Darth Vader
 

Woodhouse sent out a post card a couple of weeks ago advertising their White Saturday get together. It's the Sat after Thanksgiving and they will have cars, trinkets, finger food and drinks available. I signed several of my family members up.

They also said they were doing extended test drives and you could sign up to drive a 2012 Porsche. Whoa! That sounded interesting! I gave them a call and asked if I could reserve a 911. I spoke to Brian and he said they had a 911 C4 that I could use. Cool.

Fast forward to today and I contacted Brian to see what the details were. He said I could pick it up anytime and keep it for 48 hrs. The car they reserved for me was "in negotiations" so I wouldn't be able to use it. He rattled off several alternative 911s that he had available (no twin turbos, darn!) but he did mention one that got my attn: amongst the C2s and Cabs he said he had a GTS. I said that one sounded like fun. I didn't know they made a 911 GTS and have no idea where it falls in the 911 pecking order. Brian said it was a Cab with PDK. Works for me. I would pick it up later today (Wed) and keep it through late Fri.

Sitting out front was this menacing triple black 911 with black Spyder wheels. We did a little paper work and went through a few instructions and off I went. I stopped by work to show a few people and got quite a few comments from other people leaving work. My friends were asking me what it cost and I said I'd guess $90K. We opened the trunk and there was the window sticker - $131,800!!! :eek: Are you kidding me?

It's AWD and 408HP with Nav, heated Alcantara sport seats, sport chrono, Bose and PDK. And only 28 mi. I really like the sport seats. Still not a fan of PDK (I had a PDK Panamera as a loaner this summer). On it's own, it will lumber along and get more athletic when you step up your game. And I'm not used to the paddle shifting yet. Will do some practicing tomorrow when the roads aren't so full of people. Vader feels a bit heavy but it will set you back in your seat when you hit the go pedal.

I stopped by a friends house to take him for a quick drive. Afterwards we were looking Vader over and he said if he didn't know what they cost, he'd pick my Boxster and Cayman over the 911. I think so too. And my 987s are more practical with 2 trunks. But the acceleration is intoxicating. It feels sophisticated to the 987's simple.

I'll post more pics tomorrow, if I can stop driving it.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2l2u6b.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/1zyts3.jpg

Wow! A 911 for 48 hrs! I have a friend who had a Ferreri 430. I drove it and told him the experience was great since I don't have to make the payments. Free cars are the best, huh!

Have fun!

The whole idea of the 997 GTS is to get the 4S wide body in 2 wheel drive config... why did they make the 4 GTS? Squeeze more sales out of the 997 platform I suppose.

Drive it and drive it hard! :-)

Looks like a lot of fun, husker! It must be nice having a three Porsche garage, even temporarily.

The GTS is designed to fill a gap between the S model Porsches and the Turbo models. They have them for the 911, Cayenne & Panamera. More HP and other goodies.

Enjoy and looking forward to seeing more pictures.

ddb

Are those center lock wheels I see ?

Wow! Very nice.

I drove a 997 Turbo a few weeks ago and its surprising how different the 911 and Boxster's feel.

center lock wheels = B-A-D
they turn a very simple thing (changing your wheels) into a 30 minute exercise of German engineering (read the instructions, it's mind-blowing)

Yes, those are center lock caps.

I did some testing of the PDK this morning. Started by using the stick shift and getting good with it and then worked up to the paddle shifters. It's takes some getting used to but it's not so bad.

I'm going to enjoy it but not drive it like I stole it. The motor is still in break in period and I want to respect the next owner of this fine automobile. Sorry if that disappoints anyone.

Here's more eye candy.


http://i40.tinypic.com/zxogfl.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/21o0epd.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/mjmpgk.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/5nj2u0.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/sawthu.jpg

I know what you mean about the acceleration. Taking onramps in my buddy's PDK C4S is seriously giggle inducing. Absolutely pushes you into the seat.

Kinda like the roller coasters that take off using magnetic force.

The whole clan

http://i39.tinypic.com/55gzux.jpg

It's nice but it's not a Boxster. They don't handle, ride or run the same. I prefer the Box to the 911 any day.

did you say this one's a 2012? if so, what do you think of the top? supposedly they're solid with a fabric "cover" to keep the same lines as the hardtop...

Tony,

The 2012 911's that are available now are still 997's. I don't think the new 991's with the trick new tops will be available in the US until early in the new year.

ddb

It says steal me...
 

to a would be thief. I prefer my 2001 Boxster base so if it got stolen it could be readily replaced. Or Ferris Bueller's valet would sure take that one for a ride. Or if you had that kind of $ to own one, you would not care. I have driven a 2003 C4 911 tiptronic and it still is not as much fun as my Boxster. Each one to their own. :cheers::dance:

good point - i blame turkey induced dimentia.

Put that Darth Puppy in Sport Plus and let it rip...you love PDK then...I PROMISE you!...oh wait it has 28miles on the speedo...never mind.

I have and still don't care for it.

local dealer has a C4GTS in black/orange. mean looking SOB...

What is it with the US and the silly model year thing? How can this be a "2012" car. It's sitting there in your driveway in 2011. Porsche probably isn't even going to manufacture any 997 cabs in 2012.

Why bother? What's the advantage of calling this car a "2012" car?

It probably started with a battle between US manufacturers to get their models out first. So if Ford released in January, GM would do it in December to beat them to the new model year. Eventually, it settled out to roughtly September-October when models for the next year are available.