Well, I was home this past weekend so I had to take my father's new 996 Twin Turbo out for a test drive. After having my S for about 6 months I wanted to see how the two stacked up to eachother (even though I could buy 4 S's for the cost and the cars are really not similar in any aspect). At any rate, one thing about the Porsche, it is wickedly, scary, snap your neck fast. I made the mistake on an onramp of punching it to get past a car and while a huge smile erupted at just .2 Bar of boost (and I nearly had to clean the crap out of my pants) what was not cool at all was the cop who zoomed up right behind me. It turns out 80 mph in a 35 is not cool to Houston police officers...lucky for me he had no radar so he just played the drive behind me and scare me shitless game. Not that I drive that way all the time, so no flaming please, but it only take about 1 second to get from 25-80 in this car. On the downside, the stick felt like I was shifting a Jeep, the throws are so long compared to the S. Reverse is in a retarded position in my opinion, and the car has so much power that if you boost at all while turning I get a terrible feeling of instability. I know the car is probably perfectly stable, but I really like the S's handling better. Anyways, I highly recommend the drive if any of you get the chance. It unfortunately makes our car seem like a Ford Taurus acceleration wise, but hey for four times the cost, it better.

Nix

 

wow cool write up. that's awesome that you got to drive the car. the porsche twin turbo is one of my dad's as well as my dream cars. i plan on getting one for my him in the future after i'm done with school.

 

I test drove a naturally aspirated 993 and like you nixlimited was afraid to get on it in the corners. The salesman told me not to worry as the suspension was improved for the 993 series to reduce oversteer but I was still hesitant, I can only imagine how I would feel driving a TT. I have said it before and will say it again out of all the cars I have driven the 911 feels like perfection.
Did you notice any turbo lag in the tt or is it right there? I would love to test drive one but haven't yet as it would just be a tease as I can't afford one. Hope you and your dad enjoy it and be careful!

 

Robb-

There is minimal turbo lag, especially if you are running it in aggressive gears. When you punch it there is a slight bit, but the engine makes a bunch of torque on its own so you never feel slow. The turbos kick so hard that it feels like you are dragging the rear bumper on the ground. It is amazing, but I think it would really take me a while to get used to the power.

Nix

 

993 is definitely more fun, but definitely harder to drive.

 

Did you say that the speed limit on the onramp was 35? Is there normally speed limits on freeway onramps?

 

I know a guy who has an '02 911 twin turbo. He modified it with a chip and exhaust or something and claims about 500hp to the wheels. He took me for a ride in it. The thing sounded crazy. Anyway, the thing was so freaking fast. Then he stepped the brakes, and damn, nice brakes they were. I thought my S was pretty fast. I thought wrong. Man I want one.

 

Saab9-3

It was an onramp to a street from another street which goes over it. If you know houston well, it was the Shepherd to Memorial onramp. Both shepherd and Memorial are speed limited to 35 (at least in the direction I was headed).

Project -
You are right, the breaks are awesome, but I will take the shifter and clutch feel from our car any day.

Nix