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Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 5:40 pm
by SSO
Just posted an article on 5 cars I found surprisingly good and 3 that just were not:
https://ssoreport.com/surprisingly-good-and-just-not
Comments?
Which ones would be on your list?
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 6:07 pm
by DeskJockey
I'd obviously like to test them all myself, but that's rather unlikely.
My Swedish heritage bemoans the K'egg not being good enough, and the 456 is a teenage hero car, so that too is disappointing.
I've never been smitten with 911s, so that one I'm not bothered about.
You've clearly had enough experience with exotica to not be blinded by brand and the expectation "it must be good because".
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:12 pm
by Marv
Matty will be happy with your first entry on the Surprising Good list!
I was speaking to a local specialist who had a 456 in, and they told me how disappointed they were with them too...which is a real shame as they look the business.
I haven't heard many negative things about the 993 Turbo before, so it's also a shame to hear that they're ultimately disappointing.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:48 pm
by SSO
Marv wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 10:12 pm
Matty will be happy with your first entry on the Surprising Good list!
I was speaking to a local specialist who had a 456 in, and they told me how disappointed they were with them too...which is a real shame as they look the business.
I haven't heard many negative things about the 993 Turbo before, so it's also a shame to hear that they're ultimately disappointing.
Personally I would rather have a 993 C2 than a 993 Turbo.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:09 pm
by GG.
I haven't driven a 993 series car but surprised to hear the suspension was not compliant. All porsches I've driven and been driven in (924, 944, 928, 987, 997, 991) have ridden well.
The light nose at high speeds in an old 911 doesn't suprise. As you've said I wouldn't spend the money on a turbo car. A 993 C4S has the looks without the cost and doesn't delude that its a top speed machine - it'd be the one I'd go for.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:10 am
by dinny_g
I’ve never been in a Porsche… let alone drive one…
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:16 am
by SSO
GG. wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:09 pm
I haven't driven a 993 series car but surprised to hear the suspension was not compliant. All porsches I've driven and been driven in (924, 944, 928, 987, 997, 991) have ridden well.
On the suspension, it's just the 993 Turbo. Suspension was very good on the 993 C4
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:17 am
by speedingfine
Morning, always good to read your experiences
You said the 993 Turbo had a habit of shimmering at high speed, did you mean shimmying? Sounds like there was something very wrong with it!
The Mosler always sounds like a fab car
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:44 am
by Gavster
I always thought the 456 looked like an undistinctive slip-on leather shoe, so I am quite happy that it behanved as badly as it looks. I was an impressionable teenager during that era of Ferrari and the 355 made the 456 look like an old man's retirement fund car.
Gutted about the Koenigsegg, not surprised, but still gutted.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:33 pm
by GG.
Gavster wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:44 am
I always thought the 456 looked like an undistinctive slip-on leather shoe, so I am quite happy that it behanved as badly as it looks. I was an impressionable teenager during that era of Ferrari and the 355 made the 456 look like an old man's retirement fund car.
Gutted about the Koenigsegg, not surprised, but still gutted.
Yeh the old V12s in those and the 550s are just not in the same league as the Enzo derived F140 models such as the FF, etc. I'd definitely have an FF over a 456 even given the price gap. I was having a play with one on the bypass on the way back from the Porsche centre this morning funnily enough. I pulled over and he gave it a full redline pull past me. Glorious.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:41 pm
by Mito Man
Have you driven a 612 and if so how did you find it?
(Please be good)
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:51 pm
by GG.
Mito Man wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:41 pm
Have you driven a 612 and if so how did you find it?
(Please be good)
See post above - between the better more modern V12 and the double clutch gearbox the FF is a lot better bet for not all that much more than a 612 Scag (providing you check the front power transfer unit is OK). Then again I've only driven the FF so I think per the discussion on the F40 that makes my opinion worthless
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:58 pm
by Gavster
GG. wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:33 pm
Gavster wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:44 am
I always thought the 456 looked like an undistinctive slip-on leather shoe, so I am quite happy that it behanved as badly as it looks. I was an impressionable teenager during that era of Ferrari and the 355 made the 456 look like an old man's retirement fund car.
