quick joyride: Porsche 996 tiptronic cab

[Vinsanity]

So I came to visit my parents this morning, and parked in front of the house was this silver little Carrera which happened to belong to my dad's boss. As a favor, my dad offered to take it to the body shop to get an estimate to fix a ding on the bumper while she and her husband were out of town. Looks like I happened to be at the right place at the right time, because my dad also offered me to drive the car there while he rode along. I could hardly believe he was serious, but I decided to take him up on it before he realized what he was saying.

To be honest, I didn't even take a close look at the interior materials and quality. I just wanted to get this baby on the road. Some things I did notice were that the body-color silver metallic trim on the steering wheel didn't feel as nice as it looks like it should, and the tiny 200-mph speedometer was so useless, it necessitated the use of a digital readout on the speedo face. The seats are easy to settle into and find a comfortable position in, and taking a quick look at what passes as a rear seat gave me a chuckle. The blind spots aren't as bad as I had originally feared; this would be the first of several pleasant surprises I'd discover in this car.

Starting up the car and driving off, the throttle mapping is very smooth; the opposite of what I had expected. In addition, the engine produces modest torque down low and the ride as smooth as one could ask for in a Porsche, so it's a very tame car to drive around town. There is a bit of creaking where the windshield meets the convertible latches when you turn to go up a driveway, but it's nonexistent when you drive over railroad track crossings. It does have a nice boxer growl when you get on the throttle, but otherwise doesn't sound nearly as aggressive as you might expect. The auto trans even shifts just as smoothly as the Caddy, and even produces smoother downshifts. Make no mistake, this is not an F1-inspired sequential gearbox; the transmission is in no rush at all to find the next gear. It feels very out of place in this car; think of a basketball player suiting up, but wearing a pair of loafers. The engine, to be completely honest, is actually a bit underwhelming if you drive it like a normal person. Lay into the throttle more and let the revs climb, and the car really wakes up as it catapults you to super-legal speeds without you even noticing. Everything all comes together and it all makes sense now: the sharp, heavy steering, the tightly-controlled suspension motions, the strong, firm brakes, it all contributes to a sole purpose, and that is to haul your ass to the next corner, go around it as quickly as possible and take off like there's a fire lit under your butt. If the S2000 could be likened to an Olympic runner circling the 400m, the 996 is like a man wearing rocket skates; in some ways it doesn't feel as natural, but there's so much more added to the experience, that there's just no comparison. I drove as spiritedly as someone reasonably could behind the wheel of their dad's boss's Porsche, so obviously that precluded me from reaching the point of oversteer. At least on a public road. Besides, I was not in the mood to become a victim of irony on the way to the auto body shop.

The Carrera is indeed a dandy little machine; there's really nothing quite like it. Even if it's not the fastest car on the block, it never disappoints when you want to have some fun with it. And when you just want a relaxing cruise, it's just as happy to be docile and loafing around. It's a very enjoyable car, but I can't say I enjoyed $80,000 worth of it. Examples like this are listed for $40k on autotrader, but make it a manual, and prices are up to over $50k. That's a tempting price difference, and automatics have their place, but not on this car. At least make it a quicker-shifting DSG, and I would happily drop $40k of my non-existent money for one. But with the tiptronic, it's kind of like a hot girl in a fat suit: kind of weird.

[Pommes-T]

Yeah, tiptronic sucks. I don't understand the people who buy this: Buying a Porsche means buying a sportscar. And such a automatic doesn't have a place in such a car IMO.

Porsche made a good step to offer DSG in the new 997.

I want to testdrive a Porsche too. 

[Vinsanity]

some pics to get a visual





I rode shotgun in it this afternoon with the top down. From the passenger seat, it may as well be a BMW.

I'm still impressed, though, that it can strike a good sport/luxury balance without being overly diluted by weight and technology. It's as refined as one would expect, and it still feels like something special behind the wheel.

[Cookie Monster]

Is that a Miata next to the Corolla?

[Onslaught]

Is that a Miata next to the Corolla?

Looks like a NB to me.

[Cookie Monster]

Looks like a NB to me.

That's what I was thinking.

Who's is it? I'd be more excited to drive that than the Carrera.

[Onslaught]

That's what I was thinking.

