PC Valkyrie update....

[PC Valkyrie]

Well, I haven't posted here in quite while.....mainly because life/family got busier and priorities/interests change over time. I've always checked GCF regularly, and I'm amused to see many of the old members I used to debate with still around. However, I think my interest in the automotive world will once again reach very high levels in the coming year.........the introduction of hypercars like the LaFerrari, P1, 918 will be epic when the eventual road tests and comparisons come out. I'm also looking forward to the 991 GT3....

I still have my 8 year old C55 AMG, and my 135i is already 5 years old this year. My wife's 2004 A4 1.8T Quattro Avant would have had its 10 year old birthday this year. However, we traded it in this year for a BMW X3 xdrive28i......black on black. So I still have an all-German car family.

Here are 2 pics of my babies.....don't have one of the new X3 on hand.

 

[martinbo]

PCV! It's terrific to see you back!

Best regards,
Martin

 

[Monster]

Great to see you back PCV, and thanks for updating us. I am surprised you kept the C55 for 8 years it just seems a bit soft for a sports sedan. Did you ever consider replacing it with the C63?

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Great to see you back PCV, and thanks for updating us. I am surprised you kept the C55 for 8 years it just seems a bit soft for a sports sedan. Did you ever consider replacing it with the C63?

Nope, never considered replacing the C55 with a E90 M3 or W204 C63. In my mind, those cars were not enough of a "change" to justify the upgrade. Sure, they are faster and more capable cars, but they were the same formula: 4 door sport sedan with a V8 up front. The C55 was never as "soft" as most people thought.....in fact it's quite capable and can more than hold its own on the track against its contemporary E46 M3. I still love it and plan to keep it for as long as it stays reliable. Any future "fun" car for me won't be another 4 door sedan with a V8 or twin turbo I6.....I think it will be a high reving naturally aspirated 2 door sports car......

But that is old news. As I mentioned earlier, my wife replaced her B6 A4 with a new X3 xdrive28i. The X3 is so effortless to drive in a very pleasant and relaxing way. Compared to the my C55 and 135i, the X3 is so quiet and comfortable. The turbo 4 cylinder is quite an engine.....very smooth and more than adequate power/torque for everyday driving. It has different characters: sport mode, comfort mode, and Eco-Pro mode. Throttle response and shift points of the 8 speed automatic transmission are very different in each mode. I personally can't stand Eco-Pro mode.....feels so sluggish and slow to react. The start-stop technology is impressive, though. As a family vehicle, we've been very pleased. Cars have advanced and become much more user friendly over the years.....things like a rear view camera are a good example.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

The newest addition to my car family. It's been a long wait.....

 

[mini_cooper4]

Gosh... and what a color!!!!
Stunning, phenomenal, BRILLIANT!
Many happy and safe miles!
That's a jewel of a car!

 

[Zafiro]

Nice! keeping your 135i?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I don't know what they have done, but these new Porche's make me weak at the knees.

Beautiful car PC!

 

[Sunny]

Congrats Valkyrie. Looks hot. Is that Amaranth red? Wasn't a fan of that color, but I like it a lot in your pics - doesn't look metallic. Enjoy in good health.

 

[Cashmere]

AMAZING! I think that is the first gt3 I have seen in that colour, what is it?

 

[martinbo]

Holy cow! Super Congrats PCV! Can't say that I'm not a little bit envious because the new GT3 is ludicrously fine in the metal. Enjoy happily and safely. GoPro time with you in that thing on a circuit fella...

 

[Zafiro]

GoPro time with you in that thing on a circuit fella...

No need for a track just find a nice and lonely road and go GoPro.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Thank you to all of you. It's a privilege to be able to own a car like this. The colour is Amaranth Red, and it is metallic. The non-metallic Gurards Red is a popular choice, but I wanted a deeper/darker, less flashy red that was metallic and I think it came out even better than I thought it would. Have to break her in now before I can enjoy the full experience that this machine can offer.

The car was ordered in 2013 and I was supposed to get delivery in Feb. 2014. But as you all know, the engine needed replacement so here it is now.

I still plan to keep the 135i......it's my winter car until it breaks down.

This is what I posted in another forum about my 1 day experience so far:

"Obviously, I have to break her in, but here are my initial impressions with gentle street driving today.

People are right about rattling/"burbling" noises from the engine at idle and when traveling at low engine speeds. In fact, it's not very pleasant compared to rock steady smooth and high torque engines in my other 2 cars. However, once rpm's go above 3000-4000, the engine note sharpens, the car feels more "stable", and the feeling is incredible. Haven't taken her above 6000 rpm yet, as speeds become pretty fast pretty quickly.

