Comparing my 996 to other cars I have driven.

This last week I have been driving the same road twice a day...in pouring rain and in sunshine...night and day The road curves and dips and climbs...and then unwinds in arrow like straights. Running up and down the gears, feeding the throttle as the turn unwinds...everything about driving this car keeps impressing me. I know that it is mired in mechanical issues and plunging values but as a driver I think this car is going to be a classic. Not necessarily "rare" or even "collectible" but none the less a classic driver because it does its job so damn well. Cars I have driven that have the same standout quality include a Jag XK150 drophead coupe, a Facel Vega HK500, a Maserati A6G 2000, a Mercedes 300 SL, a Ferrari 348 Series Speciale, a 1966 Corvette Stingray Coupe...each of these cars had their own way of dancing with the road, each required a very different hand from the driver. Looking at my 996 I see "keeper" status...and maybe it is the last of the analog 911s , at least the view is like that from the driver's seat. Buttons have replaced toggle switches but the feel is all mechanical. Even the animated oil level gauge is not offensive compared to the touch screen video game displays on so many cars today. Even in stop and go city traffic I'd rather be in this car than something easy and automatic. The whole car smacks of quality...even the headlights have grown on me. Tomorrow I have the pleasure of giving it a good wash and polish...and then another long drive. I'd love to read the impressions of other 996 owners.

I bought my 996 to replace a 2013 BMW k1600GTL motorcycle. Before I was married I spent my free time riding as far in one direction as I dared to make it home before I had to go back to work. I average about 15k a year on a bike and I am a wuss and don't ride if its cold. My new wife was not having as much fun as me doing 700 mile days on back of a motorcycle. So we sold the bike and bought a 2003 c2 cab. The cab was to bring the experience more motorcycle like. My daily driver is a BMW 550I with the Mtech sport package and active suspension. Whenever I drive the Porsche I always compare it to the bimmer. The 550I has more horsepower, traction control and active suspension but is obviously heaver. It feels faster than the 996 but that may be the v8 torque. It feels more planted when cornering and exudes a sense of unflappability. It is more comfortable, rides better, has better seats, more room, better stereo. I honestly believe it to be a better car than my 996 . There is something about the 996 that begs me to drive it. Is it the sound? The rawness of the overall experience? The way it scares the **** out of me every time I do a spirited corner. I love driving the car and am not sure why. When I first got it I would of even said the 550I handles better than the 996 does, but now I have been driving it for 6 months (still not as a daily driver) I have noticed that my speedometer is showing higher speeds in the corners than it was when I first got it. It is still scarier than the 550I.

I've only driven a 996 once but I have to entirely agree with you. I always reference the "jinba ittai" philosophy that the Japanese talk about - the "one horse, one driver" philosophy. The cars that I've driven that fall in this category are: Porsche 996 Honda S2000 John Cooper Mini BMW Z8 D Type Jag recreation Ferrari 360

My decision to buy the 996 was driven almost entirely by the internet paranoia that was driving prices down. My ONLY regret was not waiting another six months - I could have saved another $5K - but I'm still delighted with the car. The reviews of the day indicated that our 911 was the best 911 ever. No amount of criticism about reliability or a couple of hinky interior surfaces can change the fact that the 996 is a great vehicle. The obscenely low prices those of us who bought used have paid only make the car better, not worse. My 986 Boxster was easier to drive hard in conditions that might not be ideal for the 996 - the difference being that the car's neutrality was often as responsible as you were for getting out of a dicey condition. The 996, on the other hand, demands more of you if you want to keep it out of a ditch. It's still a peach compared to older, tail-happier 911's, but I can't agree more that it's an awesome car. My mildly modified Corvette is faster in the straights, and thanks to some tweaking, it DOES in fact turn - but the feeling is like wielding a wrecking bar vs. the sharp blade that is the 996. I love the feedback from the 996, and I have always loved the feeling of having the motor behind me, shoving me along instead of dragging me like most cars. Nice post. I suggest we activate the exploding screen functionality for anyone who mars this thread with any three- or four-letter reliability-related acronyms.

Great thread! I've put on almost 3000 miles in 4ish months since I bought mine, so I have a relatively small sample size. There are many things that the 996 is good at, but there is something - intangible? - about it for me, at least so far. Driving it is addictive. Mine is not my DD, but I do drive it to work a couple times a week and all weekend. I'm not a track guy, but I do have a few routes where I can push it hard and all I can say is that I like the response (and feedback, as mentioned above). Lastly, when I pull it into the garage and hop out, I get an immediate smell of roasted Pirelli's, and I feel like a caveman who has discovered fire R

i'm coming from an 85 911 and while I really appreciate the provenance and lineage of that car, i really, really appreciate my 996 --I owned a 993 before the G body 911 and perhaps I was expecting too much, but the car did not appeal to me. The 996 still has decent steering, decent torque. Coupled with superior aerodynamics, it's so, so different from my 85 or 98 911s. It's more effortless, but still a driver's car. I could have spent more money to get a 997.1 or 997.2 and I suspect I would like those cars also. For reference, also own a 987.2 with the DFI engine and drove a 991 while I was searching for my 996. With those datapoints, I am quite happy in my 03C4S.

^^ the air cooled cars are very hard to have as a DD if you are in anything but a mediterranean climate like California.

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i drove the 85 every day, even through summer. It takes commitment.

I like the dynamics the rear engine brings to the Porsche driving experience. I also own a 987 Cayman which has ultimately superior handling than my 996, but that doesn't always make it more enjoyable to drive. The 996 is easier to drive and constantly surprises me with how capable it is dynamically. With the 996, the Porsche engineers were able to combine an easy-to-drive characteristic with superior handling dynamics. It is really a car that can be a perfect daily driver for the slog to work, and yet in an instant become a spirited driving machine.

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agree with this. the dynamics of the midship car are amazing. but i prefer the 996.

My 2001 996 C4 seal grey with black full leather interior which I owned from 2005 to 2013.. First off to provide some context..I've driven many earlier Porsches before buying this 996..there are a number of notable qualities people often overlook, which is the design and layout of the interior.. Wonderful ergonomics,... Soon after buying this car, I was urged to attend a DE event to understand the performance and handling of this wonderful car.. The car is visceral, with a wonderful free revving engine coupled with a concise and crisp transmission.. With a mix of track and street driving, I quickly feel in love with the car, also admitting this car was far more capable than my skills were.. I then proceeded to making incremental upgrades to keep in step with my personal skills improving. I changed the suspension to the complete x74 porsche sport suspension which transformed the cars handling, especially how the car rotates around corners,, soon after the mufflers died and replaced them with fabspeed units that enhanced the engine note.. Once again a big smile came to my face every time I started her up, and over 4k rpm the sounds was intoxicating... As I was continuing my driving skills I put in a tequipment half cage, and gt3 seats with harnesses... I put over 60,000 KM's in 7 years and sold the car for half of what I paid for it.. Not bad depreciation compared to other cars I've owned.. I did encounter in my second year a intermix engine failure, and bought a new factoring engine for $$$$$$$ The car had gradually become less street friendly, less ground clearance, very stiff suspension and louder exhaust with less comfortable seats.. As far as on track performance, the car was so well balanced, and glued to the pavement.. Went through lots if brakes, tires and gas.. I replaced my 996 with a 2010 GT3, which has been a dream of mine since being badly bitten by the track bug.. The 996 is still definitively underrated.. Even by many 996 owners who haven't really exploited this cars performance. Get out and push yourself