New owner, new 996 c2, new passion
#1
08-17-2010 | 03:49 PM
New owner, new 996 c2, new passion
Hello fellow motorheads,
Before I talk about my new (to me) porsche, I wanted to give you guys some background on myself so that you can see why I am so amazed at this car.
I'm a relatively young guy, 30 years old, but I have had the privilege and pleasure of owning some really great cars. I grew up loving mustangs, camaros, deep throaty V8s, and I was pounding the drums of V8 "no replacement for displacement" superiority (yes, I was *that* guy). I drove a 1995 camaro Z28 with the LT1 + 6speed, and modified it myself (intake, exhaust, headers, offroad pipes, camshaft, 1.6:1 ratio roller rockers, tuning, etc). Went through a few more f-bodies - but whatever f-body I bought, there was always some problem. Ignition, fuel, vacuum/exhaust, ugh. No f-body I owned ever ran right.
I snapped and bought a Toyota MR-S. I loved it. Well, it was cheap, and the motor was straight out of a corolla (sounded crappy, pulled crappy, revved slow, blew at 68k miles). I hated the 4 banger and the cheap rattling interior (coupled with the 4k rpm buzz @ 70mph), so I sold it and got another C5 Z06.
I was fine and happy with a V8 that actually handled well - that is, until I drove my friend's 1991 acura NSX. Big, big, big mistake. Sure, the C5Z out*performed* the NSX in every way, and it out*handled* the NSX in every category imaginable as well. However, in the feel department, it was worlds apart. My C5Z felt like a boat with a loose, giant steering wheel after drivnig the NSX. Yes, a really fast boat, but.. a large boat nonetheless.
Again, big mistake. The next 2 years had me pouring money into cars to find the right one, chasing that high the 91 NSX gave me. I did consider just buying a 91 NSX, but the age of the car did scare me a bit - but either way, my expensive search for a car that felt, and handled as sublimely as a manual-rack'ed NSX was on. I sold the C5Z for a honda s2000 (fantastic car btw), which egged me on to believing that smaller was better. I sold that a few months later for a 2005 lotus elise - hands down the most fun I've had on 4 wheels, but the thought of scraping my car on a driveway resulting in $12k of clamshell damage got to me eventually. And with my vanity plates of "LOLTUS", I popped up on reddit.com, and I suddenly felt very, very self conscious. I'm not really an extroverted guy. So, a few days later when I went to a PCA autocross up in santa rosa CA, and all pairs of eyes were on the lotus to watch it run and see how it did (lot of anxiety on me as I am a novice driver), I decided to sell the car.
Got another S2000, until I tried a C6 corvette. Ineed, in the 08+ models, they had improved feel vastly - the wheel gave feedback now, and felt somewhat sporty. The dimensions had been tucked in, fit and finish wa smuch improved - so I bought a C6.
Drove that for an year, then drove a friend's S2000 again (big mistake). Wasn't surprised by the gutless acceleration, but the first turn of the S2000's steering wheel was a HUGE slap in the face. It all came back to me in an instant - that flickable, tossable, instant-response steering.
So, here I sit, 3 years later, with a ****-eating grin plastered on my face. What happened? I got my 996 c2, that's what. I still have the C6, but I am planning to sell it in the coming weeks. I've had the 996 4 days now, and I cannot wait to drive it again. Haven't felt this way about a car since my first 1995 camaro z28. I haven't looked back at the V8 since - this H6 revs smoother, sounds way better (me 5 years ago would have balked at this), and the handling and responsiveness of the 911 is 2nd only to the lotus elise.
I can understand now why Porschephiles are the nuts they are. I love this 911. I do understand that this 996 C2 is the redheaded stepchild of the 911 family, and is good to just provide me with a taste of what the upper echelon 911s can do. Still, I feel alive again, as my passion for cars have been re-awakened! For a while, after I felt a bit let down by corvettes/S2000s/lotuses/etc, I found this 911. I was afraid I was growing too old to enjoy sports cars! I've never really liked the aesthetic design of the 911, nor did I think their interiors looked that great. I thought their motors sounded like souped up air cooled vw beetles, and that only old men who wanted status bought these cars.
I have never been happier to have been SO wrong.
