urban_alchemist

Interesting post, and one that I can fully empathise with. An analogous experience happened to me in 2002. I'd had a gorgeous BMW M Coupe (S50-engine - 320bhp) for two years, and when it was rudely taken away from me in a head-on, I changed to an e46 M3.

The basic ingredients were the same - 3.2l inline sixes (343bhp bs. 320bhp), rwd, similar weighting to the controls etc, but whilst the M Coupe grabbed my heart, and continues to own it even today, the M3, though objectively a better car, never engaged me. Yes it was more comfortable and was infintely more capable, but I never felt at one with it.

When I sold it recently, I was looking at either a brand new 997S or a 993 Turbo as a replacement. The relationship between the two cars was exactly the same as with my BMWs. Yes, the 997 is a 'better' car, but the 993 feels like more of a machine. So I've just done something I swore I'd never do again and bought a second-hand car (ten years old) that actually cost as much as a 997... and I couldn't be happier...

48 hours till I pick 'er up!!! Woo hoo!!!

DaveM993

thank-you for that compliment.
I'd be more than willing to take one for the team and give my impressions of a C-GT...if someone can hook me up...

luv2ride

993 & 997 Meeting.. Look at how Big that 997 is.. I like my little 993 it fits like a glove. Nice write up.

Ritter v4.0

A friend just bot a new C4S and echos this review. He also has and older (80's) 911 as a comparative.

Guessing 964 and 911 guys say similar things about our 993 as not enagaging enough. But you and I know the 993 is the perfect balance.

texas911

Bigger but the 997 doesn't weigh much more than the 993.

mborkow

there was a glowing review of the 997TT in the nytimes today, but it pretty much echoed the sentiments here; the review lauded the fact that this car all but drove itself (lots of comments about PSM and tiptronic tranny).

Gbag

Had the same experience yesterday. What struck me the most was the interior and the silver painted plastic and cayenne-ish wheel. As beautiful as the car was, it just felt busy and wrong. Looking at all previous incarnations of the 911 there seems to be a very clear lineage of the interior. The 996/997 seems out of place. I like the clear tie-back to the race-ready simplicity of the earlier interiors FORCING you to focus on the drive experience rather than that of "accessories, modes, and options". iPod simplicity theory. Would I take one if someone offered it up? HELL YES! For the cash, however, the traditionalist/driver in me would opt for a low-milage 993tts or similar. All good cars, but happy I have my 993.

Anir

Dave,

Thank you for the informative post. I've had similar feelings about almost every new car I've driven in recent years, including the BMW M3 and M5.

ljugete

Very Good Write up! I too was checking out a 997 C4S Cab. the other day (while waiting for my Cayenne S) .

It was a very sweet 911, but not the same (exhaust sound, ride or feel or oily leather smell) rawness as my 993 C2 Cab. (Don't think I'll be getting one soon)!

The 997 Turbo looks awesome btw!

993MAN

Yep, there's somethig about the 993 for sure. Less is best rule applies.
The 997 will appeal to a lot of people though, just not me.

Marv

Well done.

I think the 997 is a wonderful car, but I just don't see it as a 911 anymore. I know the 993 is pretty far removed from the old 911S, but there are very direct roots to the cockpit that have been completely scrubbed away in the 996 and 997.

My taste may not be everyone else's and I can't fault someone who has a different opinion. However, I feel the the new cars have surrendered elements of the original 911 too much. All that remains that links past and present is the location of the engine and a hint in the roof line. Everything else is gone. Now we have cup holders, center consoles, more buttons and ***** than many new aircraft, a dash that has virtually no resemblance to its predecessor, and the car is significantly larger.

However, Porsche is just following the market and I can't blame Porsche or the market for that. The problem may just be that my tastes have become stagnant. At least there is a remedy for that; the 993.

amfp

Great post. Your comment about "IT driving you" says it all with all modern cars with the technology.
Not that is a bad thing, but is so true on the street and track. I've driven the 997, and Cayman, and probably like Cayman more, but still at point to keep the 993.

DaveM993

BTW...this was the vehicle I test drove. Saaweeet.

pcar964

The 997 is NOT a better car. It's not even in the same league as a 993. They were built according to completely different engineering and design philosophies, as different as chalk and cheese. You made the right choice.

texas911

If you measure a sports car by charater, then yes the 993 is better, but if you measure a sports car by performance, the 997 rapes the 993. That about sums it up. Just as the 356 guys say their cars are better than 993s, they can't say they out perform them.