I bet that headline gets your attention! No, it’s not what you think. Yes, we all know the Cayenne SUV from Porsche but, what about the AMPV 2a?

The highly creative name (note the sarcasm) is a product from the joint-venture between Rheinmetall Land Systeme (RLS) and Krauss Maffei-Wegmann (KMW) (Germany’s two leading armored fighting vehicle (AFV) contractors) who have formed the Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle consortium.

At present, the consortium is concentrating on the 9.3-ton AMPV 2a. Designed to be transported by a C-160 (a really, really big transport airplane) and to withstand a 100-kg improvised explosive device (IED) blast at five meters, as well as offering ballistic, mine, and nuclear, biological and chemical protection. The AMPV 2a has a self-supporting safety cell initially designed for add-on mine and IED protection. Production is planned for 2011 with testing taking place over the next few years.

With the help of the Porsche Design Group the AMPV was created for the German Armed Forces, by the consortium, but could be sold to foreign (maybe the US?) governments as well. I don’t know about you, but if I had the choice between a Porsche Designed vehicle or a GM one (Hummer is now owned by GM) I would take the Porsche designed one hands down.

This isn’t the first foray into the military for Porsche. Some of you may remember the Porsche Designed Kübelwagen that I wrote about a few months ago. In addition, Porsche assisted in the designing of the Tiger tank series and the Elefant tank that were the staples of the German army during World War II.

[Source: Aviation Week-Ares Blog]

If you are the type that wants or needs to impress your friends or, if you every just wanted to see what a new Porsche would look like in your driveway, then Porsche has created a great web-site for you; Porsche I Can.

The concept is simple. Take a snapshot of your driveway, upload to the Porsche web-site, select the proper ride, make any number of adjustments you want and your done. You can then choose to share your creation with your friends by emailing it or download it as wallpaper for your computer (see the image below.)

If you really feel the need to impress, you can do like I did and take things a step further. Go to Google Images and download a picture of the nicest driveway you can find. Use that purloined image as the basis for your Porsche creation (if you’re going to dissemble you might as well go all the way.)

The only issue I found with the site is the model selection. As of today you are limited to the base model version of the Cayman, Cayenne, Boxster or 911. If the site takes off let’s hope that Porsche adds to the selection. Personally I wouldn’t mind having a GT2 in my driveway. Or, at least a picture of one!!!

Over the past few weeks, a number of people have emailed asking to advertise their cars on this site. Currently, there is no classified section available. The cars you do see for sale are either those listed by the sites sponsors or those found on eBay. Would the ability to list your cars for sale, to a very targeted group of Porsche owners and enthusiasts (more than 10,000 per month and growing), interest you?

For those of you looking to sell your Porsche, I want to remind you that each one of the site’s sponsors: TruSpeed Motorcars, Willhoit Enterprises and Sloan Cars all buy cars as well. I know what you’re going to say, they’ll only offer you wholesale pricing. In some instances, that may be true, but in others, depending on the car, they may be able to do much better. The market for certain cars is very limited and they get most of their inventory from people just like you. Each one of them is as much a buyer of cars as they are a seller.

With that said, I wanted to showcase three cars that were brought to my attention in the last few weeks:

Race-Ready Porsche 914 For Sale or Trade

The first comes from a reader looking to trade one interesting Porsche for another. Specifically, Dan Muldowney is looking to trade his race-ready 914 for another air-cooled gem (993, 964 or 930.) Here are some particulars:

1974 Porsche 914-6 2.2 liter Race Car: Very fast. Very light. Drives, handles and shifts like a shifter cart, only bigger! Current PCA and Vintage / VSCR log books. Professionally built and maintained by Bob Viau and his team at Auto Edge for the last 10 years. PCA GT5R or S class. PCA, NASA, SCCA, POC and Vintage legal. Current PCA inspection, (4/20/07). Weighs 2000 lbs. 250 Horsepower.