The PDK-S transmission is also something very different. It feels more like a manual transmission car than an automatic transmission car. In auto non-sport mode with gentle driving, it upshifts pretty quickly, keeping the engine in the low rpm range, subjecting you to all those rattling/"burbling" noises and vibrations from the engine. In fact, it feels better to drive in manual mode to keep the engine revs higher to get that more "stable" feeling I talked about earlier.......I didn't expect that. Maybe part of this feeling relates to the relatively low torque of this engine at low rpm's compared to my other 2 cars."

 

[Zafiro]

So does it have the best steering feel you ever experienced?

 

[PC Valkyrie]

I can't really say it has the best steering feel I have ever experienced. Remember that I've only had this car for 2 days now (drove another 100km tonight). I guess my preliminary answer is that the electro-mechanical steering feels about the same as the hydraulic steering on my 135i when driving on city streets and the highway.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Well, still breaking her in. I've got 580km on her now so still a while to go. Obviously have not gone to the track yet, so the most exciting thing I've done is drive pretty quickly on curvy on-ramps onto highways which is similar to fast sweepers on circuits.

There is a slight "lightness" in the steering I've noticed when turning at high speeds under throttle. I think it's simply a result of the 911 platform and weight distribution. Don't get me wrong, there is no understeer and the car tracks and turns very accurately, but it is a different feeling compared to my C55 AMG and 135i, where there is significant weight over the front wheels.

At first, this "lightness" in steering when turning under throttle was a little unsettling. However, after driving this car more and more, I'm becoming more and more confident, as the car obviously grips very well and I'm nowhere close to it's limits. I think it's just natural that I'm learning and feeling the different dynamics of a rear engine car.

I suspect the same thing will occur when I eventually take this car on track.......there will be an adjustment period before I will feel confident going at speed.

I'm gradually taking the revs higher and higher, although only in brief moments. The car sounds and feels glorious when I do.

Gearbox is amazing. Lightning fast shifts and a pleasure to drive in manual mode on the streets. The wonderful thing is I can switch to full auto mode anytime, which is a huge convenience factor when traffic gets bad.

Love driving the car and immensely happy to know that I now own something truly "special".

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I missed this. What a fantastic car you've got there. One of my all time favourites. Love the colour too.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

PC, you lucky duck! Love the color, one of the rare times I like red on a Porsche. Drive in good health on the streets and on the track.

 

[Mr Robert]

I'm also late to the party. Happy motoring!

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Thanks to all again.

I'm at 950 km now.

Below 2000 rpm, this car is not very happy......the engine rattles, there is an uneven "lumpiness" to it......I'm told from Porsche fans that this is deliberate to provide "character", similar to race cars, as the engine is optimized for high rpm/speed travelling. When driving gently in automatic PDK mode, upshifts occur very quickly to minimize fuel consumption, which means it stays constantly in the 1800-2200 rpm range (so you constantly get that unsatisfying feeling). Which is why many owners (including me now) prefer to drive in manual mode on the streets to keep the rpm's above 2000 rpm. It's funny to me that there is a statement in the owners' manual about this......that to expect vibrations and funny noises from the drivetrain when traveling at low speeds because Porsche chose to optimize this car for performance rather than comfort.

From 3000-4000 rpm, this car feels like a rapid car and the engine note sharpens and hardens to feel rock solid. With the sports exhaust turned on, there is increased torque and sound above 3000 rpm.

Above 4000 rpm is really where the action is. First of all, it revs very quickly. Thank goodness the PDK-S shifts so instantly in manual mode. The sound is just amazing......it's loud, but not in an annoying way. There is a big jump in torque and the car accelerates very hard.

I've only gone above 7000 rpm on brief moments, but it's such a blur because things happen so quickly......all I can say is this car is VERY FAST. Speed limits are passed in a blink of an eye. And I still haven't consistently taken it to the 9000 rpm limit yet!

I'm so happy with this car. It delivers a totally different driving experience compared to my other cars. I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel more "excited" whenever I drive this car, even on the streets/highway. It's probably the combination of that engine, the super fast shifting transmission, and the sound that all contribute the driving sensation. There is a special sense of occasion that I have not experienced in any of my other cars.

I can't wait to experience this car on the track.......I'm aiming to do a track day this fall.

Complaints about the car?.......It's mighty low and I have to be very slow and careful going on speedbumps and certain inclines. I have the front axle lifter, but it's still a concern. The standard audio system is not that great, but to be honest, I'm more interested in hearing that mighty engine and exhaust when I'm driving. And I wish I could have ordered rear seats.......I know that it will be heavier, but the performance of this thing is already so insane.......even with the cramped 911 rear seats, it means I could take my wife and 2 kids in the car at the same time to share in the enjoyment.......now I can only take them one at a time.