The Essence of Porsche is disappearing . . . .
 

. . . . in 996s . . . . . !

Here is a great article on the essence of Porsches and how it has disappeared since 1999. Enteraining yet, I believe, valid.

http://www.autoextremist.com/page5.shtml#RoadKill

Chuck
93 C2

Great read, Chuck. Thanks for posting it here. :)

996 haters,

Jeesh... It's pretty tough being a 996 owner these days (and a conv't to boot), yeah, having 300hp just sucks.

We're so misunderstood.... :oops: Good thing I have a few air cooled cars to redeem myself. :wink:

BTW - read the article on a Pelican thread and liked it.

Keith

Who? Where? :P

Yup, a lone voice in the wilderness....that's me. :wink:

It's ok, you can all tell me how much you hate 'em, I'm gettin used to it. I spend a lot of time lurking on Pelcian after all...my skin is getting thicker. :D :D You know it's getting out of control when the 914 guys won't even wave to you, because your not worthy of being called a Porsche. Heck, you'd think thouse guys would have some empathy, remember the days...? I guess the 914's have become respactable now since there's a new bastard child in town. :lol: :lol:

Are 996's really worse looking than those UGLY Lotus Elise's everyone on Pelican was heaping priase on though? C'mon, tell the truth - do you guys like the looks of those things?

I'll admit, the 996 is not the prettiest Porsche ever produced (I'd have to vote for the 993), but worse looking then that Elise?? REALLY?? To each his/her own...

PS - all in good fun...

Keith

I used to be a big fan of that website, autoextremist, when the previous editor ran it. They delighted in skewering all the manufacturers for stupidity, and described the offenses in hilariously biting detail. The previous editor was a real 911 guy who also liked the 996 as I recall. I exchanged emails with him a time or two. But they have been relentless in pounding Porsche over the Pepper-truck. And now this.

I love my 88 and if I could add to my stable I'd buy Dino or something like it and make it a full-time track car. But I certainly respect the 996 as a highly developed descendent of the original 911. And they look really cool as they whiz by and recede into the distant horizon from my windshield at SP, WGI, VIR ...

:lol:

- Bill W.

I always thought the Dino's were a beautiful car to look at, and not terribly expensive nowadays to purchase for tracking. I undertand parts are through the roof though.

I say all the 996 stuff tongue in cheek, I bought it as a daily drive not the intended use of a true sports car granted, so I am on shakey ground with that argument though it's not slow. I bought it because I love the marque, and thought I'd like to drive one everyday, and that it'd be a sin to subject my '64C or '89 3.2 to the rigors of daily Washington traffic expecially if there's salt on the road. When the 996 gets dirt on it like it has right now, I don't run right out to wash it - sad but true. It's everything I'd hoped it would be.

Are 996 and Boxter owners snobs? Surely many are, certainly many are not. Are they unaware of the marque? Again surely many are. But ask yourself this. If a F-40 and a 275GTB were to pass each ther on the streets of LA, would they flash?

Was the 996 built for the weekend racer? Honestly I'd have to say no, and for that reason it's hard to argue that it's not a departure for Porsche, but then it's no wilting flower either, and contrary to what everyone is posting on Pelican as the premature death-nail of Porsche design, my car has NO factory cup-holders either, and NO tiptronic - 6-spd manual for me. :D

On a different subject from a purely fantasy point of view - I bought a issue of Evo last night, and was absolutely floored by the Koenigsegg CC8S. That's the most incredably beautiful exotic I've ever seen, also think the Modena is a work of art. I'm not a big fan of the F-40's styling. I like the GT-40s that are coming out next year and think they were about 40 years ahead of their time in the body styling dept. Take a Ford GT-40 and a new Modena and park them next to each other, and there isn't much difference on the outside in 2003.

Speaking of fantasy, given all the money in the world I still seek out the classics, with the ability to get the cars of my dreams I could drive street or race, I'd be looking for a Jag D Type, a Porsche Spyder, or a Ferarri 275GTB. 8)

Keith

Keith and other Koenigsegg fans,

Let this download (BIG file) and enjoy. 8 minutes of Koenigsegg action.

http://www.polarisuk.com/video/auto/Koenigsegg.wmv


This car is amazing!!!

That video was AMAZING!! More please!!!

Keith

My wife and I sat watching with our mouths open...if our car only had 600hp....