1:54 at BIR. “Fastest Lap of the Race” at Barber Motorsports Park, 2004. “Worker’s Choice Award” at Topeka, 2007. “Worker’s Choice Award” at Gingerman 2003. 15 First In Class finishes in the last 20 starts. Very reliable. Recent rebuild on engine and sequential transmission with test hours only. New suspension.

The remaining details about Dan’s car are way too long to list (including a recent engine rebuild with test hours only), but he has over $125,000 invested and is asking $37,500 or B/O and will consider all trades or cash + trade. You can contact Dan directly at his email or by sending to us via the contact page.

Last of the Air-Cooled 993s For Sale

The second car to showcase in today’s post comes courtesy of Willhoit Enterprises (not only is Willhoit a sponsor, but the 993 showcased in the about section of this site was purchased there.) For sale at Willhoit’s is a 1998 Porsche 993 C2S.

Okay, what’s so special about that you ask? Well, besides being the last of the air-cooled 993s, this particular example is a one owner with only 5075 miles. For all intents and purposes this car is brand-new. The 993 comes equipped with the following: chrome oval exhaust tips, metal door sill with insignia, aluminum instrument dials, aluminum shifter and brake handle, motor sound package, limited slip with active brake differential, am/fm cassette cr 210 radio, 18” technology wheels, full power seat left, partial power seat right, automatic speed control and power sunroof. The pictures below speak for themselves. Please contact Michael for more information.

A Water Pumper-996 For Sale

Last, but definitely not least, is a 2002 Porsche 996 Carrera 4S. This particular car is finished in one of our favorite colors schemes, Lapis Blue exterior with Savanna Beige interior. At only 22,500 miles this Porsche comes complete with the CPO through May of 2009.

The seller, Adam Shuster, says the car is in excellent condition with no paintwork/accidents and more importantly, no stories. He has all the service records, manuals, keys, etc. This 6 speed 996 comes with a B&M short shifter, heated seats with memory and Porsche crest, AM/FM/CD, rear wiper, painted center-caps, painted rear bumperettes, center console and bumper plugs, Aluminum look gauge surrounds, Red “S” on deck lid and pre-wired for Valentine One Radar.

If you’re interested in any of these cars, or would like to have your Porsche vehicle showcased on this site, please use the comment field below to get in-touch or use the contact page to email us directly.

In the coming weeks and months, we will be rolling out a new look and feel to the site with additional features. If enough of you respond positively, we will include a classifieds section to list your car. Lastly, if you haven’t yet answered our current poll, be sure to let us know what kind or Porsche you currently own.

Today’s post comes courtesy of Tom Williams. Tom is a freelance auto journalist from Milford, CT who has written for the Suburban Express serving the Mainline area of Philadelphia, PA, and The Westport News in CT. Tom first joined PCA as a member of the Central Pennsylvania Region in 1994 when he bought a 1987 924S. He rejoined PCA, this time with the Connecticut Valley Region in 2004 after he purchased his 1976 911S Targa.

While there is little doubt that the Porsche 911 is one of the greatest and respected sports cars of all time, it may come as a surprise to some that not all 911′s are universally loved.

The mid-1970′s were dark times for auto enthusiasts, but in those dark times, Porsche was a beacon of hope. This was a transition period for the 911, but I would be reluctant to say (as others have) that these were the 911′s “awkward” years.

This generation still retained the simple, clean lines of the earlier 911′s. The engine was modernized with the introduction of Bosch fuel injection. Porsche 911 bodies were now galvanized steel, drastically reducing concerns about rust. Forced to cope with US Federal bumper safety laws, no other automaker made the new impact bumpers look as good as Porsche did with its 911.

From a driver’s standpoint, the engine has the raw, visceral bark we all know and love of air-cooled 911′s. Even better, the 2.7 911s cater to the driver that wants to feel their ride; no power steering or brakes. The car literally talks to you-allowing you to feel, hear and sense everything that is happening.

