RE: Detroit show: Porsche 911 Cabriolet

[NadiR]

Seems like Porsche are getting less imaginative by the day. The Panamera looked like a cut and shut job of a 911 and a Cayenne, and this new 911 looks exactly the same as the one before except that this one has thinner rear lights which in my opinion look horrid.

[leef44]

Skater12 said:

My point being....totally lost on you it seems.

I do like the way it looks, I do like the 911 shape, I do like Porsche.
I am however getting bored of the generic design.
One of the biggest names in the motoring world, with a Huge budget, and technical prowess, but they seem to lack imagination.
I agree, it is a formula that has worked and will continue to work for them, but surely they can start building cars that make people say "wow, that looks awesome", rather than "that's quite nice looking".

...and yes you are right, they will start building cars with the "wow" once people get bored of the current design evolution and stop buying it. In the meantime, consumers and hence business dictates that they carry on with this formula which although boring and safe, it is still what the majority of its customers want. But I do understand your opinion.

[Helicopter123]

I want one of these so much but really, for a bit of fun, a 997 cab makes more sense cash wise.

[dumpy]

Dont get the negative!

Think it looks great and sure it will drive in the same 911 way. Loads of feel, grunt and loveliness!

Driven loads of stuff over the years and didnt get on with cars that other people love. M3 and DB9 spring to mind. Doesnt mean that they are bad cars, they are good just not right for me. (And pretty sure a fair few M3 drivers are d###s too but that doesnt mean i think everyone who drives one is a d##k, would have to meet them to make that judgement). If you want to slag off a car pick a truly bad one FSO Polonez anyone!

In short dont mind people saying not for them, but the all Porsche drivers are 'pick your own expletive' and Why dont they do something different (Its a 911 for gods sake it wouldnt be one if it looked like a Ferrari), comments get right on my goat.

Would love a 991 but will take 15 years of depeciation (Some nice bankers bonus going down the swanny )before i could afford one.

[JuniorJet]

Wahay! Who would have thought! The new Porsche looks exactly the same as the last one!!

Only changes are different intestines and it is even more basic than the last as an excuse to save weight.

It is getting just a little long in the tooth...

[aston addict]

wow. so many posts and virtually everyone saying the same thing. Well if you're not a short-arse Italian - who of course would drive a Ferrari (too wide, too low) the narrower width and comfortable cabin height are a real boon. I'm 6'2" (not massively tall these days) and cannot even fit into even a TT without my head touching the roof. Not so in the 911.

I remember reading an article - probably 15 years ago - maybe by L J Setright or whatever his name was - lending support to car makers updating their designs in an evolutionary rather than revolutionary way. Porsche have done this for years with the 911. People like the shape, so why mess with it? On the other hand they could do a Ferrari and have occasional hits (355, current version) and loads of duds (ugly 360, 348).

Add to this it probably has the best roof mechanism this side of a folding hardtop and it's hard to see what's not to like about it. Even the rear crease has grown on me - first thought it odd but after I saw some designer sketches I knew what they were trying to do and it looks much fresher.

[0a]

Can't we have a 6 monthly update of the "exciting" developments in the 911 range, with the .2 .3 .8 gt3s etc etc?

[vinnie83]

Skater12 said:

BREAKING NEWS !!!

Porsche in complete new car shocker!

ooops, no, that hasnt happened.
Come on Porsche, Iknow it's a tried and tested style, but well into the 21st century now. Isnt it time you thought a bit outside of your clinically styled box?

Probably already been pointed out but:

Oh the irony in your comment... A post pointing out the repetition in design, the itself is repeated in every new 911 thread....

If you feel Porsche should change their ways (very profitable) then maybe you should find something new to say (which Porsche obviously couldn't care less about - their sales figures show that!)...

Think of something more original to say next time a new 911 is released.

[mybrainhurts]

Skater12 said:

BREAKING NEWS !!!

Porsche in complete new car shocker!

If you listen carefully...

Sounds just like a 911...

[Numeric]

We must never forget that in the 1970s concerned at the 911 being so dominant to them and equally unhappy with the design philosophy of the car, the company bought us the 924/44 and 928, with the 928 seen in many ways as being the model that would eventually overtake the 911, hence there were versions designed that never ultimately got made. The company was also very keen to follow modern design trends - hence pop up lights etc as they wanted to be "Modern". Trouble was they didn't last - the designs like many things aged over time and no amount of tweaking made them new, in fact the efforts to keep them fresh at the end of the 80's almost killed the company as they lacked the funds for the completely new cars the world demanded!

So we might not like the 911, but without it there would be no Porsche, and the reason the company grafts a 911 style face onto everything is that is what sells and insulates them from some of the model cycle pressure that would otherwise exist. It must also be said that Porsche was so cash rich as a result of this that it almost bought VAG - which takes some doing. And yes I love the 911, but I'd rather a Caymen, so a little 911 then!

[LuS1fer]

For me, the odd thing about 911's is that in the 70s, I loved them - they were lovely looking cars and the 2.7RS was a dream vehicle.

However, for all the "evolution", I lost interest a very long time ago as the car got more and more bloated and blobby and common. To my eyes, that still doesn't look anything like as cool as a 70's 911.

[Rawwr]

SWoll said:

I would definately like to see something mid-engined in the £150-200,000 bracket to take on the 458/MP4/Gallardo/SLS.

I like to imagine that they'd have the balls to take the engine from the 997GT2, dump it in the middle of a modified 918 body/chassis and pump it out for 150-170k.

