Deja Vu all over again...longish
03-03-2017, 01:09 PM
#17
Actually in 2005-2006 time frame it was a high end Alpine unit. I had one that I put in my Escape and it eventually moved to the 996 as a hand-me-down when I installed a computer in the Escape. The 996 has since gotten another HU upgrade in the intervening years though.
03-03-2017, 01:09 PM
#18
Race Director
03-03-2017, 01:40 PM
#20
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
03-03-2017, 10:21 PM
#21
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Went by my favorite private dealer where I've bought two of my past three 911s. They have a manual 996 I'll take out tomorrow to see how much I really miss that vs the tiptronic. I like the tip but I don't have full confidence in it. In the mean time they have a ridiculously cheap 2006 997 S...almost a clone of the one I had and that I sold after only three months. Seal gray, sport seats, 19s, sport chrono, sport exhaust, etc. Except this one has 165k miles. They just got it in and it hasn't been through their shop to check it out...but I fired it up and sat inside and played with the switches and the nav system, etc.
It only took two minutes for me to re-experience everything I didn't like about the 997 I sold, and why I went back to the 996.
I don't really have any problems with the exterior of the 997. It is not as distinctive and unique as the 996, but I could live with it, and the color is nice but not something that makes me drool. However the 19s would have to go...they add nothing but unnecessary expense when you want new tires and they are much more prone to damage than 18s. But I'm sure I could swap for 18s and make myself happy.
Sitting in the car and facing that awful looking interior had me grinding my teeth. I realized I could not enjoy a long trip facing 1970s Datsun Z car pimp white gauges, or the cheesy faux aluminum center console and its chaotic layout and the just plain ugly steering wheel. All I could think of is how much it reminds me of the Ford Fiesta. The non-S versions of the dash are not as offensive and seem more subdued.
The 996 interior is much better looking...sedate and classic...the tools you need and easy to operate.
At last I started the engine and that cheesy (yes cheesy again) sport exhaust barked to life...like a prematurely balding fat teenager on Viagra. What on earth is Porsche trying to prove, that they know how to make loud noise? The experiment was over. I handed my friend back the key.
Driving home in my 3.4 996, the engine had a classical Porsche flat six sound, not one boosted by audio engineers. Certainly I was under powered compared to the 997S...but not really that much. Knifing my way through traffic, keeping the engine in that 4000 to 5000 rpm sweet spot...I easily had all the power I needed for city and even highway driving.
So now it is just a matter of staying with the tip, or going back to a manual. But definitely staying with a 996.
It only took two minutes for me to re-experience everything I didn't like about the 997 I sold, and why I went back to the 996.
I don't really have any problems with the exterior of the 997. It is not as distinctive and unique as the 996, but I could live with it, and the color is nice but not something that makes me drool. However the 19s would have to go...they add nothing but unnecessary expense when you want new tires and they are much more prone to damage than 18s. But I'm sure I could swap for 18s and make myself happy.
Sitting in the car and facing that awful looking interior had me grinding my teeth. I realized I could not enjoy a long trip facing 1970s Datsun Z car pimp white gauges, or the cheesy faux aluminum center console and its chaotic layout and the just plain ugly steering wheel. All I could think of is how much it reminds me of the Ford Fiesta. The non-S versions of the dash are not as offensive and seem more subdued.
The 996 interior is much better looking...sedate and classic...the tools you need and easy to operate.
At last I started the engine and that cheesy (yes cheesy again) sport exhaust barked to life...like a prematurely balding fat teenager on Viagra. What on earth is Porsche trying to prove, that they know how to make loud noise? The experiment was over. I handed my friend back the key.
Driving home in my 3.4 996, the engine had a classical Porsche flat six sound, not one boosted by audio engineers. Certainly I was under powered compared to the 997S...but not really that much. Knifing my way through traffic, keeping the engine in that 4000 to 5000 rpm sweet spot...I easily had all the power I needed for city and even highway driving.
So now it is just a matter of staying with the tip, or going back to a manual. But definitely staying with a 996.
