Letting friends drive my Porsche 996
#1
Letting friends drive my Porsche 996
I'm wondering if most Porsche owners let their friends drive their cars. (Not talking about the SUV's or Panameras) I've only owned my '01 996 for about half a year, and before I got it I imagined myself nonchallently tossing the keys to friends, as if I could easily cover any minor misadventure... like a blown engine. Yeah - wow, did that change fast. I've actually only let one person drive the car - once - and that was the day I bought it, and let my friend drive it back. Apart from the fact that I am in no way wealthy, and plan to do as much of the repair work as possible, I just am not comfortable letting anyone else behind the wheel. The problem is - it just seems absolutely fair to expect that anyone handed the keys to a 911 is thinking; "Hey, let's see what this baby can do", and winding it out to the redline, or over, without giving it a thought. I also wonder how skilled my friends are at shifting - truth be told, I've missed a shift myself, (three times), since I've had it - not horribly, but a couple of cogs caught - and I HATED myself for doing that, and I HATE even having to admit it. It also took me a number of weeks to get used to the pedals, which for some reason seemed off-center to me, a fact I found disconcerting. It wasn't the cause of my missed shifts, but other people? Who knows. Anyway - there've been some awkward silences, when hints were dropped about taking it for a spin - hints I studiously ignored. I wasn't thrilled with the silences, but wasn't about to let them change my mind. Sorry, not happening.
#2
Three Wheelin'
Personal preference, I have no problem letting fellow enthusiasts that I know drive my car. It is just a car and in the grand scheme of things not a terribly valuable car in the Porsche world.
#3
Rennlist Member
Nope not worth it!
#4
Rennlist Member
i have let 2 friends drive my c4s, one tracks his manual cayman often so i wasnt concerned about his ability to handle the 911 properly, and the other i felt comfortable enough to let him take it for a quick spin, with me in the passenger seat. still working on teaching my wife the 6 speed before i let her take a shot with it.
#7
Burning Brakes
The Porsche is her car, but she has let her father and a friend of her's drive it.
If I trust the person, I don't see a problem. At 300hp, it is not exactly a fast car anymore by today's standards. I'd be more worried about someone driving my Mustang than a 996.
If I trust the person, I don't see a problem. At 300hp, it is not exactly a fast car anymore by today's standards. I'd be more worried about someone driving my Mustang than a 996.
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#8
Drifting
I let people drive it. It's just a car. In fact, I taught my daughter to drive stick in my 996.2. Might as well enjoy it, and share the joy.
#9
Rennlist Member
I worry more about the other drivers on the road.
#12
Burning Brakes
I'll let anyone drive it. I have even let people drive it on the track. Just a car. I find most people are more gentle with it because they are scared of what may happen, and they don't want to worry about fixing it.
#14
I don't even think of accidents or getting the car dirty. I just freak out about the cold start procedures. These cars can not be beat on until they are warmed up. They can't be floored at 2000 RPM to get on the highway warm or cold. Once its warmed it up, take a spin, no problem. But that first is the part that makes me terrified. Any honda of chevy a 2-3K engine whatever. A 20K engine that can total a car if you don't know what you are doing, NO WAY. I know its not super expensive from a car perspective but there is way too much to lose for nothing to gain.
#15
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I let friends drive my 996 C4S on multiple occasions. My wife drove it quite a bit too. I didn't worry as much about that car, because it wasn't ridiculously over-powered. You can still get into trouble, but it's manageable if you have some driving skills. I haven't been as willing to let people drive the turbo cars. I'm afraid somebody will kill themselves in the 997 or 991 turbo.