996 Turbo vs Boxster

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by der Geist

Call me an idiot but I like the Boxster more. The turbo is a great car but seems to lack the personal connection if you will that the Boxster has.

I have heard this before - but is this a 911 thing or a 996 thing? Although a distant memory, I remember my old '74 911 Targa being a more enjoyable driver than my Boxster. Did the 996 just get so far from the original concept that it isn't as much fun anymore? Are the 997s better in this regard?

[ohioboxster]

Marty,
Im not trying to put you on front street but a twin turbo is within reach for the both of us. Lets quit playing around and put this deal to bed.

[blinkwatt]

Speaking of how low Twin Turbo prices are....

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/car/306949316.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/car/306083191.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/car/305250881.html

[Perfectlap]

no I don't think its a 911 thing, but definitely a 996 thing. I've listened to some very experienced club racers tell me that all of the new Porsches feel very disconnected when compared to the air cooled flavors.

as for 911TT, at these prices (sooo low) if you are going to go 911 go with the real deal. good luck with the insurance and at the pump!

[Bavarian Motorist]

I know my opinion is virtually meaningless, but being a novice at autocrossing, I tend to over-drive my Box...and that is an understatement.

Every turn I take feels like the car is going to lose control or spin out and it is constantly regaining control.



I have never been able to spin the car out or have it completely lose control even at those limits.


It is truly amazing how it always regains control.



Of course, it can be fun sometimes to break the tail loose around a corner

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

I have heard this before - but is this a 911 thing or a 996 thing? Although a distant memory, I remember my old '74 911 Targa being a more enjoyable driver than my Boxster. Did the 996 just get so far from the original concept that it isn't as much fun anymore? Are the 997s better in this regard?

Yes, the old 911s were much more fun to drive. It's all about communication and the old cars were talking to you all the time through everything you touched. They were great drivers cars. Not to mention they were about 800 pounds lighter than they are now. The new cars are great, fast machines, but they've lost alot of the driver connection.

Keep in mind that from the doors forward, the 986 and the 996 are exactly the same car. When someone says they are completely different cars, that's not really true.

[z12358]

At the DE last weekend, there was a 996TT (03' I think) chipped and modded to 520hp and 500+lb torque. A few times I would catch him in the technical section and be behind him on the main straight where he would gun it ("braaaaap") and move away from me a bit, then I'll be on his rear bumper after the first curve. I'd always pass him after that. We spoke between runs, and he told me that if he was careful with the trottle he could make it through the day on TWO tanks of gas, whereas my Box had at least 150 miles of driving left on the SINGLE tank after a full track day. He said, he could reach 140mph on the main straight if he so desired (but would probably need THREE tanks if he did it all the time) -- I never reached more than 110mph there.

If I was going to get a 996, a TT or a GT3 would be the only way to go. They have the bullett-proof engine block inherited from the air-cooled ones. But I can't see how a 996TT (and even a GT3) would replace what my Box offers -- the perfect combination of maximal fun both on and off the track.

Z.

Interesting, I know a guy in Virginia who has a black 996TT modded to +500hp who says he gets 28 mpg in daily driving...

[z12358]

Originally Posted by boxsterz

Interesting, I know a guy in Virginia who has a black 996TT modded to +500hp who says he gets 28 mpg in daily driving...

The guy said it was totally dependent on his driving. He had all that power on tap but if he didn't dip into it at all, the mileage would be decent. And on the track, it's hard not to dip into it, hence the track mileage. Still, 28mpg would be quite a stretch.
Z.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I'd want the turbo cabriolet. I don't know if I could ever have my favorite/fun car not have an open top

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by boxsterz

Interesting, I know a guy in Virginia who has a black 996TT modded to +500hp who says he gets 28 mpg in daily driving...

Based on my experience, this is a joke.

However, if he were fired out of a canon and was going with the wind, downhill, in neutral, perhaps.

Sorry, this defies logic.

[Perfectlap]

LOL

I have NEVER averaged 28 mpg in my lowly 3.2!!!!!
and that's with lightweight wheels, weekly checking of tire pressure, lighter seats and being the only passenger 80% of the time.
I short shift 90% of the time as well..wonder if that helps or hurts.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

Keep in mind that from the doors forward, the 986 and the 996 are exactly the same car. When someone says they are completely different cars, that's not really true.

well I would say that a Playboy Playmate that was being impersonated by a transvetite may look the same from the waist up but are still COMPTELELY different.

Engine placement really does make a car completely different no matter what's going on up front.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

well I would say that a Playboy Playmate that was being impersonated by a transvetite may look the same from the waist up but are still COMPTELELY different.

Engine placement really does make a car completely different no matter what's going on up front.

I disagree. They're not completely different.

Sorry my memory wasn't what it used to be. He said 24mpg averaging 65mph in 6th. Also it's 600hp.

[Grizzly]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I disagree. They're not completely different.

I hope you're talking about the car, not the Playmate.