996 slow?

I am so surprised to read people complaining how slow 996 is compared to other cars. Some even suggests that since 996 is underpowered that only TT is worth it. I was going to pick up 05 STi which will definitely smoke 996 big time but after testdriving 996, I realized there is something that is very unique about 911. I can't quite describe what it is but I sure like the way it drives. I just hope that people dont buy 996 hoping they can outrun other cars in 0-60. Then you will be disappointed. Evo (sub $30K) can smoke 996 any time. I bought a 996 because it is 996.I just had to have it at least once. Well, what do i know about Porsche.. It is 2:30AM PST and I should go to bed. Good night all. -

I agree. For years I thought the Porsche was overpriced for the performance you got. However, unless you race for a living how a car feels, and makes you feel, is more important than whether it is the fastest vehicle on public roads. Once I focused on the Porsche's overall package instead of road test performance numbers, its price was no longer a big issue. Alan

Don't know what you guys are talking about? www.track-challenge.com 996 vs. Impreza GT turbo: http://www.track-challenge.com/compa...ar1=19&Car2=13 996 vs. Evo7: http://www.track-challenge.com/compa...ar1=19&Car2=55

I've seen a Carrera three cars length ahead of a EVO8 on 2 seperate runs.

In America, "performance" on public roads is frequently measured by how fast a car accelerates from a standing stop when the light turns green. While the Porsche is acceptably fast at 5.0 seconds to 60 mph, many cheaper cars do it in less time. If informal drag racing is what you are looking for, the Porsche isn't the best value. I believe there is much more to a car than 0-60 times but many people think off the line acceleration is all that matters. Alan

Regardles of how fast the STi is, it's still just a Subie... Which is cool if you want to hang out with kids in the parking lot at the local high school Plus as an added bonus, you get a giant wing on the back that looks like it was stolen from a cesna and you can have discussions about which Hawaiin Punch can on the back is the loudest.

a stock evo will not outrun a 996 above 100 mph...ask me how i know a zo6 'vette on the other hand will run and hide from a 996 and pull a substantial lead at the track. i love my car because i'm a better driver for it, it demands much more concentration when approaching the limit...something i value, since i'm all about self-imptrovement.

While 0-60 times might be fun to compare in magazines and out on Westheimer in front of Sonic at 2am to save face with your buds, competitive driving involves countless other factors. Don't spill the milkshake, please. I am humbled at the track by superior drivers in "lesser" automobiles. Have you ever had a spec-Miata breathing down your back through all the curvies? Hahaha... you guys know who you are! Sure, in the straights I can hammer it and pull away, but the driver makes all the difference. Almost anyone can drive straight ahead fast... almost. Porsche is about heritage, research, and development. In the 996, they offer multiple models to please individuals with endless preferences. The 996 in stock form is a terrific performer at the track... and then you can drive home in it. Want to go really fast? Rip out the seats, carpet, sound insulation, get some lightweight wheels with race rubber, throw on a race suspension and roll cage and you'll have a really fast car with the SAME DRIVER. Want to go fast and save bucks? Better look somewhere else... Some folks own P-cars for status, while others race 'em. Some do both. That's the beauty of it all. Porsche is about oh so much more than 0-60 times. And YES, the Z-06 is a very fast car with a good driver! Cheers!

The original poster put it well. A 911 is not just raw HP. It's the whole package that has lasted for over 40 years. That following will continue, I'm sure, regardless of the raw HP race. I, for one, think that the car has plenty of power. I argue that the ones who argue for HP, for HP sake, do not understand the 911 concept and they never will. 911... simply there's no substitute!

Try redoing the comparison with the 2002 model!! Those extra ponies sure make a difference.

uh I still haven't been beat by either an evo or an sti and have had my share of them. I have a 99 which will do 4.8 0-60 all day stock. The whole trick is the 1st gear launch because the gearing is so low. If you don't get it out of the hole right then forget about it due to the lack of torque. In the canyons forget about it.

