996tnz

I can personally vouch for the attention that Lola and her air-cooled sisters get - down to thumbs ups from the Westie 90's Commodore crowd on the motorway. No, we don't get that same kind of attention - the odd star-struck lass or forecourt admirer excepted perhaps.

As for the Turbo being overlooked, I think that unless it's being driven with enthusiasm, those without a developed interest in cars can't pick Turbos and GTs out from the sea of Boxsters and Caymen (sic) , never mind other modern 911s. The wing doing it's thing perks some interest at times but that's about it for a factory spec car. They do probably get a fair bit of attention when the lights go green but those faces in the rear view mirror are shrinking so fast you'd never notice it.

As for stance, mine (and probably yours?) couldn't handle more for NZ roads - I haven't even bothered to fit my new lip yet because it'll be a quarter shorter before you can say boo. Might throw it on just for Tuesday track come to think of it.

That leaves the look and the exhaust. Most of my 996T choice was based on performance potential but I also like her clean looks, so getting the wheels repainted (they were the same browny black as brake dust when I got her) was about my limit there. When I first got them done I did notice people checking out the wheels at lights (seriously!) but it was really done just for my own pleasure. May go mad and colour match the seat backs one day too as she is still all metropol blue leather inside.

So the biggest character boost she got on my watch was the better part of 100hp and an improved exhaust. I chose the latter more for performance than for loudness, but those tend to come together. Tested at 98dB she just squeaks in as road legal for an exposed rear engined car (though I tend to idle around the boys in blue). I still remember rushing out to the balcony as I heard her turn into my street when Contis dropped her back to me. I'll admit that I really missed the rumble of my old 928 (with a muffler hole I just may not have got around to fixing) and that it was one of very few areas the Turbo didn't excel in.

To be brutally honest, on returning she sounded great from outside but you'd get dragged before the human rights commission if you inflicted the accompanying interior resonant drone on any living person for more than 20 minutes. For a week I was driving her to work with noise cancelling earbuds. We had a PCNZ backroads family run for lunch in Hamilton coming up the next weekend though, and it wasn't looking like a goer. So I researched the problem, got at the rear firewall and parcel shelf and applied a small quantity of Dynamat (about half a door kit) in the right places: meaning concentrated towards the middle of any large resonant surfaces since Dynamat works mostly by mass damping rather than acoustic isolation. Sorted the drone and we sliced down the backroads to arrive third in the lead convoy of 5 Turbos, with the kids taking it in turns sleeping in the back and my wife eventually just getting a bit green around the gills from the twisties rather than any drone. Since the upgrade I've also never needed to beep the horn at traffic light slumberers since a pat of the accelerator seems to do wonders.

Were I single, I suppose I might find she didn't pull quite as well as an older 911 (dragstrip aside of course). An untested assumption but most pedestrians or drivers who do double-takes seem to find her more awesome - or even intimidating - than cute. That comes with advantages though, like clearing the fast lane.

PHG

the cruising main looks a bit tatty...

RS ZWEI

Yip, the same channel has other full races from the same meeting.

nzskater

Interesting notes Walter, all correct. I should follow up on my comment to say that I enjoy the anonymity, and have no desire to be easily spotted amongst the masses.

Regarding stance; I lowered my car about 20mm via GMG springs, about 15,000km ago, and have had no real issue with either daily driving or touring. The more aggressive front lip has also been trouble free. I guess I have been a little more careful when traversing the seemingly endless speed bumps around Auckland, but am yet to hear the dreaded scrape so often experienced by the rummy old Integras I see blasting around on cut springs on a Friday (I swear some of the drivers look familiar...). I would love a set of after market wheels, but just can't justify spending close to $10k on something that is purely aesthetic. Would rather an extra months snowboarding in the Northern hemisphere in any given year!

Now that I have all the small bugs ironed out (yeah right, now looking at replacement front LCA's and a flex disc for the drive shaft), I can finally start thinking about an exhaust & tune. Now looking at a Kline exhaust, alongside a Cobb Access Port for tuning purposes. Realistically the car generates more than enough power, but the temptation for more is always there.

gt38088

FYI I was looking at the Champion Motorsport web site last night and they have done extensive tuning on 997 turbo you should take a look

996tnz

You never think you really need more hp until you have it, and then there's no way you'd want to give it up again. I'm picking you'll love it. Knew Cobb are huge with GTRs etc but I didn't realise they did Turbos too now.

Actually, we're yet to hit a speed bump (I have made the bogan swerve an ingrained habit to the point where people look at me oddly when I also swerve the allroad or MPV over them), but certain driveways and one-lane bridges are good at taking their pound of flesh.

There is also a small parking garage just off Mayoral Drive (opposite a corner hotel) which had me backing up a train of 4 or 5 cars as there was no way - even angled - that she'd get into the covered parking entry without snow-ploughing through the concrete. Think I ended up entering via the exit instead, and - yes - got THOSE looks from all involved.

A Wilson carpark near the Viaduct also has some severe ramp angles and the only way not to beach her coming off the top of the ramps between levels was to stab the accelerator each time to lift the front a bit. Luckily no-one was around as I'm sure they'd have thought I was just setting car alarms off for the fun of it. The afterlife must hold special treats for the people that signed off on the design of some of those parking buildings.

I'm only embarrassed in the Integra when I don't have my black cap on sideways...

nzskater

I would be very interested to read the article, do you have a link? Have seen a couple of articles on their site (both on the 997.2 Turbo S platform), but nothing recent.

John McM

When you have a lapse and end up taking the spoiler out, then have I got a deal for you on Tardme...

racoguy

Was behind that nice black 964 C2 out west this afternoon, looks really tidy too.
Recaro race seat, debadged and just complied by the looks, JBB***

Moochier

Soooo I spoke with the guy that handles the Expo centre... They have had some issues of late with other cars club and are considering options going forward. Apparently neighbours have been complaining about burn outs etc... They have a board meeting on Tuesday where this topic is being raised and he said they will hopefully have a plan after that on its availability.... So not promising, but not yet a No!

John McM

That will be Mike. He's more interested in taking motorbikes to the track than the C2, but I'm not giving up hope we will see the car at HD one day.

Macca

Thanks for the update Chris. If you speak with them again let them know at the price of rubber for our steeds we are unlikely to be doing donuts :-). Lets hope there is a favourable outcome to their meeting....

CS Mende

Driving past the uni on Symonds today was the first time ever I caught a woman admiring my car. She also caught me admiring her resulting a shared smirk through the glass... and then it was back to reality meeting with Spark. :/

So I recall scattered conversation about possibly hitting the playday on the 27th. Anyone planning on going still - the thought of doing some warmups with BB appeals.

Macca

Chris. I have booked the 27th. I'm probably committing a cardinal sin looking at the weather forecast - tempting fate! I think I'll be taking it very easy given first time driving for a long while and remembering the lake across the front straight...

John McM

I could be persuaded. I wouldn't mind some time in the Integras. I could bring out BB2. BB is already out there.