wyovino

+1 on the Autocross. I had one spin-out (PSM off), and I was able to recover very quickly. There was a sharp turn after a straight-away, where the pavement dropped down a few inches and there was a coating of loose sand. (near the beach). A Lotus did a 360+ in the same spot, and quite a few other cars lost traction as well.

leedav

I have to agree that the handling on the 996 is docile. I had the opportunity to run mine on a wet autocross layout and had a very hard time getting the back end loose.

You want the wrong end of a hammer, try driving an SRF at speed in the rain..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spec_Racer_Ford

I don't know if they still run these, but I remember getting very backwards, very quickly.

Trojan

Cracked me up.

MICHAELWWW

My favorite too!

Ed Burdell

Yes, it includes the 993...I learned all about lifting off the gas during an off-camber turn during an auto-x. Fortunately, the only thing damaged was my pride...talk about a lesson learned, however: I have not done anything remotely like that since.

BReyes

This same question arose for me going to a 928 from a 911, or better from a 996 (all three with proper set up [I'm in Florida so tires are up to temp in the driveway) and tires and pressures). Would a 928 stick as well? Would a 928 be fun (read safe) at speed? Can its limit be approached safely? Guess what?

Regards,

shyamvenky

Theoretically, the back-end flip on 911s is solely because of all the weight hanging at the back. So I wouldn't expect a 928 to behave the same on a level road. Over the years, Porsche has been working on making the 911 more and more stable during cornering by improving the weight-balance. So compared to an early 911, the 996 is far more stable and more forgiving.

With regards to off-camber turns, again theoretically, all the weight hanging at the back will worsen the situation. But then all cars are relatively more unsafe in an off-camber curve than a level road, or an on-camber curve.

That said, I've pushed my '86 911 once, felt the back end move "a bit" and immediately stomped on the accelerator pedal and said to myself "I'm never going to do this again on public roads". Haven't pushed the 996 so far :P

BruceP

That was most of it. But it was made worse by the tendency of swing axles to self-steer under lateral loads. I once had an off-road excursion in a Triumph Spitfire because of this. Most memorable. Multi-link suspensions don't do that. Add this to big rear rubber and the rest, and you get a 911 that has almost all the virtues of the rear engine layout - the ability to brake deeper into a corner, and exit faster - and none of the vices, IMHO.

Hurdigurdiman

The original Beatles sounded powerful when they turned their amplifiers up lol. Especially that one ."Shake it up baby now, twist and shout".

Mark I

Its' Official - the best quip of the year goes to GSIRM3: "I am scared to death of mine. I will not even sit in it."

Also, a new clinical condition has now emerged: Carreraphopia
No snake oil treatment suggestions, please...this is serious.

morganabowen

I came to the 996 family after owning two 928s, and they are totally different cars. The 996 is light and nimble and the 928 is heavy with major torque and a 50/50 balance. Each has advantages and I love both of them

Shark Attack

Iv laid the 99 I have sideways a few times, its very predictable. A fiero, that is almost a perfectly balanced car gets out of hand a lot fast than my 996. In fact my corvette (87) would push a lot more than my 911. Figure that one out?

wyovino

It's so dangerous that you shouldn't look at it directly. Use a mirror instead.

Pac996

What do you think isn't safe about the 911?

I like some of the comical answers to the funny question

Targatoo

Why does every thread here degenerate into a discussion about oil?