Ask the Car People.SM


Porsche 911

2170 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 9:25 PM

You are in the Porsche 911 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Porsche 911, Porsche Carrera GT, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 165 of 218

#1632 of 2170 Re: Color choices/price [habitat1] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 01, 2007 (9:10 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Jun 01, 2007 3:53 am)
The 996 up to year 2000 had a significant number of chassis issues with stock 18" tires...not structural so much as vibration, water leaks, cracking glass, etc. all due to the shock of the 18"s. I presume the new model has addressed this.
 
You can read more about this issue in:
 
Randy Leffingwell's Porsche 911 Buyer's Guide P.247, "Garage Watch -- Problems with Porsche 911 models".
 
quote: "Advisories issued against using 18" inch wheels on new models; while chassis is stiff enough, harmonic vibration begins cracking windshields."
 
I'd say on a used 996 just inspect for water leaks or for a history of windshield replacement if 18"s are on there already. If the 18's aren't on the car, dont' put them on. For the 997, I myself would check the boards and see if this issue is cropping up anywhere.
 
You know, it's probably just a small percentage of cars, but enough to get noticed by the "tribe" and publicized.
 
I'm also not sure if the turbo engine has to worry about RMS leaks--I'd have to call around to know that....I have been told by Porsche engine builders that there is really no cure for it other than block replacement but also that it isn't by any means inevitable that an engine will do it---if it doesn't happen early, seems like you're fine. If it happened early and you got a "fix", that may or may not work in the long run, is my understanding.

#1633 of 2170 18" wheels by chile96

Jun 01, 2007 (5:23 pm)

having owned several of the 996 based model porsches and spent FAR too much time on porsche forums, i have yet to hear of any issues stemming from 18" wheels - let alone windshield damage from harmonic vibration

#1634 of 2170 Re: 18" wheels [chile96] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 01, 2007 (8:00 pm)

Replying to: chile96 (Jun 01, 2007 5:23 pm)
Just passing it on...could be nothing at all.
 
There's a Porsche 1999 TSB on windshield stressing I believe but that's old history for a 997 owner!
 
 

#1635 of 2170 Re: 996 trbo or 997 Carrera S [habitat1] by upnorth2

Jun 03, 2007 (5:54 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Apr 12, 2007 5:00 am)
My C2S Cab has every option except the ceramic brakes. The dealer would only drop the price $2000. I go an extended warranty and a tire and rim warranty. I also got a Lexan chip shield on the nose, mirrors and rear wheel wheel flairs. My Vermont sales tax was 6%. I probably could have received a bigger discount but I "had to have it". My wife found the wire transfer I used to pay cash for the car and freaked out. When I told her I was buying a new Porsche, she guessed I'd spend $50K. She mumbled $112,000.00 was an immoral amount for a car. She said I could have supported a village in Africa for 5 year with the money. I promised to up my support for Doctors Without Borders. Her guilt trip failed. I LOVE my car.

#1636 of 2170 Re: 996 trbo or 997 Carrera S [upnorth2] by habitat1

Jun 04, 2007 (4:55 am)

Replying to: upnorth2 (Jun 03, 2007 5:54 pm)
"The dealer would only drop the price $2000."
 
Good grief, with all of those 100% mark-up items you added to the car, $2,000 off was the best they could do? I guess it's only money, but given that your gave dealer got $8,000+ more than mine would have sold the car for, you have every right to expect the royal treatment when it comes to post purchase service. Enjoy your car - how many miles so far?

#1637 of 2170 997 vs 996 wheels and tires by designman

Jun 04, 2007 (5:23 am)

All 996 Carreras except the C4S came with 17” wheels standard. Turbo and GT3 came with 18s. Today, the base Carreras have 18” standard.
 
HOWEVER.
 
We really can’t compare wheels sizes with 997 and earlier 911s because the tire diameters of the 997 have increased for the first time since 1965. In addition the 997 suspensions are totally different.
 
