General.Massacre
///Member
Very nice, and the issues are minimal.
Really is such a beautiful car.
Really is such a beautiful car.
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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Red duck tail 🦆
- Thread starter MR_Y
- Start date
TurboLlew
Honorary ///Member
Be very careful working with ozone. Bring it to me and I’ll do it for you. I have a machine.
Also check your micro filters and vapour barriers under the door cards. Those were sources in my f10 for the mildew type smell especially after washing
MR_Y
Well-known member
Driving review
After a 200km Sunday family trip, and solo driving for another 750km+ (total of smaller daily trips and weekend blasts), I have driven almost 1,000km in the past few weeks. Above average mileage for this type of car, but not looking for a garage queen here.
My observations below:
The ride quality is comfortable enough for a sports car. Bumps on back roads do not upset the balance of the car, but you do feel it, even in Comfort (adaptive) suspension mode. These are 20 inch rims after all. Compared to the ride on my 981 Cayman S, not much of a difference. However, the 911 feels more comfortable - I guess because you can push the driver seat further back and stretch out.
On smooth highways, the car feels like a Grand Tourer to pilot. Wife and kid did not complain. The car soaks up the kilometres with ease. A flex of the right foot unleashes a nice growl in Sports mode, even with no Sports Exhaust fitted on my car.
The only complaint from the family came in Sports Plus mode. The gear changes are too brutal and the change of pace from Jekyll to Hyde was too much for a relaxing Sunday drive. Sport mode (with Comfort suspension) is the perfect compromise for spirited driving with the family - the car is quick enough and the exhaust sounds good too.
Road holding seems great on open roads and tighter back roads. Worth noting that the mid engined Cayman S felt more confidence inspiring to drive hard - especially for average skilled drivers (me included). With the 991, it is still very safe but it is less easy to be silly AND confident in - if that makes sense? Basically, the Cayman flatters one's driving ability a bit more than the rear engined 991. I booked an advanced performance driving course next week (using this car on the course), so that I can properly push the car and will revert thereafter. I don't feel unsafe in the 991 but I felt more confident in the Cayman.
Steering feel is very good when pressing on in Sport mode. The initial vagueness around centre point is no longer as apparent. When I test drove a Volvo EX30 for fun recently (before the 911 purchase) I thought it had better steering feel than my 981, but I think it is rather more the directness/quickness of the steering setup (in its most Dynamic mode) in the EX30 that made it feel sporty. The 991 is not as direct/quick as the EX30 (that has a go kart feeling to the steering), but it has more feel. The plus side is that the 991 (and the 981, which also has Porsche's first iteration of electric steering) does not feel twitchy. Apologies for the random Volvo reference.
Practicality is not bad for short trips. Front boot took in some groceries and jackets. For added practicality, the rear seats can fold down individually to become a shelf to store items. I figure, one could fit in a few soft bags in the frunk for a weekend away.
However, unlike my 981 cars, I will not be fitting a spare wheel, since that will leave no space in the frunk (981s have both a frunk and rear boot). Porsche do not support runflats (their SUVs come with spare wheels, while the sports cars come with a compressor and tyre sealant). I am not planning on any long distance trips to dodgy areas, so happy to live without a spare wheel.
If you have a baby, forget this car for occasional family trips. No place for a pram. Also a rear facing car seat will cause the front passenger seat to be way too forward and become useless, unless your partner is very short. For front facing child seats in the rear, and front passenger shorter than 1.8m, the seating arrangement works for most trips. For longer distances, front passenger shorter than 1.7m will be ideal, with kid in the rear. Granted, no one buys a 911 for family use, but it is nice to have the ability to take the partner and kid for drive.
Basic audio system is okay. Not as good as the stock system on my Macan. I can't recall how my Cayman S sounded (all I remember is its sports exhaust). Audio streaming works, but everything else is pretty basic by today's standards. The nav works, but is outdated and slow. There are aftermarket solutions out there, but not willing to invest in them for now.
Anyway, just some thoughts for now. I know there are 3 forum members who are looking at used Porsche sports car (you shall remain unnamed
), so I will need to ask Porsche for a commission soon...
In another post I will add some detail on my experience with driving a new M240i before the 991.
Thanks for reading.
