Yesterday, I Forgot to Worry
07-31-2014, 01:42 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Yesterday, I Forgot to Worry
Yesterday evening I went to visit a group of old and new friends who meet regularly at a local cigar lounge. It's maybe 25 - 30 miles from home, depending on the route. And on the way back to my house, a strange thing happened ...
It was a beautiful evening. About 65 - 70 degrees, low humidity, and mostly clear skies. I had the windows up and the top down. The breeze was cool, but not cold. Following some recent maintenance, my car has been running very nicely, and last night was no exception. While the Northway isn't quite the Autobahn, my 996 and I were in our element, cruising effortlessly in the outside lane. We even drew a few admiring glances from fellow motorists -- who obviously didn't know, or care, that we have radiators.
The strange part? I actually forgot to worry about my car. For a brief, shining moment I didn't think about my metal impeller water pump. I didn't think about the temperature gauge, and whether the needle was going to stay between the "8" and "0". I didn't think about a single one of the 27 documented modes of failure. I didn't wonder if every noise was a lifter, a cam chain tensioner, a scored cylinder, that idiotic bearing -- or the truck next to me. I didn't even think about wheel bearings, or window regulators, or cabriolet top hydraulic cylinders, or any of the other zillion and seventy-three parts that'll go bad sooner or later. I didn't think about the declining value and incipient worthlessness of my 996, or that it's a cab -- which I'm told that nobody in their right mind should want -- and how pretty soon if a bird poops on my car the insurance company will probably want to total it.
I just drove my car and enjoyed the hell out of it. Deployed the spoiler a couple times on the highway, made a brief detour down a curvy back road, and got home with a big stupid grin on my face. It was almost as if my 996 -- which we all know is a money pit, a rolling heap of misery, a disaster waiting to happen -- had somehow been replaced by a fast, comfortable, exciting, modern sports car.
Who knew?
It was a beautiful evening. About 65 - 70 degrees, low humidity, and mostly clear skies. I had the windows up and the top down. The breeze was cool, but not cold. Following some recent maintenance, my car has been running very nicely, and last night was no exception. While the Northway isn't quite the Autobahn, my 996 and I were in our element, cruising effortlessly in the outside lane. We even drew a few admiring glances from fellow motorists -- who obviously didn't know, or care, that we have radiators.
The strange part? I actually forgot to worry about my car. For a brief, shining moment I didn't think about my metal impeller water pump. I didn't think about the temperature gauge, and whether the needle was going to stay between the "8" and "0". I didn't think about a single one of the 27 documented modes of failure. I didn't wonder if every noise was a lifter, a cam chain tensioner, a scored cylinder, that idiotic bearing -- or the truck next to me. I didn't even think about wheel bearings, or window regulators, or cabriolet top hydraulic cylinders, or any of the other zillion and seventy-three parts that'll go bad sooner or later. I didn't think about the declining value and incipient worthlessness of my 996, or that it's a cab -- which I'm told that nobody in their right mind should want -- and how pretty soon if a bird poops on my car the insurance company will probably want to total it.
I just drove my car and enjoyed the hell out of it. Deployed the spoiler a couple times on the highway, made a brief detour down a curvy back road, and got home with a big stupid grin on my face. It was almost as if my 996 -- which we all know is a money pit, a rolling heap of misery, a disaster waiting to happen -- had somehow been replaced by a fast, comfortable, exciting, modern sports car.
Who knew?
07-31-2014, 01:57 PM
#3
And you somehow made it home without the required fun-draining hypervigilance? No way. Maybe it is possible, and they are real cars!
We took mine camping in the Gulf Islands last weekend. Full of stuff. The car was perfect, as always.
We took mine camping in the Gulf Islands last weekend. Full of stuff. The car was perfect, as always.
07-31-2014, 02:06 PM
#4
Same here.
I was doing some "testing" and did some runs up into 5-6k in 2nd gear. Just let the car lift my spirits. And lift me off the ground damn near. Which makes sense, cuz I just looked at the rpm/speed graph, and it looks like 2nd gear is logarithmic.
And the sound! Reverberating off the buildings and trees, with that high rpm sound I like. And that's just stock exhaust. Honest to God, I never knew you had to get it up into those ranges to hear the exhaust.
Whatever happens from here I'm driving it hard. With assertive maintenance of course. But I'm gonna let her show me what she's got till she's taken away from me.
I was doing some "testing" and did some runs up into 5-6k in 2nd gear. Just let the car lift my spirits. And lift me off the ground damn near. Which makes sense, cuz I just looked at the rpm/speed graph, and it looks like 2nd gear is logarithmic.
And the sound! Reverberating off the buildings and trees, with that high rpm sound I like. And that's just stock exhaust. Honest to God, I never knew you had to get it up into those ranges to hear the exhaust.
Whatever happens from here I'm driving it hard. With assertive maintenance of course. But I'm gonna let her show me what she's got till she's taken away from me.
07-31-2014, 02:21 PM
#5
Race Director
I love second gear...the needle nears redline, the exhaust is screaming, and I'm already passing people on the freeway though I'm still only halfway down the onramp.
Second gear near redline in a tunnel with the Tubi exhaust and the K&N intake...if angels were made of internal combustion engines, my car in a tunnel is what a choir of them would sound like.
Second gear near redline in a tunnel with the Tubi exhaust and the K&N intake...if angels were made of internal combustion engines, my car in a tunnel is what a choir of them would sound like.
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07-31-2014, 03:09 PM
#8
Race Director
Nice to hear an owner who actually enjoys driving and being in their 996. Lots of fear and over the top concerns on the forums of late, doubt it will ever subside. Thanks for the 'positive' feedback for a change.
07-31-2014, 03:16 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
I have found that the enjoyment of my car is inversely proportional to the amount of time I spend reading about the problems other people have with their car.
07-31-2014, 03:23 PM
#11
Instructor
I agree.... I drive mine hard, take it to redline through the gears at every opportunity, put kids in the back to take them to school or baseball practice and never worry about what the internet tells me is wrong with my car.
07-31-2014, 03:38 PM
#12
Race Director
omg, how many times do you guys need to make posts to convince yourselves that your cars aren't **** boxes.
You had a fun drive in your car...congrats. Does that really need to be discussed?
You had a fun drive in your car...congrats. Does that really need to be discussed?
07-31-2014, 03:45 PM
#13
Race Director
Why don't you go find some other bridge to hang out under? We've already got plenty of trolls here.
Run along and go start some really important threads...like printing up "wall art" of engine diagrams.
Run along and go start some really important threads...like printing up "wall art" of engine diagrams.
07-31-2014, 04:56 PM
#15