Comparing stock rear tires, an 18” 997 tire has more sidewall than an 18” 996 tire: 106 mm vs 85.5 mm respectively. In addition the rear tire diameter on the 18” 997 tires is over an inch bigger vs. the 18” 996 rear tires.
 
The 18 “ wheels on the 996s suspension yielded a very stiff ride as Shifty alluded to. As a matter of fact, I find the 17” wheels on the 996 Carrera to have a stiffer ride than the 19” wheels on the 997 Carrera S with PASM set to Sport. This is not to say that the 997 with PASM doesn’t handle well. The electronic damping does its job in maneuvering but the shock damping compensates for the low profile tires on the 997s. This is why there is all of this talk about smooth 911s that don’t rattle the teeth, a newfangled idea that always cause me to shake my head.

#1638 of 2170 Re: Saab 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds [spiritinthesky] by autoedu

Jun 05, 2007 (2:14 am)

Replying to: spiritinthesky (May 31, 2007 6:40 am)
With original engine block and head a Saab can be easily tuned to get world class performance 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds. That kind of performance can only be achieved with a modified Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini. No matter how you modified that twin turbo BMW it will never achieve that kind of performance. If you happened to spot a Saab Viggen or Aero on the road just save the BMW name by not even trying just know that it is fast...very fast in overtaking performance. With just a simple air intake mod and chip upgrade Saab is darn close to a Porsche in almost every performance measurements.
 
Hey bons that is a very cool article
I'll repost it again.
Saab 0-60mph in 2.3 Seconds
"...All eyes are directed to a chart on a computer screen. The numbers show 760 hp at 5800 rpm--impressive, to say the least. As surprising as it is impressive is that the car tested isn't a modified twin-turbo 996, Ferrari Maranello F1 or Lamborghini Murcielago. Quite the contrary. Though it outputs horsepower comparable to any of the world's top supercars, the car in question is a Saab..."

#1639 of 2170 Re: Saab 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds [autoedu] by fedlawman

Jun 05, 2007 (7:04 am)

Replying to: autoedu (Jun 05, 2007 2:14 am)
If by "easily tuned" you mean spending 10's of thousands of dollars hand building an engine with custom pistons, crank, cams, injectors, software, valves, valve springs, intake plenum, turbo, intercooler, aux cooling, dry sump lubrication, port/polish, exhaust system, etc., and extensive testing and re-tooling over a period of months, then I agree. Unfortunately, this Saab has as much in common with a 9-3 you can buy as a NASCAR Winston Cup car has with a stock Chevy Monte Carlo.
 
Can we stop talking about Swedish built Saturn's and get back to Porsche now?

#1640 of 2170 Re: Saab 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds [fedlawman] by habitat1

Jun 05, 2007 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Jun 05, 2007 7:04 am)
"Can we stop talking about Swedish built Saturn's and get back to Porsche now"?
 
Amen.

#1641 of 2170 Chatted with a 996 GT3 Owner by nyccarguy

Jun 05, 2007 (5:17 pm)

I was at a wedding reception on Saturday afternoon in someone's backyard (long story, but the bride and groom got hitched in St. Lucia back in December and they were the only ones in attendance). So I see the usual LR3s, CLK Cabs, Audi Cabs among the many cars parked on the street. Then a Silver 996 GT3 catches my eye! WHOA! I tell my wife as I stop in my tracks. I've got to meet this guy. The GT3 isn't for the faint of heart. Upon closer inspection I see special seats with 5 point harnesses and a roll cage!
 
I find out who the guy is and start talking to him. He tells me how he takes the car to lots of tracks up and down the east coast when he gets a chance. He tells me that the seats are European 911 seats and that they don't move when you corner hard.
 
Then he tells me that as nice as it is, when he runs it around the track it is no where nearly as fast or engaging to drive as his (former) heavily modified 944 Turbo which weighed in at less than 2500 lbs (with the interior gutted) and pumped out over 400 horsepower!

Messages Page 165 of 218

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement