Quick spin in a 996
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From: Yorkshire
You're all right of course. I need a proper drive in a reasonable example.
It's almost a shame that my first experience in any sort of 911 was underwhelming as it's a car that has genuine interest there for me but more the older ones really.
I love what the chap from DR did with his green one; I also love the look of the car as opposed to the modern day 911's.
http://www.drivers-republic.com/dr_tv/inde...2d8&area=videos
I imagine in reality though that old 911's are money pits.
It's almost a shame that my first experience in any sort of 911 was underwhelming as it's a car that has genuine interest there for me but more the older ones really.
I love what the chap from DR did with his green one; I also love the look of the car as opposed to the modern day 911's.
http://www.drivers-republic.com/dr_tv/inde...2d8&area=videos
I imagine in reality though that old 911's are money pits.
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From: Bournemouth
Originally Posted by OldDogmeat,May 13 2009, 05:40 PM
Well; It's only a very short drive to the pub; maybe 3 miles, mostly along one straight road so I didnt get the chance to see what the car is capable of and thus I can't really comment on it from a handling or dynamics perspective as such except to say that it felt considerably softer than the S with more roll (I have Cusco ARBS on the S); In fact overall impression was one of being underwhelmed.
Obviously the car had more grunt than the S and a load more lower down poke but tbh that was the only thing that on first impression it had to offer over the S.
I was expecting it to be taught and to be really impressed with the design, feel etc but found myself finding fault almost as soon as I climbed in. Steering wheel was like it was off a ship; The throttle pedal was too far left and there appeared to be a footrest or something to the immediate right of it so I found half my foot catching on it.
I'm sure, given more time and some good roads I could have acclimatised and found some of its hidden strengths but as I say, first impression was that of unimpressed.
On the contrary; I parked next to my boss in the pub carpark and he was still sat in the S having a good look around the dash and interior; He eventually popped out with a great smile on his face and stated 'That was ace, it handles like a go-kart' (the only modification I have made from stock are the front and rear ARBS).
He went on to praise the engine and the gearbox at length and I could see that he genuinely enjoyed the brisk drive; by comparison I didnt really have much to throw back by way of 'first impression praise' for his car.
I'm sure the 996 Carrera2 is a good car but for that brief first drive I was very unimpressed which genuinely suprised me.
I appreciate that a quick blat in another car only tells you a small amount about that car but by comparison to my first encounter in an S this was so underwhelming.
Obviously the car had more grunt than the S and a load more lower down poke but tbh that was the only thing that on first impression it had to offer over the S.
I was expecting it to be taught and to be really impressed with the design, feel etc but found myself finding fault almost as soon as I climbed in. Steering wheel was like it was off a ship; The throttle pedal was too far left and there appeared to be a footrest or something to the immediate right of it so I found half my foot catching on it.
I'm sure, given more time and some good roads I could have acclimatised and found some of its hidden strengths but as I say, first impression was that of unimpressed.
On the contrary; I parked next to my boss in the pub carpark and he was still sat in the S having a good look around the dash and interior; He eventually popped out with a great smile on his face and stated 'That was ace, it handles like a go-kart' (the only modification I have made from stock are the front and rear ARBS).
He went on to praise the engine and the gearbox at length and I could see that he genuinely enjoyed the brisk drive; by comparison I didnt really have much to throw back by way of 'first impression praise' for his car.
I'm sure the 996 Carrera2 is a good car but for that brief first drive I was very unimpressed which genuinely suprised me.
I appreciate that a quick blat in another car only tells you a small amount about that car but by comparison to my first encounter in an S this was so underwhelming.
Two totally different cars though, both good in their own right.
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Originally Posted by JamieS2K,May 15 2009, 08:55 AM
The footrest is on the left not the right also.
I commented to the fella who was passengering and we both joked about why the hell you'd have a footrest that side
Admittedly I was wearing quite wide footwear that day (incorrect type of footwear for any kind of sporty driving really)When I parked it I was in a very tight space and didnt have the opportunity to get out and take a look at the footwell arrangement as I wanted to; Are 911 pedals offset to the left by any chance? and would it therefor have been the footwell wall interfering with the right side of my right hoof?
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The 911's driving position is worse than the Boxsters, which is odd.
It's not the pedals; I think the seat is higher and farther forward to create rear footroom. Your right leg is slightly bent and one catches the inner wheelarch as in a 106. Again, the Cayman's far better.
The ride thing is a 911 characteristic, especially after the S2000's light and almost suspensionless rear. There is an awkward pitching motion that feels like the rear 'sitting down' over ridges. All rear-engined vehicles do it and I find it nauseating.
Audis do it at the front (A8s are particularly funny to watch going down the road like an old Citroen) but it's less disturbing when it's the front.
It's not the pedals; I think the seat is higher and farther forward to create rear footroom. Your right leg is slightly bent and one catches the inner wheelarch as in a 106. Again, the Cayman's far better.
