Porsche 959 review
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Porsche 959 review
Having put a healthy 500 km on the car, I am ready to share some inital impressions of the car for those who are interested.
OVERALL:
I am totally impressed. I think the car is a pleasure to drive, the handling is the best I've enjoyed in a sports car, and the versatility of its systems is unparalleled. The car is very fast. It is my favorite Porsche of all the ones I have driven.
EXTERIOR:
The 959 looks strange in photos. It also looks strange in person. I have never seen a car that looks so different depending on the angle you view it from. From some angles, the car looks a bit odd; from other, it looks breath-taking. My personal opinion is that it is a beautiful Porsche. My car is SILBER METALLIC, which is whiter than arctic silver.
INTERIOR:
Is also much nicer in person than I thought. The cabin is truly all leather. The layout basically classic air-cooled Porsche, with the exception of some fun dials you don't normally see... 4 wheel drive mode, right height... etc.
I forgot how much I enjoyed the old Porsche cockpits, I much prefer it to the 996 layout.
(con't next post)
OVERALL:
I am totally impressed. I think the car is a pleasure to drive, the handling is the best I've enjoyed in a sports car, and the versatility of its systems is unparalleled. The car is very fast. It is my favorite Porsche of all the ones I have driven.
EXTERIOR:
The 959 looks strange in photos. It also looks strange in person. I have never seen a car that looks so different depending on the angle you view it from. From some angles, the car looks a bit odd; from other, it looks breath-taking. My personal opinion is that it is a beautiful Porsche. My car is SILBER METALLIC, which is whiter than arctic silver.
INTERIOR:
Is also much nicer in person than I thought. The cabin is truly all leather. The layout basically classic air-cooled Porsche, with the exception of some fun dials you don't normally see... 4 wheel drive mode, right height... etc.
I forgot how much I enjoyed the old Porsche cockpits, I much prefer it to the 996 layout.
(con't next post)
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FEATURES:
There are a lot of features unique to the 959, and let me highlight a few...
Adjustable Ride Height -- It is pretty shocking to see just how high the car can be raised. It ends up looking like a Porsche dune buggy. At the highest postion you can go up to 80km/h. The middle (which is still very generous for ground clearence) gets you to about 150 km/h... Then there is the lowest (normal) and a super-low which only the car can select.
The AMAZING thing about the ride height it how well the car maintains its handling even at the dune-buggy height. I would have no problem driving at the speed limits of the systems and still feel totally safe. The car can adjust its height on the go, and it pauses anytime you are braking or cornering.
SUSPENSION SETTINGS
To be honest, based on what I'd read I was worried the car would be too soft. I don't know what was wrong with the cars I've read about, because for me the suspension is excellent. At its most stiff it feels like a stock 993 turbo, at its softest, it feels like a Ferrari 575 Fiorano. I find all three positions excellent for driving, but prefer the stiffest. NOTE -- This car is not as stiff as a GT2 or GT3, but it sure doesn't seem to suffer handling for that.
(con')t
There are a lot of features unique to the 959, and let me highlight a few...
Adjustable Ride Height -- It is pretty shocking to see just how high the car can be raised. It ends up looking like a Porsche dune buggy. At the highest postion you can go up to 80km/h. The middle (which is still very generous for ground clearence) gets you to about 150 km/h... Then there is the lowest (normal) and a super-low which only the car can select.
The AMAZING thing about the ride height it how well the car maintains its handling even at the dune-buggy height. I would have no problem driving at the speed limits of the systems and still feel totally safe. The car can adjust its height on the go, and it pauses anytime you are braking or cornering.
SUSPENSION SETTINGS
To be honest, based on what I'd read I was worried the car would be too soft. I don't know what was wrong with the cars I've read about, because for me the suspension is excellent. At its most stiff it feels like a stock 993 turbo, at its softest, it feels like a Ferrari 575 Fiorano. I find all three positions excellent for driving, but prefer the stiffest. NOTE -- This car is not as stiff as a GT2 or GT3, but it sure doesn't seem to suffer handling for that.
(con')t
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Pictures... and LOTS OF THEM!!!
Okay.... enough of the text... let's break out the digital camera and post about a million shots 
If you don't have a site to post them on... I'll host it for you... shoot me a PM and I'll give you the ftp instructions.
Joe West
If you don't have a site to post them on... I'll host it for you... shoot me a PM and I'll give you the ftp instructions.
Joe West
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ALL WHEEL DRIVE
This is where the car blows anything I've driven away. I won't try to explain the system, which has never been duplicated since, suffice to say the car is more fun to drive on twist mountain roads than any other all wheel drive, or 2wd, car I've been in. I'm not sure why, but there is an amazing amount of communication between driver and car around a bend, and playing with angles, speeds, entry and exit points....etc. one finds the awd system seems to adjust the power in such a way as to read one's mind. If there is one thing about the 959 that truly blows me away, it is simply how it feels to corner in it. Now, I haven't thrown it around super-hard yet, and I'm not claiming it can't be outclassed on time by a car like a GT2, I am simply saying I have NEVER felt more in tune with a car. Moreover, for real world driving, I have never felt as safe is high speed traffic. I really hope one day they use this awd system again.
