Kalashnikov

For 1999 quickest cars. Carrera is #4 on the list, matching the 0-60 times for Diablo Roadster.

http://sportscarstandings.com/Top-10-Fastest-Cars/1999

5CHN3LL

Heh. 0-60 times reached diminishing returns what, a decade ago?

I'm glad the world has people for whom half-a-tenth less to 60MPH is worth another $50K, or $150K, or $500K...but I don't think I'll ever be one of 'em.

curtsr

My C4S is an '03 and my Cayenne an '05 so my frame of reference was that time frame but I suppose that in the 90's the Supercar bar was lower. My '95 NSX was lauded as an "exotic" and "supercar" but to me it never approached that pantheon- until it got FI and tripled it's original 272 HP output. That changed the personality of the car considerably and while not necessarily all for the better in my mind it made it more "super".

0-60 times are great benchmarks but that really isn't entirely what the term "supercar" means to me. Curb appeal is a large part too IMHO. Roll up anywhere in the Diablo Roadster and then make the same entrance in a 996 and I just don't think you'll get the same reception. Jaws will slacken and possibly hit that same curb at the sight of the Diablo but the 996 probably wouldn't be received the same way. Top speed is another benchmark that's another virtually worthless stat but it serves to help sort out the pecking order.

Agreed but it's meaningful for bench racing.

Don't get me wrong I really enjoy and appreciate my 996. It's a sweetheart and with the yellow widebody a looker in its own right but I suppose deep down I'm just too pragmatic.

TonyTwoBags

A local guy posted something a few months back about the 0-60 in his 981 Boxster being "ok". I reminded him that 981s & Pcars in general shine between 60 and 160, nevermind the stoplight stats.

5CHN3LL

What are you talking about? The 996 is a drag mo-sheen! The way the engineers use wheel hop and clutch smoke - instead of some ***** "launch mode" button - to get the 996's unbridled fury down to the road is sheer genius. You wouldn't think a neck-snapping, kidney-bursting torque monster like the M96 could be tamed with such seemingly barbaric techniques, but the end result is completely driveable.

TonyTwoBags

Wheel hop & clutch smoke is very apt for 996 'burnouts'

Maybe we're just doing it wrong & need to go buy Hellcats & Skynyrd tats.

808Bill

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...52180690,d.cGc

5CHN3LL

Yes, and the Tiburon that has two turbocharged engines does great burnouts.

(Obviously they spent the real money on the Tiburons and not the potatocam used to film this mess.) The seemingly inexplicable appearance of a man in drag - including pearls - @ :55 makes the video that much more special.

PeaCar

The Saab is a better made car, lasts a lot longer, and doesn't tend to suffer from as many catastrophic engine failures. The other thing, the Viggen as you know, outperforms the 996 in mid range acceleration, so you aren't buying a "faster car" unless driving 160mph+ is a requirement lol. The 9-5 Aero and Viggen are phenomenal values considering the peanuts it costs to buy one.

The Saab B235 engines can sludge up, but generally only if oil changes have been missed. If the car has a perfect service history, you will struggle to find a better made car that will last as long. The world is filled with Saabs that have 500,000+ on their original engines. Very very few Porsches have managed that.

Now a late Saab 9000 Aero with a 5-speed...with some minor mods you have a car that will outperform a 996 and make a lot of Porsche fans very very angry.

You will spend a lot more when things go wrong on a 996. These cars are plagued with issues in comparison. I mean really...I owned a lot of Saabs, 2000s era Porsches are very disappointing, especially compared to 1980s Saabs which last forever.

Expect a large uptick in stress and expenses, you've been warned.

And to this day, I have never driven a car as fun as a classic Saab 900 turbo, good god...that road feel is on par with an Aircooled 911.

dan_189

Also time spent on rennlist reading about all the other 996 issues people are facing and hoping it doesn't happen to you...

Then you go to the garage, admire for a second and then drive and you smile because it's all worth it

Also you can be happy that the manufacturer that made your car is still in existence :-p

PeaCar

^ 996 ownership experience summed up.

FRUNKenstein

Let's not forget he's talking about buying an $11,000 car, fellas. For all of the dire warnings, his maximum loss on the car is about $5k if the engine lets loose and he sells the carcass as a roller.

A set of Sumi HTRZIIIs for the rear: $133 each at Tirerack. Add shipping/mounting/balancing and you're at well under $400 for the set. That's plenty of tire for a $11k 996.

And $5k for maintenance? I know it's possible. But I haven't spent anywhere near that over the past 4+ years total on my two 996s combined.

Don't overthink it. Fix stuff WHEN it breaks, not because it MIGHT break. There's a good chance you'll drive that car for 2 or 3 years with minimal maintenance and sell it for what you paid for it.

And compared to the 2 Land Rovers I've owned, the 996s have been like freaking Honda Accords reliability-wise.

TonyTwoBags

People sleep on those cars, but they are fun as hell. The 996 only passes it at higher speed. A 900 turbo out of tight corners is a feeling to remember.

Tried to nudge my dad towards buying the black CE 93 turbo on Bring A Trailer last month, but failed. We both tracked the auction up til the end though, so there's hope.

m3driver

apparently you've never driven a Chevy celebrity

JimmyB

+900

I must have had 14 or 15 Saabs. Started with a 1974 99, then seven or eight 900s, half of them turbocharged, three of them convertibles. Current one is a last-of-the-line '94, ruby red with tan top. It's beautiful. And they're starting to fetch serious money - a one-owner car just made $18k on BAT. There's another one up now which I'll watch with interest.

Years back I had a 9000 CSE with the light pressure turbo which was fantastic for road trips. Replaced it with my first ever brand new car, a Cosmic Blue 9-5 Aero wagon, which might still perhaps be the best car I've ever owned.

RIP Saab - getting all misty-eyed here