Haven't posted on MBW for a bit but now with the summer here almost hope to enjoy the top down motoring of the SL55 once again as it roars briskly down the road...

I've been a Porsche guy for years having instructed track events and such with PCA since '05...I had a Turbo X50 which I recently sold for a GT2...this is basically the closest you can get to a raw experience of driving a near race car on the street! Not nearly as comfortable as the SL55 and for long trips the SL55 is perfect but the GT2 is a thrills a second fast pace fun car to drive!

here's a thread I put up on 6speedonline:

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/9...oming-gt2.html

 

Niceee can't go wrong with that baby
been having mine for 7 years just had the EPL tune last october and loving it. Congrats on the new toy!!!

 

Very nice! What year is it?

I have a modified 993TT for canyon carving!

 

Sunir...thanks for the wood...now I just got to roll my wife over ! All us AMG guys must all drink from the same kook-aid because Porsche Turbos are invariably always on our minds as a possible next purchase.

I still have a Porsche Turbo poster from 1985 somewhere in my storage unit back when I was a freshman in college. I only had a "lowly" Targa at the time and would have given my left nut for the Turbo...even with it's hellacious turbo lag.

 

Thanks for the kind words guys...halm it's an '02...they only made 300 of them over the 3 years they were produced with a couple of the remaining ones slipping into the 05 model year, GT2 build numbers are less than Carrera GT build numbers ... mine is a very rare European Spec car which had been imported by a local USA dealer and Porsche did this for a handful of GT2 cars for which they created a US designated VIN code (known as a triple Z or ZZZ code) there are differences for example my radio is a CDR 22 and the US one is a CDR 220, my instruments are in German, and there is a placard on the dash stating 'subsititute for US VIN' then lists the production and code number. Best part is the car has several key exemptions and waivers for things like emissions and the like...hope that all translates to my State, I don;t see how it wouldn't


Jon thanks bud...yeah man you're right us AMG guys we seem to like similar cars...I've always like Porsches and loved my turbo X50 the only reason I sold that was to get a GT2, otherwise I would have kept her!

Turbo lag is a thing of the past with the modern Porsches...from K16 to K24 and now Variable G turbos these cars are very very fast from standsitll and even more impressive at speed., the 930 iof the mid eighties had a single turbo which was laggy for sure...but they were fantastic cars...I was in the 5th grade in '85 but we both wanted turbos, I had a little kit model I had made of the 930 with wide flairs and fat rims, it was completely murdered out (you woulda approved lol) although I did the interior in red...even to this very date the 930 Flatnose turbo is one of my all time favs...

 

Great car! GT2's are very special.

Isn't that the one they call "The widow maker"!

 

yup ... gobs of endless power and tq...just over 3000 lbs, rear wheel drive, no drivers aids at all...

it's a very intense and raw car...

 

Congrats! Great car... but remember to keep your brain online when riding around with that beast. Don't let temper get through with you. The 996 GT2 doesn't forgive anything.

Great looking interior too. I never liked the 996 interior, but with all that nice refinements, it looks great.

Also... the GT2 might well be the only 996 that will keep its value from now on.

 

thanks yeah the car is a true drivers car..the driving experience is very hands on and you really have to pay attention...they don't call the GT2 "Widow maker" for nothing!

That said this car is an absolute blast in the tight twisty backroads and through the mountains and woods type switchbacks...

 

Congrats! Should be a great track car!!

 

Back roads and switchbacks are the best. Track days are great, but there is something very special about attacking a mountain road. I took a few days off last week and headed over to California with the CS and spent lots of time doing some canyon carving. Angeles Crest, Big Tujunga and Little Tujunga were the highlights for me.

You've got good roads back east, but there are some incredible roads out west.

 

^^ No Doubt bro ^^

Out west has some great roads, mountain passes and scenic coastline...

One of my favs is the Pacific Coastal Highway...very scenic, would be great to cruise up from LA to Carmel out there...I think the SL55 would be a better car for it with the top down!!

 

For me, this is the great conundrum. that sweet new GT2 of yours is hands down the better "drivers" car, but a weekend trip along PCH in the SL55 is the perfect ride and the perfect drive. I have not figured out how to own both car types at the same time. At least not yet.

 

easy....

911 turbo S cabriolet

or Ferrari California...

or Jaguar XKE or late 50's XJ120

there's a few for starters

I've driven my SL55 from coast to coast (once there and once back)...DC to LA and back to DC...nothing like the SL for super long distances covered at high speeds and perfect driving environment for it's two lucky occupants. It is the PERFECT grand tourer...I know, I've actually expereinced it! I can jump in the SL and knock down 500 miles like it's nothing, the car is that great for clicking off the miles on a trip!

 

Wow! very nice beast.
I was a Porsche owner for 14 years.
Major congrats!
Love it!

 

My dad had the x50 turbo (tiptronic) which i romped around when i was young. maybe 18. He sold it and bought a used gt2 and also let me drive it. It was also an '02. The first time i drove it I remember flooring it around a turn in the top end of 2nd gear. The car spun a 180 and I didn't want to drive it again. Just stoked I didn't crash his gt2.

 

yeah she'll do that ... with the X50 you could romp on it with the GT2 you gotta feed it throttle which you can do aggressively you just have to feel the car's feedback a bit more...

 

Congrats on the new toy. That's really all they are, toys for us to enjoy and play with. I had a 1990 911 Turbo. Wonderful ride, but very different than the SL55. The 911 always made you aware of it's nature. The SL55 doesn't. It's a very comfortable, streetable machine until you hit the loud pedal then it lets you know what it's really about. I liked the Porsche's lightness and unforgiving handling. But I'm a bit more grownup now and the SL55 suits me fine. Enjoy and drive safely.

 

they are indeed 2 totally different cars..my GT2 and my SL55...I really like them both, each are very good at what it was meant for, which I think is true mark of a winning disign. In this case both are flagships of the marque and both are timeless designs and iconic legacies from a very strong and deep rooted lineage standpoint...there are no flagships more recognized than the Porsche 911 and Mercedes SL

 

Obviously the 911 Turbos were always on my mind, do you have any sense on the benefits of paying up for the 997 GT2 (or even 997.5)?

 

Sweet car!

 

I've been in the 997 GT2 it is sweet for sure and I'd love to drive the GT2 RS, there are a few around here...

I am on the fence though, the 996 GT2 is the true "widow maker" there are no drivers aids and the experience is pure and raw, it reminds you of exactly what it is each time you drive...I did't get the same feeling in the 997 GT2, it has PASM and stability control, it's more refined, and a bit heavier, and it's closer to the turbo in creature comforts...I love the seats in it though, and the ample use of suade/alcantara...I think Porsche made more of a friendlier GT2 with the 997...it's still one bada$$ car though that's for sure...

 

Quoted for troof!