Carpokes

Les+8 wrote: Tue Oct 21, 2025 12:56 am Hello All:

My name is Les Shumake

I recently bought a 2004 911, my first Porsche after owning primarily BMWs all my life, (with a corvette or two thrown in along the way). After a friend of mine told me 20 years ago to “buy a 911, any 911”, I finally did so. I am not a track enthusiast, nor do I have any mechanical ability as many members do. (I wish I did). I just like fun-to drive convertibles with manual transmissions.

I wanted to ask other members to compare the two pedal Carreras or other Porsches with the three pedal model I have as far as the fun-to-drive experience. I am 72 and I commute every day in heavy traffic, so that takes away from some of the experience. Thanks, and happy to hear from anyone on this topic.

Welcome to Carpokes Les!

Great car background. I also had a number of Corvettes in the past until I made the move to all Porsches. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Which model Carrera (or other?) 911 do you have? 2004 was the final year for the 996 generation but some 2004 models were 997 cars I believe. In either case, please feel free to post pictures - photos are greatly welcomed on Carpokes. Posting is easy too. Here is Tom's handy photo posting guide if you need it:
viewtopic.php?t=410

Regarding your 2-pedal, 3-pedal question, it ultimately boils down to what works best for you. I always had a preference for manuals but time, ease of driving (esp in traffic), the lack of stick shift availability in newer cars and the awesome capabilities of Porsche's PDK wiped out that notion.

Glad to have you here!

@Les+8 ,
It all depends on what you key into for driving enjoyment, satisfaction, and your definition of fun. YEARS ago, I moved from Detroit to the LA area and got an automatic due to the perception of traffic....huge mistake for me....I switched out to a M/T as soon as I could. I like the involvement which adds to my definition of driving pleasure. But if an M/T kills the fun for you due to heavy commuting traffic, then you might need another P-Car with an M/T for those less traveled roads.

Glad you found us and thank you for joining.

Welcome aboard Les! Back when I commuted 100 miles a day to SF, I ended up getting a BMW automatic on lease. I do have to say, however, it depends on you, your car, and the commute. Fighting stop and go traffic to get into SF, and then dealing with the hills in the days before 'hill assist' made the manual a pretty tiring commute -- especially since there was almost no part of the drive where the manual was 'fun' at all. Maybe if the commute was through the back hills or something, but for my commute there was very little upside for me in the manual. It depends on the clutch too -- some are way lighter than others! I had an 85 Carrera back in the day and that clutch was a real work out! I moved over to a twin turbo RX7 and the difference was night and day -- feather light vs lead heavy!!

Welcome Les, and commuting in a Porsche does make the drive more enjoyable..............and you do have the peace of mind that you have a built in theft device for the younger generation, ha.

My name is Gregg Bull
I have a 1995 Guards Red 993 Cabriolet
I have been an Aerospace Engineer for over 35 years and my love for all things mechanical started when I when I was very young, from my Dads 1937 Austin 7 Nippy to his Panther “slophead” 350 motorcycle was always around modes of travel.
I’ve driven and or owned everything from Saabs to BMW’s to a 1957 Daimler Dart (SP250) but my favourite is my 993.
Although I changed a few things to the 993 the best change was adding original Fuchs straight from the factory in Germany and having them installed here in Arizona.
Looking forward to chatting with like minded people.

Manumad62 wrote: Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:11 am My name is Gregg Bull
I have a 1995 Guards Red 993 Cabriolet
I have been an Aerospace Engineer for over 35 years and my love for all things mechanical started when I when I was very young, from my Dads 1937 Austin 7 Nippy to his Panther “slophead” 350 motorcycle was always around modes of travel.
I’ve driven and or owned everything from Saabs to BMW’s to a 1957 Daimler Dart (SP250) but my favourite is my 993.
Although I changed a few things to the 993 the best change was adding original Fuchs straight from the factory in Germany and having them installed here in Arizona.
Looking forward to chatting with like minded people.

Welcome to Carpokes Gregg !

@Manumad62
Sounds like a great automotive history.
First Daimler Dart I saw was in race trim at Nelsons Ledges in Ohio. Went there in my friends Saab 96.
Welcome to Carpokes and thanks for joining.

@Manumad62

Welcome to Carpokes Greg!

Pic posting guide in case needed. Photos greatly welcomed at Carpokes!

viewtopic.php?t=410

Name: Paul McManus

Location: Southern California

Car: 1969 Porsche 912 Karmann Coupe

My dad bought our first VW in Nov 1964, a bahama blue 1965 VW 1200 beetle. In 1966, he bought a black VW 1600 Fastback, which I bought from him in 1973 and drove for 6+ years. Over time our other air cooled VWs included a 1971 Squareback, a 1973 412, and a 1976 Westfalia van. I have always had a keen interest in Porsches, though my interest remained aspirational due to my other ongoing financial obligations. I recently however was able to acquire a survivor condition 1969 Porsche 912 5 speed with plenty of patina. The sound of the car instantly takes me back to the sound of the VWs in the 1960s and 70s that I grew up with. The 912 is a real treat for me to drive, with a more powerful motor and much closer ratio 5 speed transmission relative to my '66 VW Fastback 1600 4 speed.

I have no plans to restore the car, and look forward to driving it as it is, an original condition survivor. Given I have now have plenty of patina, I figure that I am a good match for the car!

Name: Marc
Location: San Francisco
Car: 1988.5 951

I acquired this car from a friend in 2011 as a "gift" - quotes bc it had been sitting for 7 years, and at the time wasn't worth his time to sell on Craigslist. I spent more than it was worth to get it running again, and it was my commuter and daily driver from 2011 - 2017, with the help of a shade-tree mechanic up in Napa who loves front-engined Porsche's and cut me a crazy hourly for the area that helped me justify keeping it. By 2017 it was getting too unreliable to daily, and I didn't have room for two cars in the city. So I moved it to my brother's garage in Seattle, where he stored and insured it, in exchange for being able to use it whenever he wanted. I would chip away at restoring it every time I visited, with some help from Acres in SEA for the stuff that over my pay grade. By the time things opened up post-COVID I had it running better than ever.

Then he totaled it: https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turbo-a ... st18864687

With the help of a great bodyshop in Tijuana, I resurrected it, and brought it back to SF. It's now looking and driving better than ever, and probably close to it's condition in the 90s. Not bad for 200k miles.