If your 99 can do a 0-60 in 4.8secs , what can a 02 do? Besides, who wants to drive an EVO?!?

People better double check your test results. Yes the WRX STI will be even or maybe be a tenth faster than a 996. Its NOT FASTER. if your were talking about a Z06 then this arguement will be valid. Then we will go back to which would you rather buy. In fact my brother owns a Z06 its fast and a great car, but I still feel my 996 drives better.

I must be missing something, the new EVO is 271hp and weighs 3,300lbs (Source: http://www.mitsubishicars.com/lancer...ion/index.html ). it might be close 0-60 due to it's gearing (low top speed 152mph - source www.track-challenge.com ); any longer run and the 996 kills it. I do agree with the other comments, I like the Evo and the STi but they are not my choice. The best all around sports car out there is the 996 imo... Roy

I don't want to sound mystical here, but there is something about the 996, no wait, any 911 that can't be measured. I'm on my second 996 and I've owned the slowest of the bunch a C4 and a C4S Cabriolet and they just beg to be driven. I've owned and driven so many other sports cars and they all have something really nice about them - this includes several Ferraris - but nothing does it for me COMPLETELY like the 911. I know Porsche makes other cars besides the 911, but who cares Rob

I disagree about the Evo and STi "smoking" a 996. My dad has an Evo, and when it was stock it wasn't in the same league as my '00 996. Most of the Evo and STi's claimed 0-60 times are exaggerated, because they're based on basically sidestepping the clutch from near red line, which helps a lot with AWD. Most people won't ever drive their own car like that. Now that he's spent several thousand dollars on it, the Evo is very impressive, and it is faster than my stock 996. But you can't compare stock to modified. One magazine I read (I think it was Autoweek) said that other cars are faster, or cheaper, or more comfortable, etc., than the 996, but no other car does everything as well, and that was why they labeled the 996 "the world's best car".

Motortrend tested an evo @ 4.6 seconds to 60 and 13.08 seconds in the quarter mile... every other test I've seen on the internet states a 5.5-5.8 0-60 and 14 sec quarter mile... hmmm also the mototrend test showd 0-100mph in 12.54 seconds... okay, so say the 0-60 is really 5.5 sec... that adds a full second to the 0-100mph at 13.54... 996 is much fast than this to 100 mph... I can do 4.6 in my 1999 996 (measured with g-tech) it's all in the launch... also... in gear acceleration is much faster in the 996 due to it's 2 wheel drive powertrain vs. 4-wheel drive... by the way... you keep launching an evo like that and you'll be replacing clutches quite frequently!!! another magazine (speed) compared the EVO to a dirt bike and the EVO's clutch was fried by the end of the race... hmmm on highway... 996 destroys the EVO... I think the EVO is the BEST MARKETED (... ) car out of JAPAN!!! great value with no refinement whatsoever... Japanese magazine have also been known to lie about their results... as for the motortrend #'s I bet that's shady as well.... Look for the new EVO RalliArt to be realeased... 300HP and 300 LB-FT, extra gear as well.... it also sheds 300 lbs!!! this car will be fast www.track-challenge.com settles the argument but you got to be impressed with the new RalliArt (I mean on a value basis!!!)

I love Porsches too ( my 02X50 is my fifth), but if somebody blindfolded you, put you in an Evo and told you it was a C4, you'd say, "Gee, they improved the steering". If the $ don't matter, you get the Porsche. If they do, then the EVO. The EVO is much more a drivers' car than the STI. The STI has major understeer, while the EVO can be drifted by a novice. The EVO positively lures you to drive faster and faster. Unfortunately, both look dog-ugly to me. If the EVO looked like a Porsche, a 350Z, or a Corvette, Porsche would struggle to sell another coupe. If the girl who was best in the bedroom looked like a dog, you'd have a hard time convincing yourself to get married. That's the EVO's problem to guys who like Porsches. If you haven't driven one, forget the numbers and try it. By the seat of your pants, the C4 isn't faster, at least at speeds you can reach on the street. At the track, I believe the Porsche would be significantly faster, every time you could get over 80. Just my opinion, but I'd be interested in anybody else's who has driven both enthusiastically. AS