After a 200km Sunday family trip, and solo driving for another 750km+ (total of smaller daily trips and weekend blasts), I have driven almost 1,000km in the past few weeks. Above average mileage for this type of car, but not looking for a garage queen here.
My observations below:
The ride quality is comfortable enough for a sports car. Bumps on back roads do not upset the balance of the car, but you do feel it, even in Comfort (adaptive) suspension mode. These are 20 inch rims after all. Compared to the ride on my 981 Cayman S, not much of a difference. However, the 911 feels more comfortable - I guess because you can push the driver seat further back and stretch out.
On smooth highways, the car feels like a Grand Tourer to pilot. Wife and kid did not complain. The car soaks up the kilometres with ease. A flex of the right foot unleashes a nice growl in Sports mode, even with no Sports Exhaust fitted on my car.
The only complaint from the family came in Sports Plus mode. The gear changes are too brutal and the change of pace from Jekyll to Hyde was too much for a relaxing Sunday drive. Sport mode (with Comfort suspension) is the perfect compromise for spirited driving with the family - the car is quick enough and the exhaust sounds good too.
Road holding seems great on open roads and tighter back roads. Worth noting that the mid engined Cayman S felt more confidence inspiring to drive hard - especially for average skilled drivers (me included). With the 991, it is still very safe but it is less easy to be silly AND confident in - if that makes sense? Basically, the Cayman flatters one's driving ability a bit more than the rear engined 991. I booked an advanced performance driving course next week (using this car on the course), so that I can properly push the car and will revert thereafter. I don't feel unsafe in the 991 but I felt more confident in the Cayman.
Steering feel is very good when pressing on in Sport mode. The initial vagueness around centre point is no longer as apparent. When I test drove a Volvo EX30 for fun recently (before the 911 purchase) I thought it had better steering feel than my 981, but I think it is rather more the directness/quickness of the steering setup (in its most Dynamic mode) in the EX30 that made it feel sporty. The 991 is not as direct/quick as the EX30 (that has a go kart feeling to the steering), but it has more feel. The plus side is that the 991 (and the 981, which also has Porsche's first iteration of electric steering) does not feel twitchy. Apologies for the random Volvo reference.
Practicality is not bad for short trips. Front boot took in some groceries and jackets. For added practicality, the rear seats can fold down individually to become a shelf to store items. I figure, one could fit in a few soft bags in the frunk for a weekend away.
However, unlike my 981 cars, I will not be fitting a spare wheel, since that will leave no space in the frunk (981s have both a frunk and rear boot). Porsche do not support runflats (their SUVs come with spare wheels, while the sports cars come with a compressor and tyre sealant). I am not planning on any long distance trips to dodgy areas, so happy to live without a spare wheel.
If you have a baby, forget this car for occasional family trips. No place for a pram. Also a rear facing car seat will cause the front passenger seat to be way too forward and become useless, unless your partner is very short. For front facing child seats in the rear, and front passenger shorter than 1.8m, the seating arrangement works for most trips. For longer distances, front passenger shorter than 1.7m will be ideal, with kid in the rear. Granted, no one buys a 911 for family use, but it is nice to have the ability to take the partner and kid for drive.
Basic audio system is okay. Not as good as the stock system on my Macan. I can't recall how my Cayman S sounded (all I remember is its sports exhaust). Audio streaming works, but everything else is pretty basic by today's standards. The nav works, but is outdated and slow. There are aftermarket solutions out there, but not willing to invest in them for now.
Anyway, just some thoughts for now. I know there are 3 forum members who are looking at used Porsche sports car (you shall remain unnamed
), so I will need to ask Porsche for a commission soon...In another post I will add some detail on my experience with driving a new M240i before the 991.
Thanks for reading.
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MR_Y
Well-known member
Actually, I met someone from Pretoria who has a 996 and converted it to a Safari package - like a Dakar 911.Thanks for the update.
I think to provide a better overall review of the car as a family vehicle, you need to purchase the roof tent and head to Drakensburg for a long weekend at some point
General.Massacre
///Member
Very nice Review, i like the fact that you stated you not interested in having a Garage Queen, which, in my mind is the right way to own and enjoy a car.