03-03-2017, 10:47 PM
#22
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I know this is a 996 forum and I have nothing against 996, save maybe for the fact that Porsche got away with a clearly defective engine design (IMS bearing issue).
I fell in love with 911 when I rented a 996 at LAX, drove it to San Diego and then up and down Mt. Palomar. This was many many years ago. When I returned to East Coast, I *had to* buy one (prior to renting the 911 I wanted a Boxster). So a few months later I was a happy owner of a Macademia/Sand Beige 997 C2. Still have it, loving every minute of ownership. Have had many cars in parallel since buying it and yet nothing comes close. Latest car is an A7, and although awesome, the interior pales in comparison with the 997 in terms of materials and execution quality. So I don't know. Maybe you're experiencing unloved beaters which ruined your perception of the 997.
I fell in love with 911 when I rented a 996 at LAX, drove it to San Diego and then up and down Mt. Palomar. This was many many years ago. When I returned to East Coast, I *had to* buy one (prior to renting the 911 I wanted a Boxster). So a few months later I was a happy owner of a Macademia/Sand Beige 997 C2. Still have it, loving every minute of ownership. Have had many cars in parallel since buying it and yet nothing comes close. Latest car is an A7, and although awesome, the interior pales in comparison with the 997 in terms of materials and execution quality. So I don't know. Maybe you're experiencing unloved beaters which ruined your perception of the 997.
03-03-2017, 11:09 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Went by my favorite private dealer where I've bought two of my past three 911s. They have a manual 996 I'll take out tomorrow to see how much I really miss that vs the tiptronic. I like the tip but I don't have full confidence in it. In the mean time they have a ridiculously cheap 2006 997 S...almost a clone of the one I had and that I sold after only three months. Seal gray, sport seats, 19s, sport chrono, sport exhaust, etc. Except this one has 165k miles. They just got it in and it hasn't been through their shop to check it out...but I fired it up and sat inside and played with the switches and the nav system, etc.
It only took two minutes for me to re-experience everything I didn't like about the 997 I sold, and why I went back to the 996.
I don't really have any problems with the exterior of the 997. It is not as distinctive and unique as the 996, but I could live with it, and the color is nice but not something that makes me drool. However the 19s would have to go...they add nothing but unnecessary expense when you want new tires and they are much more prone to damage than 18s. But I'm sure I could swap for 18s and make myself happy.
Sitting in the car and facing that awful looking interior had me grinding my teeth. I realized I could not enjoy a long trip facing 1970s Datsun Z car pimp white gauges, or the cheesy faux aluminum center console and its chaotic layout and the just plain ugly steering wheel. All I could think of is how much it reminds me of the Ford Fiesta. The non-S versions of the dash are not as offensive and seem more subdued.
The 996 interior is much better looking...sedate and classic...the tools you need and easy to operate.
At last I started the engine and that cheesy (yes cheesy again) sport exhaust barked to life...like a prematurely balding fat teenager on Viagra. What on earth is Porsche trying to prove, that they know how to make loud noise? The experiment was over. I handed my friend back the key.
Driving home in my 3.4 996, the engine had a classical Porsche flat six sound, not one boosted by audio engineers. Certainly I was under powered compared to the 997S...but not really that much. Knifing my way through traffic, keeping the engine in that 4000 to 5000 rpm sweet spot...I easily had all the power I needed for city and even highway driving.
So now it is just a matter of staying with the tip, or going back to a manual. But definitely staying with a 996.
It only took two minutes for me to re-experience everything I didn't like about the 997 I sold, and why I went back to the 996.
I don't really have any problems with the exterior of the 997. It is not as distinctive and unique as the 996, but I could live with it, and the color is nice but not something that makes me drool. However the 19s would have to go...they add nothing but unnecessary expense when you want new tires and they are much more prone to damage than 18s. But I'm sure I could swap for 18s and make myself happy.
