From the Passenger's Perspective: 2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet

Specifications:

Engine: 3.4L Flat-six

Transmission: 6-speed manual w/hydraulic clutch

Output: 300 Horsepower @ 6800 RPM

358 ft-lb of Torque @ 4600 RPM

Fuel Economy: Highway MPG: 25

City MPG: 17

 

 

 

 

 

The Porsche 911 is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year, and of the generations, the 996 has been my least favorite.  The 996 generation was sold between 1998 and 2005.  However, a Porsche 911 is still a Porsche 911, and this particular one is very, very cool.

When I approached the black convertible Porsche I was surprised.  When i look at pictures of 996 gen Porsches, I think they look kind of boring (Compared to other Porsches).  But this one looks perfect.  The speed dependent rear spoiler, the twin exhausts, and the red brake calipers, all make this car a masterpiece of design.
As I step into the passenger seat, I am taken aback with the space.  This is a two seater sports car, and I have more legroom than in the Mercedes-Benz C300 I wrote about a while ago.  The dash, though flat and very 90s, is welcoming and simple.  The steering wheel appears to be perfectly sized, and the gauges remind you of the fact that you are in a sports car.
The day I tested this car was warm and pleasant, so I wanted to try some convertibles.  The Saab 9-3 I was in was a convertible, and I loved it.  This Porsche though is fantastic.  As the electronic roof lowered, the whole of the sky was revealed.
And then that beautiful flat-six started up.  Something about the flat-six sounds like no other.  It isn't the deep, baritone bellow you get from a V8, nor is it the high-pitched tenor of a V12.  Somehow the 300 horsepower flat-six just sounds perfect.
I noticed earlier that the peak horsepower was acheived at 6800 RPM, which is fairly high, but this car gains revs so willingly, and with that sound, amplified by the fact that it is right behind you, with nothing but the blue sky between you and it, you get instant acceleration.  This is a seriously fast car.  And though I can't drive it, I can tell you it is the best handling car I've been in.  It never loses grip, and that famous Porsche lift-off oversteer is non-existent.
Along with this performance, you get surprising comfort.  The seats are supportive, and the ride is good.  It's not just good for a Porsche, it's good for any car.  And looking at the MPG figures, it seems fairly economical.
This is a great car.  The only faults I can see with it is a fairly unimaginative dashboard layout, but is that really all that important when everything else is spot on?  Many people say the Porsche 911 is nothing more than a glorified VW Beetle, and it hasn't changed a micron since it's introduction.  But drive this one, and the skeptics will be put to rest.



This 2000 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet is for sale now at Geneva Foreign and Sports in Geneva, New York for $31, 487.

 

 

 

 

 

 



From the Passenger's Perspective: 2005 Saab 9-3 Linear Convertible

Today I rode in my first Saab.  Not exactly a riveting milestone, but I was pleasantly surprised.  I was under the impression that the sensible now-defunct Swedish manufacturer made rather good, but boring, cars for very sensible people. Now all of this is true, except for the boring part.  Today is a very nice day, so I chose to ride in some convertibles.  This is just the second cabrio car I've ever been in, and I absolutely adore it.  Before I get to that though, some statistics.  The Saab is powered by a nice, quiet 2.0L inline-4 with a turbo, producing a modest, but adequate 175 horsepower and 195 ft-lb of torque.  It sends this power to the front wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.  This is the smoothest automatic transmission I've seen.  You barely even notice it's there.  This may be an eight year old car, but the fuel economy figures are up to modern standards, at 22 city and 32 highway.
As I climbed into the Saab, I could tell this was a Swedish car.  All of the controls were arranged on the laser straight dashboard, in very sensible positions, and it was very well-equipped.  In my short stint inside the Saab, I spotted traction control and very cool flip-out cupholder, among many other buttons.
All of these things were overshadowed by two things.  One of which is the incredible comfort.  I liken the experience of going over railroad tracks in the Saab as like driving over railroad track made of silk and pillows.  And small rabbits. (Thats a joke, I don't suggest running over small furry organisms)  This is the most comfortable car I've ever been in, this including a Volvo S60 of the same year.  The other important aspect of the Saab is the electric-folding roof.  This opens up a whole new endless vista of blue sky.  In some convertibles, the wind and noise get to be unbearable, but in the Saab it is a welcome experience.  Its the perfect Sunday cruiser.

I love the Saab, its comfortable, easy to drive, sensible, and lets not forget access to all the world's skies.  As a passenger all you think about is the wind in your hair and the full cabriolet experience.
Oh.  Throughout this whole article I've said Swedish cars are very sensible.  I seem to have forgotten about Koenigsegg.....

This car is currently for sale at Geneva Foreign and Sports in Geneva, New York at $11,392.





Car ID Help

This is a picture of my great-grandmother sitting in an unknown race car of sorts.  I have done lots of work, but established little.  It appears to be a handmade racer, judging by the fact that it has BMW front fenders, but a strange grille and no badges.  The grille seems to have been cut out from metal, again seemingly handmade.  I can tell you that the license plate is a New York plate, dated 1924.  I'd appreciate it if anybody could tell me anything more about this car.
Thanks.

WKA Road Racing at Virginia International Raceway

This past weekend was the second to last WKA Road Racing event, taking place at VIRginia International Raceway, in Danville, Virginia.
My first event was the Junior Sprint Lite race on Saturday.  The start to the race went poorly, and I set off 30 seconds behind the competition.  I worked my way through the field, and by the second to last lap I was 15 seconds behind first place.  Unfortunately for me, I was not able to catch up, and i finished second 11 seconds behind.  However, my best lap time was a 2:49.3, a full three seconds faster than the first place finisher.
Because the starts have been an area that could use improvements, I worked on keeping the engine running, at using the carburetor needle to regulate the flow of fuel into the engine.  This helped profoundly in Sunday's race.
I started well, coming into the first corner in second place.  I quickly overtook for first, and stayed there until the second to last lap.  The second place went by coming through the uphill esses, and as we went into the famed Oak Tree Turn, i went to the inside.  He went wide and over the rumble strips, allowing me to go by.  On the last lap, we went side-by-side through the esses and into Oak Tree.  I again edged him out through Oak Tree, maintaining the lead into the Roller-Coaster.  He went inside, I held him off through the last turn.  I came onto the main straight in the lead, and eventually won by 0.06 seconds, or about half a kart length.
The championship will be decided in early September at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.