Yet, these cars remained overlooked. Why?

1974 to 1977 Porsche 911s can still be had at bargain pricing

In particular, the 2.7 liter 911′s, sold in the U.S. from 1974 to 1977 are often overlooked due to the potential for large-scale mechanical issues. Specifically, these cars are known for having “pulled” cylinder head studs. With the 2.7 liter motor, Porsche introduced new metal alloys (Alusil and Nikasil) into the construction of cylinder heads as well as the cylinders themselves. However, they continued to use common stainless steel for the cylinder head studs. As the new metal alloys heated up and expanded, this placed significant strain on the studs, causing them to “pull” and damage the magnesium casing. While this problem didn’t affect every car, its stigma was enough to mark this generation of 911s.

As the owner of a 1976 Porsche 911S Targa, I feel as if I am enjoying the best of both worlds. The smaller, narrower, lighter body is appealing to me. I enjoy the classic features of the chrome ringed headlights, Fuchs rims and other chrome accents. In an age where stainless steel is all the rage again, the brushed stainless steel Targa bar looks more modern than the matte black treatment SC and Carrera Targa’s received.

As a weekend, fair weather cruiser, I like the simplicity of the roll up windows and no A/C. On the modern end, I love the Bosch fuel injection. The car is easy to drive and easy to live with. The galvanized body keeps my rust worries at bay. And, the big bumpers looked so great they remained part of the 911 design for a decade and a half.

A look at any Porsche classifieds will show these cars are a remarkable bargain. Some owners have been tempted to “update” these cars with later style bumpers, rims, and trim, but in my opinion, love your 911 for what it is, and celebrate its era by staying true to it.

Whether you are an aspiring 911 owner, or someone who owns a 997 and wonders about the older 911′s, the ’74 to ‘76 2.7 liter generation of this iconic sports car is worth a look. If the stigma of pulled head studs still bothers you, simply upgrade to a fan with more blades (for better cooling) or find one that has already had the studs replaced (at this point, most have.) With coupe and Targa versions, base, S, and Carrera trim levels Porsche had something for every 911 fan. The mid 1970′s were dark times for the auto industry, but not if you were a Porsche fan.

As a reminder, I’m always interested in anyone looking to contribute. This post asking for Porsche fans as guest bloggers and this one on “How to Win a Porsche Related Book” provide more details. Lastly, if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to participate in the current poll “What Type(s) of Porsche(s) do you own?“

At all times I try to remain objective when it comes to Porsche. After all, this is the same organization that designed all the different variations of my beloved Porsche 911 along with the incredible Carrera GT. However, the Porsche Panamera seems to get uglier and uglier every time a new “spy” shot makes the rounds on the internet. Couple this with the extraordinarily high prices being reported and we have an epic failure in the making. Take a look at below and you be the judge.

Porsche Panamera Pictures

Most cars not yet officially released are usually seen with significant amounts of camouflage. These body covering panels alter the lines enough to keep the new style safe from prying eyes. In the pictures above, there are no tell tale signs of the usual body masking attempts that have been made in the past. In fact these pictures appear to be the car as it will be produced and released in the very near future.

I’m not a big fan of the “on-line rumor mill,” so there is always hope that this is just a huge joke being played on the press and Porsche enthusiast. But, if this is the real thing, I can’t help but think how disappointed Porsche is going to be with their sales numbers.

Am I the only one that thinks this car is an abomination? I can’t be alone in my thinking. Lastly, don’t forget my current poll. I’ve moved it to the side or you can tell me what model Porsche your own on the original post.

Related Posts
Porsche Panamera Pricing
Porsche 911 Design

[Source: GlobalMotors.net]

Because my Porsche(s) are air-cooled, when I first started this site, my idea was to focus specifically on those type of Porsches. Combine this with the fact that my favorite Porsche is a 993, and you can probably see why I decided to name the site 993C4S.com.