Wouldn't that be a deliciously sexy proposition?

[Agoogy]

LuS1fer said:

For me, the odd thing about 911's is that in the 70s, I loved them - they were lovely looking cars and the 2.7RS was a dream vehicle.

However, for all the "evolution", I lost interest a very long time ago as the car got more and more bloated and blobby and common. To my eyes, that still doesn't look anything like as cool as a 70's 911.

to my eyes too...but then I was born in 72 and by 82 I knew Porsche inside out and had posters of the then current range as I was stood at the dealership when the new brochures were released to get them.

I wonder if the teenage petrolhead of today will look upon these as we did the 70/80's 911....

Given the demands of modern drivers/owners the 911 is one of the few cars that resists the bloated/blobby label.... especially compared with 3 series, Fiestas, Cortina/Mondeo, Cavalier/Insignia, E class etc etc...
Overlay the profiles and it's clear Porsche have fought harder than most to keep things light and small (for the 911 anyway)...they're losing, but they fight harder

Edited by Agoogy on Wednesday 11th January 09:39

[Pugsey]

Dave Hedgehog said:

nightflight said:

Still ugly, and driven by s.

look at me every one i have a 911!

But you haven't have you. Lets see, ah you've got an Audi, zzzzzzzzzzz.;)

[SWoll]

Pugsey said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

nightflight said:

Still ugly, and driven by s.

look at me every one i have a 911!

But you haven't have you. Lets see, ah you've got an Audi, zzzzzzzzzzz.;)

Pugsey, don't lower yourself mate. Really not worth the effort and your unlikely to get a response until after 3PM (or whenever it is school finishes these days)

Agoogy said:

to my eyes too...but then I was born in 72 and by 82 I knew Porsche inside out and had posters of the then current range as I was stood at the dealership when the new brochures were released to get them.

I wonder if the teenage petrolhead of today will look upon these as we did the 70/80's 911....

Given the demands of modern drivers/owners the 911 is one of the few cars that resists the bloated/blobby label.... especially compared with 3 series, Fiestas, Cortina/Mondeo, Cavalier/Insignia, E class etc etc...
Overlay the profiles and it's clear Porsche have fought harder than most to keep things light and small (for the 911 anyway)...they're losing, but they fight harder

Good post agoogy, although I actually really like the look of the modern 911's also.

Trying to keep the PH spirit alive through my son. Posters all over his bedroom walls (Veyron SS, Mclaren F1/MP4, 458 italia etc.), took him to TG Live and hoping to get to the PH show. He's 8 in Feb and is obssesed with anything with an engine. Staring him karting soon also as it was one of the options for his birthday that he jumped at. We spent 6 hours over x-mas building a lego model of a 997 GT3 RS.

Hopefully the future is in good hands.

Rawwr said:

I like to imagine that they'd have the balls to take the engine from the 997GT2, dump it in the middle of a modified 918 body/chassis and pump it out for 150-170k.

Wouldn't that be a deliciously sexy proposition?

Or perhaps a tweaked version of the TT V8 from the Cayenne/Panamera.

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 11th January 09:48

Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 11th January 09:53

[Pugsey]

SWoll said:

Pugsey said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

nightflight said:

Still ugly, and driven by s.

look at me every one i have a 911!

But you haven't have you. Lets see, ah you've got an Audi, zzzzzzzzzzz.;)

Pugsey, don't lower yourself mate. Really not worth the effort and your unlikely to get a response until after 3PM (or whenever it is school finishes these days)

Sorry pal - I agree, and thought that as I posted, but irritation got the better of me! Apologies to any, more sensible, Audi drivers!

[SWoll]

Pugsey said:

SWoll said:

Pugsey said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

nightflight said:

Still ugly, and driven by s.

look at me every one i have a 911!

But you haven't have you. Lets see, ah you've got an Audi, zzzzzzzzzzz.;)

Pugsey, don't lower yourself mate. Really not worth the effort and your unlikely to get a response until after 3PM (or whenever it is school finishes these days)

Sorry pal - I agree, and thought that as I posted, but irritation got the better of me! Apologies to any, more sensible, Audi drivers!

Not complaining fella, have done exactly the same myself a few times and have come to realise the complete futility of it.

[Agoogy]

Hedgehog could have been 'complimenting nightflight's remark though?

as in "still ugly and driven by **** ....look at me I drive a 911"

just a thought

[SWoll]

Agoogy said:

Hedgehog could have been 'complimenting nightflight's remark though?

as in "still ugly and driven by **** ....look at me I drive a 911"

just a thought

I was assuming that was the case TBH.

[Pugsey]

I thought the 997 was a real return to form after the rather blobby 996 and the new car is another improvement (to my eyes). I find myself looking more and more fondly at 993 964 styling but wonder if that's just the passage of time. I'm not so sure that I thought they were the best looking versions when they were new - yes I'm that old! Lots of cars that I remember having doubts about when new are 'classics' that I quite like now. However I find driving them can vastly improve or damage how they 'look' to me. Yes I think a 993 is very pretty BUT would I swap one for a 997? Nope. depending on how far Porsche go with the new GT3 (I've got my order in!) i have a feeling the 997 version (Gen1) may be one to keep.

Back to original topic - I'm afraid I've always found 911 Cabs to be a bit lardy arsed and ungainly and would always (and indeed have) buy a Boxster in preference if I wanted a soft top and it simply had to be a Porker.

Edited by Pugsey on Wednesday 11th January 10:13