I have not test driven a 997 as yet and since I am not in the market it might be sometime until I get the chance. I have noticed that many of you already are test driving them and comenting on the speed etc. So am I to assume that you guys are getting on the cars and pushing them? In front of the salesmen and with no or minimal break in? Isn't there a break in period? Would you buy a demo car that was pushed and not broken in properly? When I was test driving the 996, the cars were already broken in.

 

Good question. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I personally drive pretty agressively on test drives and will redline it. For 75K I'm gonna want to have a pretty good idea of what the car has to offer before I buy it. I'd would simply recommend you drive the car in a familiar area as you would in a normal routine to see if it fits your wants/needs. My02

 

So did my salesman. I never buy a car on the lot. When I lease, I don't care. There are people who drive their car like they stole it right out of the box and never have problems. I always follow break in though. If you are spending 80,000 plus on a car, you should have the real sense of its abilities.

 

So I guess that the idea is to drive it hard and fast and then buy a different car that has not been beat on.

 

I have another question, to those who do not believe in any break in period at all........would they buy a demo that has had the bejeebers run out of it?

 

I believe the factory tests each engine at full throttle for a certain duration before they are put into the cars. I do not believe a few short bursts of power is going to have any significant detrimental effect on the engine.

 

I think I would buy if the car was was not too used - say under 1000 miles. I think the new motors now days don't really need much break in. And if the engine blows up, it's waranteed. I might negotiate in a new alignment.

For my cars, I don't follow the break in rigorously, and I've never had any problems. I actually think it's better to use the whole rev range to seat the pistons and avoid harmonics.

 

Best to order exactly what you want.

I test drove an 03 C4S right off the showroom floor in April 03.
Took it right on the highway and did 115+.
Ordered my 04 the next day.
Took delivery 9/15/03.

 

FLOOR IT !!
STAND on the BRAKES!!

 

Going for a test drive this Saturday. I plan on driving it the way I am going to on a daily basis.

Basicly, wait til the engine warms up, then get on it like I stole it. The engine, transmission, and brakes all get a workout. It's the only way to do it.

 

I drove one yesterday after the salesman gave me a "very good idea" of what the car could do. I was suprisingly a bit restrained but still ran it through the entire rev range and hung a couple of 90 degree corners at about 40. The car laughed at me.

My C5 Vette could do the same and match the speed of the Porsche, in fact my S2000 could bust an apex with the best of them. But......


The Porsche makes it look easy.

 

I just drove the 997S - sweet car to say the least. I can't wait to see the TT and GT3!

 

Test drove 997 last Monday- drove the hell out of it. Same salesman who was telling me to push harder when I test drove the 996 before I bought was asking me to slow down. Guess I am more used to 911s now! Anyway, great car. Smoother, faster, better gearshift, better interior, more responsive initial turn in. Put a deposit on 997 cab after drive.