Lately, as I’ve expanded the site, the name has become a bit confusing; it infers that this site is model specific, when in fact, it is about all Porsche Cars, Products and LifeStyle. Over the next few weeks I will make some changes to the site that more accurately depict the current subject matter. In-turn, I will change the URL or domain name of the site.

Don’t worry, there is nothing you need to do. If you’re already subscribed, you will continue to receive your updates via email or reader. If you already have this page bookmarked, you can keep it the same as it will redirect you to the new site automatically and transparently.

As of today, 993C4S.com receives a little over 10,000 unique visitors per month (this is growing at about 20% per month.) From the many of you I have communicated with, most of you are either existing Porsche owners or researching a future Porsche purchase. As I work on focusing my content, I would love to get a better understanding of what your currently driving (Porsche brand only please.)

I realize that many of you, like me, may have more than one Porsche. If that is the case, please feel free to vote twice, three times, etc. (however many you need to in order to accurately represent your Porsche cars.) The results of this poll will help me to determine where to focus my time. For sake of simplicity, I have only used the base model designations vs. trying to capture all the different variants. If you want to give me more specific information, don’t hesitate to comment or use the contact page to get in touch with me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to write about the things I enjoy and hope there is enough of a cross-over that you keep coming back. After all, I do this for my own enjoyment. However, if I can branch out in my interests and serve you at the same time, then even better.

Unfortunately, we’ve had to remove this poll

Hopefully, it should be back up shortly. If you would like to see the results they are available at What Type of Porsche Do You Own?

Related Porsche Posts
What’s Your Favorite Porsche and Why?

If a book’s quality was to be judged on weight and heft alone, then Adrian Streather’s Porsche 996 The Essential Companion would win most contests quite handily. With a shipping weight just over 5 and 1/2 lbs this book offers 640 pages of technical and anecdotal insight into identifying, authenticating, purchasing maintaining and optimizing the Porsche 996. In other words, just about anything a current or future 996 owner could want to know about their car is included in this easy to read, must have for the Porsche enthusiast.

This book on the Porsche 911 (996) series is the fourth of a planned six. It carries on the tradition established with the author’s first Porsche 911 book on the 964 series. Everything a 996 owner needs to know plus a lot more is contained within the covers of this particular book. Every known model and version is described. The various engines and engine management systems for the many different nations of the world are covered. No matter where on planet earth the owner resides, their version of the 996 is covered. Manual and Tiptronic transmissions including the automatic transmission fitted to the AWD Carrera 4 and Turbo models are explained in detail. The different suspension systems are covered. All the new technology advancements of the 996 of which Ferry Porsche was so proud are written about along with all the advantages and improvements over previous 911 models. With 1300 photos and extensive appendices, this is a fact packed book and a must for any 996 owner. –Product Description on Amazon.com

My first exposure to Adrian’s work was during the research phase prior to purchasing my 1997 Porsche 993 C4S. Porsche 993 The Essential Companion was recommended to me by a friend. At first I was a little taken back by the cost, $62 and change (same as the 996 book) but now I know I could never live with out it. While not as complete as true shop manuals, both the 993 and the 996 companion books are workshop manual for those of us with only “modest” technical skill (which I believe covers the majority of us.)

As most of you know, Porsche 996 The Essential Companion was sent to me courtesy of Motorbooks after they read my interview with Randy Leffingwell. Given the amount of books I received, I ran a short contest asking for reviews of some of the other items included in my shipment from Motorbooks.

Last week’s post Book Review: Porsche High Performance Driving Handbook, 2nd Edition, by Vic Elford was written by frequent contributor Valerie Roedenbeck. Thanks to her well written and thoughtful review, Valerie will receive a copy of Adrian Streather’s Porsche 996 The Essential Companion (now that I’ve had a chance to go through it.)

Valerie is a long-time Porsche 996 owner so I was surprised to learn that she didn’t already own this book. At least I know it’s going to a good home.