Hi New Turbo Owner
Discussion
Excellent choice of car.
Depending what car you are coming from you should find the turbo an absolute hoot. As for handling you'll need a fair period of adjustment to get used to how chuckable these 4WD PSM porsches really are.
My car has been absolutely reliable apart from a few rattles nothing to worry about. One or two other owners of earlier turbos have had a problem with "porous block", which is a known oil leak problem which porsche normally sort it out FOC, although cars are normally off the road for a few weeks. Some cars do use a lot of oil, so this alone shouldn't be taken as in indication of a porous block problem.
Running costs for my car car be found in my profile. Cheapest insurance I've found is with [url]www.liverpoolvictoria.com , who I am now with (I think you need to be over 30 though).
Have a great weekend.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 9th July 12:38
Depending what car you are coming from you should find the turbo an absolute hoot. As for handling you'll need a fair period of adjustment to get used to how chuckable these 4WD PSM porsches really are.
My car has been absolutely reliable apart from a few rattles nothing to worry about. One or two other owners of earlier turbos have had a problem with "porous block", which is a known oil leak problem which porsche normally sort it out FOC, although cars are normally off the road for a few weeks. Some cars do use a lot of oil, so this alone shouldn't be taken as in indication of a porous block problem.
Running costs for my car car be found in my profile. Cheapest insurance I've found is with [url]www.liverpoolvictoria.com , who I am now with (I think you need to be over 30 though).
Have a great weekend.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 9th July 12:38
Congratulations and snap too !
My black 996TT is Tiptronic and performance in all 5 of the gears is sensational. Effortless cruising, overtaking and huge cornering speeds (entry and exit) make this the best mainstream car on the road. Wet road performance is about 90% of dry which is great for the UK too.
Mechanical reliability has been good. I have had some annoying rattles from Speaker units. Suspension wise small bumps made a hard knock when driven over at low speed. So I have had all 4 drop links and axel links (£600) total replaced and the car is like new again. My Sat Nav CD reader unit is intermittently working I am currently pressing a warrantee claim. Porsche are giving me the run around though. Expect to top up with 1 litre of oil every 1,500 miles or so – varies car to car.
I advise keeping the traction control on until confidence grows – it only cuts in when you are really silly! I run mine with about 3 PSI more than recommended on all 4 tyres and it really sharpens the turn in, though bad road surfaces become more draining. I only use Shell Optimax – worth the pennies extra in my opinion. Watch the low front spoiler, I have scraped mine a few times but they are quite tough. You will be impressed with the economy (if you care about such things) 30+ mpg at steady 75-80 mph is normal but driving it that slow is hard :-)
Basically you will squeal like a piggy when you really stretch its legs. If you are feeling brave (and can find a track / road that allows it) you have to max it out speed wise. The full 186 / 189 mph is an amazing rush and the car feels like a Mondeo at 100 when it does it – solid as a rock.
Best of all hope you have fun and stay safe they really are rocket ships !
>> Edited by cyrus1971 on Friday 9th July 12:47
>> Edited by cyrus1971 on Friday 9th July 12:49
My black 996TT is Tiptronic and performance in all 5 of the gears is sensational. Effortless cruising, overtaking and huge cornering speeds (entry and exit) make this the best mainstream car on the road. Wet road performance is about 90% of dry which is great for the UK too.
Mechanical reliability has been good. I have had some annoying rattles from Speaker units. Suspension wise small bumps made a hard knock when driven over at low speed. So I have had all 4 drop links and axel links (£600) total replaced and the car is like new again. My Sat Nav CD reader unit is intermittently working I am currently pressing a warrantee claim. Porsche are giving me the run around though. Expect to top up with 1 litre of oil every 1,500 miles or so – varies car to car.
I advise keeping the traction control on until confidence grows – it only cuts in when you are really silly! I run mine with about 3 PSI more than recommended on all 4 tyres and it really sharpens the turn in, though bad road surfaces become more draining. I only use Shell Optimax – worth the pennies extra in my opinion. Watch the low front spoiler, I have scraped mine a few times but they are quite tough. You will be impressed with the economy (if you care about such things) 30+ mpg at steady 75-80 mph is normal but driving it that slow is hard :-)
Basically you will squeal like a piggy when you really stretch its legs. If you are feeling brave (and can find a track / road that allows it) you have to max it out speed wise. The full 186 / 189 mph is an amazing rush and the car feels like a Mondeo at 100 when it does it – solid as a rock.
Best of all hope you have fun and stay safe they really are rocket ships !
>> Edited by cyrus1971 on Friday 9th July 12:47
>> Edited by cyrus1971 on Friday 9th July 12:49
dazren said:
One or two other owners of earlier turbos have had a problem with "porous block", which is a known oil leak problem which porsche normally sort it out FOC
Interesting they still have this sort of problem. Early 928 S4 production was plagued with porous block issues and a great many engined were replaced back then.
