I was driving by a friend’s office the other day and noticed a new sports coupe parked where I was used to seeing his 1999 996 Carrera. After a few days of seeing this new, different car, I sent off a quick email asking him if he had made a switch. His response was “yes” he did indeed trade-in his Porsche toward a new ride and, more shocking to me, a new marque as well. I was very surprised to find that he had moved away from Porsche (as he’s been a long time enthusiast) and even more stunned by his new brand of choice, Maserati.
After hearing this news, I decided to invite him out to lunch. Ok, that’s a bit of an embellishment, in reality, we had been trying to get together for the past few weeks to talk other business and this seemed like a great opportunity to “kill two birds with one stone”. Not only could we catch up personally, in addition, I would get to hear first hand his reasons for abandoning my favorite car manufacturer and if I was lucky, I could sneak in a quick test drive for a short comparison.
Over lunch he discussed how he had recently started having serious maintenance issues with his ’99 Carrera (which I’m told is not uncommon for higher mileage examples of this year and model) and had gone looking at the local Porsche dealer for his next P-car. Upon arriving on the lot, he found that a customer just traded in a ’02 Maserati Coupe. Without going into his personal reasons for making the change (besides the maintenance issues) he ended up driving home, from a Porsche dealer, with a Maserati.
After lunch, he did indeed toss me the keys and we went for a short, but telling, drive. My plan is to swap for a day or two with him this spring to do a more extensive comparison, but for now these are my thoughts:
First Impressions - Walking up behind the Maserati did not give me the same feeling I get upon approaching the business end of a wide body 911 (but then again, not many things in the automotive world do). At first glance it doesn’t offer the same design and style of the other, more famous, Italian super-car brands (Ferrari and Lamborghini). However, once you step inside, ensconce yourself in the very comfortable interior and listen to the throaty roar of the 4.2 liter, naturally aspirated (that’s right), 390 hp motor, as it works its way to the 7500 RPM redline, you know this car has some “juice”. The Maserati is deceptively sporty!
Acceleration - Weighing in at 3700 lbs the Maserati takes you from 0 to 60 is 4.8 seconds. With more than 100 hp above and beyond my 993, I thought it would be quicker. While still slightly faster than my 993, that extra weight takes away from the acceleration.
Top Speed - The Maserati has a published top speed of 180 mhp. The 97 C4S has a published top speed of 157 mph (on a side note, the C2S has a top speed of 160 mph). Maserati is the clear winner here.
Transmission - To the best of my knowledge the 993C4S was not available with Tiptronic (which is a good thing). The 6 speed, close-ratio, manual transmission is easy to use and has nice, quick, short throws for fast gear changes. The Maserati has a six-speed manual (the Coupe Cambiocorsa comes with an available 6 speed paddle, F1 style shifter). I need more “seat” time to give a more accurate comparison of the two. For right now, I will say that when cold, I had trouble getting from 1st to 2nd without a little grinding and found it easier to skip right into 3rd. Lastly, the Porsche seems to really just get going around 4500 to 5000 RPMs while the Maserati’s prime torque band peaks at 4500 RPMs (even with a red-line of 7500).
Handling - This is purely subjective. I think the Porsche 993 C4S is the winner hands down. It basically sticks to the road and with the all-wheel drive and is much more forgiving than most other Porsches with little to no body roll. From a coolness factor, the Maserati has the optional “Skyhook” system that changes the suspension settings. However, from what I have read, it doesn’t stiffen the suspension at all. Instead, by engaging the “Skyhook” it provides a suppler feel for those bumpy roads.
Brakes - Interestingly enough, both cars have vented discs with brakes supplied from the same manufacturer, Brembo. Unfortunately, once again, the extra weight of the Maserati comes into play. While the brakes are responsive and will stop you quickly, they don’t do so with the same authority as the Porsche.
Consumables and Maintenance - I don’t have a lot of information on this subject yet, but will update on my next drive. What I do know is that the gas mileage for the Maserati leaves quite a bit to be desired. At less than 14 mpg around town the big V8 has quite an insatiable thirst.
