12 December 2009

2008 Porsche 911 GT2

If ever there was a car I want to own very, very badly, it would have to be a 2008 Porsche 911 GT2. The Porsche owners I spoke to tells me it is a beast to handle. Heck, even the mechanic at Porsche cringed when I mentioned the word, GT2. They all loved the car but they wouldn't want to own it because it is too much for them to handle. Its like man versus machine. And thats how I like my car...brutish and with no respect for the driver unless he is brave and good enough to take it on. No middle of the road, just pure power and nerves of steel and Schumacher brains to push the car to its limits and walk out with a grin on the face. And it does not matter that the car is already an 'old' model. New does not mean good and it ain't my policy to keep up with the Jones and Wongs. I like it, I owe it.

The Swift is slowly evolving into a little beast with all the enhancements being done. I am keeping Daisy as she is because she is 'beasty' enough in her present form. Besides, we have been there and done that, nothing more to prove. Here's a write-up of the Porsche 911 GT2.

High Performance Sports Car with Low Fuel Consumption

With a stunning 530 turbocharged horsepower and the most revolutionary design in the industry, Porsche revealed its most powerful production 911 ever on September 11, 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Based on the current 911 Turbo, the 911 GT2 will easily ascend to lead the impressive Porsche family of vehicles.

New features such as large air intakes at the front and the rear wing, coupled with the rear-wheel drive and manual six-speed gearbox, express the elite performance abilities that are exclusive to this outstanding model. This high-performance athlete accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top track speed of 204 mph.

530-Horsepower Twin-Turbo Engine

The power unit of the new 911 GT2 is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 Turbo, with air supply driven by two exhaust gas turbochargers featuring variable turbine geometry (VTG). The 3.6-litre boxer engine achieves a maximum output of 530 (SAE) horsepower, an increase of 50 horsepower from the previous 911 GT2. The power increase is provided by two turbochargers with a larger compressor wheel and a flow-optimized turbine housing raising turbocharger pressure to an even higher level.

Decreased Fuel Consumption

The new 911 GT2's expansion intake manifold, which uses oscillating air in the intake during the cooler expansion phase, keeps the temperature of the fuel/air mixture even lower than in the 911 Turbo. This results in a significant increase in all-round efficiency, with fuel consumption down by up to 15 percent under full load despite the increase in engine output. This is a genuine innovation for turbocharged power units.

Functional Design Features

A number of elements set the new 911 GT2 apart including the new achievements in emission management and control. This is the first Porsche homologated for the road to feature a muffler and tailpipes made of titanium as standard equipment. This expensive material reduces weight by approximately 50 percent vs. a comparable component made of stainless steel.

The new 911 GT2 comes as standard with PCCB brakes featuring brake discs made of a composite carbon fiber/ceramic compound ensuring highly consistent and maximum stopping power. Also standard is the electronically controlled Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system.

The GT2 comes on 19-inch light-alloy wheels filled with 235/35 ZR19 front sport tires and 325/30 ZR19 rear sport tires










06 December 2009

Trip to Penang

Daisy and I made an overnight trip to Penang. Its been a long time since we made a long drive and I wanted to see how much different it was driving the Swift compared to the Bimmer. Needless to say, the difference was worlds apart. Driving Miss Daisy is like taking a walk in the park; just enjoy the scenery as they pass you by and remember to wave to everybody else as you passed them by. Daisy is as mean as before and nothing has changed. The torque converter was replaced recently and that only means a smoother ride. Something is not quite right with the electronics at D mode but it could be due to an adaptation issue. Or else, it could be the Hurricane air filter that replaced the Apexi filter. Bimmers are really sensitive cars and little things you do can make a difference. So, the Hurricane filter will come off and the Apexi filter will go back in. A simple 10 minutes job.

As usual, we ate and ate and ate. Penang food is so wonderful and cheap too. At the Nonya restaurant, we ordered 12 dishes for 6 persons and the bill came to RM$130. We had the not-to-be-missed Char Kway Teow, Ice Kachang and rojak. The only thing I have not done in Penang is shopping because there is always no time to do that! Never mind, another drive to Penang should solve that problem. Here are some pictures.








Finally, Daisy will getting herself grounded. I really believe in this grounding stuff as it makes alot of sense especially with older cars.

I love Daisy. She never fails to live up to my expectations. She is one of those dependable girl you can rely on time and time again. Granted she has some minor flaws here and there but heck, which girl does not have flaws?  I have no plans to do any enhancements because she is already so perfect.