ZOMG! Cancelled flight w/in 4 hours of take off FOR THE SECOND TIME. He's now had a heart attack... I've never been so tempted to buy a GT3, forget this jazz!

7/13/2010 2:51:46 AM

I've never driven a 996 or 997 and i'm sure the are really fun to drive but for some reason the styling just doesn't do it for me. from the side and the front they look bland and girly. i do like the way they look from the back though. the tubro versions and GT versions look more aggressive to me and i like that.

7/13/2010 9:59:10 AM

I don't really like the styling of the 996 but after riding in Ahmet's I definitely want one. They look "good enough" IMO. I've never heard anyone say they don't like the look of the 997 though..yikes.

7/13/2010 10:13:33 AM

most people don't like the 996 because the boxster looks so much like it from the front

fuck a boxster

7/13/2010 12:35:11 PM

^They're actually identical from the A pillar forward.

7/13/2010 12:46:17 PM

says the honduh boy... of course you don't like a well designed drive train... 50/50 weight distribution eff that the engine and drive wheels must be on the same side of the car!!! rabble!!!

no seriously though if you don't like a boxster caymen you're an elitist bastard they're awesome cars and the reason the carrera gt was built because everyone was bitching that the car with the intelligent drive-train should be the premier car for Porsche.

anyway... a twin turbo caymen would be perfect.

7/13/2010 9:41:07 PM

Screw the twin turbo. I'll take a Cayman S with a 3.8L 997GT3 swap.

7/13/2010 10:25:16 PM

that'd work too.

7/13/2010 10:28:47 PM

I don't care if it will run circles around an enzo and spit out hundred dollar bills while sucking my dick

i do not like the boxster. period.

nothing elite about that. not my style.

7/13/2010 11:24:09 PM

^^who are you talking to? I'm a huge fan of that Porsche platform.

BTW the S2000 has 49/51 weight distribution.

7/13/2010 11:57:08 PM

h8r is an elitist honduh boy.


the boxster is pretty ugly. The front is the only decent part though...

7/14/2010 8:23:39 AM

Yeap, 996s are SO ugly, I would never touch the things w/a 10 foot pole:

Totally, totally ugly. :p

7/14/2010 6:58:12 PM

Ugh, especially the GT3. I wish it looked better so I would want one more...

7/14/2010 7:00:20 PM

cayman and boxster loook like shit from the back.
996 non-turbo looks like shit from the front. plain and girly what someone said nails it.

not sure how that has anything to do whether you are honda, bmw or ford guy. styling opinions are subjective...

7/14/2010 8:53:45 PM

i think the movie cars just killed it for me regarding the run of the mill 996



now i do like the turbo and GT version of both the 996 and 997...they are much more aggressive looking...but my favorite is the turbo version.





[Edited on July 15, 2010 at 8:59 AM. Reason : s]

7/15/2010 8:58:36 AM

Quote :

"cayman and boxster loook like shit from the back."

LOL, you're so in the minority. The rear view of the Cayman is one of the best that money can buy and that is the general consensus, not just my opinion.





[Edited on July 15, 2010 at 11:35 AM. Reason : i can't resize it b/c you can't post html]

7/15/2010 10:45:43 AM

that looks like more of a squashed beetle than a 911

i actually like the 911 styling, just dislike the cayman / boxster biting on it

7/15/2010 1:03:22 PM

Not my fault your styling opinion is tainted by Subarus

7/15/2010 3:06:37 PM

^^^ Interesting picture!

I thought the cayman S came factory with 18" wheels? Does that tire read 215/40 R17?

7/19/2010 4:34:33 AM

^nice observation. I thought it did too, with 19's as an option.

Is it a photoshop or something? Those are definitely not 17" wheels (they're bigger) and the Cayman definitely does not come with 215 section width rear tires!

[Edited on July 19, 2010 at 8:30 AM. Reason : k]

7/19/2010 8:27:36 AM

I'll go on the record and say i hate the cayman's rear.

7/19/2010 9:45:14 AM

at least we can all agree the boxster is an ugly car.

7/19/2010 10:28:50 AM

^^says the guy with the volvo.

7/19/2010 10:31:50 AM

<3

7/19/2010 11:14:29 AM

I actually like Volvos for the most part. dubcaps, have you seen the new S60 and V70? Damn front end looks like an anteater.

