MiamiC70

Are we 996 owners the actual Porsche enthusiast?
Driving around South Florida I get to see an awful lot of other Porsche's on the road (sure mostly Panamera's but that is another story ) 996s, 997s, GT3s, Turbos and even older air cooled.

However, when I have actually had opportunity to talk to some of these drivers while at the dealer, indy shop, parking lots, or even on the road. I have come to the conclusion that "many" are clueless about their car it's lineage, history, and even less how to actually drive the damn thing. Hell, I can't even get a wave back or a headlights flash while passing another one on South Florida roads. WTF? I would further say most of these folks are not even car enthusiasts let alone Porsche enthusiasts. So that said seems like us guys that have bought our 996 second hand, have lusted for one for years and finally fulfilled our dreams are the "real" enthusiasts. The rest? Well I think we have an awful lot of "posers" in our ranks.

What do you guys think?

SeanR

Naa, a true enthusiast would own a 928

Shamus

What's a 996?

Ahmet

I wave at everything from a 914, 924 to even the air cooled 911s...

I'm usually good at getting a wave back, a few days ago I got a wave from an older couple in a Cayenne while I was towing my C4S!!

Edgy01

Sonny, I was a Porsche driver and enthusiast long before Porsche ever started putting WATER PUMPS into their engines. I flash in vain, too.

ivangene

yea, +1 for a lot of them are just driving and dont have any interest in the "community" aspect of ownership or getting to know thier cars....I live in an area with high concentration of drivers...and enthusists.... so yes, you are the ambassador! SPREAD THE WORD

mitdrx

I think its a shame that porsche makes anything but the 911

Dennis C

I think there are true enthusiasts in every Porsche group, but there do seem to be quite a few in the 996 ranks. The only other automotive group that I have been associated with who were as passionate as 996 owners were Saab owners. I had a few Saabs in the past, and they have quite a following...

francars

I agree. I get some waves/flashes back once in a while but sometimes I don't. I guess most of the enthusiast are in this forum ?

redridge

just wait, we will be the old timers at the track... showing our butt cracks at everyone. The 996 will come its full circle one day... hope to be a part of it when it happens. Live long and prosper.

MiamiC70

Well I had a Volvo C70 and man are those guys "ENTHUSIASTIC" about Volvo's, LOL.
Same Jeep guys when i had my lifted XJ I never failed to get a wave from those guys.
Even going way back to my Mustang GT days you always got a hi-beam flash when another stang was coming the opposite way.

SSST

I had a guy in a 993 turn his nose up at me the other day and tell me my 996 wasn't a real Porsche. LOL!

I don't consider myself an enthusiast in the sense that I know everything there is to know about my car and Porsches. However, I have wanted a 911 since I saw my first whale tail when I was 12, and I'm learning everything I can about it.

I was going to get a new 997 S cab, but stumbled across this Turbo and couldn't resist. The 997 with PDK is smoother, quiter, easier to drive, and has more creature comforts and almost as fast. My 996 is rough, loud, has a few rattles (not bad ones), and will give you whiplash if you get sloppy with the clutch. It feels much faster.

I love it! I may have to breakdown and get some of those little sissy driving shoes.

Gaspasser19

I think what you're missing here is that each of these cars would only be driven by an enthusiast. Most of the general public wouldn't go there. Porsche is a "status" marque. All it takes is money and some people are willing to pay dearly for that status.

jugger911

This has been discussed before. There are so many 996's on the road because the economy has deemed it possible for lots of people to buy them now and they were mass produced in the economy boom of the 90's-00's. Used 996 or new Accord?
They think the 993, 914, 928, 924, etc are too old, but can't afford a 997. You're waving at a lot of folks that should be driving Camry's & Mustang's, but thought it'd be cool to buy a 996 just because they're cool.

If it's got Porsche written on it, I wave.

RPMulli

I have to agree with you on that comment. My peers always ask me why I bought my 996. My response is always the same, "Why not?". You can tell who a true enthusiast's are... and it doesn't matter what the make is.