TRACTION PROGRAMS
Basically there are 4 selectable traction programs, all available on the fly. Dry, Wet, Snow, Full Traction. Dry and Wet are subtle in their differences. Snow is impressive in how it balances grip on bad surfaces. Full Traction made me feel like I was in my Jeep Rubicom with everything Locked. I thought I had jumped into a Porsche Tank. With Full Traction and High Ride Height, it is hard to imagine a situation on any kind of 'road' that you couldn't get out of.
One thing you have to get used to is that the light for which traction program you are in is yellow and is always on. It is the only light on all the time, and sometimes I think it is a warning light... Sure I'll get used to it.
(con't)
This is where the car blows anything I've driven away. I won't try to explain the system, which has never been duplicated since, suffice to say the car is more fun to drive on twist mountain roads than any other all wheel drive, or 2wd, car I've been in. I'm not sure why, but there is an amazing amount of communication between driver and car around a bend, and playing with angles, speeds, entry and exit points....etc. one finds the awd system seems to adjust the power in such a way as to read one's mind. If there is one thing about the 959 that truly blows me away, it is simply how it feels to corner in it. Now, I haven't thrown it around super-hard yet, and I'm not claiming it can't be outclassed on time by a car like a GT2, I am simply saying I have NEVER felt more in tune with a car. Moreover, for real world driving, I have never felt as safe is high speed traffic. I really hope one day they use this awd system again.
TRACTION PROGRAMS
Basically there are 4 selectable traction programs, all available on the fly. Dry, Wet, Snow, Full Traction. Dry and Wet are subtle in their differences. Snow is impressive in how it balances grip on bad surfaces. Full Traction made me feel like I was in my Jeep Rubicom with everything Locked. I thought I had jumped into a Porsche Tank. With Full Traction and High Ride Height, it is hard to imagine a situation on any kind of 'road' that you couldn't get out of.
One thing you have to get used to is that the light for which traction program you are in is yellow and is always on. It is the only light on all the time, and sometimes I think it is a warning light... Sure I'll get used to it.
(con't)
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CREATURE COMFORTS
I have a nice combination -- Leather covered Sport Seats. So I get comy seats AND the seat warmers. They work very well. The AC is shockingly effective... What happened to that in later models?! Blaupunkt stereo is sufficiently confusing looking but sounds ok. What you just can't beat is the smell of that interior... I missed that handcrafted leathery smell in my newer 996's.
The steering wheel is fine, though not adjustable, so tailoring you driving position is limited.
For those who may have forgotten, pre 996 clutch pedals hinged very differently. It took me a day or so to get used to that, and the clutch travel is long compared to newer niftier cars like the GT2. Combined with an alarming proclivity to rev very quickly thanks to sequential turbos, means that launching the car is the most difficult thing about driving it. Takes about a day to master.
On the up side, the gearing is excellent for real world driving. 'G' is shorter than a normal 1st, which can be annoying, but '1' think 2, and '2' think 3 are perfect. You can pretty much drive anywhere in 2... from 5 mph to 80mph without a thought.
BTW -- Anyone who owns a sports car should have their speedo in Km/h -- It keeps you from getting speeding tickets. I keep think I'm doing 120!
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS
So far, so good. A word on changing wheels sizes and tires. People do that. Howver, the 959's ABS and AWD were calibrated to the precise stock wheels and rubber. So make changes with care, and make sure you keep the proper difference between front and rear or else you are limiting the effectiveness of the systems...
(con't)
I have a nice combination -- Leather covered Sport Seats. So I get comy seats AND the seat warmers. They work very well. The AC is shockingly effective... What happened to that in later models?! Blaupunkt stereo is sufficiently confusing looking but sounds ok. What you just can't beat is the smell of that interior... I missed that handcrafted leathery smell in my newer 996's.
The steering wheel is fine, though not adjustable, so tailoring you driving position is limited.
For those who may have forgotten, pre 996 clutch pedals hinged very differently. It took me a day or so to get used to that, and the clutch travel is long compared to newer niftier cars like the GT2. Combined with an alarming proclivity to rev very quickly thanks to sequential turbos, means that launching the car is the most difficult thing about driving it. Takes about a day to master.
On the up side, the gearing is excellent for real world driving. 'G' is shorter than a normal 1st, which can be annoying, but '1' think 2, and '2' think 3 are perfect. You can pretty much drive anywhere in 2... from 5 mph to 80mph without a thought.
BTW -- Anyone who owns a sports car should have their speedo in Km/h -- It keeps you from getting speeding tickets. I keep think I'm doing 120!
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS
So far, so good. A word on changing wheels sizes and tires. People do that. Howver, the 959's ABS and AWD were calibrated to the precise stock wheels and rubber. So make changes with care, and make sure you keep the proper difference between front and rear or else you are limiting the effectiveness of the systems...