7/19/2010 11:23:05 AM

I heard a while back that they weren't doing an R so I haven't bothered to keep up with them. Even if they did, I'm sure it'd weigh 4000 lbs which is just stupid. (mine weighs something like 3717)

I could see getting a v70 as a kid hauler but nothing else they make really interests me. whenever it's time to get a new car i'll most likely be looking at a cayman (even though i don't like the looks), 911, or elise. we'll see though as that's a long way off.

7/19/2010 11:59:44 AM

Thinking ahead to maybe finally settling in one place about a year from now and not being averse to buying a nice car...

a 996 Mk2 is appealing...probably very comparable bang with a Cayman S, but for fewer bucks.

However, the 996s are probably starting to flatten out on the depreciation curve, whereas the Caymans still have a ways to fall. In a year, I wonder if a ~'06-07 Cayman S might sell for about the same as a ~'02-03 996?

On the other hand, the Z4M Coupe is a less expensive alternative to the Cayman (priced about the same as the base Cayman, but slotted between it and the "S" performance-wise). I dig it, too, although I think I'd prefer a Cayman S.

I guess I need to drive all 3 (kinda like when I set out to buy an STi, but ended up with an Evo after driving them both).

7/19/2010 12:18:22 PM

I, too, was trying to choose between a cayman s and a z4m.

After seeing and driving a handful of both, I was sold on the cayman. It's got a bit more storage space, and I think it also gets the nod in styling. The more I look at the front half of a z4, the less I like it.

7/22/2010 12:37:46 AM

bump!

7/31/2010 7:17:14 PM

Fine, another update.

I can't believe I've put almost 2500 miles onto the car already. I'll be getting a set of tires and
pads for it this week (today?), and need to replace it's windshield. Also bought some bike racks. I
gave in and bought the "modern" set up, but avoided Porsche branded ones again. Had to go
through VW this time, they use a very similar roof rack set up. I'll post pics when I have time to
mount them. I had ordered these through the dealer, but they didn't arrive in time.
Rant- I overnighted them, and they were supposed to arrive by last Friday in time for my trip, but
when I went to pick them up, I was informed that there weren't any in the U.S., and it wouldn't
arrive till Tuesday. That's fine, but I had to be in DC for a week by Saturday, so obviously didn't
do me any good. /Rant

Barring any imminent explosions and fires, this is certainly the best car I've owned. I've noticed the lack of limited slipness for the first time in DC today.
Speaking of, here we are in front of the National Electronics Museum;


[Edited on August 4, 2010 at 12:17 AM. Reason : Formatting. ]

8/4/2010 12:16:53 AM

I've been talking to Callahan about the Cayman thing. Apparently a Cayman S is supposed to be
faster than a 996, even an MKII. That's cool, Caymans are great cars I think. If I was interested in
not driving a 911, it'd be rather appealing.. I don't mean that in a condescending way. One could
objectively argue that the Cayman is a better car. I won't partake in that discussion, to me there's
no choice, I am very drawn to the rear engine dynamics. :/

8/4/2010 12:22:53 AM

looks nice.

8/4/2010 12:25:47 AM

Thanks man, yeah I like it a lot. It's more bling than I'm used to. The interior is taking a fair bit of
work to get back to stock. It had carbon fiber replacement panels and stickers all over it. I still
have some left, but working on it. The interior smells minty fresh like goo gone right now. :O

8/4/2010 12:53:11 AM

^^^Well a Cayman S is apparently as fast around VIR as a (997) 911 Carrera 2S.

Nice car man! Is that color similar to your last 911? Can't tell exactly since the pic isn't up close.

[Edited on August 4, 2010 at 9:35 AM. Reason : 997]

8/4/2010 9:34:11 AM

You know I can't tell for sure either, but it seems like the same color under a lot of conditions but with a clear/sunny day it looks quite a bit lighter/more vibrant. I'll try posting more pictures, or you can take some @CMP yay!

8/4/2010 10:26:58 PM

Here's another comparison of my current car vs. an earlier one I'd owned. From the rear, the
difference is going to be very hard to tell form this angle but the late model car (on the left) is
a lot more squared with a lower lip to the bumper. Also, the bumper guards are supposed to be
black on the earlier car, but I had them painted body color, so that is not visible either... BTW,
the current owner of the car is standing in front of my current car, yay! The later car is actually
wider in the front and rear, but whatever.


And here's a shot from the front where the differences are more obvious:


And finally today at the bike trail:


Yaay! I implore all of you who can afford to buy a 911 but choose to buy things like EVOs and
350z's and Lexus', S2000s and whatever else rich kids own nowadays to reconsider. These things
are rather awesome and mid to high $20k range can get you a nice MK2 car (2002-05)
with just a bit of looking. If on more of a budget, low $20k range will get an MK1 car no problem
seriously fun.