Interior - The Maserati is a true 2 + 2. While an average size adult would have a very difficult time getting into the back, my friend was able to complete a nice day trip with his wife and two small children (he even tucked their puppy in between the kids in the back). For me, as a tall man, the driving position was not as comfortable as the Porsche and the brake and gas pedal were just a bit too tight (there is plenty of cockpit space though). The Maserati came standard with full, supple leather (an option on the 993) but no sunroof. Lastly, I’m not sure if it was just a glitch with my friend’s car or if all Maserati’s have the same problem, but the radio reception was terrible (not even picking up local stations well) and the controls are far from intuitive.
Appearance - Sorry Steve (my friend who owns the Maserati in question) It should come as no surprise that the 993 is the clear winner here. While the front and the back of the Maserati have attractive styling, there is something about the rear quarters that make it look too boxy (from the side) and detract from the overall look that I want and expect from an aggressive sports car.
As a disclaimer and included in all my comparisons, my opinion is biased, obviously, but I still think I fairly described things. I’m looking forward to nicer weather in a few months to do a more thorough driving comparison. If you would like to receive more comparisons like this and other Porsche related tidbits please subcribe to my blog for all the latest updates. You can do so via reader or by filling in the email form on the top right hand side of this page.
This following video is narrated in German (auf Deutsch), but the sound of the motor and the driving speak for themselves. I have to give you fair warning, it is over 5 minutes long (and it’s more education vs. driving between 2:15 and 3:30) but the best driving and camera work comes after 3:30, even a little slow motion drifting). Watch as little or as much as you like, it’s fantastic for the entire length. UPDATE: the full length video is no longer availabe, but the video below still gives you flavor.
Can you imagine the skill, not to mention the “intestinal fortitude” it takes to drive a car that is as notoriously difficult to handle (not to mention valued at close to $500,000) like a Carrera GT. I personally think this is one of the more amazing videos I’ve seen in a while. Look at the camera positions; there had to be another car and driver positioning itself in many different ways to get the chase shots, rear facing shots, stationary shots, interior shots, etc.
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I recently received an email from one of my readers (thanks Kirk) that provided the catalyst for this post on Service Bulletings. I think it is good advice for first time Porsche owners and everyone else alike. I wanted to use this opportunity to pass some of it along.
I’m sure most of you are aware of the Factory Service Bulletins that are published directly from Porsche (these are also called TSBs or Technical Service Bulletins). TSBs are issued to cover a wide variety of subjects including changes in parts or specifications, model changes and service problem areas. Specifically, they are issued to the Porsche service departments to address these issues and other recurring problems.
Included in a regular TSB you may find:
A list of required parts
Description of the issue or problem and update
Instructions and illustrations on how to fix
Typically, the TSBs provide info not otherwise found in the workshop manuals or parts book.
So, how do you get this information? As a Porsche owner, it’s actually quite easy to get updates and get them for free.
At the very back of your owners manual is a “Transfer of Ownership” form. Simply complete this form and send in to the address indidcated. If you can’t find this form, or if you don’t have the manual, you can request one directly from Porsche North America. The only problem with this method is it only entitles you to future updates.
So, if you want past updates, how do you get them? You have a number of options.
You can use an online database such as ALLDATA.ALLDATA. offers online access, by year and model for a reasonable fee.
You can search the online forums, that I have discussed in the past. Your best bet will be Rennlist (some members are willing to share if you ask nicely).
You can purchase directly from Porsche for a fee as well. While this is coming directly from the source, it can get costly as they charge $1.80 per TSB.
If anyone knows of other sources, please be sure to let me know so I can update this post for the archive.
A Porsche Certificate of Authenticity is a valuable document that comes directly from the Porsche factory. Included on the document is the original build information specific to your Porsche. It includes your Porsche’s original factory specs (options you ordered with your car), your Porsche’s Birth Date or production completion date and the MSRP or manufacturers suggested retail price.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE? -
It doesn’t matter if you have an older (antique) Porsche or a newer model, all Porsche cars are collectible (as far as I’m concerned). A Certificate of Authenticity can be valuable for resale, restoration and on the concourse. As certain model Porsches become more and more collectible, a Certificate of Authenticity is a must. I have ordered one for each of my P-cars and I’ve always been glad to have them.
