SM_ATL's Carrera S Journal
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Anyway congrats, I'm sure you will have a ton of fun with your new mistress, and I can't wait to meet her!
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Goodbye!
So I finally did it, left my 991 behind and drove back from the dealership in an impeccable 5kmiles 997 Mk1 Gt3.
Many of you will call me a nutjob and they may probably be right. I followed my gut instinct and I have no regrets so far.
Yes, on paper, the 991S may be even faster in expert hands and when I test drove the car, I noticed I could get to the same speed in curves with the 991S with 1/10th of the effort. The difference is how you get to that speed: feeling super-connected to the road, feeling every tiny piece of gravel on the road, revving up quickly to 8,000 rpm with the raw sound of the Mezger engine.
It's like daily driving on the track (not necessarily at illegal speeds).
Is there a risk that I'd get bored and start missing the 991S' comfort and smoothness I liked too? It may well be the case but I am ready to take that risk. If everything goes well -and I'll do my best
- I'd keep this one for 2 years until the 991 GT3 becomes available, that I have the opportunity to drive it and then custom build it.
I am still convinced the 991S is the best all around car but I just feel I need something more raw. Maybe the fact that I kept driving it in Sport(+) mode, with PSE and sport suspension on and downshifting manually most of the time was an indication of my affliction.
I have a little bit of a makeover going on with the GT3, so there will be no pics until the week end... and a new thread in the GT3 section
Tomorrow, I'll take the GT3 and the 996 for a quick day at the track for a first 'evaluation'.
So I finally did it, left my 991 behind and drove back from the dealership in an impeccable 5kmiles 997 Mk1 Gt3.
Many of you will call me a nutjob and they may probably be right. I followed my gut instinct and I have no regrets so far.
Yes, on paper, the 991S may be even faster in expert hands and when I test drove the car, I noticed I could get to the same speed in curves with the 991S with 1/10th of the effort. The difference is how you get to that speed: feeling super-connected to the road, feeling every tiny piece of gravel on the road, revving up quickly to 8,000 rpm with the raw sound of the Mezger engine.
It's like daily driving on the track (not necessarily at illegal speeds).
Is there a risk that I'd get bored and start missing the 991S' comfort and smoothness I liked too? It may well be the case but I am ready to take that risk. If everything goes well -and I'll do my best
- I'd keep this one for 2 years until the 991 GT3 becomes available, that I have the opportunity to drive it and then custom build it.I am still convinced the 991S is the best all around car but I just feel I need something more raw. Maybe the fact that I kept driving it in Sport(+) mode, with PSE and sport suspension on and downshifting manually most of the time was an indication of my affliction.
I have a little bit of a makeover going on with the GT3, so there will be no pics until the week end... and a new thread in the GT3 section
Tomorrow, I'll take the GT3 and the 996 for a quick day at the track for a first 'evaluation'.
Serge... you're a wild man!!
I'm sure it'll be another great ride both as a vehicle and as a branch of life's experiences.
Are you planning to keep the 996 track car?
I'm afraid that will be a lot less exciting now that you've got a 997GT3 as a comparison... still a ton of fun, but you know what I mean.
It would be great if you could still keep us updated with some comparison posts here.
We are sure gonna miss you!
Congrats!!!
Sid.
First of all, Thanks for all your kind words!
Well... time will tell But please, do not tell my wife! (although she has me well figured out)
Hey Sid, I am not going anywhere! I'll be posting more on other 6speed forums, but I'll keep an eye on the 991 section as I'll surely be back in one at some point. December '15... or before
Very good question about the 996 track car. This project is almost complete (front lip and big wing installed yesterday). The car is only missing a limited slip diff at this point. I'll be tracking the GT3 and the 996 back to back a few times tomorrow, so I'll have a pretty good idea about how they compare, but I share your 'concern'. How much time will i be willing to spend in the 996 once I tried the GT3 on the track?
Santa is a definitely a good guy and he must love Porsche's
I'll start the new thread this week end with a few track pics from the GT3 and a few goodies that I started to install on the car (GT3RS steering wheel and GT2 seats today, LED DRL's and taillights tomorrow night, etc.)
I have applied the orange decals on the 996 tonight (as well as 2 'kistudios.com' decals on the A-pillars to advertise for a great vendor ) and it looks gorgeous. Pics for this week end as well!!!
But please, do not tell my wife! (although she has me well figured out) Serge... you're a wild man!!
I'm sure it'll be another great ride both as a vehicle and as a branch of life's experiences.
Are you planning to keep the 996 track car?
I'm afraid that will be a lot less exciting now that you've got a 997GT3 as a comparison... still a ton of fun, but you know what I mean.
It would be great if you could still keep us updated with some comparison posts here.
We are sure gonna miss you!
Congrats!!!
Sid.
I'm sure it'll be another great ride both as a vehicle and as a branch of life's experiences.
Are you planning to keep the 996 track car?
