One more 996 Turbo article... "Retro Road Test"
 

Found this article earlier today. Pretty nice read, I don't think the writer is Porsche biased so it seems like a sort of fresh take on a first time drive in the car... (I don't usually cross post but this article seems to capture the current status of the car)

Full article---> https://www.motoringresearch.com/car...etro-road-test

Small quote from article, sums it up a bit:

"Maybe our view had been tainted by sniffy Porsche purists, who look down on the 996 as inferior to the earlier, air-cooled cars. Objectively, the exact opposite is true: few cars even today are so capable, so crushingly competent.

For some, that breadth of ability equates to dearth of character, at least when compared with the quirky 911s of old. Judge the 996 Turbo on its own merits, though – as a car to own and live with, as well as to drive – and little else comes close."

That quote sums it up perfectly honestly. I have an 01 996 turbo and am trying to think what car in that era can offer a better bang for buck than this car. What car in 01 will make more power than the 996 turbo mod for mod.. I recently ran a 2016 BMW M4 with a JB4 and exhaust and was dead even with it to a hefty speed. Right after i thought.. wow that car is 15 years newer than my car.. I should've been mopped upside down.

Yup, it's a testament to what went into these cars. Those turbocharged beemers are quick as heck with tune!! (I owned a 135i and a 535i both were N54 with JB3 and water/meth)

The only car from the early 2000s that's even close is the C5 Z06. With a good head/cam setup they could make mid 400s to the wheels. Throw on a blower or turbo on them and they will run with a 996TT with upgraded turbos.

Possibly a cobra too now that i put more thought into it.

Thanks for sharing. My favorite phrase:

Perfect summation of the platform.

Are you stock, or do you have any mods/tune?

Without a doubt, the Porsche Engineers overbuilt the first liquid cooled 911 Turbo and we're reaping the benefits 15 years later. Life is good.

Happy Motoring!

My mods are as basic as it gets. Stock k16's, 3" catless exhaust, diverter valves, EPL 1.2 bar flash. Nothing else.

I'm curious how long has your clutch has lasted at 1.2 bars?

Are you able to hold 1.2bar with the stock wastegates? I see spikes up to 1.1 on the factory gauge, (datalogged at 17.x psi, so 1.2b bar) but normally see consistent 1.0 bar with stock K16s, Kline exhaust, diverters, and 100 octane tune.

I'm on the stock clutch. The car has 40k miles. Majority with the GIAC 1.0 bar flash since 2008. About 1,000 miles now on the EPL flash. The car is tracked regularly and driven on weekends. Shows no signs, smells, etc of slippage. I've never launched the car either.

Only a spike to 1.2 bar. Holds 1.0 bar as well. Identical mods to you.. 3" catless x pipe, dv's but I'm on 93 octane .

nice. I'm sure it runs very well, I know mine does.

I can mix 91 and 100 to yield 95 octane, but what the hell, I can get 100 at the pump not too far away so I asked Sambo to tune for the good stuff. No time or inclination for any more mods right now, although I'm considering some better intercoolers...eventually.

I have the same exact feeling. The car gets up to pretty insane speeds quickly and easily. In my head i'm thinking how much faster do i need to get to 120-130-140-150-etc.. and is it really necessary ? lol I've been good fighting off the mod bug.