Just got to drive a BoxterS

[Fischer]

Porsche BoxterS.

Pretty fun car. Tires looked low so boss threw me the keys.

Really nice steering, though pick up was not what I expected.

Handles like a Z3, nice and crisp.

I am just too damn big for these little cars, can't steer withoug hitting my leg. 6' 230lbs...

Just thought it was pretty cool.

 

[SaleenEXP]

The acceleration on both Boxster's is nothing special although still plenty fast, but the sound of that engine at full throttle is amazing, and the handling is as if it's glued to the road.

You wanna know what a real Porsche feels like.....heh..come down to where I live some time, and I'll get my mom's friend to give you a ride in his 996 Ruf Porsche Turbo with a few goodies You probably know how light they are anyway and how fast a stock turbo is with 415-456hp....imagine one putting out about 700rwhp and tq, it's sickening how fast it is, he's scared the piss outta me a few times in it.....215mph on I-95 definitley had me paying attention to the road lol, this was at night time though with nobody on the road incase you we're wondering. And I can't even describe how beautiful and aggressive the sound of the Ruf engine with mods, it's like an ****** to hear lol.

Fastest accelerating car I've been in, I mean think of how a Viper or stock turbo presses you into the seat and multiply that by like 5 times. Feels like your body just got crushed becasue of the torque output.

Theres a reason Porsche's are my favorite

I have a video of the new Porsche GT running the Nurburging track, holy **** does that car haul around the track and emits one hell of an exhaust note thats for damn sure

 

[N2MUDN91]

215 ? thats crazy. ive only gone 150 in a 300zx single turbo. and that was scary, i cant imagine going 215.. woohoo

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Hmmm, 2000lbs, 285HP yeah P-cars are fun alright, here's mine:

In case you're wondering it's a 1966 with a modified 1981 3.0SC engine, fiberglass front and rear spoilers, and updated suspension/brakes.

 

[Nate1]

Thats a beautiful car... good god what do you do for a living?!
-----Nate

 

[SaleenEXP]

A Quiet Boom - are you a member on the Rennlist board?

Personally I just love the 02+ 996 Porsches, 99-01 water cooled 996's sounded way to quiet.

Gotta love Fabspeed supercups on a 996....drool....

But the sound of the air-cooled engines is just amazing, what kind of exhaust do you have? I was talking to some guy today that had a 93' 993 with the Robin exhaust which is basically just gutted mufflers and I think cats, thats what that dude Robin does right? But man, that air cooled engine taking off at full throttle sounded wicked, wau more different then the new water cooled engines. We used to have a 95' 993 with the full fabspeed exhaust, headers and Uni chip....god I wish we didn't sell it. Maybe I'll talk my mom into the new GT3.....hehe, ya right, she'll never let go of her Mounty.

The new 997 looks pretty promising....want to race the Ruf being around 3100lbs I think with 700rwhp

I'd love to track your car though, the older Porsches kick azz around autocross tracks.

 

[Stephen]

Very fun car the Porsche. One of my "things to de before I die" is to own a Porsche 911, but it'll have to wait until I retire. It shall remain the Lexus Limo for the clients

I'm moving this to the "All Other Makes and Models" forum.

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Originally posted by nweibley
Thats a beautiful car... good god what do you do for a living?!
-----Nate

LOL, would you believe I have less that 15k in the whole car? Early 911's in good shape can be had for far less than most would believe.

SaleenEXP, yes I'm a member of rennlist but spend more of my time at the Pelican Parts 911 Forum http://forums.pelicanparts.com and for my exhaust it's a custom X-pipe I built myself, here's a pic with my old Flowmaster setup for comparision. It's upside down in the pic.

I know what you mean about the air-cooled experience, I grew up with Ford powered drag-cars and while they are certainly a blast, my (comparably) little 3.0 is and incredible experience to drive, makes me feel like I'm driving at LeMans or something. I plan on running my car at Mid-Ohio this summer, autocross is fun but open track racing is where the real fun begins.

 

[Jefe]

pickup not what you expected??

My dad's got a '97 Boxter (no S) and its quite a trick to keep traction in the rear wheels. . .and even if you can, you feel like you end up spending as much time shifting gears as you do accelerating. And yes, at 4-6k rpm that motor sounds sweet.

