breakdown

Hey guys,

I'm shopping around right now for a 996 coupe or cabrio (not the point of this post!) and I'm just wondering how it will compare to a motorcycle?

The reason I ask this is because I just sold my Ducati 848 to help fund the Porsche purchase. I love carving down the backroads on my bike. I sold my bike because I wanted something that can double as a toy and a daily driver.

I used to ride with a group of guys and we'd blast down mountain roads. I'm hoping that once I get the car, I can still go out with them and be able to hang. Some have even suggested that the car might be faster than the bikes down the mountain roads.

What do you guys think?

nick49

Rear engined Porsches and motorcycles handle simularly. You would never chop the throttle in the middle of a fast turn on a bike while leaned way over. You don't want to lift (your foot off the gas) mid turn with the Porsche either. With the bike, on throttle, keeps the front end light and good traction and drive with the rear. Let off and you'll load the front tire and it can slide out. With the car, lifting can cause the rear end to momentarily loose traction and come around. The Cab will enhance your experience specially if you like being in the wind more than a cage.

breakdown

I've heard that about Porsches before; that they handle a lot like a motorcycle. That's cool, it should make the transition a lot easier. I've only drove a carrera once before and I was just amazed. I've only ever owned pick up trucks so this was something else.

I'm definitely leaning towards the cabriolet. The weather in Vancouver really isn't that bad. There are plenty of days in Dec - Feb where it's sunny and 10C which I think would be just fine with the top down. I have a pretty high tolerance for cabin noise and things like chassis flex don't concern me in the least. My current vehicle is a Mazda B4000.

I can't wait to pick something up. I'm still searching for the right car. I don't want to deal with a US import so it's taking a while to find the right car.

RF5BPilot

Not a Ducati, but I sold my 1200RT not long after buying the 996. I missed leaning into corners...cars lean the wrong way. Yet I didn't miss the hyper concerns about gravel, wet spots and cage drivers that couldn't judge my distance and pull in front of me.

Driving a cab in the countryside gives you a tremendous sense of freedom being able to go for a ride, feel the wind and not have to suit-up.

I don't get the sense of absolute immediacy that I got on a bike. But around Seattle, the traffic is so heavy and drivers so oblivious as to suck a lot of the joy out of motorcycling. The 996 is a good option.

jpowers

I bought my Targa in November so haven't had the pleasure of taking it up to the mountains. But can't imagine getting rid of my 1100RT with all the fun to be had on it. I like having the opportunity to use both on the trip over US Hwy 20 to Winthrop.

fpb111

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv3UwB2LFpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRRNV...eature=related

jasper

I guess you are talking about the Duffy Lake Road..or "the road that enforcement forgot" as a local once described it to me.

I blasted that road recently in my 996 along with a buddy in his air cooled 911. I absolutely lost him on the straights but could not shake him in the corners.

Bike wise - the vids above tell the story pretty well. I've also raced some bikes and can report that it's an absolute dead heat against big Harleys on the straights. I lent my car to a buddy who owns a bike (a Yamaha 600) and he described my car as being as fast as his bike...but he's a bit tame on two wheels so take it for what it's worth. The 996 won't feel as fast as your duc but I think you knew that.

As far as coupes vs cabs go....I've not had a chance to verify this, but I hear the coupes are faster..certainly they feel faster. Another friend has driven both mine and his neighbous cab and he says there's no comparison. Cabs are lazy dude.

Lastly, I'm afraid bikes and cars don't mix all that well. You certainly won't be welcome to mix it up wheel to wheel with your old buddies because of the obvious risks. Bike riders are a whole lot more anonymous when the heat gets turned up too. I'm guessing if the mounties do take notice your "friends" would vamanos pretty quick, leaving you to explain it to the judge.

You need both.

EricD

I think your main concern should be safety.

I used to do lot of trackdays and amateur racing in the supersport class (I'm a R6 fan myself). I switched from bikes to cars recently for personal reasons.

I don't know about your mountain roads, but around here (SF Bay Area), I used to ride my bikes up & down the mountain to the ocean on a weekly basis. I always kept a MAJOR safety margin (compared to my trackday pace) because of well known dangers (gravel, sand, pine needles and most of all CARS).

I've gone up the same roads with my C2 since I bought it and I can say I kept a similar pace with the car. The car handled really well and it didn't even feel like I was pushing it. Once again, I was trying to maintain a safe pace leaving plenty of maneuvering room.

I'm convinced if I was to go back on a motorcycle on purpose, I could leave the 996 in the dust, but I don't think that would be a safe thing to do on a public road.

Now, I don't think you should go drive your car while your buddies are riding. Cars and motorcycles don't mix especially on twisty technical roads. If you're trying to keep up with motorcycles and someone tucks the front in a corner, you'll be running your friend over before you get a change to swerve.

That's my 0.02$

Little Green

Agree-4 bikes in my garage and not sure I would want someone following me in a car around technical twisties. If you were up front leading the pack it may be a different story but then you will inadvertently slow some folks down.

ivangene

the car has more tires and seats 4 - is a tad heavier too...

but you sit lower and are warmer on cold rainy days.

"ride with a group of guys and we'd blast down mountain roads. I'm hoping that once I get the car, I can still go out with them and be able to hang"

Boy, that raises all sorts of thoughts in my head

You might want to go out and ride with a group of motorcycles in a P-Car, but my guess is, they are not going to be so keen on the idea and it might be fun a time or two but you will have to succome to the notion that you are in a car

fpb111

Wait the Op does not say if the "Group of Guys" are riding Harleys. If so they might welcome someone following in a car to carry spares and pickup the pieces that fall off.

ivangene

kinda of like "Every which way but loose" where they end up riding around in the Caddy full of parts at the end

cannon1000

My porsche makes me not want a motorcycle anymore. My bike was stolen years ago and I planned on getting another...now, that itch has been scratched. Driving through the twisties in the 996 TT is just as fun...but different and I do feel safer and can ride year round in any weather on those roads.

fpb111

I mostly agree with cannon1000.
For the last 30 years or so my wife and I have enjoyed touring on motorcycles, currently a BMW R1100RT. Until we bought the 03 996 cab we rode for a couple hours every nice weekend.
Now we tend to jump in the car and go top down crusin'.

I still take at least one short 2-3 day tour with the guys during the summer (this includes my 2 best buddies, Arthur Itis and Ben Gay - sometimes Ty Lanol shows up later in the day) but for two up it is the cab.

billyboy

Really hard to compare a bike and a car, but certainly if you are the type of person who likes a spirited ride on a Ducati, you will really enjoy the 996. They compliment each other so you really need both
Good luck finding the car. A black cab just showed up locally on Craigslist a few days ago ... (no affiliation)