Porsche 911 Carrera (996.2)
The reversal of modifications has begun – with mixed results
AS I DETAILED IN MY LAST REPORT, I decided to prioritise the works carried out by Porsche Centre Hatfield based on the maximum impact in getting my car back to how I feel it should drive. Some of those cosmetic items, well, they will have to wait.
This meant removing the aftermarket exhaust for a factory sports system (with a corresponding change back to the original ECU map, a relatively simple job in the menu of the diagnostic system). From there, it was back to factory anti-roll bars and coffin arms, front and rear, plus I also replaced the seven-year-old Michelins with a fresh set of the French firm’s Pilot Sport PS2 N3 tyre – the one officially rated for the 996 by Porsche. I had thought about trying a more modern tyre, but these days it’s hard to find such a thing in the sizes of my 996’s factoryoption Carrera Classic 18-inch rims, and the N3s are specifically designed to cope with the 911’s inherent weight distribution (read: strength of sidewalls to cope with mass over the rear axle).
Hatfield’s Classic tech, Simon, let me visit the car in the workshop a couple of times while work was going ahead. He deemed it a good ’un, which is always nice to hear – especially considering some of the set-up and tuning issues I’ve had in recent years. It’s encouraging that there’s a good car there, waiting to come into full bloom.
Have the changes finally got the car back on the right track? Well, I won’t be coy about the result: it’s a mixed bag. (Come on, with Jethro’s 996 transformed into an Instagram sensation, who else are you going to get your 996-based moaning and drudgery from in evo these days? I’m happy to oblige; it’s my pleasure.)
I can’t fault Hatfield’s work, and there’s plenty of good news. The exhaust is fabulous – what a relief to get rid of that incessant boom, and to have the torque curve back in all its rich, rewarding glory. The 3.6-litre lump pulls with real determination once again in the mid-range, and when the valves are open the noise is full-bodied and strident without being uncomfortable.
The less good news concerns the dynamics. Again, it’s nothing that Hatfield has done wrong, just that the process of elimination and my hunch on what needed to be changed hasn’t quite paid off. The car does drive better than before, and there’s impressive cornering grip on offer from the new Michelins, but it’s still way too firm for my tastes, with far too much road noise coming into the cabin. How I’ve set about dealing with that is why I’ve already started writing my next report. Onwards we go.
Adam Towler (@Adamtowler)
Date acquired May 2016 Total mileage 86,452 Mileage this month 51 Costs this month More than the price of a cheap 986 Boxster mpg this month n/a