And thanks again for your advice...I've come from a 4.5 Cerbera (for 4 years) to a Corsa (for a year) (yes I know Corsa dont ask) to a Porsche so as you can guess I cant wait to get behind the wheels again. By the way I know that its a 4WD car but when it goes is there any warning and when it does go which end goes first...
Philo
Philo
Welcome to the fast lane. I've had mine since Feb and haven't had anything too much to worry about apart from dealing with your local OPC.
In terms of driving on the edge you really will need a brave pill to get to the limits in the first place. Traction and control is stunning compared to most other cars. The first indication you're nearing the limit is the feel and sounds of the PSM systems whirring away. Anyone who knows what happens after this is a real hero IMO.
Take it steady till you have a few miles under your belt.
Steve, 996TT
In terms of driving on the edge you really will need a brave pill to get to the limits in the first place. Traction and control is stunning compared to most other cars. The first indication you're nearing the limit is the feel and sounds of the PSM systems whirring away. Anyone who knows what happens after this is a real hero IMO.
Take it steady till you have a few miles under your belt.
Steve, 996TT
Welcome to the world of the 996TT, I've had mine for a year & a half now, still love it. Don't forget to post the full spec. You will find the beast ballistic on the straights, into corners , out of corners wet or dry. You will not BELIVE how fast this car is point to point !!! Don't forget to use full flat the floor in second gear as much as possible, fair ground ride here we come !
Welcome to the converted.
Agree with what the guys have said.
A few things I'd add:
Make sure the oil is fully warm before you thrash it (takes about 6 mins driving normally).
So it's not a short love affair, make sure you set the computer to warn you how fast you are going - a peep at 100 helps me (a bit). This car is a licence eater.
I see you're from TVRs - so you'll probably know how to drive fast without dying - you may also immediately turn off the PSM. Thing is, in all weathers the X50 is *fairground ride* fast point to point - because of the chassis, the size of the boots, the 4X4 and the 'oh so clever' PSM.
Unlike other crippling traction ctrl systems, the Porker lets the back end ease out without cutting in (unless you're really going bonkers). So you should consider leaving it on until you are really *really* comfortable with the car. Then I suggest you take it onto a track or airfield and turn it off. At this point order a set of new back tyres (!).... and decide whether you really want to leave it off when next on a public road. (Round here with lots of single track roads, there's very little margin for error)
IMHO (purists look away now) it's an absolutely astonishing bit of safety equipment that one is hardly aware of - until that time that it finally does cut in... when it probably saves your life, as you'll probably be going twice as fast as you should.
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 9th July 14:41
Agree with what the guys have said.
A few things I'd add:
Make sure the oil is fully warm before you thrash it (takes about 6 mins driving normally).
So it's not a short love affair, make sure you set the computer to warn you how fast you are going - a peep at 100 helps me (a bit). This car is a licence eater.
I see you're from TVRs - so you'll probably know how to drive fast without dying - you may also immediately turn off the PSM. Thing is, in all weathers the X50 is *fairground ride* fast point to point - because of the chassis, the size of the boots, the 4X4 and the 'oh so clever' PSM.
Unlike other crippling traction ctrl systems, the Porker lets the back end ease out without cutting in (unless you're really going bonkers). So you should consider leaving it on until you are really *really* comfortable with the car. Then I suggest you take it onto a track or airfield and turn it off. At this point order a set of new back tyres (!).... and decide whether you really want to leave it off when next on a public road. (Round here with lots of single track roads, there's very little margin for error)
IMHO (purists look away now) it's an absolutely astonishing bit of safety equipment that one is hardly aware of - until that time that it finally does cut in... when it probably saves your life, as you'll probably be going twice as fast as you should.
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 9th July 14:41
Break away does come but it is not a snap point, more of a drifty judder as the PSM cuts in. I took mine to Brands Hatch (Indy circuit) with traction on and off. Among a group of many Elises, supped up Cosys, boosted VX220, F360, Ultimas, Griff 5.0L – you can get way from them all on the straight and further away on the curve.
When the car did break it was progressive & predictable (but brief) at about 60% rear for every 40% front – eventually you will spin but you really have to drive like a cupid stunt to do this. The great strength is the brakes. A car that brakes as well as it goes is rare and you have just bought one. Using this is as much fun as the acceleration and scares passengers a lot more ! Front end ABS cuts a lot of the time and quite annoyingly. Not much to do about this though.
When the car did break it was progressive & predictable (but brief) at about 60% rear for every 40% front – eventually you will spin but you really have to drive like a cupid stunt to do this. The great strength is the brakes. A car that brakes as well as it goes is rare and you have just bought one. Using this is as much fun as the acceleration and scares passengers a lot more ! Front end ABS cuts a lot of the time and quite annoyingly. Not much to do about this though.
dazren said:
Cheapest insurance I've found is with [url]www.liverpoolvictoria.com , who I am now with (I think you need to be over 30 though.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 9th July 12:38
Just checked these out Daz,you just saved me £250.
