First impressions of new 996!

This past weekend we took our ‘new’ 04 out for its first trip. I called my friend who has a ’78 or ’79 Turbo. It is in beautiful condition. He expected us to drive up in our ’89 slate grey Cabriolet and I pulled up in a Guards Red Cabriolet. I was ready for what came next. (good natured of course) My new car looks like a bar of soap. I gave up a real air cooled Porsche for a pretender water cooled Porsche. He gets to drive his car, my car drives me. He have a sports car, I have a touring car. I just kept saying ‘Yeah, I know’, then we got down to the trip. We drove up to Estes Park (Colorado). About a 75 mile round trip. Some nice twisty roads, and only a few flatlanders to plug up the road. I liked the ’89 911, but I think I will love the 996. I still am a bit slower than my friends turbo, but I think I made him work a little harder. The acceleration in this car just feels good! The engine noise is much quieter so that conversations did not have to cease when upshifting or downshifting at higher rpm’s. It still has a nice roar to it though! I found myself spending more time watching the scenery and less concentrating on the driving. You always have to stay focused in mountain driving - deer, elk, bicycles, blind driveways, - but somehow it was just not as much work with the 996. I guess the power steering was a part of that. I think cornering was easier in this car (except for the seat issue - see below). I did not see a night and day difference in the handling however. That may be because I didn’t push either car that hard. Overall it was just a fun trip and I can’t think of anything that makes me regret the switch. A few other random observations. The top is easier to deal with - no boot to put on after lowering the top. I did not realize that I was not putting the top down as much on the ’89 because of this. I have noticed that especially on short trips. The 996 top goes down a lot more. I don't mind the absence of the gas smell when you first get into the car. Maybe that is the essence of a Porsche, but I can live without it. There is one downside to this. It actually gave my 20 year old a headache everytime he rode in the '89. I guess it was a combination of the smell and the noise of the engine. He had no desire to use the '89' unlike the 996. My wife thought the seats in the '89 were nicer. They had better all around support. The '89 seats hugged her better when pushing around a corner, but she felt as if she was falling out of the 996 seats. I did not notice it as much, but the seats although comfortable, do not seem quite as 'secure'. (No money left to change out seats, so don’t suggest it!) I think I we would like the windscreen based on what I have read here. I don't have enough hair left to blow around, but my wife has to always wear a visor or hat. Maybe next spring. Gas tank is smaller ( '89 was 22 gallons I think), but that has no real practical issue so far. I don't have to invert the gas pump handle at a weird angle to keep the gas flowing like I did in the ’89. Two nights ago, some guy in a small car took off from the stop light and I followed. I am not sure what is was because it did not have any nameplates or writing on the car. I assume it was heavily customized. We were not dragging, just getting up to speed quicker than the cars behind us. I started a second after him and never did pass him, but he never got his rear bumper past my front bumper. What my son noticed was that his car would scream with shifting (turbo or supercharger?) and was shaking violently. The Porsche just purred. I liked that. Well, that is about it for first impressions. Time to go clean the house. (We all pay somehow or someway for our toys.) Mike

nice write up 20+ quarts? what is the real number....

Ed, I feel dumb. I removed the oil comment. I thought the dealer told me that there was 22 quarts of oil in the system. When he changed it out though, I think he only charged me for 9 or 10 quarts. A quick look showed no reference to the 22 quart figure, so I guess I misunderstood him and never checked on the facts. You taught me something tonight. Thanks! Mike

I really doubt that. Perhaps on a perfectly smooth road in a straight line. Or if your friend's name is Stefan. But for two average drivers one in a stock early 930 and one in a stock 996, a 996 will be faster almost every time in almost every situation. You're certainly right that Porsche sport seats have been going downhill ever since 1995, though. Coming to grips with that myself. The 996 is comfier, quieter, less communicative, lower effort, less raw and less sporty than a 911... and much faster everywhere with much higher real world limits.

I'm sure it's a big difference to have power steering, I also have driven manual steering before and it takes more effort and a split second longer to whip it around. One of my favorite exercises in mine is taking high speed curves --that I"m familiar with -- at high speeds. The car just gives that pure 911 feel, very planted yet so responsive. Have you noticed that BMW drivers are especially jealous? They'll race you at any opportunity. Nice write-up -- enjoy!

Quotes source post: 6699037

+1 for that !! with my new suspension and tires its even more amazing, I used to be able to oversteer it around a couple on ramps, man I am going way faster and its just saying... "is that all you got" to me.... I dont know how much faster it will take them, but ... I am happy with it right where it is the tires have really started to grip and I cant wait to bomb thru some cones

Congrats on the 996 purchase. Glad you like it.

Great write-up. The car should serve you as faithfully as your old one did. My car is 9 years old and still rides like a excited puppy. Mind you, watch out for the mod bug.

I drove mine for the first time on the 4th.. Holy crap. I think I did close to 100 in 3rd going down a empty street.. I laughed like I was the joker. Maybe the best care ever made.

Mike, you should have let your friend take the wheel for a while... I wonder if his comments would have changed!! FYI, the 996 has a 16 gallon tank - which is only a bummer when at the track and your friends are driving and you're finding a gas station. Congrats - and happy driving! (Did I miss pictures of your new car? Goes for you, too, 909punk.)

909, had the same experience pulling onto the highway on my test drive. Merged, looked down, saw 3 digits, and began apologizing profusely to my passenger...