I'll say if you have never driven a 911, you should! They are an interesting contrast to the Boxster. And as long as you're at it, drive both an air cooled AND a water cooled 911. Then drive a front engined car like a 944 or 928. You'll be amazed at the differences and the similarities.

I just remember seeing many 911 switch ends at a track and it seems like 911 drivers really need to pay extra attention to the weight in the rear and car balance more so perhaps than a Boxster. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T3bWx94TOQ

I suppose having extra (too much?) power available and applying it at the wrong time is an issue for many newer drivers.

Looks like a little mistake can become a big one fast in a 911.

I suppose for experienced drivers that's not an issue and figure some day I may give it a try as well.

If anyone who hasn't driven a 911 is in the Cincinnati area, feel free to hit me up and we can stretch the legs. Just a NB 996 MKI

http://i59.tinypic.com/2dhteep.jpg

With nearly $100K invested in Porsches in my garage, I could have a 911 instead. Not my cup of tea.

2 yrs ago Woodhouse let me do an extended test drive with a 911 GTS that was AWD. This was the first 911 I'd ever driven. It felt clumsy until you stepped on it. Then it felt athletic. But definitely didn't ring my bell.

Back in Sep Woodhouse had an open house and if you test drove a car, they'd sign you up for a chance to win a race pkg at Barber. My friendly salesperson had a nice 991 S waiting for me. This one was a 6 spd (the GTS was PDK). The 991 was fun to drive (including the auto blip shift downshifts). Then he hit me with the sales pitch - ya know, if you traded in both your Porsches, you wouldn't be too far off on this one. Nice try, but my pair of Porsches fits my needs better than one 991. BTW... the salesperson covets my Cayman. ;) I'm not ready to let her (yes, her, as in Sydney) go for a long time. She's too much fun.

I started out with the intention of buying a Carrera just before the 997 came out. I drove every 996 variant but the GT's. Believe it or not, the ones that had the power "kick" felt bloated or more suitable for winter (I came very close to buying a guards red C4S from AZ after I bought the 986S).
Then I drove my current 986S. A yellow 996 was supposed to be on my next stop, a private seller nearby asking only $10K more than the Boxster S.
I did not make it out to see that 996... The whole time after I test drove the Boxster I kept saying to myself "its nuts to spend more this has everything you need".

The funny thing is that back then air-cooled Carreras where pretty common for sale at pretty much give away prices. I wanted a white 911 or 964 with tartan seats but was too busy having fun in the BoxsterS. I'm not sure that I'll ever be a garage queen kind of driver. I like to get my money's worth out of what I buy. If I had an Aventador and garage full of cash (legally) I'd drive that thing everywhere too. Although parking it would be a hassle...

I own a 74 911 so the horsepower is not lacking in comparison to the boxster. I love the simplicity of an air cooled engine and the cool factor. The comforts of the boxster make it a great daily driver with the ability to drive with some fun when conditions allow. I was invited to the Porsche world road show tour to take a few laps in brand new Caymans, Carreras, Panameras and Cayennes. I held a big grudge against Porsche for making the Panamera until I drove it. Now I would buy one if I could stomach 60K for a used one. The only challenged vehicle that Porsche presently makes is the diesel Cayenne.

I say HP challenged because I've not driven anything with more HP besides a truck. The S Box has plenty of power for my needs, but it would be fun to feel an equivalent year or newer 911.

^ in a straight line you definitely feel the difference even a base 996 over a 986S.
But it feels heavy and when you turn it more so. If you drive a C4 its understeer is in your face the whole time.

But then there are the GT's. The 996 GT3 is maybe the last raw, viscerally type of no-nonsense car that Porsche made. If you choose to drive one Carrera for the first time, pick that one. All GT3's since then, while still monumentally more fun that the regular Carreras do not have that 'beast mode' feel to them. The 996 GT3 is the best Porsche bargain in the water-cooled era and I think it will hold up well on resale now that its automatic GT3's from 2013 forward. But the 996 GT3 is definitely not a year-round car. In fact, with an improper alignment it feels (and probably is) downright dangerous in any kind of wet. One minute you're speeding along, a nano second later .... oh crap.

So yeah... no real middle ground there if you lean toward mid-engine and want to try a Carrera.
You'd have to go older (964) and those aren't workhorse cars anymore.

I got the chance to drive a 993 S from a random stranger before. Pucker factor when the rear slides around a bit, especially when it's someone else's car!

OK. What does a 4 mean?

I understand S.

Any 'turbo' is a TT?

Carerra means base?

Cabriolet is convert it seems...

GT's have a larger engine?

I went back to the dealer where I purchased my Boxster and test drove a stock 911 of the same year (2001). I was really dying to drive to drive one and since I already purchased one Porsche there I knew I could get in and out with little problem or hassle. I was not blown away but I have note I've always driven manuals and the 911 was an automatic.

All wheel drive.

I traded a 987 for a 997.2 then back to the 981. Sometimes I miss the 987.2, but then again I also miss the 987.

I bought a 1970 911E in the mid 80's for $4000. Drove it for about 8 years before I sold it for a song. Today it would be worth, well, a lot more than I got for it back then. Wish I still had it. Not to sell, but to drive. It was a kick. Nothing sounds like that air-cooled flat six in full scream. And, in my opinion, those early 911s just had style. They look great in a way the later 911's just don't. Back then, they were the poor-man's Porsche. If you had money, you bought one of the newer 911s. When I sold mine, one guy answered my ad. One. He bought it.

The thing is, these Boxsters outperform it in just about every way. Particularly inside the cabin. Ever drive with a cabin full of smoke from oil dripping on a heat exchanger? I have.

Driven plenty of water cooled 911s and beside the extra straight line speed I do not covet them. One exception is the 996 GT3. It is the only truly visceral modern 911 that I lust after. Pretty much any air cooled 911 is desirable IMO.

Tell me you wouldn't love to be driving this: my 1972 Porsche 911T - YouTube

I'd rather be driving that old 911 over a Boxster or water-cooled 911.

While I commented previously that I really enjoy driving my Boxster, and I certainly do, the 911s which are quite different to drive than a Boxster, are great to drive as well. I have driven an assortment of 911s and have enjoyed them all, some for different reasons than others. For example, the 996 GT3 is a very raw car, not difficult to set up properly and it handles wonderfully. By stark contrast the 997 turbo is softer, feels heavier, but is incredibly fast, particularly with a good tune and exhaust. I first drove a 996 C2S when they were new, and it too was a blast.

Porsche = great cars, great fun, each model with its own capabilities and benefits. I would happily take any model to drive and enjoy.

2004 carrera 4 cabriolet was my first Porsche driven. Never had driven a car with steering gas and brakes so tight and crisp. Never got to really beat on the 911 cause it wasn't mine but I see a lot of similarities with the boxster only that the 911 was a bit tighter. Definitely got that lust for the ignition on the left side though.