Companion to BW

[Le Monstre]

My BW is my year around car...companion is a 997.2 Turbo S View attachment 32788

Love the 997.2! Is it a manual? My garage cars only come out to play on nice weather days.

 

[DCV]

The last manual 911 turbo S was the 996.2 generation. A manual 997.2 Turbo is very rare. They do exist but command big money. Occasionally a 996 Turbo S manual does pop up for sale

 

[beamon]

I had a 997.2 turbo manual several years ago…I didn’t like it at the time due to lack of exhaust sound and long throws on shifter…in retrospect these issues could have been remedied with mods but crazy to compare to blackwing today and how good GM oem shifter and exhaust can be.

 

[jbawden]

Even though I present as an adult in real life, it's really a thin veil over the 12 year old I really am. I know most of you have sophisticated car palates, but my daily has been a Duragno R/T for years. I know it's an old platform, but the MB roots that it's based on (GL model I think it was) make it a decent rig to drive. The reason I bring it up is because I just traded it on a 2025 Durango Hellcat Hammerhead edition. It's sort of the fake adult version of a hellcat in that it looks like a sleeper soccer mom SUV, but 710hp makes its a bit silly. I've discretely obsessed about the DDHC since it came out in 2021, so I suppose I needed to get this out of my system, but so far I love it.

 

[nordique14]

Even though I present as an adult in real life, it's really a thin veil over the 12 year old I really am. I know most of you have sophisticated car palates, but my daily has been a Duragno R/T for years. I know it's an old platform, but the MB roots that it's based on (GL model I think it was) make it a decent rig to drive. The reason I bring it up is because I just traded it on a 2025 Durango Hellcat Hammerhead edition. It's sort of the fake adult version of a hellcat in that it looks like a sleeper soccer mom SUV, but 710hp makes its a bit silly. I've discretely obsessed about the DDHC since it came out in 2021, so I suppose I needed to get this out of my system, but so far I love it.

I had a V8 Durango as a rental car for a week about 5 years ago. I was surprised how much I enjoyed driving it. I am not the target audience for a full size SUV. But I can appreciate a car that handles well for its size and is not boring.

 

[Deneed4spd]

I second this. I had a golf R (mk7 2016) before i got my 4BW and it was a great vehicle. The exterior size vs interior room is outstanding. I tuned mine and was pushing around 400hp/400ftlb and it was fun, practical and good in the snow with appropriate tires. They are low, so deep snow is a struggle.




my experience with EVs is they aren't good in the snow. Some have snow modes which help them, but that instantaneous torque is not helpful in slippery conditions. You're better with an ICE engine or hybrid if you want better fuel economy. EVs are not holding their value well, if you're concerned about that, so getting a couple years old EV can sometime be 50-70% less than new, depends on your area.

WRX's are slow, but really fun to drive and handle great, especially in adverse conditions. Massive difference in ride quality compared to a cadillac if that is something you care about. Rattles like a jeep, even on a 6month old car.

You do have a good point about EV and tq on snow. The instant go probably breaks a lot of traction. The heavy weight probably also doesn’t help. Golf R seems interesting but how reliable are they for approx 8 yrs (time of one kid through high school and college) before I can probably open up purse strings. I’m in the income bracket where I will get no financial aid but some of these expensive schools still drain all my fun money.

 

[Champale]

Even though I present as an adult in real life, it's really a thin veil over the 12 year old I really am. I know most of you have sophisticated car palates, but my daily has been a Duragno R/T for years. I know it's an old platform, but the MB roots that it's based on (GL model I think it was) make it a decent rig to drive. The reason I bring it up is because I just traded it on a 2025 Durango Hellcat Hammerhead edition. It's sort of the fake adult version of a hellcat in that it looks like a sleeper soccer mom SUV, but 710hp makes its a bit silly. I've discretely obsessed about the DDHC since it came out in 2021, so I suppose I needed to get this out of my system, but so far I love it.

Hilarious post!

I had it's older, smaller brother - Trackhawk - for 5 years and absolutely adored it! That powertrain is so fantastic and has so much character. Now that Stellantis is back to pushing V8s, I am hoping they will come out with a new generation of it.

 

[Melon]

I have a 2026 Passport for the utility.

I'll be driving to Minneapolis for Christmas, so the AWD will be nice in the snow.
If you're looking to save some coin, you can get the Integra ASpec with a manual, it's not as fun as the ITS, but also won't have as large of a depreciation hit.

 

[quikag]

Raptor R is the ticket for a winter sled to drag kids and their stuff around.

 

[jvp]

Raptor R is the ticket for a winter sled to drag kids and their stuff around.

Poseur truck spotted!

GMC AT4X 2500HD, fresh from some Spring overlanding.

 

[quikag]

Poseur truck spotted!

GMC AT4X 2500HD, fresh from some Spring overlanding.

View attachment 32804

Just got back from two days of Raptor Assault in Tooele, Utah with a Raptor R. It's definitely not a poseur truck. The stuff it could do is truly incredible.

Now, I'm a different story. I'm mostly a Starbucks and pavement princess cruising kind of guy.