HOW MUCH DO THEY COST? -
For model year 1948 to 1979 they are $110.00 For model year 1980 to present they are $95.00
You can get a $10.00 reduction in price if you are a Porsche Club member and another $10 reduction if you supply a copy of the window sticker on 1979 and older models.
HOW DO I GET ONE? -
Unfortunately, you can’t complete an order online at this point. However, you can download an order formhere. Once you have completed the form you can fax it to 1-800-322-2436 or mail it to:
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Certificate of Authenticity 980 Hammond Drive, Suite 1000 Atlanta, GA 30328 USA
Written on January 19th, 2008 at 11:10am by 993C4S
I normally don’t post on the weekend. Instead, I use the time to write my posts for the upcoming week. Anyway, I thought I would use this as an opportunity to sneak in a quick little announcement about this blog.
Some of you may have noticed a slight change to the tagline of my blog (see the logo above). I’ve changed it from “all things air-cooled” to “Porsche Products, Culture & Lifestyle”. While I still plan on focusing on air-cooled items, I would like to talk about other Porsche products and models as well. Future topics will include:
Porsche Racing
Porsche Designed Products
Porsche Events
Thoughts on what it means to live a “Porsche Lifestyle” (still not sure on this one)
Interesting items I find on the web related to Porsche
Reader suggested items.
I’ve been very pleased so far with the feedback I’ve been getting from site visitors (the good and the bad). It is still very much in its infancy and I welcome all comments. My only request is that instead of emailing me directly, please comment directly on the blog (by clicking on the comment button at the end of the post). I would love it if this could become more interactive and iterative. I participate in most of the online forums and don’t in any way think that my blog will replace or compete with them (nor do I want it to). I would just love to know what people think!
Written on January 18th, 2008 at 1:30am by Pepper Girl
I received an email the other day from a new member of the 993 family. He had just purchased his first Porsche and it happened to be a 993 (’97 White cab with blue top to be exact). Aside from complimenting the picture of my car (which will always get my attention and a response) he wanted to know what advice I could give to a first time Porsche and 993 owner to help “enhance” his overall ownership experience.
Here was my response (edited for content and privacy):
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the family!
As for enhancing the experience, that’s a tough one. I’ve found that so much of what people want to get out of their Porsche is unique to the individual.
With that said, I can let you know some of the things that I’ve done and the reasons for them.
JOIN THE PCA - When I bought my first Porsche, I immediately joined the PCA. I did this for two reasons: 1. the subscription to Panorama magazine (this alone is worth the price of admission); 2. The social aspect. I found it was a great way to meet people with similar interests.
Take some DE (driver’s education classes) - One of the great things about owning a Porsche (any Porsche) is that you truly have a “super car” that can be used as a daily driver (if you so choose). DE classes are a great way to find out what your car is really made of and will also help you as a driver learn to handle your 993 in ways you may not have thought possible. This is advice that I need to take as well. While I have taken DE classes in my ’73 911, I have yet to do so in my 993. I have put it on the calendar for this spring.
EXPLORE THE WEB - If you haven’t already, explore the various web forums (especially Rennlist). There is so much great info out there that at times it is hard to absorb it all. I’ve listed the most popular in this post and would still love to know if I’m missing any.
UPGRADE, UPGRADE, UPGRADE - There are lots and lots of inexpensive to very expensive modifications that can be done to your car in order to enhance both performance and looks (depending on budget, function and your own personal style). I’m in the process of making my upgrade list right now and would love more input on it. Fortunately for me, my car came with a lot of nice options. I now need to do some small things to personalize it as well as getting rid of the “SUV” ride height.
DRIVE IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - More than anything, I think this is the most important piece of advice I can give. While we all bought these cars for our own reasons, I have to assume that we share a common bond in our love for driving them (not to mention the way they look).
This list is by no means comprehensive and would love for you to share your thoughts on what else can be done to “enhance” the Porsche ownership experience. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to review these 3 reasons to subscribe to PorschePurist.com.
Written on January 17th, 2008 at 8:59pm by Pepper Girl
We saw this the other day. It is supposed to air during the Superbowl and will be Porsche’s first U.S. commercial in two years. I just love the sounds. So far, there have been no votes for RSR mufflers on our upgrade page. This video might just push us over the edge.
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