(con't)
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BUILD QUALITY
Truly astounding when I compare it to some later model cars... Everything is fit, everything works precisely (so far)... It is the little things, like the way the door locks snap open without hesitation when you turn the key... And let's not forget the sound of the door closing... A prosche specialty.
REAL WORLD DRIVING
To me this is where the car really impressed me. It is fine around town. Feels like a 993 tt with better handling. You never scrape on anything, always have plenty of car, always have a nice gear... The sequential turbos give you a much more linear feel to the boost, and more vesatility down low.
At speed, the car starts to show its true colors. Loves high speed corners. Tracks straight. I took my hands off the wheel for a long long long time and never wavered...
There is a lot of turbo lag. So much, that it almost feels like the car is normally aspirated. It comes on slowly, almost progessively... at about 5000 rpm things transfrom into GT2 style... but the car does not feel uber fast. It does not thrown you back in your seat the way some P-cars do. Do I miss that? Sure. I love that stomach dropping feel, but I'm not going to pretend you get it in this car the way you do in a GT2. Interestingly, the car is much quicker then it feels, this is why I say it feels more like a normally aspirated car.
We'll see what happens when I get fresh rubber on there...
Also nice is almost no one pays attention to you. They think you are in some dorky old Porsche. I prefer the low profile to the look - at - me. I have encountered a few porsche-philes who had heart attacks when I told them it was real.
Any questions?
Truly astounding when I compare it to some later model cars... Everything is fit, everything works precisely (so far)... It is the little things, like the way the door locks snap open without hesitation when you turn the key... And let's not forget the sound of the door closing... A prosche specialty.
REAL WORLD DRIVING
To me this is where the car really impressed me. It is fine around town. Feels like a 993 tt with better handling. You never scrape on anything, always have plenty of car, always have a nice gear... The sequential turbos give you a much more linear feel to the boost, and more vesatility down low.
At speed, the car starts to show its true colors. Loves high speed corners. Tracks straight. I took my hands off the wheel for a long long long time and never wavered...
There is a lot of turbo lag. So much, that it almost feels like the car is normally aspirated. It comes on slowly, almost progessively... at about 5000 rpm things transfrom into GT2 style... but the car does not feel uber fast. It does not thrown you back in your seat the way some P-cars do. Do I miss that? Sure. I love that stomach dropping feel, but I'm not going to pretend you get it in this car the way you do in a GT2. Interestingly, the car is much quicker then it feels, this is why I say it feels more like a normally aspirated car.
We'll see what happens when I get fresh rubber on there...
Also nice is almost no one pays attention to you. They think you are in some dorky old Porsche. I prefer the low profile to the look - at - me. I have encountered a few porsche-philes who had heart attacks when I told them it was real.
Any questions?
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ONE LAST THING --
Problem monitoring. Porsche did something really amazing on this car. Since it has so many systems, it has a very sophisticated warning sysetm. Basically, depending on the nature of the problem, you get either a warning light in combination with the master caution, or a buzz with the lights...
Basically, in an instant you can hear/see just how severe a problem you are looking at and which system it is in. This is a very nice feature... Especially the buzzer, because it eliminates the confusion one sometimes has when they see a warning light, but don't know how bad it is...
I'm a private pilot, and the system reminds me of airplane ones... A really nice touch you never read about.
Problem monitoring. Porsche did something really amazing on this car. Since it has so many systems, it has a very sophisticated warning sysetm. Basically, depending on the nature of the problem, you get either a warning light in combination with the master caution, or a buzz with the lights...
Basically, in an instant you can hear/see just how severe a problem you are looking at and which system it is in. This is a very nice feature... Especially the buzzer, because it eliminates the confusion one sometimes has when they see a warning light, but don't know how bad it is...
I'm a private pilot, and the system reminds me of airplane ones... A really nice touch you never read about.
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Awesome brother! Would love to know how that puppy stacks up on a track versus a stock 996tt or GT2 or GT3. That thing is gorgeous!
How much did it end up costing you when all was said and done? And did you get it from Canepa? If not who?
Thanks for sharing!
How much did it end up costing you when all was said and done? And did you get it from Canepa? If not who?
Thanks for sharing!
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Deanger,
I've said it before, I'll say it again. The 959 has been one of my DREAM cars. I still remember the car and driver and motor trend articles about it, during my highschool days. Congratulations on your supercar! I LOVE IT!
I've said it before, I'll say it again. The 959 has been one of my DREAM cars. I still remember the car and driver and motor trend articles about it, during my highschool days. Congratulations on your supercar! I LOVE IT!
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deanger,
You will eventually need tires for this puppy. I was at ANDIAL on Monday and saw that they have 12 sets of 959 tires leftover. I know how hard they are to find, hope this helps.
Later!
You will eventually need tires for this puppy. I was at ANDIAL on Monday and saw that they have 12 sets of 959 tires leftover. I know how hard they are to find, hope this helps.
Later!
?