new guy saying hi (long)
07-15-2005, 02:29 AM
#1
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new guy saying hi (long)
This forum has been incredibly helpful in targeting my car search for a return to the Porsche fold; I'm a longtime PCA member who's been driving BMWs for the past 10 years or so due to various "life" stuff including starting my business and a divorce.
Anyway, I just traded in my '04 M3 on a CPO'd 40th Anniversary car; this one has been given the once-over by Champion Motorsports, with their forged 19s, 15.5" Brembos (steel as far as I know, despite yellow calipers) and H&R springs. My last 911 was an '84 Carrera and I was a little apprehensive about the water-cooled cars - whether they'd lost their raw feel over the years, as some say, and had become overly refined.
I am pleasantly suprised - much of the gestalt and responsiveness of the old cars was instantly apparent to me in the 996 - immediately felt right at home in the driver's seat. I can feel every pebble through the wheel and weight transfer is almost telepathic...plus the A/C actually cools the car now, and the torque is very satisfying.
Couple of questions for you all: do the big Brembos normally have kind of a soft pedal (or at least a great deal of travel before they bite) - perhaps they just need to be really heated up before they give their best? Also, the car is a bit twitchy and nervous at highway speeds - not a function of crosswinds like back in the day, more of a "hunting" feeling...perhaps the lowered cars need special attention to certain alignment parameters?
Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to contributing here. Now if I can only get used to rear engine handling dynamics again...
Hopefully the photo attachment will work - don't want to violate protocol right off the bat. Have much better pics to share, but apparently too large.
Anyway, I just traded in my '04 M3 on a CPO'd 40th Anniversary car; this one has been given the once-over by Champion Motorsports, with their forged 19s, 15.5" Brembos (steel as far as I know, despite yellow calipers) and H&R springs. My last 911 was an '84 Carrera and I was a little apprehensive about the water-cooled cars - whether they'd lost their raw feel over the years, as some say, and had become overly refined.
I am pleasantly suprised - much of the gestalt and responsiveness of the old cars was instantly apparent to me in the 996 - immediately felt right at home in the driver's seat. I can feel every pebble through the wheel and weight transfer is almost telepathic...plus the A/C actually cools the car now, and the torque is very satisfying.
Couple of questions for you all: do the big Brembos normally have kind of a soft pedal (or at least a great deal of travel before they bite) - perhaps they just need to be really heated up before they give their best? Also, the car is a bit twitchy and nervous at highway speeds - not a function of crosswinds like back in the day, more of a "hunting" feeling...perhaps the lowered cars need special attention to certain alignment parameters?
Thanks for reading. I'm looking forward to contributing here. Now if I can only get used to rear engine handling dynamics again...
Hopefully the photo attachment will work - don't want to violate protocol right off the bat. Have much better pics to share, but apparently too large.
07-15-2005, 02:40 AM
#2
Miserable Old Bastard
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Welcome! Beautiful car - almost bought a 40th myself, and I have recently put Champion RG5's on my 997S.
On the brakes, wonder if the pads are new and need a little break-in?? I'm used to an immediate "bite" although its been a while since I had a 996 and now have ceramics, so my memory is fading.
On the brakes, wonder if the pads are new and need a little break-in?? I'm used to an immediate "bite" although its been a while since I had a 996 and now have ceramics, so my memory is fading.
07-15-2005, 07:38 AM
#3
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Congrads and Welcome to the Porsche Phunny Pharm. I remember seeing your car on Autotrader when I did a quick search for someone who was looking for a 40th Anniv. P-car. Nice Ride!
Here is a link where you can re-size your pics,
http://www.resize2mail.com
or you can use the "Paint" software on your PC to do the same thing (click on the Start button, go to Programs, look under Accessories).
Hope this helps!
Here is a link where you can re-size your pics,
http://www.resize2mail.com
or you can use the "Paint" software on your PC to do the same thing (click on the Start button, go to Programs, look under Accessories).
Hope this helps!
07-15-2005, 09:52 AM
#4
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Welcome! Great car. Can't help on the break question. Post your experience with your new toy.....Depreciating assets are far more fun than appreciating ones.
Kevin
Kevin
07-15-2005, 10:25 AM
#6
Triode,
First of all congratulations and welcome back to the Porsche world, she is a beauty.
Regarding your questions, I can say that with the installation of my 19” wheels my car seems to wander on the highway at times. The feeling is a slight movement to the left and right at times, I have been told that due to larger contact surface of the wheels this may occur. My suspension is OEM so cannot take into accountability the H&R spring but that can also be a culprit.
With the brakes it may be what Jim stated that they need to be broken in or maybe you have a hard compound pad that works best when they are heated. I would start off with knowing what pads have been installed, the car looks nicely modified and maybe the PO installed aftermarket pads.
Good Luck and welcome aboard…
First of all congratulations and welcome back to the Porsche world, she is a beauty.
Regarding your questions, I can say that with the installation of my 19” wheels my car seems to wander on the highway at times. The feeling is a slight movement to the left and right at times, I have been told that due to larger contact surface of the wheels this may occur. My suspension is OEM so cannot take into accountability the H&R spring but that can also be a culprit.
With the brakes it may be what Jim stated that they need to be broken in or maybe you have a hard compound pad that works best when they are heated. I would start off with knowing what pads have been installed, the car looks nicely modified and maybe the PO installed aftermarket pads.
Good Luck and welcome aboard…
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07-15-2005, 12:19 PM
#8
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Flush your brakes and put Modul Synthetic in there. Have it bleed properly and your pedal feel will improve. I also recommend steel braided brake lines for the firm firm feel.
Oh yeah, NICE CAR and WELCOME ABOARD!
Oh yeah, NICE CAR and WELCOME ABOARD!
07-19-2005, 11:11 AM
#12
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X51, turbo fascia, sport suspension, track ready beast, etc
These are alot of the options I wanted at a greatly reduced/package price. I still love the C4S, but I think the 40th represents a pure 911, jmo.
These are alot of the options I wanted at a greatly reduced/package price. I still love the C4S, but I think the 40th represents a pure 911, jmo.
07-19-2005, 06:19 PM
#15
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Welcome,...and beautiful car.