1997 996 beats 2008 boxster rs60 ...

... round fifth gear's test track ... brilliant

missed that. was it a blue 996?

Silver, and it's the competition prize this week...

... no, silver of course ... silver is the new blue (see Richard for details)

Yes I watched it too, just shows how good the 996 is, 10 years older , 11 bhp less and still faster.

Blue 996 would have been even faster! Ask Zeb...

But the engine's in totally the wrong place!![ ]

Something very strange about that track show down because not only was the 3.4 996 quicker around the track but the Boxster had ceramic brakes for later braking and PASM for extra firm suspension / grip and it still lost out!! When I got my first Boxster in early 1997 I had the good luck to meet the head of Porsche design at Goodwwood Festival of Speed and during our conversation he asked if I had standard suspension or sport set up ... I said standard and he said wise decision as the sport set up is way way to firm for daily road use and even on the track the standard set up could embarass the faster 996 through the twisty bits!! Fast forward 11 years to the very latest and equally powerful RS60 Boxster and what did we all see last night [ ] Maybe VBH wasn't trying quite as hard as she could have done

You're just biased ;-)

I'd take that 'result' with a pinch of salt.[ ]

lets watch it again just to see that old carrera whoop that boxsters ass lol http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?mnk=410&id=264&description=Porsche+Boxster+v+Porsche+911+Carrera

Yes did wonder at result then realised A. - Which car won? B. - Which car is being given a way as prize? Now there's a coincidence

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?mnk=410&id=264&description=Porsche+Boxster+v+Porsche+911+Carrera Watch this and make it 2 pinches for me please

Watch this and make it 2 pinches for me please [/quote] BOO! Loud jeers!! Off with his head! 996 and a can of whoop ass to go please!

Guys Might be missing something here but if 996 was intoduced 1998 how can it be a 1997 car? Was it introduced late 97 as 98 model year?

Yep

Of course, as has been widely agreed on other forums this was fixed so they didn't have to give away a new Boxster. More power, mid engined and PCCBs and it was slower? Even I as a 997 owner couldn't buy that one! Maybe the lap speeds showed the pace of the driver not the cars?

Oh dear, I'm not sure I can stomach yet another Porsche conspiracy theory!! The only conspiracy theory around here is that anyone actually watches fifth gear. I for one would have been impressed if the 996 were a second slower given it was a well run in 11 year old car and the Boxster had PASM, PCCB's and the engine in the right place (alllegedly). I don't see why it has to be such an unexpected surprise that they were so close. Both cars are similar power and weight, and people seem to forget - the 996 is a very capable sportscar so why shouldn't it give as good as it gets compared with the Boxster? I'll be the first person to agree that it isn't really a particularly testing comparison - over 44 seconds with the cars being so close you can't conclude any is categorically better or faster than the other. Also over such a short distance it isn't really playing into the hands of the PCCB and with it being a smooth track the PASM isn't really being given the opportunity to provide a significant advantage. I think a much longer run - maybe 5 laps of the track, would have been a much more indicative comparison. I've seen a few '97 996's about on all the usual website classified. Must have been a very late intoduction in '97 so not many around.

I think the reason lost was because VB doesn't know how to drive the Boxster. On short twisty tracks the 911 has an advantage as the rear biased weight aids quick snatchy turns. VB's agressive driving is suited to this. I think Tiff would have done a better job with the Boxster. Also VB turned off the PSM - obviously to indulge in this "power sliding " etc style handling - the Boxster is one of the most difficult cars to power slide due to its balance - it is a more precise driving machine. I once read that the Boxster did not have limited slip differential fitted as it would out do the 996. Saying that I would still like that 996 on the show !

Shame, as 5th Gear was a bit more towards accuracy over entertainment; guess the Top Gear formula of maximum entertainment, maximum surprise is becoming the more preferred choice for mass market motoring shows...

true true...... and blue is the new black which was the new silver but isnt the new white........[ ]

or something [8|] sorry you couldn't make it on Wednesday night. Fred's quiz was excellent as ever. If our team had listened to Sue then we would have won but obviously I knew best so we didn't...