Alexander, I have a younger cousing who can't stop raving about the EVO... i will be making a trip out there soon to drive it... your right about the looks of the EVO... hopefully the RalliArt will look better with a more upscale interior... the WRX STI has a great interior but the understeer does suck... Mitsu needs to build a good looking shell.... but some people really like the Rally Look!! and it is getting more popular... also from what I hear of the Mitsu... the ride will punish you to death cause it has race car setup... but for performance the RalliArt is claiming 4.3 0-60 and 12.9 in the 1/4 with some serious handling to boot... this is STOCK..... of course you will spend $500 on chip and be doing the 1/4 in 12.5... I think it's great that competition creates a better value for the consumer.... I bet a lot of car companies are pissed at Mitsu for creating the RalliArt...

It's not fair to compare the "new" Corvette against the "old" Porsche Z06 VS. 997 would be more appropriate don't you think?

Last night, my wife and I were coming home from dinner in I95. While we were traveling in the middle lane doing somewhere around 70 mph, a black Evo 8 came up next to me and wanted to "go". Although I never do this, I was curious about this car's acceleration claims after reading this post the other day. I made sure there was nobody around or in front of me (it was late)....downshifted into 4th gear and let it rip. The Evo 8 driver did the exact same thing at the same time. We accelerated together without pulling each other from around 70 mph to 90 mph and after that, it was all over. I pulled him pretty hard above 100 mph. Afterwards, he came up again and gave me a "what can I do" gesture with his arms and shoulders and then a very complimentary thumbs-up Just as we slowed down to about 70 again, we tried it again and this time it was a little more lop-sidded from the start. I got up to about 90 mph and then hit the brakes because my exit was approaching. Again, he gave me the thumbs-up This confirms to me that the Evo 8, although a very respectable car, is not as fast as a stock 996. Personally, I do not care for the 0-60 tests or the stop-light test because they are not real world tests to me! But then again, that is just my humble opinion....

Subaru is coming out with a WRX STI WR1 - 315 HP and better ride and handling... 60 in 4.25... this is to answer the EVO RalliArt... this is sick... 4 second rice rockets... I thin the WR1 will be more of a driver's car... but hope they don't sacrifice daily comfort for race hardness....

I think Bluemaxx got it right. You'd need to be side by side to tell which is faster- and the biggest difference is above 80. I never launch very hard either, since I hate to destroy the driveline. My major point is that, if you are the driver, the EVO feels as fast as the C4 and actually turns in better. It is also easier to drift- not necessarily faster but definitely fun. I am obviously a Porsche nut, but everyone really should try an EVO just to see how enjoyable it is. I'd wait on the STI for any purpose except winter driving because the pronounced understeer is a funstopper. AS

Although I've never driven a C4, I can offer some comparisons of my dad's Evo to my 996 C2. Stock, the Evo isn't as fast as the P-car, but handles and stops real good. In terms of casual street driving, comfort, ride quality, and overall feel, the Porsche is head and shoulders better. I got to drive the Evo for one session at Laguna Seca, after it had a complete exhaust, cams, and an EXED (sp?) piggyback computer from Vishnu. After having these mods, the Evo was transformed into a rocket! On the track, the handling was excellent, stiffer than my car, which is great on the track. AWD makes the car confidence inspiring and super easy to drive. As nice as the Evo was on the track that day, it didn't end well. The car had what turned out to be two very minor problems, which resulted in it not being able to be driven home that day. When it did get back on the road, it developed a major noise soon after. This turned out to be a bad transfer case, which got replaced under warranty. This shows how hard it is to out do a 996. I don't know if the Evo's problems that day were a fluke, but I've learned from modifying things in the past, that it usually affects reliability. My car on the other hand, was the fastest bone stock car there that day, then provided me with a very pleasant, plush ride home. Are there any other cars that can do BOTH of those things? I know the Evo can't.