I'm afraid that will be a lot less exciting now that you've got a 997GT3 as a comparison... still a ton of fun, but you know what I mean.
It would be great if you could still keep us updated with some comparison posts here.
We are sure gonna miss you!
Congrats!!!
Sid.
Very good question about the 996 track car. This project is almost complete (front lip and big wing installed yesterday). The car is only missing a limited slip diff at this point. I'll be tracking the GT3 and the 996 back to back a few times tomorrow, so I'll have a pretty good idea about how they compare, but I share your 'concern'. How much time will i be willing to spend in the 996 once I tried the GT3 on the track?
I'll start the new thread this week end with a few track pics from the GT3 and a few goodies that I started to install on the car (GT3RS steering wheel and GT2 seats today, LED DRL's and taillights tomorrow night, etc.)
I have applied the orange decals on the 996 tonight (as well as 2 'kistudios.com' decals on the A-pillars to advertise for a great vendor
) and it looks gorgeous. Pics for this week end as well!!!
Last edited by SM_ATL; Dec 27, 2012 at 10:21 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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First of all, Thanks for all your kind words!
Well... time will tell But please, do not tell my wife! (although she has me well figured out)
Hey Sid, I am not going anywhere! I'll be posting more on other 6speed forums, but I'll keep an eye on the 991 section as I'll surely be back in one at some point. December '15... or before
Very good question about the 996 track car. This project is almost complete (front lip and big wing installed yesterday). The car is only missing a limited slip diff at this point. I'll be tracking the GT3 and the 996 back to back a few times tomorrow, so I'll have a pretty good idea about how they compare, but I share your 'concern'. How much time will i be willing to spend in the 996 once I tried the GT3 on the track?
Santa is a definitely a good guy and he must love Porsche's
I'll start the new thread this week end with a few track pics from the GT3 and a few goodies that I started to install on the car (GT3RS steering wheel and GT2 seats today, LED DRL's and taillights tomorrow night, etc.)
I have applied the orange decals on the 996 tonight (as well as 2 'kistudios.com' decals on the A-pillars to advertise for a great vendor ) and it looks gorgeous. Pics for this week end as well!!!
Well... time will tell
But please, do not tell my wife! (although she has me well figured out) Hey Sid, I am not going anywhere! I'll be posting more on other 6speed forums, but I'll keep an eye on the 991 section as I'll surely be back in one at some point. December '15... or before
Very good question about the 996 track car. This project is almost complete (front lip and big wing installed yesterday). The car is only missing a limited slip diff at this point. I'll be tracking the GT3 and the 996 back to back a few times tomorrow, so I'll have a pretty good idea about how they compare, but I share your 'concern'. How much time will i be willing to spend in the 996 once I tried the GT3 on the track?
Santa is a definitely a good guy and he must love Porsche's
I'll start the new thread this week end with a few track pics from the GT3 and a few goodies that I started to install on the car (GT3RS steering wheel and GT2 seats today, LED DRL's and taillights tomorrow night, etc.)
I have applied the orange decals on the 996 tonight (as well as 2 'kistudios.com' decals on the A-pillars to advertise for a great vendor
) and it looks gorgeous. Pics for this week end as well!!!
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Serge---Way to go. GT3 is probably the only thing that would get me out of your CR that I bought and love more and more with each passing day. Glad to see you went back to the raw side Looking forward to your thread on changes to it. It will serve as a good guide for me when I do change out down the road. All the best.
Looking forward to your thread on changes to it. It will serve as a good guide for me when I do change out down the road. All the best.
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as a porsche neophyte, i am in awe of this sequence of events sm_atl. you are a true sports car enthusiast that inspires us all. while i'll live vicariously through your upcoming racing posts, i am also motivated now to join my local pca chapter and get started on my own adventures.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 38
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Serge, WOW! I've finally met someone else who thinks (?) out of the box. Can't wait to see it. Did you join AMP? I'm planning to be up there tomorrow. Allan
Ps, Will be at COTA the end of Jan with the 4.0. Wish you and Ole could be there.
Ps, Will be at COTA the end of Jan with the 4.0. Wish you and Ole could be there.
I think that down the road, the 991 GT3 will offer the best of both words. 
Not sure I am very sensible about all this, but I follow my instinct and what gives me the most fun. i see it as a journey, but I am not quite sure about my final destination...as a porsche neophyte, i am in awe of this sequence of events sm_atl. you are a true sports car enthusiast that inspires us all. while i'll live vicariously through your upcoming racing posts, i am also motivated now to join my local pca chapter and get started on my own adventures.
The new thread will start soon. Meanwhile, here's a frist pic taken this week at Talladega Gran Prix (will report on first impressions shortly).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60293300@N06/8332239588/
Entering the 21st century...
Followed my kids' advice and started a SM_ATL Facebook page and Instagram account. Not planning on abandoning 6Speed though
Links added to my signature!
Followed my kids' advice and started a SM_ATL Facebook page and Instagram account. Not planning on abandoning 6Speed though
Links added to my signature!