Who's is it? I'd be more excited to drive that than the Carrera.

Good God man! I don't know about that one!

[Cookie Monster]

Good God man! I don't know about that one!

An MT Miata or my least favorite 911 in my least favorite body style with my least favorite transmission.

Not a hard choice.

[sportyaccordy]

I want to own a 996 C2S hardtop 6spd one day. It will happen.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

are you in canada? are those canadian prices?

I've been shopping used 911's and i can get a 996 carrera manual for as little as 20K, nicer ones are still sub 30's. Granted this is NOT a cabrio model but i doubt a 996 cabrio adds 20-30K in resale over a comparable coupe.

[Vinsanity]

An MT Miata or my least favorite 911 in my least favorite body style with my least favorite transmission.

Not a hard choice.

It's a Miata, alright; my sister-in-law's (she and my brother also came over to visit). Unfortunately, it too is an autotragic

[Vinsanity]

are you in canada? are those canadian prices?

I've been shopping used 911's and i can get a 996 carrera manual for as little as 20K, nicer ones are still sub 30's. Granted this is NOT a cabrio model but i doubt a 996 cabrio adds 20-30K in resale over a comparable coupe.

nope, unfortunately, they're just freaking expensive where I am

granted, I did search specifically for the closest match to this particular car: cabrio body style, 2004 model year (last year of the 996), maximum 45k miles

[the Teuton]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=247880299&dealer_id=62940819&car_year=2001&model=911&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1991&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=50&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=POR&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=15213&advanced=&end_year=2006&doors=&transmission=&max_price=50000&cardist=7

$39,000 with 18,000 original miles and a real Porsche transmission.

[Vinsanity]

ooh, that's a lovely interior

where is that car located, again?

[the Teuton]

Okay, 5 times the mileage, but half the price.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/854097036.html

All of these are in the Greater Pittsburgh Area, or close.

[Cookie Monster]

It's a Miata, alright; my sister-in-law's (she and my brother also came over to visit). Unfortunately, it too is an autotragic

Screw that, gimme the Porsche!

[Onslaught]

It's a Miata, alright; my sister-in-law's (she and my brother also came over to visit). Unfortunately, it too is an autotragic

Then it's junk. One of the worst cars to have an auto in.

[Vinsanity]

Screw that, gimme the Porsche!

hehe. not a hard choice indeed.

[Colonel Cadillac]

My friend's dad let us take his 996 6-spd cab out (my friend driving, I wasn't allowed) and we were flying around the back roads (there's a radar detector built into the rear-view mirror) and those things are incredibly capable. I have to agree that they are a great balance of athleticism and refinement. My friend's dad upgraded to a 997 C4S Cab with the 6-speed, but that was totaled that on the highway.

[Vinsanity]

Then it's junk. One of the worst cars to have an auto in.

Might sound ridiculous coming from me, but I have to agree. IMHO, automatic Miatas are pretty useless.

[Raza]

I've never driven an automatic Porsche. 

I do find it odd that they hold the copyright for the name "Tiptronic" and they were the first manufacturer to create a dual clutch gearbox. 

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I chuckle everytime i see some tard selling a sports car and lists the automatic transmission as a "rare" or "sought after" option.

I've seen this on RX7's, 300ZX's, etc.

[Onslaught]

I chuckle everytime i see some tard selling a sports car and lists the automatic transmission as a "rare" or "sought after" option.

I've seen this on RX7's, 300ZX's, etc.

The RX-7 should have never been available with an Automatic. It's the worst motor for that kind of thing.
You can include the RX-8 as well.

[BimmerM3]

If the S2000 could be likened to an Olympic runner circling the 400m, the 996 is like a man wearing rocket skates; in some ways it doesn't feel as natural, but there's so much more added to the experience, that there's just no comparison.

Brilliant simile.

[FordSVT]

The RX-7 should have never been available with an Automatic. It's the worst motor for that kind of thing.
You can include the RX-8 as well.

To make things worse they even drop the hp rating of the auto RX-8. Jebus.....

[Vinsanity]

Brilliant simile.

hehe, for some reason, the first thing I thought of when I first tossed the car around a turn and laid on the throttle was wearing a pair of rocket skates. I felt a little like Wile E. Coyote chasing the roadrunner