For people who don't track the 996
10-04-2010, 01:37 PM
#16
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I started owning and daily driving Porsches in 1972. I didn't do my first track event until 20 years and 8 Porsches later. For me, simply driving the car is all the reward I need. If I never went to another track event I would still own and drive a Porsche as my main transportation.
It is not necessary to extract the nth degree of performance from your car to enjoy it. Track events are fun, I've done about 70 of them, now. But so is driving on the interstate or in the mountains of western North Carolina. Driving to work is also a joy. Running short errands is a joy. Driving it to where I keep my boat is a joy. I love to see it in my driveway, day or night. I love to grip the steering wheel and feel the supension working the road surfaces.
Probably less than 1% (see disclaimer below) of the nearly 2 million Porsches ever built see a track day... Yet, 6 decades of happy owners who drive them in spite of their higher cost of ownership.
It is not necessary to extract the nth degree of performance from your car to enjoy it. Track events are fun, I've done about 70 of them, now. But so is driving on the interstate or in the mountains of western North Carolina. Driving to work is also a joy. Running short errands is a joy. Driving it to where I keep my boat is a joy. I love to see it in my driveway, day or night. I love to grip the steering wheel and feel the supension working the road surfaces.
Probably less than 1% (see disclaimer below) of the nearly 2 million Porsches ever built see a track day... Yet, 6 decades of happy owners who drive them in spite of their higher cost of ownership.
10-04-2010, 01:39 PM
#17
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amen, yes.... material satisfaction - naturally
I am very much in agreement that there is more to life than a car (or other object) but the fact remains there is some fun to driving a well engineered car to work... if you are into that sort of thing. I work with people who think its silly (stupid) who ask why, who say... I passed you on the way to work, I thought those cars were supposed to be fast and on and on....i still have the biggest smile at my company so what's that tell ya
I am very much in agreement that there is more to life than a car (or other object) but the fact remains there is some fun to driving a well engineered car to work... if you are into that sort of thing. I work with people who think its silly (stupid) who ask why, who say... I passed you on the way to work, I thought those cars were supposed to be fast and on and on....i still have the biggest smile at my company so what's that tell ya
10-04-2010, 01:41 PM
#18
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I don't plan on tracking my new 996, I bought it purely for the joy of driving it. And in my SoCal commute, it feels like a track to me! Miles of empty winding toll roads... so much fun. And personally, I got the most bang for my buck. I was first looking at a Z or G37 and those were thousands MORE expensive.... it was an easy decision.
10-04-2010, 02:13 PM
#19
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No doubt the 996 is best kept secret out there nowadays. You really don't need to own the most expensive P Car on the planet in order to feel the thought and engineering that went into these. You really get a huge appreciation from a track event though. Even if you do not plan on being the DE regular I think you owe to yourself to at least do it once. You will either fill your pants or starting thinking I WANT I WANT...
10-04-2010, 02:25 PM
#20
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Yes
10-04-2010, 02:43 PM
#21
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This is a very interesting discussion. I don't feel like I have to track my car, but I want to try it for sure. Having only owned the car for a few months, I have been trying to explore it's handling limits on some of my favorite roads. The problem is those limits are very high and for the sake of my safety (and others), I NEED to try this thing on a track.
I feel good about owning this car no matter what kind of driving I'm doing. A few weeks ago I was washing the car on my driveway and one of my neighbours comes over. He drives a truck and is not into cars. He starts asking me if it's worth owning a car like this that's not driven every day. Without batting an eye, I say, "absolutely". I went on to tell him that the pride of ownership and the pleasure I get from driving it makes it worth it to me. But at the end of the day, I think you have to be a "car guy" to understand.
I feel good about owning this car no matter what kind of driving I'm doing. A few weeks ago I was washing the car on my driveway and one of my neighbours comes over. He drives a truck and is not into cars. He starts asking me if it's worth owning a car like this that's not driven every day. Without batting an eye, I say, "absolutely". I went on to tell him that the pride of ownership and the pleasure I get from driving it makes it worth it to me. But at the end of the day, I think you have to be a "car guy" to understand.
10-04-2010, 02:58 PM
#22
Do you feel it is worth it to just drive the car on the street?
(Yes)
For the entry price of the car, and the much more $$ you spend on maintenance vs a honda or acura, is all this money worth it to just daily drive a 996? You really can't get half the car's potential in the street
(Note: Timid rehad business seems to have a market out there.)
As much as I would love to try the track, I need to pay my car off first, then afford all the track consumables and also be in a position to afford a drastic event on the track - and for me, this looks like it won't happen before 5-6 years at least - maybe more depending on the kid's school
(Your car is toast once the kids drive it so you better at least enjoy it)
So is it really worth it to spend all this money on the 996 just to daily drive it?
(Yes)
Please discuss
PS - this topic came accross my brain as there is always a fight between the left side (the wise one) and the right side (the crazy about cars one)
(Rehab)
(Yes)
For the entry price of the car, and the much more $$ you spend on maintenance vs a honda or acura, is all this money worth it to just daily drive a 996? You really can't get half the car's potential in the street
(Note: Timid rehad business seems to have a market out there.)
As much as I would love to try the track, I need to pay my car off first, then afford all the track consumables and also be in a position to afford a drastic event on the track - and for me, this looks like it won't happen before 5-6 years at least - maybe more depending on the kid's school
(Your car is toast once the kids drive it so you better at least enjoy it)
So is it really worth it to spend all this money on the 996 just to daily drive it?