Gutted about the Koenigsegg, not surprised, but still gutted.
Yeh the old V12s in those and the 550s are just not in the same league as the Enzo derived F140 models such as the FF, etc. I'd definitely have an FF over a 456 even given the price gap. I was having a play with one on the bypass on the way back from the Porsche centre this morning funnily enough. I pulled over and he gave it a full redline pull past me. Glorious.
Hard agree with you there, in fact there’s a black FF parked on my regular running route next to Wansted Flats and it’s an absolutely beautiful car. Despite seeing it almost every day, I still get lustful when I see it.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 3:59 pm
by SSO
Mito Man wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 1:41 pm
Have you driven a 612 and if so how did you find it?
(Please be good)
I did own a 612 Scag for a bit. Quite liked it. Miles better than the 456 GT.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:01 pm
by SSO
speedingfine wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:17 am
Morning, always good to read your experiences
You said the 993 Turbo had a habit of shimmering at high speed, did you mean shimmying? Sounds like there was something very wrong with it!
The Mosler always sounds like a fab car
Mosler really did drive well. The 993 Turbo going light at speed in the front apparently is not a remote issue. All the weight is in the back.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 9:51 pm
by GG.
dinny_g wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:10 am
I’ve never been in a Porsche… let alone drive one…
I missed this post
Even worse I actually missed Cayenne, Macan and Taycan from that post. All of which I’ve driven or passengered in.
Let me know next time you’re anywhere near the big smoke. You need to have a go!
Equally, where are you based Dinny?
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:20 pm
by dinny_g
It’s tragic GG isn’t it.
It’s an oddity because I’ve passengerd in lots of cool stuff from hardcore track focused Exiges to 800hp Supras, 560 SEC to 68 Mustang GT Fastback.
My old bosses used to let me drive their cars when they were out of the country - so that was a 4.2 V8 Audi A8, W129 SL600 and newer S and SL 500’s. A great way to impress the chicks when you’re 25
But never been in porker…
And a RUF RT 12 is the first thing I’d find after I win the lotto.
Newport Pagnell based. I might have to take you up on the offer sometime…
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 11:57 pm
by GG.
dinny_g wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 10:20 pm
It’s tragic GG isn’t it.
It’s an oddity because I’ve passengerd in lots of cool stuff from hardcore track focused Exiges to 800hp Supras, 560 SEC to 68 Mustang GT Fastback.
My old bosses used to let me drive their cars when they were out of the country - so that was a 4.2 V8 Audi A8, W129 SL600 and newer S and SL 500’s. A great way to impress the chicks when you’re 25
But never been in porker…
And a RUF RT 12 is the first thing I’d find after I win the lotto.
Newport Pagnell based. I might have to take you up on the offer sometime…
We should definitely get it arranged. I’m often up in Oxford and that’s barely an hour away.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 7:51 am
by RobYob
SSO wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 4:01 pm
speedingfine wrote: Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:17 am
Morning, always good to read your experiences
You said the 993 Turbo had a habit of shimmering at high speed, did you mean shimmying? Sounds like there was something very wrong with it!
The Mosler always sounds like a fab car
Mosler really did drive well. The 993 Turbo going light at speed in the front apparently is not a remote issue. All the weight is in the back.
"At speed" will be the aero balance not the mass balance though... I can't remember the old articles clearly but I though Evo always worshipped the 993tubs. Or was it the force of Harry at work.
Anyway I wonder how much is down to the history of each individual car. I got to drive an R8 V10 manual on road and track and it should've rocked my world but I was left very underwhelmed, it seemed heavy, awkward and muted, which I know is right out of step with published opinion.
Re: Surprisingly Good & The Just Not
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 8:27 am
by Jobbo
It was Performance Car that adored the 993 Turbo because Evo didn’t yet exist, but I’m sure they didn’t forget how much they liked it at the old mag.
ETA: I can’t find a scan of PC’s road tests and PCOTY 1995 online and mine are buried at the back of the garage. But Autocar were impressed but not in love:
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-turbo-f ... 995-a.html