Hey Guys,
Well, I posted a while back saying I was a former BMW guy, (3 BMW's) who got lucky and 'stole' an 06 C2S 6 speed blk/blk (pristine! 7k mi with 3.5 yrs warranty!) ...wanting one for at least a year... but could not afford it until... it became affordable because of the recession. I wrote a post a month or so ago about how it feels to drive a Carrera S after a BMW 5 series. (03 540, a superlative, beyond-capable vehicle in every way, but... like a great body without a soul compared to a C2S, as I will try to describe...) Well... a BMW and a C2S are completely different vehicles. I said in my last post that I used to 'throw' my car into turns--and in my 540's, that was all you had to do--just throw the car, steer hard against a turn, and hold on. If you were steady, the BMW was like glue. Okay, so then I got the C2S. I said that when I first drove it, I was humbled. The Carrera let me know that I could not just throw it around 'mindlessly'. The Carrera let me know that I would have to learn how to drive it. Yet at the same time, as I said in my last post, it was explosively clear, here was the greatest stick I had ever driven... man, what pleasure, what connection, in this gearbox. Every time I drive this car... I am at aloss to say how amazing this gearbox is. How the sound and the power of the engine lifts all my senses. But at the same time, it is like, 'be patient Luke Skywalker--you must learn to use the Force.' Little by little, I have gone to to the limits of my ability, in the two-three months I've owned the C2S 6 speed. In the BMW, I was an instant 'master', yet I had to master 'nothing.' It was all I knew. Little by little, because I am cautious by nature, I have crept up on the limits of my confidence with this Porsche... I still have not used the Chrono--still too fast for me--after 3 months! But I have, little by little, started to discover what this car feels like. For instance: I hold the wheel lighter than I used to--giving a certain leeway to the car, for jiggle, for bumps, for whatever--I do not strangle the wheel, because this car is 'alive' and I have learned to be really 'in tune' with every bump under these tires. You really become the car's ears and eyes and hands. You listen to the car. You steer with a 6th sense for the car's soul... there is without question a soul in this car... and there is without question a man-made feel to this machine that nothing previous has ever conveyed. You have to respect it first. Then, little by little, learn it's PERSON-ality. It is man-made and it drives man made. This is a car that has a person in its metal. So I went up and down Sepulveda Blvd in LA tonight--not such a crazy-challenging road... but a fun one... I pushed myself and the machine to my own limits of confidence--and these are my layman observations... I do not hold tight to the wheel in this machine... I am highly acute and sensitive to the car's movements... I feel the car, I listen to the car. And the car feels me. It is an evolving relationship. I go faster and turn harder little by little and it is vastly rewarding. I am still becoming accustomed to the 'floaty' front end, but I loooooooove it. I love the mystery of the car. It moves me. Tonight I pushed myself and the machine just a little more past my limits of confidence... feeling the machine. How god%^mn cool is LIFE!? It feels to me like, you do not have to steer all that much to get where you're going... it's about being highly alert, feeling the road and the machine... little by little, grooving with the machine. It is not instant Mastery in this car. But I say, what could be more rewarding than to feel and drive this car? It's thrilling and it's humbling at the same time, for me. I push the car and myself, 5-10 mph more each long drive, being really sensitive to the road and the machine... really listening and learning... and if it isn't obvious... I LOVE THIS CAR, and I would never go back. Still a newbie... saying hello to the community. Yes. there is no substitute!!!

 

Nice post, very descriptive!

 

So no regrets huh!

Glad that you are enjoying your car.

 

Sweet! I love driving Sepulveda Blvd also... (north of Sunset, that is!)

 

I suggest DE sessions.

 

<gulp>

 

Signing up for a track event will really teach you how to drive any car. It's all about smoothness and letting your eyes lead your way to the corner prior to even getting there.

I also have M3s, but going from BMW to Porsche, I didn't have to learn to drive a Porsche based on my driving experiences on the track. The porsche is more engaging, more emotional, since it's more connected to the road. Everything is so tight in the Porsche. I like being in a video game if you ever get to drive the car spiritly. Now, I love the feel with the engine in the back - I can feel that suspension working it magic. I do make sure that I don't do too much trailing braking though. I think the M3s are DVD and the Porsches are Blu-Ray

 

@ author of thread: have you ever considered writing books? I'm sure you will make tons of money out of it

Thanks for the nice description. I used to have 3 beemers before and couldn't agree any more. Basically the steering and feel of the Porker, as well as the unity with its driver is close to none. I got the same kind of feeling with my daily drive Golf MK5 GTI: it's like with gloves - the more you wear them the better they fit

 

I had a little tequila when I got home... and I am a writer. Do not drink and type! then again, Hemmingway did okay doing that...

I guess all I was saying was, for me, it's a big adjustment, but a fun as hell adjustment. I had the back slip out from me on one of my first really fast drives, in a turn... and so i am pretty cautious... but it's AWESOME! I will take some DE sesh's...

But the 911S is not an entirely intuitive car to drive, do you agree--you have to learn the car, yes? Isn't that why people say 'you never know what it will do?' in the coolest sense...?



Thanks guys.

 

Ah, That make sense DJS. For a minute there I thought it was Anton Chekhov driving the C2S. Seriously, you have a very engaging writing style and I understand your emotions and relate. I agree with adias... DE... you will love it.

 

uhhhh.... it does have the weight bias in the rear and if you just throw it around like a untrained driver ... then you will see what mother nature will do for you.

The 911 rewards a good driver.

 

I remember your post and am very happy to hear that you are enjoying the car . Great read .

 

The next step is definitely DE! I think it will be a blast. Definitely true that if you throw the car around like an untrained driver, you will get zapped fast.
That was my point: I could throw the BMW around like an untrained driver--and I'm not saying I'd ever want that BMW back if I had to give up the C2S to do it. But BMW's--the top ones--are pretty forgiving, and kind of like auto-pilot in a way... The Porsche demands respect. Okay, DE is next...

 

I myself also am coming from an E39 Bimmer...a 2003 530i Sport (manual) to be exact.

In fact I still have her...but now the C4S kicked her out of the prime garage spot, lol

 

I couldn't agree more with the OP words....do I miss my 08 ///M5.....uh no!!! ....well except the trunk for my golf clubs!