The ride thing is a 911 characteristic, especially after the S2000's light and almost suspensionless rear. There is an awkward pitching motion that feels like the rear 'sitting down' over ridges. All rear-engined vehicles do it and I find it nauseating.
Audis do it at the front (A8s are particularly funny to watch going down the road like an old Citroen) but it's less disturbing when it's the front.
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From: Survivalist enclave
you have to get hold of some cars by the scruff of the neck to enjoy them properly
my 348 was the epitomy of that (and doubtless one of the reasons why journos preferred the NSX)
I think the 911 is similar (the older the 911, the more the case)
even my M5 is like it - it can feel like a pig if I drive it casually, say after a couple of days of pootling about in the Omega
having said that, at over 90K miles, new shocks beckon
my 348 was the epitomy of that (and doubtless one of the reasons why journos preferred the NSX)
I think the 911 is similar (the older the 911, the more the case)
even my M5 is like it - it can feel like a pig if I drive it casually, say after a couple of days of pootling about in the Omega
having said that, at over 90K miles, new shocks beckon
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Indeed - ref. my earlier post.
Not having a lumpen great engine over its front axle, the 99x 911z drive very nicely at moderate speeds. It's their ordinariness that makes them very useable as an everyday car, yet still a very small, handy car to drive.
A lot of German cars have that SFW? characteristic at lower speeds, yet only when the squishiness is compressed, do they drive properly - Ms, Golf GTi, 911 etc.
The 348's far closer to the S2000; a FPIA POS, but a real adventure every time one uses it!
The NSX was a sort of prototype for the 996; before then, the 993 and the really crap ones were awful cars to sit in and everything else. With the 996, Porsche managed to keep the 9/10ths drive, yet brought the rest of the package up-to-date, which is why the hacks then preferred the 911.
But certainly, the NSXs ability to flatter its driver was often cited in test reports from the off!
Not having a lumpen great engine over its front axle, the 99x 911z drive very nicely at moderate speeds. It's their ordinariness that makes them very useable as an everyday car, yet still a very small, handy car to drive.
A lot of German cars have that SFW? characteristic at lower speeds, yet only when the squishiness is compressed, do they drive properly - Ms, Golf GTi, 911 etc.
The 348's far closer to the S2000; a FPIA POS, but a real adventure every time one uses it!
The NSX was a sort of prototype for the 996; before then, the 993 and the really crap ones were awful cars to sit in and everything else. With the 996, Porsche managed to keep the 9/10ths drive, yet brought the rest of the package up-to-date, which is why the hacks then preferred the 911.
But certainly, the NSXs ability to flatter its driver was often cited in test reports from the off!
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From: Bournemouth
Originally Posted by OldDogmeat,May 15 2009, 08:36 AM
Really, there was something on the right that was catching the outside of my right foot; ie, to the right of the throttle pedal; it may have been that the pedals were positioned more offset to the left than other cars I've driven (is this perhaps a Porsche thing?) and the thing catching the outside of my right foot was perhaps just the slope of the footwell.
I commented to the fella who was passengering and we both joked about why the hell you'd have a footrest that side Admittedly I was wearing quite wide footwear that day (incorrect type of footwear for any kind of sporty driving really)
When I parked it I was in a very tight space and didnt have the opportunity to get out and take a look at the footwell arrangement as I wanted to; Are 911 pedals offset to the left by any chance? and would it therefor have been the footwell wall interfering with the right side of my right hoof?
I commented to the fella who was passengering and we both joked about why the hell you'd have a footrest that side
Admittedly I was wearing quite wide footwear that day (incorrect type of footwear for any kind of sporty driving really)When I parked it I was in a very tight space and didnt have the opportunity to get out and take a look at the footwell arrangement as I wanted to; Are 911 pedals offset to the left by any chance? and would it therefor have been the footwell wall interfering with the right side of my right hoof?
I believe 993 and 964 models had offset pedals but mine are not offset, you sure it was a 996 you was driving ?
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I'm fairly sure it was a 996 Jamie; it has the wonky headlights like this one :-
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/785075.htm
Ie; not round (or oval) like the newer 997 or the older models
Just had a peruse using Google image search and found this
http://www.technical-dimensions.com/images...s/996pedals.jpg
There does in fact appear to be something slighly jutting from the right side of the footwell right next to the throttle pedal, just enough for the clumpers I was wearing at the time to catch on.
Edit: Errr, I think that maybe LHD
I'll search some more or take another look at the boss's car
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/785075.htm
Ie; not round (or oval) like the newer 997 or the older models
Just had a peruse using Google image search and found this
http://www.technical-dimensions.com/images...s/996pedals.jpg
There does in fact appear to be something slighly jutting from the right side of the footwell right next to the throttle pedal, just enough for the clumpers I was wearing at the time to catch on.
Edit: Errr, I think that maybe LHD
I'll search some more or take another look at the boss's car