[edge350]

I drove one this weekend after about four awesome months in the 135i.
First time behind the wheel of a Porsche. It was a 2006, 355HP, manual transmission.
Got pulled over by a cop in the first fifteen fucking minutes. Actually didn't even take that long.

I was amazed by how different the 911 felt (once again, it was my first time behind the wheel of a Porsche - I didn't exactly come from wealth). The Porsche was louder, more raw. Definitely faster, no doubt. I felt like I was trying to control something that was just beyond my abilities. After 4 months in a 135i, I felt like I was challenged again. I was amazed by how much easier the 911 was to shift. I didn't like how close the clutch was to the brake in the Porsche. That's about the only thing I'd complain about.

The 135i feels much more manageable, predictable, but you know it always has a potential for some balls-out recklessness. The 911 felt like I'd get pulled over in 15 minutes. And sure enough....I was just beginning to get a sense of the 911 on the twisties when the fun came to an end. Needless to say, the 135i eats up the winding Western PA hills. Absolutely devours them. The 911 feels like a car designed for one single minded purpose, but can be used for several different purposes. The 135i feels like it was designed with everything in mind.

Obviously, I'm comparing apples and oranges, but I've spent the rest of the week thinking about those 15 minutes. There are some pretty sophisticated car guys on this page and I'm curious to read an intelligent comparison of the two.

[jrc]

I think after a bit more time in the Porsche (including at the track)you'd come to enjoy its sharper focus and appreciate just how big the performance gap between it and the 135 really is. I've driven both the 2006 997CS and the 997TT and I actually prefer the CS even if it's not as balls out fast as the turbo. The 997CS is sometimes referred to as the "poor man's" GT3, and with the 2009 modifications adding another 30bhp or so, it's going to merit that comparison even more.