Yes. I am hooked. Addicted. I haven't gotten a single iota of work done today - all I find myself doing is reading about porsches, looking at pictures, and waiting until that 6pm checkout time rolls by so I can get out and drive!!
Oh, and pictures. I'll stop rambling here, as I've apparently written a novel - apologies for the long read.
http://www.kertong.com/911/1.jpg
http://www.kertong.com/911/2.jpg
http://www.kertong.com/911/3.jpg
Before I talk about my new (to me) porsche, I wanted to give you guys some background on myself so that you can see why I am so amazed at this car.
I'm a relatively young guy, 30 years old, but I have had the privilege and pleasure of owning some really great cars. I grew up loving mustangs, camaros, deep throaty V8s, and I was pounding the drums of V8 "no replacement for displacement" superiority (yes, I was *that* guy). I drove a 1995 camaro Z28 with the LT1 + 6speed, and modified it myself (intake, exhaust, headers, offroad pipes, camshaft, 1.6:1 ratio roller rockers, tuning, etc). Went through a few more f-bodies - but whatever f-body I bought, there was always some problem. Ignition, fuel, vacuum/exhaust, ugh. No f-body I owned ever ran right.
I snapped and bought a Toyota MR-S. I loved it. Well, it was cheap, and the motor was straight out of a corolla (sounded crappy, pulled crappy, revved slow, blew at 68k miles). I hated the 4 banger and the cheap rattling interior (coupled with the 4k rpm buzz @ 70mph), so I sold it and got another C5 Z06.
I was fine and happy with a V8 that actually handled well - that is, until I drove my friend's 1991 acura NSX. Big, big, big mistake. Sure, the C5Z out*performed* the NSX in every way, and it out*handled* the NSX in every category imaginable as well. However, in the feel department, it was worlds apart. My C5Z felt like a boat with a loose, giant steering wheel after drivnig the NSX. Yes, a really fast boat, but.. a large boat nonetheless.
Again, big mistake. The next 2 years had me pouring money into cars to find the right one, chasing that high the 91 NSX gave me. I did consider just buying a 91 NSX, but the age of the car did scare me a bit - but either way, my expensive search for a car that felt, and handled as sublimely as a manual-rack'ed NSX was on. I sold the C5Z for a honda s2000 (fantastic car btw), which egged me on to believing that smaller was better. I sold that a few months later for a 2005 lotus elise - hands down the most fun I've had on 4 wheels, but the thought of scraping my car on a driveway resulting in $12k of clamshell damage got to me eventually. And with my vanity plates of "LOLTUS", I popped up on reddit.com, and I suddenly felt very, very self conscious. I'm not really an extroverted guy. So, a few days later when I went to a PCA autocross up in santa rosa CA, and all pairs of eyes were on the lotus to watch it run and see how it did (lot of anxiety on me as I am a novice driver), I decided to sell the car.
Got another S2000, until I tried a C6 corvette. Ineed, in the 08+ models, they had improved feel vastly - the wheel gave feedback now, and felt somewhat sporty. The dimensions had been tucked in, fit and finish wa smuch improved - so I bought a C6.
Drove that for an year, then drove a friend's S2000 again (big mistake). Wasn't surprised by the gutless acceleration, but the first turn of the S2000's steering wheel was a HUGE slap in the face. It all came back to me in an instant - that flickable, tossable, instant-response steering.
So, here I sit, 3 years later, with a ****-eating grin plastered on my face. What happened? I got my 996 c2, that's what. I still have the C6, but I am planning to sell it in the coming weeks. I've had the 996 4 days now, and I cannot wait to drive it again. Haven't felt this way about a car since my first 1995 camaro z28. I haven't looked back at the V8 since - this H6 revs smoother, sounds way better (me 5 years ago would have balked at this), and the handling and responsiveness of the 911 is 2nd only to the lotus elise.
I can understand now why Porschephiles are the nuts they are. I love this 911. I do understand that this 996 C2 is the redheaded stepchild of the 911 family, and is good to just provide me with a taste of what the upper echelon 911s can do. Still, I feel alive again, as my passion for cars have been re-awakened! For a while, after I felt a bit let down by corvettes/S2000s/lotuses/etc, I found this 911. I was afraid I was growing too old to enjoy sports cars! I've never really liked the aesthetic design of the 911, nor did I think their interiors looked that great. I thought their motors sounded like souped up air cooled vw beetles, and that only old men who wanted status bought these cars.