Sitting in the car and facing that awful looking interior had me grinding my teeth. I realized I could not enjoy a long trip facing 1970s Datsun Z car pimp white gauges, or the cheesy faux aluminum center console and its chaotic layout and the just plain ugly steering wheel. All I could think of is how much it reminds me of the Ford Fiesta. The non-S versions of the dash are not as offensive and seem more subdued.
The 996 interior is much better looking...sedate and classic...the tools you need and easy to operate.
At last I started the engine and that cheesy (yes cheesy again) sport exhaust barked to life...like a prematurely balding fat teenager on Viagra. What on earth is Porsche trying to prove, that they know how to make loud noise? The experiment was over. I handed my friend back the key.
Driving home in my 3.4 996, the engine had a classical Porsche flat six sound, not one boosted by audio engineers. Certainly I was under powered compared to the 997S...but not really that much. Knifing my way through traffic, keeping the engine in that 4000 to 5000 rpm sweet spot...I easily had all the power I needed for city and even highway driving.
So now it is just a matter of staying with the tip, or going back to a manual. But definitely staying with a 996.
Go for the manual, if you can swing it. I daily mine ('99) here in LA and it's glorious - aside from being stuck uphill when the other cars creep at 3mph forward. Plus it keeps me from fiddling with my phone or being otherwise distracted, resulting in me being a better driver.
03-04-2017, 03:02 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
I know this is a 996 forum and I have nothing against 996, save maybe for the fact that Porsche got away with a clearly defective engine design (IMS bearing issue).
I fell in love with 911 when I rented a 996 at LAX, drove it to San Diego and then up and down Mt. Palomar. This was many many years ago. When I returned to East Coast, I *had to* buy one (prior to renting the 911 I wanted a Boxster). So a few months later I was a happy owner of a Macademia/Sand Beige 997 C2. Still have it, loving every minute of ownership. Have had many cars in parallel since buying it and yet nothing comes close. Latest car is an A7, and although awesome, the interior pales in comparison with the 997 in terms of materials and execution quality. So I don't know. Maybe you're experiencing unloved beaters which ruined your perception of the 997.
I fell in love with 911 when I rented a 996 at LAX, drove it to San Diego and then up and down Mt. Palomar. This was many many years ago. When I returned to East Coast, I *had to* buy one (prior to renting the 911 I wanted a Boxster). So a few months later I was a happy owner of a Macademia/Sand Beige 997 C2. Still have it, loving every minute of ownership. Have had many cars in parallel since buying it and yet nothing comes close. Latest car is an A7, and although awesome, the interior pales in comparison with the 997 in terms of materials and execution quality. So I don't know. Maybe you're experiencing unloved beaters which ruined your perception of the 997.
03-04-2017, 07:26 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Well two cars being considered...both 2000s with 99 build dates. One if it checks out will be a steal. The other, if the seller makes some fixes will be an okay deal. I drove it today and it felt very good...the suspension was actually everything I could ask for...tighter than stock but not harsh (and that was on crappy tires). Engine pulled nicely, all the gears worked well, brakes no better nor worse than my current, steering very light and pleasant, has the hated white gauge dials but being a 996 the rest of the interior was good...not the 997 S ugly. Driving a manual was more engaging, fun blipping the throttle and matching revs as I slipped it from fourth to third to second. But I did get stuck on a hill in traffic and some butthead kept creeping up on my bumper. Not used to the clutch, I did ride to clutch a little as I pulled away. Then driving home in my tip, I had to admit the tip makes the gear changes faster. And over 4000 rpm it feels just as connected as the manual. So for now it is all about waiting to learn the actual condition of the first car, and find out what kind of a deal can be made on the second one...and then I have to fish or cut bait.
03-05-2017, 12:00 AM
#26
Rennlist Member
BTW, those "white dials" are actually aluminum... 😎
03-05-2017, 02:31 AM
#28
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I loved my 996, inside and out. The 997 was better than the 996. The 991 is better than the 997. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. For me, there's no controversy. Each generation has gotten better.
03-05-2017, 10:54 AM
#30
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member