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by A Quiet Boom
I know what you mean about the air-cooled experience, I grew up with Ford powered drag-cars and while they are certainly a blast, my (comparably) little 3.0 is and incredible experience to drive, makes me feel like I'm driving at LeMans or something. I plan on running my car at Mid-Ohio this summer, autocross is fun but open track racing is where the real fun begins.

No doubt about that, those air cooled engines have a very mean roar that you just couldn't believe would come from such a compact engine.

I'll have to check out that site, I've heard of it before, mostly deals with the older P-cars right?

errr..I meant open track racing, damn brain farts, thats what I get for staying up so late . x-crossing is still cool, but nothing beats watching and especially hearing Porsche's tear up an open track. I've seen so many guys think their the **** in the BMW M5's and especially M3's and think they can take Porsche It is so gratifying watching them even try to hang with the "older" Porsche's, M3 can't even come close to comparing.

I remember one guy comming on to the Rennlist board with his new M3 and talking about he loved to setup a race to show the 996's how good the M3's are, they set up on a track and god did he get his ass kicked out there, he was way off the stock 996's pace.

quick question?..how hard is it to fab your own exhaust, Porsche's have the most unsual exhaust setup, and I've always wanted to hear what Flowmasters or Magnaflows would sound like on an air or water cooled engine.

oh yeh, anybody on here that complains about paying 200 or so for their Flows on their Explorer, be lucky you aren't buying just an exhaust for a 996 and 993 which can range from around 900-2500, tack on another 1-2000 just for headers. I think Ruf is the most expensive exhaust made for the 996.

 

[mattadams]

and you didn't invite me along? LOL.

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Yeah M3's are fun to play with, I really pissed off the owner of a brand new one on the highway once, I came up behind him at about 80mph and flashed my lights so he punched it I stayed right on his tail up to 120 when I flashed my lights again then drove right by him. What a rush I had it in 5th gear near the redline and didn't even look at the speedo but I had to be near 150 or so. As for the exhaust it wasn't that hard, I used Hooker U-bends and my Tig welder although I could have done almost as good with a regular Mig. I tacked everything in place on the car then took it off for finish welding. The X-pipe in the picture now has Walker UltraFlos on it, loud and mean sounding to be sure especially at the top of each gear.

 

[Fischer]

I have always loved what Ruf does to the Porsches. Back in the day it was either a Ruf 911 or a Bugatti EB110-S...Both crest the Golden 200 mark. That was if I was rich beyond my wildest dreams...lol

And as for the performance, 0-60 is just so so. I guess I am spoiled as I have been in some Quite fast street legal rides. (cousin's GrandNational modded is FAST)

Handling though, AMAZING, though I drive borrowed cars pretty mellow. (don't want to incriminate myself ) "Oh by the way, I just got a ticket filling your tires"...that is what I don't want to happen...

Back to the handling, it was TIGHT as a rollercoaster, the arse end got a bit squirrely around a long left though I am sure that was due to cold tires as well as low PSI...
After proper inflation and some 0-60 runs I TRIED to get it to bark a bit, nothing. Just smooth and nimble. Again though I was driving very reserved as it is our COO's car and I am a big believer in a. The Golden Rule and b. Not taking advantage of ones trust.

I agree at WOT it sounds very cool, especially as the engine is directly behind your back. Great sound.

I still like the Z3 though as it is a smidge bigger in the drivers seat and handles quite comparitively...And with a 3.0i, if that was S/C it would suck the eyes back in your head.

Now to get the owner to let me drive his 318 (Magnum PI) Ferrarri...(could be wrong on the model #)

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Magnum's car was a 308 if I'm not mistaken. As for 0-60 and such well with the exception of the turbo models that just isn't what Porsche is all about, they are a true "driver's car" and handling is paramount. It is not unusual to see P-cars show better lap times than cars with a substantial acceleration advantage because the P-cars can brake later and roll right by the others on a road course. I agree with the "driving someone else's car" thing entirely although most P-car drivers like to see their cars driven hard, be careful in the Boxster though since midengine cars have a lower polar moment of inertia it is very easy to step right past the limit whereas in cars like the 911 the tail will slide a little (sometimes on purpose) to let you know you're a little too hot in a corner. In this regard 911's are totally different than other cars, lifting the gas or braking WILL cause a spin, best bet is to either ride out the corner or plant your foot on the gas which plants the rearend and pushes the front (four wheel drifts in a 911 are a real thrill once mastered). I admit that it took awhile to get used to the "slower" Porsche after driving a 10 second capable Mustang until I realized that I was driving far below the car's limits in most corners, now with practice I find the cornering power has a much bigger hit on the "grin meter" than my Mustang's straight line blast ever did.