I owe you a drink or two
Cheers Rob
Finally got the car on Saturday and what can I say but WOW now I know what all the fuss is about. Strange for the past couple of years I've been reading EVO and have got very pissed off with the Porkers always winning Top Car in every event, well now I know why. They are everything and more that I have ever read, to be honest I don’t know why its taken me so long to experience them...
Well this is what I've tasted so far in just a few days of driving the 996 TT X50.
BRAKES = at first I thought they were a little weak for the pace of the car as the bite is very low in the travel, but I've discovered that its meant to be like that as you can use them for scrubbing off speed as well as stopping
and they can take a heavy foot without locking up.
They do the job perfectly.
SPEED = First gear is a bit jerky or maybe its me as I've not driven a sports car for a while but in first I'm still learning how to pull away smoothly.
Second gear is FU£K SHIY OH NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WHAT HAPPEING TO ME... this truly is the 12th dimension when you have to think about the past to remember sounds or colour and if your brave enough to snatch 3rd the acceleration is constant as in the faster you go the faster you go no flat spots just up and off like your being fired from a shot gun down a cylinder (the roads ahead really do
Get narrow quickly at those speeds.
I still cant believe the way it goes lets just say that its a better car than I'm a driver
GEARBOX = Well lets just say going through the gears is like taking off a 17 year olds cotton white panties, each shift is a pleasure nice and slick (not like the cerbera) when sometimes I was afraid to change up or down because it just simply wouldn't go in. In this I change up or down for fun of it and with all the torque I can pull away from 6nd gear at 20mph and floor it and reach 190 plus if I so wanted to (so far I've done XXX due to the M25 being busy)
ERGONOMICS = Not really important to me to be honest it's enough to have a good stereo but lets just say this has got all the toys
Rain sensitive wipers
Heated seats
Cruise Control
Blah
Blah
Blah
The list goes on you get the drift
HANDLING = its weird it doesn't feel like a 4 wheel drive car it feels like a rear wheel drive car but with very good handling I haven't switched off traction control yet but all I can say is that I had a moment when I was gunning it on the M1 and was about to join the M62 up near Leeds but I was boxed in
by these two moroons suddenly I saw a gap (not very large) but it meant me going over the white chevrons that divides the both motorways I just nailed it and the car stuck to the floor skipped over the chevrons and the cat eyes and squeezed through a gap a few feet across all traveling at 60mph plus (did I say it was raining as well) absolutely amazing... You can drive 90% in the rain.
When going round corners it feels like the wheels are made of balls as you get the feeling your going sideways as well as around them a truly breath taking experience...
Well that’s all for know I'm going to have to brush my teeth as when I drive I cant stop grinning....
Philo
>> Edited by r2plo on Monday 12th July 13:12
Well this is what I've tasted so far in just a few days of driving the 996 TT X50.
BRAKES = at first I thought they were a little weak for the pace of the car as the bite is very low in the travel, but I've discovered that its meant to be like that as you can use them for scrubbing off speed as well as stopping
and they can take a heavy foot without locking up.
They do the job perfectly.
SPEED = First gear is a bit jerky or maybe its me as I've not driven a sports car for a while but in first I'm still learning how to pull away smoothly.
Second gear is FU£K SHIY OH NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WHAT HAPPEING TO ME... this truly is the 12th dimension when you have to think about the past to remember sounds or colour and if your brave enough to snatch 3rd the acceleration is constant as in the faster you go the faster you go no flat spots just up and off like your being fired from a shot gun down a cylinder (the roads ahead really do
Get narrow quickly at those speeds.
I still cant believe the way it goes lets just say that its a better car than I'm a driver
GEARBOX = Well lets just say going through the gears is like taking off a 17 year olds cotton white panties, each shift is a pleasure nice and slick (not like the cerbera) when sometimes I was afraid to change up or down because it just simply wouldn't go in. In this I change up or down for fun of it and with all the torque I can pull away from 6nd gear at 20mph and floor it and reach 190 plus if I so wanted to (so far I've done XXX due to the M25 being busy)
ERGONOMICS = Not really important to me to be honest it's enough to have a good stereo but lets just say this has got all the toys
Rain sensitive wipers
Heated seats
Cruise Control
Blah
Blah
Blah
The list goes on you get the drift
HANDLING = its weird it doesn't feel like a 4 wheel drive car it feels like a rear wheel drive car but with very good handling I haven't switched off traction control yet but all I can say is that I had a moment when I was gunning it on the M1 and was about to join the M62 up near Leeds but I was boxed in
by these two moroons suddenly I saw a gap (not very large) but it meant me going over the white chevrons that divides the both motorways I just nailed it and the car stuck to the floor skipped over the chevrons and the cat eyes and squeezed through a gap a few feet across all traveling at 60mph plus (did I say it was raining as well) absolutely amazing... You can drive 90% in the rain.
When going round corners it feels like the wheels are made of balls as you get the feeling your going sideways as well as around them a truly breath taking experience...
Well that’s all for know I'm going to have to brush my teeth as when I drive I cant stop grinning....
Philo
>> Edited by r2plo on Monday 12th July 13:12
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