There are a lot of things I could write about the 996 Turbo, but fact is they've probably all been written before. So, I'll just say I now have a new purpose in life: to somehow own one. This Turbo is owned by Giovanna Wheels, and it's been subject to a few mild performance modifications in an attempt to bring out more beast in this frighteningly powerful, yet paradoxically docile, sports-car icon.
H&R Special Springs was called on for a sport lowering kit, which drops the car between an inch to an inch and a half all the way around. Ride quality and response were quite comfortable, even with the stock dampers. Of course, the first things to go after the springs were the wheels, which were replaced with a set of Giovanna's new line of forged GF-1 hardware, in this case of the 19-in. variety, wrapped with Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tires. The idea behind the GF-1 was to incorporate a clean 5-spoke design with a noticeable polished lip, which Porsche's factory wheels do not have.
While there's no doubt these wheels are pretty, and that's the most common reason for swapping out the stock wheels with units from the aftermarket, putting such big running gear on a carefully balanced car like the Turbo is bound to bring up some dynamic issues. Whatever aesthetic improvement comes from replacing the stock wheels and tires is almost always accompanied by compromises to either road compliance or comfort or handling or...any number of things.
In this car's case, the front tires, sized 245/35-19, are about 20mm wider than the factory rubber. While I experienced no obvious problems with rubbing, either to the inside or outside of the wheelwells, the car's high-speed tracking was less than optimum. We've experienced this before with wide rubber, and here again the Dunlops felt as though they were falling into the grooves in the road rather than gliding over them.
Two modifications were made within the engine bay. First, Giovanna added an aftermarket exhaust to extract a throatier sound from the turbocharged six. The car does indeed sound pretty mean in the first 2500 rpm, but after that the exhaust note rapidly degenerated into a throbbing, wailing cacophony that vibrated mercilessly inside my head. This went on until I either reached 90 mph, where the drone suddenly dropped away as though it never existed, or until I punched the throttle to purposely kill it. Also, it must be said the particular exhaust on this Turbo fit badly (one reason for the excessive noise?). One of the chromed tips actually rode about half an inch lower than the other, giving the rear apron a somewhat cock-eyed appearance, grossly offensive on a vehicle this nice. Giovanna, aware of the problem, promised it would find a better vendor.
The other engine modification was a good one, a new computer chip sourced from FVD. According to that company's Web site, the 996 Turbo chip is good for about 50 bhp, bringing total flywheel power up to 500 bhp, by my estimation. There's no doubt the car was fast; burying the pedal was like nothing so much as strapping my carcass to a keg of TNT and lighting the fuse (not that I ever have): instant, violent acceleration right now. This is one car that need be run at full throttle only in life-or-death situations.
Within the all-black cockpit, the factory seats, door panels and steering wheel were treated with red suede accents, courtesy of G.A.H.H.N. in Hollywood, intended to match the red Turbo brake calipers. The effect is pretty cool, although suede is the wrong type of material to put on a steering wheel. After half an hour of spirited driving, the red accents on the tiller became uncomfortably damp and clammy, having accumulated a good deal of moisture from my copiously sweating palms.
All things considered, Giovanna's Turbo means well, I'm sure, but a little more thought to the nature of the modifications, and their effects on the overall driving experience, might be in order. Still, the car was awesome, and no amount of tinkering can truly take away its inherent excellence.