Blah blah blah ... all cars are compromises - money, acceleration, weight, cornering ... lots of them are fun, and one isn't necessarily "better" than another good one, just different ... blondes, brunettes, redheads ... now that turbo Subie Baja, that thing will do most anything ... and the new RX8 is a hoot ... I like the g35, too ... Miata's can be fun ... and Corvette's are pretty amazing ... but mine's not too bad either ...

Hey Hey Hey! I care!

if you really want a fast car, get american iron V8 V10 and supercharge it and ddd a few bottle of nitrous. if you to drive, then get a porsche. driving isn't about horsepower.

It's all good!

Bah. When I stomp the gas pedal in third gear getting on a highway, and the other cars disappear instantly as I quickly head from 50 to 100 MPH, my C4S feels plenty fast

Hmmm... '93 PS 968? SWEEEEEET!!!

i hope porsche really bumps up HP & TQ of future 911s, so that 911s are known as beasts not boulevard cruising status symbols.. there's something wrong w/ family 4 dr German sedans like MB E55 or BMW M5 blowing doors off the world's most famous sports car!!

dakar34 summed up my thoughts perfectly.

I don't think most Porsche owners care about drag racing an EVO or STi. The issue isn't about ownership either as we bought a Porsche for very different reasons. The issue is most manufactures are constantly increasing hp every model with a slight increase in price.. C5 vette stock 350hp, new C6 vette 400hp(non Z06) 01 Cobra 320hp, 03 Cobra 390 hp 04 STi 300hp, etc... Porsche doesn't brag about hp as there is more to the car than just numbers. However I have been on the track with these cars and can outrun the EVO but the STi isn't that easy to pass on the straights and that's a little frustrating, trust me. Maybe I can get him in the turns but with a good driver it's not that easy. That's the problem, if I spend 60-80k on a quality car I want to have a superior car in all regards when compared to 30k cars. Sure there is the TT but for 100k it better be faster.

Johnie, Don't worry, your car IS superior to those others in all regards. Although they might be able to hold you up on the track, on the way home from the track you'll get the last laugh. That's because you'll be enjoying the comfort of a Porsche, while they're bumping along in a stiff, loud, cheap little economy car. Example: my buddy has a '93 RX-7, with heavy mods. On the track, its equal, if not a hair faster than my stock 996. But he has to trailer the car to and from the track, not because its not street legal, but because its so loud, stiff, and just plain uncomfortable, that he can't stand it. Especially on a long, tired drive home after a track day.

DP, I agre with you 100%, I wouldn't sell the Porsche and get a 30k Subaru anyway. I can go to the track and then go home and go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and pull up and be treated like a Porsche owner. The Sub and Mits guys can't say that. From what I have seen most of those guys aren't the 18 year old kids that drive the Civics but the 25-40 year olds that can't afford the Porsche but want to brag about the 300hp and how there 'rally driving' the car on the track. I followed one for 15-20 minutes at Buttonwillow and watched them drift the car through the turns, looked impressive but not the fastest or safe. The guy pulled up next to me on the straight and laughed as we were side by side, I gave him the corner as I didn't want to make contact with him. Turns out next to last lap he made a banzai dive into the hairpin and passed a car, a vette followed him lost control and wiped out the Subaru, the Vette and another car during a HPDE event. I guess he didn't get the last laugh! Only point is most of use have plenty of power on the street, how fast can you go on the freeway anyway? On the track it would be nice to have that slight comfort zone of power for the extra $$ we pay. Maybe the 997 will have the extra hp now, I think the base model is around 345-350hp which will help. The funny thing is that the Turbo's are slower than my Carrera on that track. Sure they pull 2 cars lengths on the straight but lap times are slower due to the extra weight. The GT3 for sure is the way to go if you want to rule the track!!