willie_901
Veteran
... Euro trim rings/headlights are preferred, IMHO.I changed to Euro on my ‘85 Carrera.
I had Euro headlights on my 1971 911E. On a country road at night when you hit the high beams - the redlay would click and the road in front you lights up in a way that has to be seen to be believed.
They are illegal (maybe a federal regulation?) but I had my inspections done by an independent Porsche shop who didn't care.
willie_901
Veteran
These bumpers appeared first in the 1974 model year.
Unfortunately Porsche's response to the more stringent emission standards that accompanied crash standards responsible for those hideous bumpers was flawed.
The engine 2.0 liter mechanical fuel injection engine was replaced with a 2.4 liter CIS fuel injection engine. Sadly, they engine has Alusil and Nikasil alloy cylinder heads and stainless steel head studs. These metals have different heat-expansion coefficients. Eventually the head studs become loose.
Another Porschephile!
Loved the MFI that was in my '73. It was originally a 911T, came to me with carbs, but I rebuilt the 2.3 liter engine as a 2.7 with RS specs.
Loved the MFI that was in my '73. It was originally a 911T, came to me with carbs, but I rebuilt the 2.3 liter engine as a 2.7 with RS specs.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I am personally not a Porschephile ... I liked the older 911s from an aesthetic perspective but was never really attracted enough to buy one. My uncles were, as are a bunch of my friends today. To me, they've always been just a little too far out there: always preferred the dynamics of well-designed front engine/rear drive sports cars.
A TVR Vixen, a Lotus Elan, an Alfa Romeo Spider, a Mercedes SLK, a Ferrari 250GT SWB... Just a traditionalist, I guess.
My current car:
More GT than sports car, but it suits me well. I made that photo just after I acquired it in 2016 ... before I upgraded wheels to the 17" AMG Sport series wheels, which fit the wheel wells much more nicely. 50,000 miles later, it's just as nice and I'm still delighted by it.
Anyway, I happened to be walking back along the same path the other day and the Porsche was there again, so I checked to be sure. Yes, it's a 911, not a 912. It is lovely, regardless, and I love the patina of its unrestored state.
G
A TVR Vixen, a Lotus Elan, an Alfa Romeo Spider, a Mercedes SLK, a Ferrari 250GT SWB... Just a traditionalist, I guess.
My current car:
Anyway, I happened to be walking back along the same path the other day and the Porsche was there again, so I checked to be sure. Yes, it's a 911, not a 912. It is lovely, regardless, and I love the patina of its unrestored state.
G
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
To me, they've always been just a little too far out there: always preferred the dynamics of well-designed front engine/rear drive sports cars.
A TVR Vixen, a Lotus Elan, an Alfa Romeo Spider, a Mercedes SLK, a Ferrari 250GT SWB... Just a traditionalist, I guess.
I never liked the rear-engine design. Being a fan of Formula 1, it was obvious that mid-engine offers the best handling dynamics. The early days of F1 and other racing venues had front-engine rear-wheel drive, but Lotus introduced mid-engine placement in the 1960's and that configuration has been dominant ever since. In professional racing, no race car designers that I know of ever chose rear-engine placement for their designs and never will, although I know modified 911's have been entered by Porsche and private teams.
Anyway, I've admired Lamborghini since the mid-engine transverse V12 Miura (my favorite wish-list car) and admired Ferrari since the mid-engine 308 through today (though my favorite would be a 250 Lusso).
But someday I may buy a diesel Unimog. Something with a low range transfer case, multiple forward and reverse gears, and portal axles for amazing clearance. Something to survive the apocalypse. I dislike modern cars which have become iPhone extensions - cars which are like appliances that attempt to do the thinking for their distracted owners.
Porsche made many purpose-built rear engine race cars, with which they've won untold numbers of races, but they also made mid-engine racers starting in the the mid 50s with the 550 Spyder (the car James Dean was driving when he met his end; 'Little Bas tard') to the legendary 917 with the flat 12, to the nearly unbeatable 956 and 962. They even built a mid-engine 911 called the GT1. And of course road cars; Boxster, Cayman, and the fabulous Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
I studied the James Dean accident and, in 2006, even went to the intersection in California where the accident occurred - on the same day and time to see the Sun-related conditions of visibility at the time of the accident. Naturally, I made photos. There's a memorial about a mile away.
I have a few mid-engine sports cars, including the Porsche Cayman.
Attachments
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Doesn't really matter, although I have always loved the looks of the 550 Spyder. They just don't send me reaching for my wallet.
G
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
That's about how I feel regarding new cameras. The Fuji X series is the only one that captured my attention. OK, also the Canon RP.
Pál_K
Cameras. I has it.
My old Jag XJ6 had high beams that I swear could fry an egg at 200 meters.
Anyway, these days it seems that a very high percentage of just regular cars and SUV's have highly intense blinding LED's as regular driving lights (not high beams) that should be illegal, even if they're factory stock. They're truly blinding and dangerous on regular city streets. These are much much brighter than the halogen lights that caused a frenzy 20 years ago.
I've seen pickup trucks with aftermarket LED clusters added to the tailgate, positioned precisely to aim at the driver and passenger of any following vehicle. If that's intended as an anti-tailgating tactic, the driver doesn't realize (nor care) that in rush hour bumper-to bumper traffic, he's blinding all following vehicles for maybe 30 minutes or more. That should also be illegal.
Germany used to be very strict on what was allowed and what modifications you could make; I wonder whether that's still the case.
9/30/55
The Cayman is a fabulous automobile. I've not had one, but have driven them. But I did have the original 2.5l Boxster, and then had a Boxster S, on which the Cayman is based.
