Both Denise and I test drove the 997S this wekend. I have to say we both loved this car. As many of you know I have never been a big fan of the 996. The new styling of the 997 is a great improvment. I happen to like it alot. I have always thought the 993 S2 to be the best looking car Porsche has ever produced. The 997 is goes a long way to capturing the things I liked best in the 993 styling. The flairs are still a little too subtle for me, but the roof line in the 997 is better. The cockpit fits me much better as well. I really like the total package and believe this car's styling does capture the traditional Porsche feeling.
It may be that I am getting older, but the new interior and available option packages also apeal to me. I love the new dash, the sport seat option is great, the side bolsters really work. It can comfortably fit the large size difference between Denise and I. With the memory seat option it means Denise and I can easily share this car. Normaly it takes a lot of work when we change drivers.
Performance wise the car is super flexible. The sport settings are much more than marketing (finaly and active system that works). It affects not only suspension, but engine behavior. Despite Chris Hucks request for mercy, I drove the car hard during my test drive. Flat out in 3rd around 90 degree street corners, four wheeel drifting and the car was flat and stable. It was truly impressive is sport mode. Most of the way to the GT3 I currently drive on the street. In regular mode the car is still a performer but very comfortable. Great combination. The 255 H.P. (I feel this is conservative) is most of the way to the GT3. The way this 3.8 is programmed the H.P. is much more usable than the GT3. With the power and torque comming on at lower RPM and over a broader range it is more usable on all but the biggest tracks. The 997 is much more fun to drive on the street. With a few tweeks it may be able to match the GT3 in H.P..
I suggest you guys go test the 997s for your selves. The raw numbers only tell part of the story. It is a huge improvement over the 996. How much did Denise and I like it? I have a free GT3, yet we stepped up and ordered one for January delivery. That should say it all.
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Steven Dente