I remember seeing an article where a 911 owner had put over 600 000km on his 911, a third of that being Track mileage. kept up maintenance, and only opened the engine at 500 000km as he thought it may be needed, he was wrong, as the bearings, and all surfaces were still mint with no signs of above average wear.
Goes to show what regular maintenance can attest to.
I remember seeing an article where a 911 owner had put over 600 000km on his 911, a third of that being Track mileage. kept up maintenance, and only opened the engine at 500 000km as he thought it may be needed, he was wrong, as the bearings, and all surfaces were still mint with no signs of above average wear.
Goes to show what regular maintenance can attest to.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update on advanced driving course...
As mentioned earlier, I noted that I felt less confident driving the 911 vs my 981 Cayman S. It is not that the 911 is not capable, it is just that I felt more confident pushing the Cayman because I knew it would always have my back. Being mid engined, the Cayman instills a feeling of marginally more driver control vs the rear engined 911. Granted, the 991.1 is a far cry from the earlier widow maker 911s of the 80s.
Anyway, I booked a course with AS Driving (https://asdriving.co.za/). The beauty of this course is that you use your own car. Here is my summary of that experience:
The course is held at Gerotek on certain days from 8.30am to 3pm and entails the following:
- detailed presentation on road safety, driver alertness, hijack safety, etc. Be warned that they show some pretty graphic accident videos (some real, some acted) at the end of the presentation (brains on the ground, bodys being crushed, etc.) The young drivers on the course were left a bit shaken - but that is good if they need to learn about driving safely and being alert! For older drivers, there is nothing really new here to learn.
- Then there are 4 laps on the high speed oval. Those familiar with Gerotek, will know that the track has a steep embankment. Being allowed to push high speeds on that is a bit of a surreal experience, since your car is at an angle. Think Nascar racing. A fun experience.
- The slalom is pretty standard stuff. Push the car at progressively higher speeds while trying not to hit cones. As expected, the 911 sailed through this.
- The skidpan was where I really got to push the car with guidance from the instructor. The skidpan covers emergency braking, avoidance, under- and oversteer, all in the wet.
On the skidpan, even in Sport Plus mode, the car is very stable through the water. You can get the tail out (more easily than a Cayman), but a throttle adjustment and steering unwind are enough to bring everything back into line. For the average driver, with the safety net electronics on, the car allows some rear end action, but you can easily bring it back to safety.
The instructor wanted me to really push the limits of the car and myself - so we switched off the PSM, switched car into manual, kept Sport Plus on and drove the car hard in the wet. After pushing beyond my own limits, the car finally spun out and the PDK switched into Neutral (stalling a PDK in gear can wreck the transmission, so Porsche programs its cars to rather switch to Neutral when they spin out). He then made me do it again, until I became comfortable with the loss of control and I started reacting correctly to bring the car back into control.
After a few rounds on the skidpan, with and then without the instructor, I felt more comfortable with this car. I now understand its limits and my driving limits better.
This advanced driving course was well worth the price and I feel that it has improved my confidence with this car. It also helped having an instructor who was passionate in making sure his students went above and beyond just the basics.
There is a racing/track driver course that is offered by the same company. I may consider that in future, just to build up the skillset even further.
As mentioned earlier, I noted that I felt less confident driving the 911 vs my 981 Cayman S. It is not that the 911 is not capable, it is just that I felt more confident pushing the Cayman because I knew it would always have my back. Being mid engined, the Cayman instills a feeling of marginally more driver control vs the rear engined 911. Granted, the 991.1 is a far cry from the earlier widow maker 911s of the 80s.
Anyway, I booked a course with AS Driving (https://asdriving.co.za/). The beauty of this course is that you use your own car. Here is my summary of that experience:
The course is held at Gerotek on certain days from 8.30am to 3pm and entails the following:
- detailed presentation on road safety, driver alertness, hijack safety, etc. Be warned that they show some pretty graphic accident videos (some real, some acted) at the end of the presentation (brains on the ground, bodys being crushed, etc.) The young drivers on the course were left a bit shaken - but that is good if they need to learn about driving safely and being alert! For older drivers, there is nothing really new here to learn.
- Then there are 4 laps on the high speed oval. Those familiar with Gerotek, will know that the track has a steep embankment. Being allowed to push high speeds on that is a bit of a surreal experience, since your car is at an angle. Think Nascar racing. A fun experience.