Those were the most fun to drive of any car I've ever owned...so predictable when at the limit. When the rear tires are getting bald they get to be even more fun!
My current car:
More GT than sports car, but it suits me well. I made that photo just after I acquired it in 2016 ... before I upgraded wheels to the 17" AMG Sport series wheels, which fit the wheel wells much more nicely. 50,000 miles later, it's just as nice and I'm still delighted by it.
Always have admired that design but never have driven one.
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Doesn't really matter, although I have always loved the looks of the 550 Spyder. They just don't send me reaching for my wallet.
G
While there is no way I'd ever be able to afford one, the Porsche 550 Spyder is the most beautiful car ever created in my opinion. Those beautiful curves created by hand formed aluminum. Magnificent!
Best,
-Tim
There is a fantastic replica, the Beck Spyder, that has been available for many years. The Spyder is so tiny!
Chuck Beck also will build you a Porsche 904, to my eye, one of the most alluring designs ever.
Chuck Beck also will build you a Porsche 904, to my eye, one of the most alluring designs ever.
David Hughes
David Hughes
You are lucky if you live where you can drive those beasts. I found the Audi A6 more work than fun on the roads around here.
Regards, David
Regards, David
Godfrey
somewhat colored
There is a fantastic replica, the Beck Spyder, that has been available for many years. The Spyder is so tiny!
Chuck Beck also will build you a Porsche 904, to my eye, one of the most alluring designs ever.
Indeed: A thoroughly lovely machine!
I'm glad you said "... one of ..." because I can never completely take the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale off my list of 'most alluring designs ever' ...
Utter unobtainium ... Alfa Romeo only made 18 of them.
G
Oh my...favoloso!
Godfrey
somewhat colored
They're typically Mercedes in being a little heavy. But roomy inside, with a lovely feel and excellent handling, brakes, et cetera. The trunk is big enough to be useful, the smaller engined versions like mine (3L v6) make enough power to be fun and make this deliciously beautiful howl as they get up into the 4000-6000 rpm range. The 3.5L model (SLK350) are similar and make a bit more power without getting out of balance, but the 3L seems to be freer revving. The AMG SLK55 model, with the big V8, is a grunt monster but has a very very very different feel ... I'm not so fond of that. One interesting thing is that in 2006, they fit the same fuel tank to all of them ... so my "little" 3L, which can achieve 32mpg on high-speed highway cruise, can get to a range exceeding 550 miles on its 18.5 US Gallon tank.
The six-speed manual transmission is excellent, but I chose the seven-speed automatic transmission. It's a little less fun to play with, but it actually works a bit better on the road and in the curves, and is really nice in urban traffic, once you understand how to make it work to best.
From a driving perspective, the only thing I find a negative is that the standard throttle actuator response is, at best, sluggish in its response curve. That's Mercedes catering to the "we don't want to frighten grandpa" I suspect. LOL! Luckily, there's a relatively inexpensive add-on device that solves this problem, with nine optional curves in two ranges, and it takes only a half hour to install it. With this installed, I can have a pleasant GT car driving experience with the transmission and engine in "Comfort" mode, and a squirt and shoot randy teenager with two button presses any time I want to play.
G
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I love the look of the early 911's...
I just recently discovered the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradaleand I must say it's on the top of my list...it is beautiful from any angle...
Utter unobtainium ... Alfa Romeo only made 18 of them.
And one has been painted Blue...
I just recently discovered the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradaleand I must say it's on the top of my list...it is beautiful from any angle...
Utter unobtainium ... Alfa Romeo only made 18 of them.
And one has been painted Blue...
willie_901
Veteran
The 911's 5 plus decades of race-track success is evidence that rear-engine handling dynamics has advantages. Porsche engineering was maniacally focused on optimizing the 911 rear-engine platform. The result was rear-engine handling dynamics that take advantage of weight transfer.
On track, the ease of rotating the car in a turn (i.e. trailing throttle oversteer) gives the 911 an advantage. Cornering exit speed increases. Using throttle controlled oversteer rotates a 911 to aim it at the corner apex. Increasing the throttle then transfers more weight to the rear of the car; the tires gain traction; the rotation stops and you exit the corner at a higher speed. A higher exit speed gives you an advantage on long straight sections.
At legal speeds cornering dynamics don't matter because traction dynamics are irrelevant. Front, mid and rear engine designs are well below their maximum traction limits during cornering. However, the rear-engine design has one disadvantage. When you enter a corner too fast and the rear wheels begin to loose traction, you can not follow your intuition to lift off the throttle. The only way to avoid loss of control is to accelerate. This transfers weight to the rear wheels and they regain full traction. By contrast, for front and mid-engine cars the proper correction is to decelerate - which is an intuitive response when a driver senses imminent loss of control in a corner.
On track, the ease of rotating the car in a turn (i.e. trailing throttle oversteer) gives the 911 an advantage. Cornering exit speed increases. Using throttle controlled oversteer rotates a 911 to aim it at the corner apex. Increasing the throttle then transfers more weight to the rear of the car; the tires gain traction; the rotation stops and you exit the corner at a higher speed. A higher exit speed gives you an advantage on long straight sections.
At legal speeds cornering dynamics don't matter because traction dynamics are irrelevant. Front, mid and rear engine designs are well below their maximum traction limits during cornering. However, the rear-engine design has one disadvantage. When you enter a corner too fast and the rear wheels begin to loose traction, you can not follow your intuition to lift off the throttle. The only way to avoid loss of control is to accelerate. This transfers weight to the rear wheels and they regain full traction. By contrast, for front and mid-engine cars the proper correction is to decelerate - which is an intuitive response when a driver senses imminent loss of control in a corner.