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You guys are freaking awesome! Thank you for your words of wisdom. I'm going to try and buy the 03 in the morning. I'll let you know how things work out.
For what it's worth, I owned a 2001 996 C4 Tip back when they were new and have a 2000 C2 6-speed now. Both were Mk1 coupes with 17" wheels and even the colors were (nearly) the same (slightly different flavors of Blue Metallic both with Savannah Beige). I never really liked the way the C4/Tip drove, it just never felt sporting, but I think the C2/6-speed is one of the best cars I've driven (and I've driven a lot). They feel like totally different cars to me. I don't know how much of that difference is due to 1) The characteristics of Tiptronic vs 6-speed; 2) The characteristics of 4wd versus 2wd; and 3) The 230 lb weight difference between the two.
I'm sure the Tiptronic was a large factor, that transmission isn't very sporting in the Mk1 at least (my wife loved the automatic however, which is the only reason I bought it). For the rest, I don't know how much is 4wd versus just adding 230 lbs, but it is a major difference. If you add the "cab" option to the C4/Tip mix, then the car weighs 396 lbs more than a 6-sp/C2/Coupe, so the cars drive very different from each other. I don't think you can fully understand how great the 996 is until you've driven a 6-speed/coupe/C2. I spent a long time criticizing the 996, not because of the headlights or anything else, but just because I didn't like the way our old C4/Tip drove. Now I sing the praises of the 996 from the mountaintops because I absolutely LOVE the way the C2/6sp/Coupe drives.
I hope I'm not offending Tip/Cab/C4 owners, just passing along my totally opposing impressions comparing two nearly identical cars except for C4/Tip options.
As other folks have said a 996 is not built to be awsome on the drag strip, but that doesn't mean it can be a fun couple of hours.
It was the first time on a drag strip in 30+ years, so cutting a good light, well that didn't happen.
But still cut the MB
As other folks have said a 996 is not built to be awsome on the drag strip, but that doesn't mean it can be a fun couple of hours.
It was the first time on a drag strip in 30+ years, so cutting a good light, well that didn't happen.
But still cut the MB
The comments about the average SUV/MINI VAN/TRUCK being faster than the 996 always have me scratching my head. Listen is the 996 the fastest straight-line drag car on the road, no. But if you line up against the majority of the cars on the road, it is much faster, Yes there are some supercharged SUVs that will smoke it, sure there may be a sedan that is quicker but its far and few between. Im starting to think you guys don't know how to drive these cars... This isn't a small block/big block chevy that screams out of the hole, the 911 doesn't really start to pull until 4500rpm. Its more like a 2 stroke dirt bike motor than the old school muscle car motors. Listen I'm not saying its the fastest car on the block, but your average car running faster than mid to upper 4's 0-60 and under 13s in a 1/4 mile is just wrong.
The comments about the average SUV/MINI VAN/TRUCK being faster than the 996 always have me scratching my head. Listen is the 996 the fastest straight-line drag car on the road, no. But if you line up against the majority of the cars on the road, it is much faster, Yes there are some supercharged SUVs that will smoke it, sure there may be a sedan that is quicker but its far and few between. Im starting to think you guys don't know how to drive these cars... This isn't a small block/big block chevy that screams out of the hole, the 911 doesn't really start to pull until 4500rpm. Its more like a 2 stroke dirt bike motor than the old school muscle car motors. Listen I'm not saying its the fastest car on the block, but your average car running faster than mid to upper 4's 0-60 and under 13s in a 1/4 mile is just wrong.
Yep. Even my 20-yr-old 996 will destroy the fastest Tesla on the Autobahn.
Yep. Even my 20-yr-old 996 will destroy the fastest Tesla on the Autobahn.
BINGO!!
Put some curves in front and there are not many cars, foreign or domestic, at even the top price point of a normally aspirated 996, that would be there door handle to door handle. PERIOD.
The comments about the average SUV/MINI VAN/TRUCK being faster than the 996 always have me scratching my head. Listen is the 996 the fastest straight-line drag car on the road, no. But if you line up against the majority of the cars on the road, it is much faster, Yes there are some supercharged SUVs that will smoke it, sure there may be a sedan that is quicker but its far and few between. Im starting to think you guys don't know how to drive these cars... This isn't a small block/big block chevy that screams out of the hole, the 911 doesn't really start to pull until 4500rpm. Its more like a 2 stroke dirt bike motor than the old school muscle car motors. Listen I'm not saying its the fastest car on the block, but your average car running faster than mid to upper 4's 0-60 and under 13s in a 1/4 mile is just wrong.
The comments about the average SUV/MINI VAN/TRUCK being faster than the 996 always have me scratching my head. Listen is the 996 the fastest straight-line drag car on the road, no. But if you line up against the majority of the cars on the road, it is much faster, Yes there are some supercharged SUVs that will smoke it, sure there may be a sedan that is quicker but its far and few between. Im starting to think you guys don't know how to drive these cars... This isn't a small block/big block chevy that screams out of the hole, the 911 doesn't really start to pull until 4500rpm. Its more like a 2 stroke dirt bike motor than the old school muscle car motors. Listen I'm not saying its the fastest car on the block, but your average car running faster than mid to upper 4's 0-60 and under 13s in a 1/4 mile is just wrong.
I agree with this. The 996 is not as quick as modern Porsches with launch control, but it’s no slouch. My wife’s supercharged Audi SQ5 will beat the 996 in a straight line drag race, especially at higher altitude where I live. There are a few other high-end SUVs that can beat the 996, but not many.
a C2 will do just fine in a stoplight grand prix, and I've out- 60' tons of much faster cars on similar tires driven by much better drivers. The 996 will scoot off the line, even moreso on the street where regular front engined rear drive cars can't put power down until they're moving the 996 just goes even without an LSD. 1.8 60' times are easy even on cheap 300+TW summer tires, my 03 C2 did 13.3 my first time out. Also, I'm sure PSM was optional on C2s -my 2003 has NO PSM, so nothing to turn of at the track or autox, just get in and go.