2008-02

I have a long Porsche history. But in all these years, I have never driven a car like the 997tt. The car is so good all-around in any situation, it is impossible to find any flaw.

911 Turbo (997 manual)
911 4S (996 Tiptronic)
911 Cabriolet (996 Tipronic)
911 RS Club Sports (993 manual)
911 Turbo I (964 manual)
911 Cabriolet (964 Tiptronic)

People still say the 993’s were the best. I remember being told by the sole dealer of Porsche in 2000 that Porsche is in deep financial trouble and that the next models will be made “more efficiently” under increasingly automated production line. It came all true, so until 2003 the 996 interior was so plasticky and cheep looking it did not do justice to the engineering part. Now with 997, the interior quality and feel is so good and engineering so well done that it is better than Ferrari in many ways. The VGT speeds up the spin of the boost so the latency is minimal. But Ferrari went way ahead in the transmission department with the Scuderia in 4th generation while Porsche till this day was offering the doggy and slow responding Tiptronic as their option for automated transmission. So having loved the 911 4S in general but hated the transmission, I bought a manual transmission Turbo. Ferraris are a great F1 transmission car and the 911 is best driven manual until PDK becomes available.

Enter Sandman

Porsche wants to kill the GT1 engine used in the 997tt. Too bad. New 998tt is coming in 2010 or later. They will figure something out I hope instead of the 997m block. GO to rennlist.com or any Porsche forums to read more about it.

My friend invited me to CHOKOTO in Roppongi, a Japanese sake and fresh food restaurant which has a private dining counter room.

A quick trip to SFO for some business. My Tunewear AMBASSADOR case is handy for hanging my iPod in the plane so it does not slip underneath the seat and get smashed when I set it back. Stayed at the W Hotel, always good to be here and meet friends and business partners.