[Edited on August 12, 2010 at 12:13 AM. Reason : formatting]

8/12/2010 12:11:29 AM

what exactly do you get in the MkII besides a few more hp and a proper 3-spoke steering wheel? Is there a reliability improvement (RMS issues, etc)?

I want one of these, but I'm a little gun shy of the cost of ownership (although I don't know that an E46 M3--the other thing I'm thinking hardest about) would be a whole lot better.

8/12/2010 1:26:55 AM

which "carerra" badge is in the correct place? yours or dave's?

8/12/2010 9:41:15 AM

The MK2 gets you quite a bit more. The motor is very similar though quite different, you'd be amazed at the differences. Porsche's famous for making large range of mid model improvements. On the motor, you've now got 4 scavenge pumps, infinitely variable cam timing and lift, longer stroke, updated intermediate shaft bearings, fewer timing chains with updated tensioners. In fact, I don't think there's anything interchangeable between the two, not even the exhaust manifolds, valves, anything?

I've been in the bumper to fix my headlight washers, and though most parts have similar shapes, nothing is interchangeable. There's more chassis bracing, different seals/higher output pump, etc. The headlights are active ride height based self leveling bi-xenon (you can see them rise under hard braking for example), and xenons are active in high and low beam, with focus adjusted appropriately, they're simply stunning at night. But then I've disliked the headlights of most cars I've owned, an important detail that I think too many manufacturers overlook(-ed through the 90s?).

As for the placement of the Carrera badge, I actually looked into that after looking at the pictures, and it appears that Porsche actually changed the location of the badge between the MK1 and MK2 cars, they're both "correct"!

8/12/2010 10:44:41 AM

Hey Ahmet....I saw your dream car on I-40 this weekend

9/7/2010 10:23:11 AM

Maybe it's because I can't afford a 997 GT3 RS, but I'm content with the 996 GT3 for the time being.

Also, I think I'm putting my current car for sale, it cleaned up rather nice:

9/13/2010 5:16:20 PM

^^ I've seen that car before. Lost him on the entrance ramp from Wade Ave. West onto I-440 though. I guess he just didn't have the grip to keep up with the Civic around that curve.

9/13/2010 5:36:04 PM

It certainly wasn't me, a Civic would dust me, and I'd not DARE try to keep up with one on an on ramp.

Also:

and, no surprise here but I want something that's more traction limited than the 996.

9/13/2010 10:56:00 PM

Viper?

9/13/2010 11:13:43 PM

///MEH. I don't like Vipers. If I was in the boat for something like that, I'd go for a C6 Z06 I think.

I want something dumber. Either an e36 M3 turbo, maybe an e30 turbo, and of course there's the 996
twin turbo. This is THE best and most fun to drive car I've ever owned, but I still have a soft spot for the
BMWs. I thought I'd own an EVO by now but unless I see a screaming deal on one, pretty sure I'm content
passing on that. Any other suggestions?

9/13/2010 11:32:59 PM

Turbo 350z

IBTNMSJ.

9/14/2010 1:49:11 AM

I wouldn't consider that for a fraction of a second. As usual I'm biased but pretty open.
I'd drive a supercharged 330i zhp, a turbo or supercharged e36 M3, a 996 twin turbo, maaaybe an EVO 8/9.

That's sort of it, though if I saw the right track car or retarded project, I could see going a different route.

9/14/2010 2:26:52 AM

LS1 Miata or FMII Miata

(I think a ZHP would be annoying with that much power unless you added a LSD. You've done E36 M3s to death, too. Evo is a TON of fun and easy to make pretty big power with, but with AWD, it isn't going to be "traction limited the way you want

My FMII Miata (1st gen) made 235 rwhp, and it would break traction in 1st or 2nd gear just by flooring the throttle, and again on a hard shift into 3rd. Transmissions are, like, $200 if you break one, haha. Everything's super cheap. You can run 16" tires and it's overkill. You can probably get a decent one for $6-7k, and some of them make upwards of 250 rwhp (easily with the 1.8L).

an LS1 Miata would be an absolute monster. I'd guess you could get one for $10k or so.

Go get yourself a Volvo or something to commute in, and have something like the above as a toy.

[Edited on September 14, 2010 at 8:41 AM. Reason : ]

9/14/2010 8:33:42 AM

How about a LS powered e39?

9/14/2010 9:54:14 AM

LS powered E36 M3!!

9/14/2010 10:50:24 AM