I have never been happier to have been SO wrong.
Yes. I am hooked. Addicted. I haven't gotten a single iota of work done today - all I find myself doing is reading about porsches, looking at pictures, and waiting until that 6pm checkout time rolls by so I can get out and drive!!
Oh, and pictures. I'll stop rambling here, as I've apparently written a novel - apologies for the long read.
http://www.kertong.com/911/1.jpg
http://www.kertong.com/911/2.jpg
http://www.kertong.com/911/3.jpg
Last edited by kertong; 08-17-2010 at 04:00 PM.
#3
08-17-2010 | 04:06 PM
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 89
From: california
Rep Power: 18
welcome
welcome and fun read. I've gone thru a few cars myself, and this so far is the most fun.
I'm from your neck of the woods too, and want to go to the track again...hooked on driving or trackmasters runs some good events too...
Nice C2!
I'm from your neck of the woods too, and want to go to the track again...hooked on driving or trackmasters runs some good events too...
Nice C2!
#5
08-17-2010 | 04:35 PM
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 785
From: NorCal
Rep Power: 56
Welcome aboard, as a fellow 996 C2 owner I have to warn you... do NOT test drive a Boxster S on Hwy 9 or Skyline!!! If you really like top down twisting turns driving you will not be happy after doing it in a Boxster S. 
LOL
But, the 996 is still a great car and I do miss mine from time to time.
David
LOLBut, the 996 is still a great car and I do miss mine from time to time.
David
#6
08-17-2010 | 04:52 PM
@fozzybear: thank you! It is a 1999
@davebho: i had a really good time at thunderhill last year, and was looking forward to taking this 996 up but were unsure of the rollbar/cabriolet rules. A PCA autox would be fun though, and I believe they let cabriolets run without any extra roll hoops/bracing/caging?
@reborn996: ugh - i really wish you hadn't told me that!
I was actually cross shopping a 00-02 boxster S, or the '99-'01 911. I chose the 911 because (well it was awesome on the test drive), and it had the rear seats I could use for our dog. But yes - I did have a hard time deciding between the two, and people who have driven both consistently swear that the boxster S is a much more fun and rewarding vehicle to drive. I'm sure some time down the road I'll buy an older boxster, especially if they drive as good as they say they do!
@davebho: i had a really good time at thunderhill last year, and was looking forward to taking this 996 up but were unsure of the rollbar/cabriolet rules. A PCA autox would be fun though, and I believe they let cabriolets run without any extra roll hoops/bracing/caging?
@reborn996: ugh - i really wish you hadn't told me that!
I was actually cross shopping a 00-02 boxster S, or the '99-'01 911. I chose the 911 because (well it was awesome on the test drive), and it had the rear seats I could use for our dog. But yes - I did have a hard time deciding between the two, and people who have driven both consistently swear that the boxster S is a much more fun and rewarding vehicle to drive. I'm sure some time down the road I'll buy an older boxster, especially if they drive as good as they say they do!
#7
08-17-2010 | 05:04 PM
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 157
From: Northern VA
Rep Power: 22
Despite $$$ repairs and maintenance, thats why I can't imagine parting with my 966 (accept for 997 or 966TT )
)
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#9
08-17-2010 | 06:35 PM
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 259
From: Tampa, FL
Rep Power: 25
Welcome to the club. Enjoy the renewed love of driving as long as it lasts! I got mine about 4 months ago, and drive it everyday. If the wife takes my car to work, or I miss a day of driving I literally JONES to drive the car. I can't wait to do a DE event....
The car looks great, but since no one else has said it yet, I will be the bad guy. Do yourself a favor and get rid of those horrible orange turn signals! http://www.suncoastparts.com/product...ry_Code=lights $50 + a few minutes to install!
Seriously though enjoy the car it is a beauty.
The car looks great, but since no one else has said it yet, I will be the bad guy. Do yourself a favor and get rid of those horrible orange turn signals! http://www.suncoastparts.com/product...ry_Code=lights $50 + a few minutes to install!
Seriously though enjoy the car it is a beauty.
#15
08-18-2010 | 05:29 AM
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 266
From: Ottawa Canada
Rep Power: 29