etc maybe?

Carrera,

I may have some other things.
I don't have any cars that have truly misconceived bits (such as Zonda back end or K'egg rear window).
I don't like cars that are stylised with junk, such as Veyron spun-aluminium console, or almost everything on the mind-bendingly ugly Spyker.
I don't care for girls' cars, although I admire women who have them and drive them well.
I prefer NA in sports cars.
I can't stand heavy cars.
I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?

Cheers.

Characteristically enigmatic answer Thanks though, I enjoy little insights like this.

Could have sworn you had an F40 though....

[TIGA84]

flemke said:

Carrera2 said:

DO you have anything else that we need to be made aware of? Zonda, konesiggggggg etc maybe?

Carrera,

I may have some other things.
I don't have any cars that have truly misconceived bits (such as Zonda back end or K'egg rear window).
I don't like cars that are stylised with junk, such as Veyron spun-aluminium console, or almost everything on the mind-bendingly ugly Spyker.
I don't care for girls' cars, although I admire women who have them and drive them well.
I prefer NA in sports cars.
I can't stand heavy cars.
I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?




Cheers.

So a Ferrari 288 Evolution isn't really your cup of tea then?

Edited by TIGA84 on Thursday 5th October 16:16

edited because of my huge technical ineptitude.

Edited by TIGA84 on Thursday 5th October 16:19

[DJC]

I was thinking Pork and Lotus also I think Flemke has said he runs a 993tt as a daily driver at somepoint and has dabbled with Brit sports cars. Got to say the chap has taste, about time I found somebody else who wasnt in love with bloody Zondas, godawful looking pieces of junk.

[RubenRocket]

Money can't always buy taste, but imho there's nothing wrong with your criteria Flemke, I think I can do the math

I'd love a 959 in black, but it's still quite heavy, isn't it?

Cheers, Ruben

[jeremyc]

flemke said:

I may have some other things.
I don't have any cars that have truly misconceived bits (such as Zonda back end or K'egg rear window).
I don't like cars that are stylised with junk, such as Veyron spun-aluminium console, or almost everything on the mind-bendingly ugly Spyker.
I don't care for girls' cars, although I admire women who have them and drive them well.
I prefer NA in sports cars.
I can't stand heavy cars.
I don't have any Italian cars, because of my aversion to dishonesty.

Does that narrow it down enough?

Smells like Caterham to me ....

Excellent and most commendable rationale.

[flemke]

RubenRocket said:

I'd love a 959 in black, but it's still quite heavy, isn't it?

It is heavy at the back.
You feel that weight moving around back there all the time.

As I've said before, it's really a GT meant for the Autobahn.
I drove mine there recently. Traffic conditions didn't allow me to go faster than 150 or so, but at those speeds it was quite stable despite the bumpy road surface and need to be on and off the throttle to accomodate rush-hour traffic.

[flemke]

Ruxpin said:

A garage full of lotus's then....

Funny thing is, I don't think that I've ever driven one. Ought to get around to it, shouldn't I?

[Dr S]

flemke said:

I prefer NA in sports cars.

How does that fit with a 959 biturbo then...

[flemke]

Carrera2 said:

Could have sworn you had an F40 though....

Nope.
The driving position is too perverse, and the thing is a bit OTT in general.
Have thought about a normal 288 (not Evoluzione), and the 599 drives beautifully if you can tolerate its Ferrari-ness.

[flemke]

Dr S said:

flemke said:

I prefer NA in sports cars.

How does that fit with a 959 biturbo then...

Because it's not a sports car, I'd say.
Because of its unique place in P. history, even if the 959 were a sports car, one might make an exception.
As one would with a 917/30, 936, and 956.

In a recent interview, Walter Rohrl said that, amongst the Porsches that he had owned, the 959 was his favourite.