Turbo 911 vs Normally Aspirated ones. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
10-06-2004, 05:41 PM
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Turbo 911 vs Normally Aspirated ones. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Turbo 911 vs Normally Aspirated ones. What are the advantages and disadvantages of both and would you go back to a n/a car?
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10-06-2004, 08:16 PM
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There are probably many threads that have covered this topic if you do a search. But I'll throw out some quick thoughts.
Advantages of turbo (v. n/a of same year**)
Unparalleled acceleration/performance
Eye popping body styling
Hearing people say "Wow, cool car!"
Disadvantages of turbo (while I'd love to say "none", I can't)
Greater heat. Heat means expansion/contraction of metal parts (focusing primarily on the air-cooled turbo, not the water-cooled ones).
Greater maintenance costs. More moving parts and greater heat = greater maint costs.
Turbo spooling up at inopportune times. This has greatest trouble in pre-1996 turbos for less-experienced drivers. Can be a very big disadvantage.
Conclusion: Advantages FAR outweigh disadvantages. If you have a choice, go for the turbo
**Note: Comments assume turbo and n/a of same year. Otherwise a comparison of a 2005 GT3 and a 1978 930 may not be a valid comparison.
Just my 2 cents (sense) worth.
Dan
Advantages of turbo (v. n/a of same year**)
Unparalleled acceleration/performance
Eye popping body styling
Hearing people say "Wow, cool car!"
Disadvantages of turbo (while I'd love to say "none", I can't)
Greater heat. Heat means expansion/contraction of metal parts (focusing primarily on the air-cooled turbo, not the water-cooled ones).
Greater maintenance costs. More moving parts and greater heat = greater maint costs.
Turbo spooling up at inopportune times. This has greatest trouble in pre-1996 turbos for less-experienced drivers. Can be a very big disadvantage.
Conclusion: Advantages FAR outweigh disadvantages. If you have a choice, go for the turbo
**Note: Comments assume turbo and n/a of same year. Otherwise a comparison of a 2005 GT3 and a 1978 930 may not be a valid comparison.
Just my 2 cents (sense) worth.
Dan
10-06-2004, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 427grips
would you go back to a n/a car?
RMS
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10-06-2004, 10:06 PM
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Sorry Graham... the boys above are correct. I can still remember my very first impression of a turbo-induced sprint while behind the wheel..... Will Smith said it best...... "I got to get me wunnuh these!"
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10-08-2004, 02:23 AM
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I'm a relative newbie on this, but I suspect the answer comes down to one underlying fact ... The handling characteristics of a 911 are basically the same - built to be driven and enjoyed - so the difference between N/A or turbo comes down to the individual's preference between the awesome 'mumbo' of the turbo and the crisper throttle response of a normally aspirated engine. How do you like to drive? If you like to steer the car through corners on the throttle then N/A is more responsive to that approach. If you want to point and shoot and hold on and grin like a maniac then perhaps the turbo is more your thing. Me, I'd like one of each 
10-08-2004, 12:35 PM
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No, PorscheDavid, you're not older than me. Not only do I remember Family Feud, I was one of the people they surveyed regularly (for years) to get the answers to their questions. We watched that show religiously. "And the survey said..." Ahhh, the 70's!
Then came Porsche cars - I changed my religion!
Dan
Then came Porsche cars - I changed my religion!
Dan
10-10-2004, 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan89_930
There are probably many threads that have covered this topic if you do a search. But I'll throw out some quick thoughts.
Advantages of turbo (v. n/a of same year**)
Unparalleled acceleration/performance
Eye popping body styling
Hearing people say "Wow, cool car!"
Disadvantages of turbo (while I'd love to say "none", I can't)
Greater heat. Heat means expansion/contraction of metal parts (focusing primarily on the air-cooled turbo, not the water-cooled ones).
Greater maintenance costs. More moving parts and greater heat = greater maint costs.
Turbo spooling up at inopportune times. This has greatest trouble in pre-1996 turbos for less-experienced drivers. Can be a very big disadvantage.
Conclusion: Advantages FAR outweigh disadvantages. If you have a choice, go for the turbo
**Note: Comments assume turbo and n/a of same year. Otherwise a comparison of a 2005 GT3 and a 1978 930 may not be a valid comparison.
Just my 2 cents (sense) worth.
Dan
Advantages of turbo (v. n/a of same year**)
Unparalleled acceleration/performance
Eye popping body styling
Hearing people say "Wow, cool car!"
Disadvantages of turbo (while I'd love to say "none", I can't)
Greater heat. Heat means expansion/contraction of metal parts (focusing primarily on the air-cooled turbo, not the water-cooled ones).
Greater maintenance costs. More moving parts and greater heat = greater maint costs.
Turbo spooling up at inopportune times. This has greatest trouble in pre-1996 turbos for less-experienced drivers. Can be a very big disadvantage.
Conclusion: Advantages FAR outweigh disadvantages. If you have a choice, go for the turbo
**Note: Comments assume turbo and n/a of same year. Otherwise a comparison of a 2005 GT3 and a 1978 930 may not be a valid comparison.
Just my 2 cents (sense) worth.
Dan
Balderdash...
I will take my stock 993 RS head to head with any stock turbo on a track.... and probably prevail. Turbos will outaccelerate me but in the twisties, it will be curtains
The turbos are not "valhalla" for every one. BTW, I have owned turbo cars and even late models ones have too much lag for my taste, though the P twin turbos reduce the problem somewhat.
Different strokes for different folks......
10-12-2004, 09:06 AM
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I had a 911 Targa before and i decided 911:s wasn't my taste. When i first drove the 930 i had the impression it was a completely different car, particularly when it comes to handling and response. Nothing felt like any 911 i had ever driven before. I was completely stuck, I had to have it! So for me it would be impossible to go back. Maybe i'd like to go even faster, it is amazing how quickly you get used to high speeds...
It is a stock 930 and i also have another turbo car, Lancia Integrale, and once you get used to turbos as such you learn how to drive them and you don't really think about the lag. Just step on it before you should on a non turbo car, and you slingshot out of the corners. Also learning to shift gears quickly is more rewarding on a turbo car.
It is a stock 930 and i also have another turbo car, Lancia Integrale, and once you get used to turbos as such you learn how to drive them and you don't really think about the lag. Just step on it before you should on a non turbo car, and you slingshot out of the corners. Also learning to shift gears quickly is more rewarding on a turbo car.
