I took the day off to start the Carrera S break-in. I drove about 300 miles on some of California's best twisty roads.

I left the Bay Area around 11AM on Friday, towards the Monterey Bay via Hwy 17 over the Santa Cruz mountains. The segment of interest is about 20 miles and connects Los Gatos to Santa Cruz and rises up to 1800 feet. It is a superb strip of asphalt that some consider the West's 'Ring'. From there I took Hwy 1 to the south around the Monterey Bay, passing by Monterey and Carmel. Traffic, both on 17 and 1 was light. It allowed for good driving, 65/70+MPH, with plenty of room for carrying RPMS, shifting liberally through the gears.

After Carmel I continued south towards the Big Sur coast. Beautiful day with light traffic. The few cars I encountered on that part of the road courteously moved aside to allow me to pass - I guess the image on the rearview mirror of a 997.2 with bright LED DRLs earns some respect.

I stopped for lunch at Ventana Inn high over the Big Sur coast, past the town of Big Sur. The view from the restaurant overlooking the Pacific is simply spectacular:



Here is a photo of the car parked at Ventana Inn:



After lunch I drove the full extent of the Big Sur coast all the way past Gorda, passing Nepenthe, Julia Pfeiffer State Park and Lucia. Simply magnificent.

The road is spectacular with numerous fast tight curves, many fast esses, hairpins, constant elevation changes and medium straights. It is a fabulous road to break-in a car limited to the 1st half of the tachometer (4kRPM). Revs are constantly changing with great opportunities to change rapidly from 2k to 4k and exercise the engine under load and total safety. Driven fast, it is a 60MPH average road, but the tight turns offer plenty of opportunities to experience high g-loads at reasonable speeds i.e., 40-60MPH in this car when the average car does 25-40MPH. Fairly spirited driving is possible all inside of 4kRPM.

The car performed superbly. The 9A1 3.8L DFI engine is smooth, elastic and with loads of low-end torque in the first half of the tach. The PDK is a fantastic tool and a pleasure to use and when used properly plenty involving. I would not go back to a manual - not with this level of performance.

The return home followed back the same route to experience it again. The miles melted away. What a blast!

 

Looks like a blast....

I would do a hard break-in but that is me

Jason

 

I went down that part of the highway 20 years ago! It was amazing, the clouds were low and it was sunny and clear on the road.

Thanks for the photos!

 

enjoying your ride the way it was intended to be enjoyed...I'll bet you are still smiling

 

Way cool! Thanks for sharing the experience.
I've driven manuals all my life, and if you asked few months ago if I'd buy a car with dual clutch I'd say 'no way', but I'm slowly getting around.
There is a good chance my next car will have dual clutch transmission, but I'll want to keep at least one vehicle with a stick

 

Beautiful photos and your day was filled with a great drive . Northern California would be an ideal driving vacation and every time i see pictures of it I think to myself that I wish it wasn't 3K miles away .

 

Easily may favorite place in NA - Big Sur - the first time I saw it, I was stunned...over and over again for miles and miles. Been several years since I have been up at Ventana and Post Ranch, but even in a rentile, those roads and scenery (and food) are to die for. I would love to do it in the 911 - must be nice to live out there. That white CS is the perfect car for that trip.

 

For those lusting for the California Coast... click here for more Ventana and Big Sur images.

 

Cool pics, it is tough during the breakin period. I have about 1k on the clock and have been very diligent in shifting at a max of 4,200. Car begs to be driven beyond the 4,200, since that is about where the real power kicks in, oh well could be worse things in life to deal with.

 

Awesome - that is some nice country side. Have stayed at Ventana - its great. I'm at 1200 miles and cant wait for 2K. I havent kept it completely below 4200 but 99% have . Its frustrating. Congrats.

 

Break in..?? There is a break in period on these cars?

 

absolutely stunning ride! nothing like it here in South Florida

 

I did that drive this summer in the early morning (no traffic), top-down in my SL550 convertible just a week before I traded it for the '06 C2S. I can't think of a road and time that made me appreciate the natural beauty of California more than that. Your car is gorgeous --- the white coupe is simply classic. What a perfect trip to break the car in!