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by A Quiet Boom
In this regard 911's are totally different than other cars, lifting the gas or braking WILL cause a spin, best bet is to either ride out the corner or plant your foot on the gas which plants the rearend and pushes the front (four wheel drifts in a 911 are a real thrill once mastered).

Luckily Turbos, especially Ruf, Gemballa, and Techart version will crush your body on acceleration

I was just about to say the same thing, if your driving a Porsche on a track never lift the gas or brake in a turn or you'll say bye bye track . Keep that foot floored and you'll be fine, I think thats what scares a lot of drivers learning how to drive a Porsche, they're used to being in other cars where you have to lift the throttle and brake - totally opposite of the 911's handling traits.

Hey Boom, I have a video I downloaded of a Techart 911 doing two wicked ass 4 wheel drifts around a track, I think I deleted it but I 'll find the link and try to post it here.

 

[Fischer]

Yes, Quiet Boom, I'd have to agree. It's pretty cool to blast in a strait line and feel the Gs. Though with these little roadsters you get the nice lateral Gs.

I really do like the fast accelleraton that say a HD 1200 Custom Sportster provides though.

But for pure 'driving' pleasure I would have to agree that a nice handling car like the BoxterS as well as the Z3 are really, really fun and if I had to choose I would go for less off the line excitement and more for the all around handling and nimbleness.

Especialy here in CO in the summer time. Nice winding roads, no real need to exceed the speedlimit TOO much as it's just fun to turn and sometimes just "stay" close or just above the speed limit. Explorer has a bit of a struggle staying at 65-75 up passes.

Also this altitude is a huge factor in the differences of accelleration (like Jefe mentioned).
I am sure the BoxterS would scream a lot more at Sea Level...More fun


Not that I am a conesuer of fine driving imports or domestics for that matter, as I do drive an Explorer firstly, and essentially that's all I drive. The Explorer is just a boheamuth comparingly.

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Well unfortunately I drive the X last, even though I really like it I did buy it for my wife. In the summer I drive the P-car and in the winter I drive my 4x4 Nissan, which the wife hates because it's too tall LOL. My F100 although a fun truck in it's day is badly in need of restoration so now it just hauls my trailer. While I'm not a connoisseur of fine sports cars I am a serious car/truck junkie and the P-car just fills in part of that equation, sometimes between the 4x4 and the 911 I find myself wanting to borrow the X for a little more luxurious ride. To me driving has always been about the points in between A and B, I drive for pleasure, taking the long way to and from work etc. I think almost all cars have their place, which might explain why I keep so many around.

 

[Silverblade]

Do you have a pic of your targa?

 

[A Quiet Boom]

Originally posted by Silverblade
Do you have a pic of your targa?

No not yet, I recently purchased it from my brother and it's in storage. I say project because at the moment it's stripped down to a shell awaiting restoration this summer. The car started as somebody else's project who installed the widebody rear flares but sold it to my brother before they finished, my brother sold it to me after he bought a mid '80s 911 Carrera in need of a new engine. I'm still trying to decide but ultimately I'll probably build the targa into my summertime daily driver and install a cage in the '66 for use primarily as a track car or maybe the other way around I really can't make up my mind LOL

 

[Raceit]

Since we're showing Porsches, here's mine.

A 1991 944S2. (My first Porsche, BTW) I've had it about a year and I am already currently plotting and scheeming on how to get a NA 993.

Dead Link Removed

Also I am on Rennlist too and go by the same name there.

My Dad had a regular '99 Boxster. It was a bit slower then my S2. And even though mine is 12 years older I would still pick mine. However just about any newer car is better in the respect that it's new. But neither of these compares to a 993 in my opionion.