w00tPORSCHE

For the past 6 months I have exclusively had seat time in my 997 C4S. I take it for a 280 mile weekly round trip over Snoqualmie pass as I have expanded my practice to the greater Seattle area. The car sees several obstacles: Ice, snow, frost, dense fog, big rigs and vehicles speeding on bald tires this time of the year. It has seen it's share of rocks, chain links (from broken chains) hurled at its windshield at bullet speed, even orange traffic cones that are driven over by drivers who have slept on the wheel momentarily.

Not once has it let me down.. Not once does it miss a beat. Brakes, steering and suspension is what defines this car IMO ... not the color, the interior or the transmission. As a 911 virgin, I bought my 997 even without a test drive as an impulse buy in Nov '09. She has been my guardian angel every single time. What more could I ask of her. I know some air-cooled owners do not particularly appreciate all the electronic nannies that are part of the car but when I am driving on pure ice, escorted on either side by huge trucks that clear the snow, I will take PTM (porsche traction management), PSM (Porsche stability management), PASM (Porsche active suspension management) and the 4 in the Carrera4S.

Many owners would cringe with the apperance of the car after one such drive (see one of the shots of the exhaust). I always feel bad for my baby when I turn around and look at her after every single workout. Yet heart of hearts I know that she feels good each time she gets break a sweat after a nice work out in the most adverse driving conditions.

So fast forward to today. Perfect weather in Yakima and I take my 3.2 Carrera (which has seen some regular activity all these months to warm up the fluids) for a spirited drive. This all original unmolested car I tell you just gets right under your skin. It communicates with it's driver in such a telepathic manner.

I really am addicted with air-cooled p-car and given that special experience I always wonder what other models do I have to own to sample the full DNA of the Porsche air cooled line up. (BTW I do have one water pumper in the mix too that I wish I could own). So my question to you is if I were to have one more (yes ONE more)PORSCHE in say 5 to 7 years from now (which is when I will probably come out of the usual traps like mortgage, tuition for kids etc) which one would your choice for me be.

w00tPORSCHE

My choices were .. A 356 speedster ( More of the less is more concept plus an open top experience)

w00tPORSCHE

or a 993 turboS (a turbo would do too) ... Got to check out what forced induction is all about right

w00tPORSCHE

or the pinnacle of 997 lineage The ultimate .. THE GT3RS 4.0

w00tPORSCHE

Before I hear your answers (it does not have to be one of the above), I wanted to make my comment: Somebody told me that the deeper meaning of happiness is what you do to make others happy. I also do know that happiness is a state of mind. If I am not happy with my current stable of cars ... none of the above cars will ever be enough to make me happier. So the reason for this post was just to get back to my favorite section of RL and say hi all to my friends, have some fun and get your thoughts ... So I am staying put with what I have now.... I THINK

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Great question,...I'll be interested to see all the various replies,...

As far as "bucket list" Porsches, I think a 2.7RS clone that's been properly done is near or at the top. Real ones are frightenly expensive now, but a good clone offers every aspect of this unique experience without going broke. No other car has ever offered the same blend and balance of handing, communication, feedback, power, throttle response,along with that glorious soundtrack of this amazing car.

There are plenty that are faster, brake quicker, handle FAR better, but none of them involve the driver as much and reward competence behind the wheel. This car is entertaining at ALL speeds, not simply the insane speeds experienced by the GT-3RS to see its charms.

JMHO, naturally.

911Dave

I've found that with 911s, the older the car, the more involvement there is. You've got a great, modern 911 (I had a 997 too), and one of the best of the aircooled era. To get anything equal to or better than what you have, IMO you'll have to look at either a '65-'73 longhood or a 993. Or a 997 GT2/GT3 of some variety.

w00tPORSCHE

Steve how much would a properly built 2.7 RS clone cost ... May be you can build one for me

Dave I want only one car for an answer please. Please can you give me your answer again. And bear in mind I have no intentions of changing my existing stable of 911. Ideally it would be nice to have a daily driver (my C4S), a show car (speedster) and a track car (gt3) but then I would have to part with my 3.2 which is hard (perhaps it can don the role of a show car with some TLC) .

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

We've done quite a number of these over the years and I'd be happy to discuss this in detail anytime you wish.

The options/variables here are too many to list so I think a phone call would be quite productive.

KaiB

Put me down for a 3.8L 964 RSR please...

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

We have the technology,....

rusnak

I've gotten much less patient with fiddly carbs, loud exhaust, hard springs, (call it age) so I think the midyear 911s would be eliminated if I had to pick just one. I might go with a 993 TT or 959 or a Singer 911, or the ultimate would be a street legal 962, but then there I go contradicting myself regarding comfort and refinement, and only the cylinders were water cooled.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

LOL,..You might not be so keen about the 959 if you had to maintain one,...

Hard to get (wait months, sometime) and frighteningly expensive parts take the gloss off those things. Like elephants, nice to look at, but you wouldn't want to actually own one.

Early & mid-year cars are every bit as reliable IF they are built and maintained properly and that regimen is no different from the later cars.

rusnak

Ha! So true.....measure the years by the number of actual laos turned. My '70 914/6 beats me senseless on trips to the coast. I got wussified in the SC and 3.4 Carrera. But there is this gorgeous 74 Carrera that I'm lusting for. Btw I think Callas did the engine, and from the looks of it he'd never admit it.

911Dave

Okay, Woot. If I were in your shoes, I would buy an all-original 2.2E or S ('70-'71) that is in beautiful shape, and keep it that way. Preferred colors: Aubergine, Olive, Bahia Red, Signal Orange.