Nice AT4X HD truck! I definitely don't need the diesel for towing and the weight/size makes it cumbersome around town, hence the Raptor for me.

 

[jvp]

Nice AT4X HD truck! I definitely don't need the diesel for towing and the weight/size makes it cumbersome around town, hence the Raptor for me.

The diesel is exactly what makes it not cumbersome around town. Sure it's large, but that +900ft-lbs gets the big 8K pound truck moving. Quick. Wet roads and 4-wheel drifts are fun in it.

 

[quikag]

The diesel is exactly what makes it not cumbersome around town. Sure it's large, but that +900ft-lbs gets the big 8K pound truck moving. Quick. Wet roads and 4-wheel drifts are fun in it.

The diesel doesn't lack power, I'm talking more the dimensions and weight. It's a big HD truck, so the R is much more agile and faster on and off-road.

Both good trucks, just different purposes.

 

[jvp]

Both good trucks, just different purposes.

It's OK. You're driving a Ford and I'm required to hate it. No offense meant to the driver.

 

[quikag]

It's OK. You're driving a Ford and I'm required to hate it. No offense meant to the driver.

Jas, you have no idea how much I want a FI V8 GM truck, but they won't freaking make one and we all know the L87 unfortunately sucks. Hoping the Gen VI V8 engines are back to snuff.

That is the ONLY reason I'm driving a Ford. I've had 3 Fords in my life, a '99 Cobra I had for 3 days (long story), a '19 Raptor that was actually pretty good besides the dying cow exhaust sound of the Ecoboost and now this '25 Raptor R which is admittedly an awesome truck. Ford knocked it out of the park with the R.

But, if GM came out with a competitive truck, I'd be all over it. Your AT4X HD is about as good as it gets. Also, a fan of the 3.0 Duramax LZ0 as I had one in a '23 Silverado LTZ that got traded for the R. Great truck, zero issues in 35k miles, but it was "boring" to drive. Comfy, but boring.

When I got the green light from the wife to get another Raptor, I went all-in.

So, can you use your pull and get GM to bring a factory forced induction V8 truck to market? I'll buy one.

 

[jvp]

So, can you use your pull and get GM to bring a factory forced induction V8 truck to market? I'll buy one.

My truck has a forced-induction V8! ;-)

I know what you meant. And other than the Escalade V, which is just comedy on wheels, I don't expect GM to be using a supercharge small block in anything in the future. It seems their thought process for truck engines is either: long-range economy, torque for towing, or both. Not "fun". The AT4X line (both 1500 and 2500) is the first time I've seen them, in recent years, buck that trend a bit. But really, both of those trucks are better used off-roading and/or towing, not sprinting around the streets at high speeds.

 

[green02crew]

Even though I present as an adult in real life, it's really a thin veil over the 12 year old I really am. I know most of you have sophisticated car palates, but my daily has been a Duragno R/T for years. I know it's an old platform, but the MB roots that it's based on (GL model I think it was) make it a decent rig to drive. The reason I bring it up is because I just traded it on a 2025 Durango Hellcat Hammerhead edition. It's sort of the fake adult version of a hellcat in that it looks like a sleeper soccer mom SUV, but 710hp makes its a bit silly. I've discretely obsessed about the DDHC since it came out in 2021, so I suppose I needed to get this out of my system, but so far I love it.

I too went with a DDHC for moving the kids. I had a Charger years ago and i was a blast but too low to the ground. It's dated tech but the powertrain is hilarious. That supercharger whine with an intake is deafening. Compared to my FP700 F-150 which is nearly silent and actually boring to drive because it's so good. TRX or Raptor R make my short list to replace the FP700 someday.

 

[1Evil55]

I wish they'd bring back a Syclone or similar but we all know GM would never.

 

[quikag]

My truck has a forced-induction V8! ;-)

I know what you meant. And other than the Escalade V, which is just comedy on wheels, I don't expect GM to be using a supercharge small block in anything in the future. It seems their thought process for truck engines is either: long-range economy, torque for towing, or both. Not "fun". The AT4X line (both 1500 and 2500) is the first time I've seen them, in recent years, buck that trend a bit. But really, both of those trucks are better used off-roading and/or towing, not sprinting around the streets at high speeds.

Yeah, afraid you're right on the thought process for how they approach "truck" engines. I had my Escalade V for a while and it is just comedy on wheels. But a half-ton truck with a nice LT4 or next-gen V8 with maybe a blower or turbos along with the DSSV shocks and bigger brakes would just be a great all around truck, ala Raptor.

But, I guess GM isn't interested in trying to compete seriously at a game Ford has been doing already for over 15 years.

I still have 3 GM V8's (5BW, C8, and C6 ZR1) and love them, but until GM throws a factory 700hp+ engine in a truck, I may be stuck driving other brands in that department.

 

[Ergoc5]

Love the 997.2! Is it a manual? My garage cars only come out to play on nice weather days.


View attachment 32797

997.2 gen turbo S and subsequent model year turbo S cars were pdk only. I think more suited to the turbo as you don't lose boost between shifts.