(Yes)
Please discuss
PS - this topic came accross my brain as there is always a fight between the left side (the wise one) and the right side (the crazy about cars one)
(Rehab)
This thread has changed my mind. I'm going down to trade my car in for a Prius so I can at least floor it and get away with a ticket well after it gets up to speed on a the rare long down hill.
10-04-2010, 03:11 PM
#24
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Do you feel it is worth it to just drive the car on the street?
For the entry price of the car, and the much more $$ you spend on maintenance vs a honda or acura, is all this money worth it to just daily drive a 996? You really can't get half the car's potential in the street
As much as I would love to try the track, I need to pay my car off first, then afford all the track consumables and also be in a position to afford a drastic event on the track - and for me, this looks like it won't happen before 5-6 years at least - maybe more depending on the kid's school
So is it really worth it to spend all this money on the 996 just to daily drive it?
Please discuss
PS - this topic came accross my brain as there is always a fight between the left side (the wise one) and the right side (the crazy about cars one)
For the entry price of the car, and the much more $$ you spend on maintenance vs a honda or acura, is all this money worth it to just daily drive a 996? You really can't get half the car's potential in the street
As much as I would love to try the track, I need to pay my car off first, then afford all the track consumables and also be in a position to afford a drastic event on the track - and for me, this looks like it won't happen before 5-6 years at least - maybe more depending on the kid's school
So is it really worth it to spend all this money on the 996 just to daily drive it?
Please discuss
PS - this topic came accross my brain as there is always a fight between the left side (the wise one) and the right side (the crazy about cars one)
You're just pulling our chains, aren't you.
10-04-2010, 03:26 PM
#26
Drifting
Thats like saying that once you have driven a full out race car that you can never drive on the street again within the speed limit. The answer to your question above is I can afford to do both.
This is a P car forum. Why do I even read the words Honda or Acura here? If I wanted to discuss or read discussions on X vers Y brands and what brake job's cost and who gets better MPG's... I would read Consumer Reports - which I don't read becuase I test cars before I buy to MY standards - not someone elses.
Is top speed, braking distances and G limits in corners the only 'potential' you see in P cars? 
If you have to ask...
For the entry price of the car, and the much more $$ you spend on maintenance vs a honda or acura, is all this money worth it to just daily drive a 996?
You really can't get half the car's potential in the street
So is it really worth it to spend all this money on the 996 just to daily drive it?
10-04-2010, 03:48 PM
#29
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Worth it?
For me, absolutely. I haven't been anywhere near a track in the 6 months of my ownership and I get a smile driving the car to work, Wal-Mart, even going to AutoZone to buy something I probably wouldn't need to buy if I drove a Civic.
Disclaimer: I enjoy the experience of driving (even mundane, city traffic driving) much more than the 'normal' person. For me, a car is not just a vehicle to get from point A to B; half the fun is getting there even if I am just going to run an errand. For most people I imagine that is not the case - which is a great way to be. There are times I wish I was that way too, but I'm not.
I think if people used primarily their left brain, every person without 5 kids or the need to haul things for their job (only their job, not boats as they are not left brain) would drive a Corolla.
We'd also live in houses with only enough space for our needs, eat only what is necessary to stay full and healthy, and drink only water.
The benefits of using the 996 as a DD outweigh the costs - for me. For anyone analyzing the cost/benefit ratio logically, it would not.
If the costs no longer give you the amount of pleasure required to justify them, sell it. If you would get more joy out of lowering your debt - or anything else, for that matter - sell it. Not driving the 996 to its full performance potential regularly does not bother me - if it bothers you, sell it.
Just my .02
Disclaimer: I enjoy the experience of driving (even mundane, city traffic driving) much more than the 'normal' person. For me, a car is not just a vehicle to get from point A to B; half the fun is getting there even if I am just going to run an errand. For most people I imagine that is not the case - which is a great way to be. There are times I wish I was that way too, but I'm not.
I think if people used primarily their left brain, every person without 5 kids or the need to haul things for their job (only their job, not boats as they are not left brain) would drive a Corolla.
We'd also live in houses with only enough space for our needs, eat only what is necessary to stay full and healthy, and drink only water.
The benefits of using the 996 as a DD outweigh the costs - for me. For anyone analyzing the cost/benefit ratio logically, it would not.
If the costs no longer give you the amount of pleasure required to justify them, sell it. If you would get more joy out of lowering your debt - or anything else, for that matter - sell it. Not driving the 996 to its full performance potential regularly does not bother me - if it bothers you, sell it.
Just my .02
10-04-2010, 03:50 PM
#30
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[QUOTE=Torontoworker;7947325]Thats like saying that once you have driven a full out race car that you can never drive on the street again within the speed limit. The answer to your question above is I can afford to do both.
That is not what I am saying "at all"
This is a P car forum. Why do I even read the words Honda or Acura here? If I wanted to discuss or read discussions on X vers Y brands and what brake job's cost and who gets better MPG's... I would read Consumer Reports - which I don't read becuase I test cars before I buy to MY standards - not someone elses.
Don't take what I said literally - read the meaning behind my example related to the point I am trying to make
Is top speed, braking distances and G limits in corners the only 'potential' you see in P cars?
Why else would you drive a car like the 911? to show off????
That is not what I am saying "at all"
This is a P car forum. Why do I even read the words Honda or Acura here? If I wanted to discuss or read discussions on X vers Y brands and what brake job's cost and who gets better MPG's... I would read Consumer Reports - which I don't read becuase I test cars before I buy to MY standards - not someone elses.
Don't take what I said literally - read the meaning behind my example related to the point I am trying to make
Is top speed, braking distances and G limits in corners the only 'potential' you see in P cars?
Why else would you drive a car like the 911? to show off????