GNR996

guess we all love what we have. I'll take a 997.2 with the direct injection motor with out the intermediate shaft...
but the extra weight?? no, the 996 was beat up for putting on weight, why not the 997.

another thread sometime ago I read, the writer said something along the lines of, had they allowed (the enthusiast?) the styling of the 996 evolve it would have been nice to see.

bottom line was the change.

I love them all fwiw, I'm sure a skilled driver in a pepper could wax my ***....

play nice folks,

Geoff

Ahmet

996 is lighter than the 911 it replaced, so I'd be surprised about complaints of it's heft...

jsmirand

If it weren't for the 996 era where decisions enabled the company to streamline operations, there might not have been a 997, or, for that matter a Porsche operating in 2009.

I love my 996, and have had many nice cars along the way. I'm sure the 997 is fabulous, but that doesn't take away from the 996 to me. If I find myself buying a 997 or newer model, its because of my enjoyment of the 996 preceding it.

95C4VanIsle

I really have no idea what you are referring to if it was a reference to my previous post. Can you explain?

I felt my post was quite clear. I feel fortunate to own a Porsche, regardless of the vintage or model.

redridge

kinda inside joke... everyone knows, that 997 guys love wrist watch threads. Explains it all.

95C4VanIsle

Sorry, I wasn't aware of the association. BTW I wear a Timex.

Edgy01

As a long time 911 owner and driver I find it interesting to see this rift between Porsche drivers. it's been going on for years,--I remember when I owned a 914 that the 911 guys wouldn't have anything to do with a 914! I remember when the 924 and 944 cars came out and MANY 911 drivers refused to even acknowledge them as they are water cooled. At one time I was introduced to someone who thought (mistakenly) that I owned a 924 (while I owned a specialized narrow-body 911 turbo) and she wouldn't even acknowledge me thinking the car wasn't oil-cooled. (She later was the NATIONAL membership chair for PCA!)

I think the reason the 996 gets short schrift here is that it was the first water cooled 911. That's got to torque some people, but it's silly to me. A Porsche is a Porsche. Porsche made a very important engineering decision many years ago that to continue with air cooled cars was simply going down a hole. Noise pollution and emissions restrictions have essentially marked the end of the air cooled cars.

As cocky as the 993 guys get about being air cooled someone needs to remind them that they are in fact "liquid cooled." Oil does the lion's share of the cooling in those engines. But, as a 997 owner, I'm HAPPY to have a water cooled Porsche in this day in age because getting my car through California's rigorous smog testing is very simple for our cars,--the came cannot be said for the pre-99 cars!

The other final but CRITICAL issue that concerns us all is manufacturing. Porsche has been able to turn the company around by making manufacturing affordable for themselves with the 996, the Boxsters, and the Cayennes. Many bitch and moan about the Cayenne not being a true Porsche. (These are people who have never driven that vehicle). BUT, without the success of the (1) Boxster, (2) Cayenne, and (3) 996 the company could well have wound up as some boutique sub-element of Daimler Benz.

I like all Porsches!

LJpete

In the limited amounts of interactions I've had with other model 911 owners, it's been mixed. I noticed that car enthusiasts will except the car for what it is. A fantastic performance car. Then there are the status owners who like it because their 911 (take your pick, air cooled, looks like real 911, 996 is an abomination etc...) is a true Porsche.

My attitude is to ignore those guys. If that's what floats their boat, I'm not going to bother trying to convince them otherwise of the merits of the 996. It's that kind of attitude that lends some truth to the stigma of a Porsche owner. Because of that, I don't tell people I have a 911, I refer to my car as "my car" in conversation. When people ask me what I drive, I tell them my Grand Cherokee. I love my car because of not only it's aesthetics but, it's unique combination of handling, challenging nature to drive and feedback all while being comfortable.

If someone doesn't like it, then so be it. Move on and find someone else to talk to. For what it's worth, the Porsche owners stigma is why I haven't joined PCA yet. I've met a balance of both with my interactions with the local chapter, some people are really nice and some aren't.

deckman

Me too. In fact I actively try to avoid telling people I have a Porsche. People know though, because people talk and it comes up occasionally. Among some there is a negative perception of Porsche owners right or wrong. When it does come up I tell people I bought it because it's a hot rod, not because of the emblem on the hood.

ivangene

I have a large poster of 997 on my "cube" wall and a guy put a small sticky note pointing to the head of the driver that reads "*****" (as a joke, I know who did it) but I left it and remind people "I am that *****"

which of course is completely NOT true. poeple at work call me one of two things... "Mr. wizard" and "the GO TO guy" I have plenty of people that know I am not a *****, but quite the opposite. So it that helps people remember...stereotypes are stupid...

(go ahead and let me have it on that one ended statement)

Carrera Mike

I had both, and I could tell you that I love my 996 a lot specially on the track. handled better(more tossable) turning and gassing it the same time.

Marc Gelefsky

Personally, I don't care what ANYONE thinks of my car except me.. sure I enjoy showing it off on the forum and to other like minded people that just like cars as I do.

I would not be surprised if half the 997 owners had 996's and loved them.

Had me a 986S, heard all kinds of crap about that car.. whatever! I enjoyed it 150%!
Owned many 944's... heard all kinds of crap... back when 911 owners would not even look at 944 owners. whatever! I loved those cars and miss my 951 to this day I want to replace it.
I never met a Porsche I didn't like and I seldom will make a derogatory comment about someones else's car unless they asked for my opinion .. or well.. sometimes a mod is so bad I have to pick on it ..im weak.

My point is, I don't apologize to anyone for what I drive, it's just a damn car and if you judge me on that it's your problem and if you think my 996 sucks well thats not my problem!

There are the "car guys" (and gals) and than there are those who just don't get it.

OK, Clearly I have not had my coffee yet.. sorry.. off the pulpet ..whew

Can we get back to talking about watches?

Dennis C

I think that what you read on the boards doesn't always represent what you see out in the world. I frequently attend PCA events for my region, especially the breakfast gatherings on Saturday mornings. At those events, we often see a mix of 911s, Cayennes, Boxsters, Caymans and even a 944 or two. Everyone is welcome, and nobody complains about any of this nonsense.

Now... as for watches... can a 996 guy like watches too? I happen to really like them...

ivangene

+1
the thought of..." I didn't buy it for you, I bought it for me " and "I didnt buy it to polish, I bought it to drive " both go thru my head a lot.

along with anything shiny or did you say GT2..... whoops A.D.D flare up

jumper5836

I love the new 9A1 engine and interior as long as it a full leather interior. I think the first 997 generation was a total failure. The rear ends large hump and no technology changes from the 996 with respects to AWD. The 997S should have been the 997 and the 997S should have been the 997S with the X51 package.

The wider butt on the 997 is nice but the increased height doesn't help the look at all. Might as well not even made it wider.

The 2nd generation is very lazy. They should have dropped the height of the rear end's hump back (engine compartment) since the new engine is smaller but they kept the same shell and now you could use the rear engine trunk for storage. The rear tail lights are hideous and the front leds look like star wars light sabers.

I'd say over a first generation 997S I would take a the 40th anniversary 996 any day.
10 hp down but it's still faster and lighter. A full leather interior in a 996 is still sharp looking. Move the climate control to the lower level and replace the CD holder with a shelf then put a Nav system in and your have an interior that looks up to date.