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Andrew McCredie Editor andrew@nsnews.com

THE philosophical will ask “Why?” Porsche fanatics will answer “Why not.”

Feonsider myself among the later, however, as TP crubed along the Upper Levels Highway at TO] koa-h in seam? gear, 1 couldn't help but be a little philosophical. Atter all, with four more gears left atmy fingertips, just what is the point of a car that has more power to spare than the combined U.S.A- Ruse nuclear arsenal.

The German automaker's newest four-wheeled mastersrroke is so quick, so fast, that there are precious few places in the world to unleash its powertul performance.

Unless vou live near the legendary Autobahn, in Monrans or have a race track in your backyard, why would anyone want to own a car that hits the speed limit in second gear?

*tyactiy”. chorus the contemporary Platos, Socrates and John Stuart Mills of the auromotive world.

Well, for starters, the Jogie as to where their customers would drive their cars (and how) has never factored into the teutonic engineers’ design spees for these cars.

With handling to rival most racing car's raceday setups and a shape that turns heads faster than Gillian Guess, the new water-cooled 911 is perhaps the best production sports car ever built,

It’s been said that with cach new 91S, Porsche engineers outdo themselves. Of course, it is Porsche-philes thar will roll you this. ;

Ir the case of the 1999 996, huwever, it’s true. tis the best Porsche ever built (with a price tag pushing $120,000, 1 should be). Zraditionalists will probably take exception to such a state: ment, citing the Fifties’ era Spyder or the Carreras of the 1970s as the “best ever.”

However, in terms of speed, handing and technical sophis- tication, the Jast 911 of the millennium as the teps (though dubbed the: 996, it is reatly the next step int the 91's ceolu tion). Even the people at Porsche think se.

*- “They represent the first all-new Porsche 911s in the history of che famed spo: r model,” states a Porse North America press release, “What makes the new 991 s0 sp ~-. Despite losing the legendary a cm that helped define the Porsche naniz — and sound — the 91 has centin- _ ued its upward march towards p i

Gone is the twitchy backend that sent more than one 911 co the autobody shop — and their owners to the emergency ward. : dn the late 1980s and carly 1990s, Porsche made a number

of cars that literally required a racing education to allow you to handle them. As part of your purchase, you ‘were enrolled in a - one-day course that taught you how to handle the touchy -,, beasts. = * "The amazing thing about the 1999 996 is that you van dni it like a race car — or like a Honda Civic. A dead-casy gear box = with soft clutch makes shifting a breeze, and the fact that the car doesn't even approach redline in second gear before you hit the

- legal speed limit means you can putter around town with tew

ries of stretching the smooth, yet mighty, powerband.

_°S Of course, few people buy a Porsche with such pedestrian driving habits in mind. And for-them this car is 2 blast.

Tnever thought I'd get bored with beating punks in sunped- up Japanese cars — the kind with purple lights under the skirt anda Momo steering wheei and shifter inside — when the light tums green, but after the 20th or so time, I didn't even bother turing my head when they revved their tiny, underpowered engines to try and coax the 996 into a ducl (ever hear the one about bringing a knife to a gunfight).

Which brings us to my oaly complaint, in the form a ques- tin, about this bona fide supercar. How long would Lown one before the Crown owned my driver's cence and my wages for the next year?

However, I cid manage to find a few places to get the 996 into sixth gear. Aed ifthat Ferrari owner ts reading this artivie, all [can sav is better luck next time,

ee

PORSCHE Cars North America

THE inner workings of the Porsche 996 are every bit as functional — and beautiful — as the aerodynamic metal skin that sheaths the water-cooled supercar.

LMAO EP EOE ER eee:

Friday, September 25, 1998 — North Shore News — 37 ya

NEWS photo Andrew McCredie

THE 1999 Porsche 996 borrows front-end styling cues from the popular Boxster, although the 996’s 3.4-litre water-cooled six-cylinder engine leaves its stablemate in the dust. -

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