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> Drove a 916 yesterday...and what a, weird way to fulfill a childhood dream!
horizontally-opposed
post Aug 17 2005, 05:03 PM
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Drove the (repainted) Gemini Blue over Pumpkin leather car, fresh from a mechanical restoration with a 2.7 RS motor and new, period correct 185/70R15 tires.

Before you ask about photos, they're not back and I don't own them...yet.

The car was interesting -- both so much cooler than I ever imagined it would be and a letdown ( (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) ) in other ways.

First, I am sure if you drove it back to back with any stock 914 of the day you'd be plain amazed. But it's not THAT fast by modern standards (though it's certainly not slow) and never feels "fast." It just feels really nice and really balanced and really well resolved.

Plus, all of our tinkering over the last 30 years means there are a lot of -- if not most -- 914s that have more grip from better tires, different suspension, etc. So I suspect a lot of 914club members have -4s and -6s that handle better.

But it drove SO well and there are some very cool "trippy" things like resting your foot on a a "dead pedal" that's oil coolers lines covered by plush factory carpeting or seeing the perforated white headliner in your peripheral vision as you haul ass down a back road in a 914. The absence of a dogleg tranny is a trip too, though many like Marty and others have these in their modified 914s.

Probably the closest thing I have driven to it in terms of overall input feel and sounds is a stock 2.7 RS, kind of like the same show in a different theater. The steering is remarkably similar, but does something different due to the 916's longer wheelbase. It feels the same, but has a more precise effect. And the chassis with that wide track and long wheelbase is FAR better, and a lot less "nervous." Not sure that's quite the right word.

I bet back in the day, this car would have KILLED an RS 2.7 on most roads. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/pray.gif)

pete
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Jeroen
post Aug 17 2005, 05:10 PM
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Ya lucky b@stard!

Just out of curiosity, how do you think it compares to a Boxster (lets say a 2.5, which makes similar HP's) ?
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sixnotfour
post Aug 17 2005, 05:19 PM
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Thats got to be the one that was at the Montery Historics 50Years Porsche , It was open then and got to look it all over up close, Nice car, too bad porsche didn't make more.
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bondo
post Aug 17 2005, 05:22 PM
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A 916 has a longer wheelbase? How? I had no idea!
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ArtechnikA
post Aug 17 2005, 05:28 PM
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QUOTE (bondo @ Aug 17 2005, 07:22 PM)
A 916 has a longer wheelbase? How? I had no idea!

read the review again...

it has a longer wheelbase *than the 2,7RS* he was comparing it to ...
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bondo
post Aug 17 2005, 06:12 PM
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QUOTE (ArtechnikA @ Aug 17 2005, 04:28 PM)
QUOTE (bondo @ Aug 17 2005, 07:22 PM)
A 916 has a longer wheelbase? How? I had no idea!

read the review again...

it has a longer wheelbase *than the 2,7RS* he was comparing it to ...

Derrrr.. Oops! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif)
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Part Pricer
post Aug 17 2005, 06:29 PM
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Pete,

Did I ever mention that I hate you? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

When is this going to appear in the mag?
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seanery
post Aug 17 2005, 06:55 PM
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(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/drooley.gif) Ya Bastard!!!

(from someone else's stolen wireless connection in Honolulu (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) )
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ChrisReale
post Aug 17 2005, 07:06 PM
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Remember, this is coming from somebody who has driven a Carrera GT.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
I envy you, that sounds like a cool car to drive
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Porsche Rescue
post Aug 17 2005, 07:51 PM
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Thanks Pete. I consider it a priviledge to have the editor of a great P car magazine as a regular contributor to this board, posting as "one of us", which you are.
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J P Stein
post Aug 17 2005, 08:18 PM
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QUOTE (horizontally-opposed @ Aug 17 2005, 03:03 PM)



Probably the closest thing I have driven to it in terms of overall input feel and sounds is a stock 2.7 RS, kind of like the same show in a different theater. The steering is remarkably similar, but does something different due to the 916's longer wheelbase. It feels the same, but has a more precise effect. And the chassis with that wide track and long wheelbase is FAR better, and a lot less "nervous." Not sure that's quite the right word.

