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Cabs are what they are. Sacrifice performance and looks to feel the wind, the sun and hear more than you would with the windows and sunroof down. To some of us the body shape (particularly the roof line, C-pillar, etc) are what makes the 911 so iconic. To others, the performance is incredible. These 2 things are very high on my list for a sports car. I also happen to do a lot of outdoor activities (race Karts, surf, mountain bike, dirt bike, etc...) so I get my "wind in the face" fix through different avenues. I wouldn't mind adding an S2000 to the stable if I ever get into a situation where I can't participate in those other activities, but my 911s will always remain in coupe variety.
Not sure our buttometers are sensitive enough to feel any performance difference between a cab and a coupe, especially when driven on public streets. In fact, most cannot even drive 9/10s, much less 10/10s, through the twisties in either car so cabriolet is not a sacrifice for the twisties on public streets. If you don’t like looks or don’t like cabs in general, cool, but performance as an excuse is a bit silly unless you are an awesome race car driver racing it wheel-to-wheel on a race track. I do love the look of aero kit cars and GT3s as coupes, but I will always keep my daily 911 as a cab and have the top down whenever possible.
The cab thing is an acquired taste. Spend some time in one and many will never go back.
I thought I was a coupe guy until I drove a 997 turbo cabriolet. Now I can’t see myself owning a coupe again, at least not as my only Porsche.
This was me and once they started doing the turbos as cabs again I traded my 2003 996tt for a 2004 996tt cab and I think just about every 911 I have had, with the exception of 3 Cup cars, since then have been cabs. I may be wrong though as I have had quiet a few in the last 15 years.
Here is one of my older hot rodded 911 cabs. May not be to everyone's liking, but back in 2004 I built the engine out to 3.8 with Lenz stand alone fuel management system and had around 305 hp and 265 tq to the wheels. Installed factory RS seats custom painted and custom covered center seat cushion. did red dash surround, had all carbon fibre trim and about $10k in a mostly McIntosh and Scan Speak system. Outside modifications include 993 cabriolet top, Speedlines and other obvious changes. This thing was a beast and would set car alarms off when driving it through parking garages.
Now that is one beautiful Porsche!!! Just gorgeous!
Tom, long story how I lost it. I looked for it for many years hoping I would find it and would have paid whatever to get it back. I spent around $70k fixing that car up after paying $28k for it in perfect condition. 964s were dirt cheap in 2003/2004.
Tom, long story how I lost it. I looked for it for many years hoping I would find it and would have paid whatever to get it back. I spent around $70k fixing that car up after paying $28k for it in perfect condition. 964s were dirt cheap in 2003/2004.
Here is a thread from March of 2004 documenting with photographs the interior and seat work I had done to it. This was before I changed all the trim pieces out with carbon fiber and I put in red seat belts.
Dang Doug H, you've been around! I think it's safe to say you are a Porsche guru. Can I ask a quick question with your expertise on a Lamborghini Gallardo? I see in your signature that you have one, I am very interested in acquiring one of its 1st generation cars as I love the design and the simplicity of it. Will they be appreciating in value and are they just as reliable as the Porsche?
I apologize for getting off topic but you know how conversation goes....
Dang Doug H, you've been around! I think it's safe to say you are a Porsche guru. Can I ask a quick question with your expertise on a Lamborghini Gallardo? I see in your signature that you have one, I am very interested in acquiring one of its 1st generation cars as I love the design and the simplicity of it. Will they be appreciating in value and are they just as reliable as the Porsche?
I apologize for getting off topic but you know how conversation goes....
No, they are kind of a basket case compared to 911s. A lot of $$$ upkeep, maintenance and you need to get a manual. E Gears are expensive and burn through clutches bad. That is my wife’s car that she purchased for herself before we met. She will likely never part with it, but I would in a heart beat if it were mine to part with. A 430 or early 458 is better, but I am a Ferrari guy.
. . That said, they are not horrible for an exotic, just nothing like a 911 and will make you truly appreciate a 911, especially in traffic and everyday driving. They will also always have a decent market and should hold value if not wrecked and not too many miles.
Not sure our buttometers are sensitive enough to feel any performance difference between a cab and a coupe, especially when driven on public streets. In fact, most cannot even drive 9/10s, much less 10/10s, through the twisties in either car so cabriolet is not a sacrifice for the twisties on public streets. If you don’t like looks or don’t like cabs in general, cool, but performance as an excuse is a bit silly unless you are an awesome race car driver racing it wheel-to-wheel on a race track. I do love the look of aero kit cars and GT3s as coupes, but I will always keep my daily 911 as a cab and have the top down whenever possible.
The cab thing is an acquired taste. Spend some time in one and many will never go back.
if it can me measured on my lap timer, it matters to me. Many cabs are 100-200lbs heavier than the coupe counterpart. I don’t know about you, but I can tell a difference when I have someone else in the car vs driving by myself. It isn’t that out of the realm to say that a coupe performs better and maybe, just maybe, some drivers can actually feel the difference.
if your spending hours at the track analyzing this kind of stuff with your driving coach and changing tires pressures and alignment specs and adjusting your line a few inches here and there to maximize your lap time, you might be close to 9-10/10ths. If you don’t, then I guess it doesn’t matter. But it is what it is.
as a side note regarding “buttometers”, I once was told by one of my kart instructors (former Le Man driver for the yellow Corvette team) that some people don’t wear rib protectors so they can get a better “feel” for how the chassis is flexing (in Karting this is very very important). Sure enough the first time I tried it, I went wide on a high speed sweeper and ended up in the wall, resulting in 4 broken ribs. And I won’t get into detail about doing it again on a different corner when I finally got back to racing, but that time it was only 2 ribs on the other side, so it wasn’t nearly as bad.
11-26-2019, 06:33 PM