- The slalom is pretty standard stuff. Push the car at progressively higher speeds while trying not to hit cones. As expected, the 911 sailed through this.
- The skidpan was where I really got to push the car with guidance from the instructor. The skidpan covers emergency braking, avoidance, under- and oversteer, all in the wet.
On the skidpan, even in Sport Plus mode, the car is very stable through the water. You can get the tail out (more easily than a Cayman), but a throttle adjustment and steering unwind are enough to bring everything back into line. For the average driver, with the safety net electronics on, the car allows some rear end action, but you can easily bring it back to safety.
The instructor wanted me to really push the limits of the car and myself - so we switched off the PSM, switched car into manual, kept Sport Plus on and drove the car hard in the wet. After pushing beyond my own limits, the car finally spun out and the PDK switched into Neutral (stalling a PDK in gear can wreck the transmission, so Porsche programs its cars to rather switch to Neutral when they spin out). He then made me do it again, until I became comfortable with the loss of control and I started reacting correctly to bring the car back into control.
After a few rounds on the skidpan, with and then without the instructor, I felt more comfortable with this car. I now understand its limits and my driving limits better.
This advanced driving course was well worth the price and I feel that it has improved my confidence with this car. It also helped having an instructor who was passionate in making sure his students went above and beyond just the basics.
There is a racing/track driver course that is offered by the same company. I may consider that in future, just to build up the skillset even further.
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TurboLlew
Honorary ///Member
Thanks for sharing. This is definitely on the list now! Great that you can use your own car because the machines on offer are either much better or much worse than what you might have (or simply different enough that it is a great experience but hasn't necessarily added to your knowledge of your exact car.
MR_Y
Well-known member
I should also add that after the proper course, the instructors do offer a free run on the high speed oval or the skidpan for another hour, depending on interest from the students and conditions. The guys with the heavier hitting cars are allowed more free reign
Another good thing about this course is that they set up the students in sub groups based on the cars on the day. I was in the same group as a Ranger Raptor and Jag F Type SVR, since there were no other sports cars on the day. This means that the instructors who helped us used a different technique vs the instructors who helped the Suzuki Swift drivers. If you have a performance vehicle, you are taught how to push to higher limits than someone in a budget car. In my 911, the instructor sat with me to show me the nuances of the 911 handling set up that were not covered in the general pre-run session.
The company is also the preferred advanced driving course supplier to the SEFAC Ferrari Club.
At R2,800 (pricing at my time of booking), I felt this course was well worth it. Make sure you get the instructor named Manghi.
Regarding insurance, my broker (Sela) asked for the credentials of the instructor before they agreed to cover my car. Also, because you are not driving on a racing track, track day insurance is not required.
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///M Individual
Well-known member
Awesome guys!
Those 996 Turbo's 😍
Those 996 Turbo's 😍
MR_Y
Well-known member
Route to Cullinan from Pretoria.
Found the road quality to be better than Magalies route and less busy.
MR_Y
Well-known member
Update on work done recently and parts pricing from the dealer:
Brakes pads all round are R9k.
Labour and consumables and sensor wires are R6k.
Total R15k.
Prices exclude VAT.
Door panels (interior sides on both doors, including side armrest, door card and top section by window) and labour cost R80k for both doors (excl VAT). The warping door panels are a known factory fault on all 991.1 and 981 cars that do not have the stitched leather option.
Brakes and door panels covered by Plan (which expires next year and cannot be extended). I figure if I can get all the major items sorted before then, I will just need to budget for routine maintenance and tyres thereafter.
Door panel picture of what was replaced - excludes handle and window switches:
Brakes pads all round are R9k.
Labour and consumables and sensor wires are R6k.
Total R15k.
Prices exclude VAT.
Door panels (interior sides on both doors, including side armrest, door card and top section by window) and labour cost R80k for both doors (excl VAT). The warping door panels are a known factory fault on all 991.1 and 981 cars that do not have the stitched leather option.
Brakes and door panels covered by Plan (which expires next year and cannot be extended). I figure if I can get all the major items sorted before then, I will just need to budget for routine maintenance and tyres thereafter.
Door panel picture of what was replaced - excludes handle and window switches:
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