I bet back in the day, this car would have KILLED an RS 2.7 on most roads. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/pray.gif)

pete

OK, we got him by the short hairs now (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

If we let this quote loose on the taildragger BBSs there'll be
pissants with pickforks & torches surrounding the sumptious Excellence offices.......BLASPHMEY !!!

The Boxster suffers under the same managment that the 914 did. The 911's triumph of development over design is holding sway even now. Think of a Boxster/Gaym.....ah.. Cayman with
some of that development and a GT3 motor.

Print sumthin' nice about us, Pete, or it's to the bunring stake with ya.
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Eric_Shea
post Aug 17 2005, 09:00 PM
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Poor, poor Pete. Just another shitty day at work. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

(someone had to do it) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/w00t.gif)
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mike_the_man
post Aug 18 2005, 07:17 AM
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Well, I'd say it's official now. Pete really does have the best job in the world! I'm just a little jealous. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

Will this be a future Excellence article Pete? I look forward to reading it.

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EdwardBlume
post Aug 18 2005, 07:41 AM
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Cool deal. Thanks for the description. You got to drive the Pamela Anderson of 914s.
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i love porsche
post Aug 18 2005, 07:55 AM
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that is absolutely amazing!

i cant wait for an article, if there is one!
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Joe Ricard
post Aug 18 2005, 07:56 AM
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QUOTE (Rob Ways @ Aug 18 2005, 05:41 AM)
Cool deal. Thanks for the description. You got to drive the Pamela Anderson of 914s.

Pam? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif) I wanna drive.... Please


I figure I have about the same chance in hell of driving either.
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redshift
post Aug 18 2005, 09:12 AM
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Awesome. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

I love lookin' at 'em.


M
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mudfoot76
post Aug 18 2005, 09:15 AM
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QUOTE (Joe Ricard @ Aug 18 2005, 08:56 AM)
I figure I have about the same chance in hell of driving either.

Though your odds of catching a communicable disease from Pammy are way higher than from driving a 916 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)
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brownaar
post Aug 18 2005, 09:41 AM
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[QUOTE]I figure I have about the same chance in hell of driving either

Yeah, either one can wind you up with a serious case of chassis rot.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif)
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horizontally-opposed
post Aug 18 2005, 10:00 AM
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Oops, did I imply it was better than the RS 2.7? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/happy11.gif)

Jeroen, it's SUPER different than a 986 2.5, which I roll daily (it's got 18x10s and room for my man purse (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) ).

the big thing I think is the fact this thing was on fresh 185/70R15 Veredsteins, which are actually GREAT tires but super narrow. The car handled REALLY well for having such skinny tires, but in a way that made sense given it's on the same 15x7s at all four corners with the same tires -- and mondo spacers to get the wheels out in the flares.

So it drives kinda like it looks -- I'm not saying this very well -- it feels like it's got skinny tires pushed way out past the bodywork. It's a TRIP!

I didn't get comfortable enough to go REALLY quick as it belongs to someone else and just as my comfort level was happy enough to go from 5-6 tenths to 7-8 tenths, we got this bizarre resonnance rubbing noise caused by a slightly misadjusted pad on the LR caliper. Drats!

Still, the 2.7 RS motor is a peach, the shifter (at least in this one) doesn't deserve the bad rap it got in Excellence years ago (that was Gregg's old car and who knows what it went through), and it's a fabulous, super interesting Porsche.

Sadly, these cars will probably never be as appreciated as, say, an RSL 2.7 -- because it doesn't have "the shape." that said, I think the love these cars get from 914 fans is so strong that it more than makes up for the numbers on the other side.

Just a really cool car, and if you like 914s, the one you want more than a RS.

I want one... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wub.gif)

pete

Oh yeah, it will be in an upcoming issue, if my quickie photo shoot comes out alright...
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