Page 10 - KCRPCA Sept Oct 2020

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BOOKENDS
A SLEDGE HAMMER AND A SCALPEL
Irecently picked up a 1999 base model Boxster. When looking for a new car, most people look for the most horsepower, most options, and the most money they can afford. I wanted the opposite. Let me explain.
Several years back, I was lucky enough to have two Porsches in my garage. Yes, I know I have the best wife ever. I had a 2000 911 C2 and a 1988 944 Turbo. The two cars could not be more different. The 2000 911 was a naturally aspirated flat six with the engine
in the rear. Stomping on the gas gave a smooth linear shove all the way up through the gears. It had all the “new car” goodies of heated seats, temperature controlled AC, power locks, 6-way adjustable power seats, leather everywhere, 6-speed, and more. The 1988
Der Sportwagen
Stomping on the gas in it resulted in a slight hesitation, then BOOM: the horsepower kicked in and
you were off. The 944 still had some old school to it. You had to actually unlock the car with the key as there was no key fob. If you were hot or cold, you had to manually adjust the temperature. The seats were manual and it had a huge trunk via the rear hatch. The combination of plastics and leather always gave out a good German smell. It felt analog.
But the two cars did have one thing in common, horsepower. The 911 had 295hp from the factory and the 944T with a chip, intake, and exhaust was estimated by Dr. Karl Wilen to be an easy 300hp.
It was fun to go back and forth between the two and feel the difference in how they delivered roughly the same horsepower, but in two completely different ways.
EDITOR IN-CHIEF STAN THORNE
11
YEARS
10
944T was a turbocharged inline four with the engine in the front.