RE: Porsche 911 Turbo S (991): Review
Discussion
I strongly suspect that most of the people moaning on here about 997/1 Turbos and how they're so dull and boring, and b
hing they they don't want to own one have:
a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
The Turbo is, without doubt, one of the most capable all rounders you can buy. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, it'll just do it. It's a proper supercar. Please don't compare it to a GTR.
How many of you dreamed of owning a Nissan when you were a kid? Not one of you, I'll wager.
//lights blue touch paper, stands well back
hing they they don't want to own one have:a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
The Turbo is, without doubt, one of the most capable all rounders you can buy. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, it'll just do it. It's a proper supercar. Please don't compare it to a GTR.
How many of you dreamed of owning a Nissan when you were a kid? Not one of you, I'll wager.
//lights blue touch paper, stands well back
Oddball RS said:
jason61c said:
RenesisEvo said:
For one, the interior of the Porsche is a whole lot better than the Nissan. Just like the GT86, when you sit inside, its obvious the money went on the oily bits.
Imagine what the gtr would be like with a 60k interior makeoverI think the author did a great job in a few words of conveying the pros and cons. A hugely desirable car in so many respects. My ONLY problem with 911s of any sort is that there are so many of the damn things. Just drove from Frejus to Port Grimaud and it seemed that every second car was a 911...
I think the author did a great job in a few words of conveying the pros and cons. A hugely desirable car in so many respects. My ONLY problem with 911s of any sort is that there are so many of the damn things. Just drove from Frejus to Port Grimaud and it seemed that every second car was a 911...
v8matt said:
I strongly suspect that most of the people moaning on here about 997/1 Turbos and how they're so dull and boring, and bhing they they don't want to own one have:
a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
I agree with you. It's also mainly people who couldn't realistically afford to own / run a car of that price too (otherwise they would, if they're into cars).hing they they don't want to own one have:a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
I was lucky to do a Ring trip alongside a well sorted 997T and I got a few pax laps. It is so capable and balanced there for such a heavy car, it's quite incredible, and very boring as it may be for some lucky sods, this is definitely not the first thought that comes to mind to the average petrol head or track regular.
Having said that, I also had a lot of fun driving the Suzuki Swift Stage 2 from R4R. It was just a different kind of fun.
I can see the point of the GT3 but to me this seems to do the same job as the GTR for twice the price. It is basically just an A-B weapon and not about driver enjoyment really imo and if that is the case you may as well save £60k unless you want the more pure driving experience that the GT3 offers compared to them both.
Edit:-
Also if you want an everyday 911 just get a C4S which as an everyday car with a bit of poke would be a better option. 400bhp is more than enough in the real world I suspect many people buy the turbo s just so they have the most expensive and therefore "best" 911 when infact the sweet spot is far lower down in the model range. I can't really think of a road where you would be sat in the standard carrera s and find it lacking in power...
Then if for some reason you did want to go mental fast just go for the GTR option as mentioned as that's all the Turbo S and GTR seem to be designed for the numbers on paper not the feel of the car on the road.
Edit:-
Also if you want an everyday 911 just get a C4S which as an everyday car with a bit of poke would be a better option. 400bhp is more than enough in the real world I suspect many people buy the turbo s just so they have the most expensive and therefore "best" 911 when infact the sweet spot is far lower down in the model range. I can't really think of a road where you would be sat in the standard carrera s and find it lacking in power...
Then if for some reason you did want to go mental fast just go for the GTR option as mentioned as that's all the Turbo S and GTR seem to be designed for the numbers on paper not the feel of the car on the road.
Edited by greggy50 on Saturday 24th August 02:04
A pointless car for the UK. As others have stated its only use is blasting the Autobahn in Germany. There are much more refined cars than this which can cope with the UK speed limits whilst giving much superior levels of comfort. It's far too refined for track work so you are left with a car which will leave you wanting to try and use its power on the road with the result of losing your licence. Hey it's a free country though (well apart from all that fuel tax! Lol)
ItsJustARide said:
What a superbly written article.
I have an excellent understanding of the dynamics of the car and genuine insight into what it must be like to drive one. Rarely have I read an analysis that so brilliantly communicates the character of a car.
On the basis of Dan's analysis it is of little interest to me.
I agree, Great write up.I have an excellent understanding of the dynamics of the car and genuine insight into what it must be like to drive one. Rarely have I read an analysis that so brilliantly communicates the character of a car.
On the basis of Dan's analysis it is of little interest to me.
I have not, of course, driven this car. But I have driven a 997.2 Turbo PDK.
I have also driven a few GT-Rs
I don't believe the GT-R is "uninvolving" or "detached". I find it more interesting, more characterful than the 997 Turbo.
The GT-R has a mechanical sensation to it. It feels like a complex machine, with the drivetrain grinding and whirring underneath you. With the GT-R you can sense the torque being moved around and the gearbox doing it's thing. There is something interesting about it. Some people see this as a bad thing - you read criticisms of the GT-R for its "strange noisy drivetrain" but I think it's terrific. It is like you are inside a machine and controlling it.
I do not personally see the GT-R as uninvolving at all. And the way it catapults out of corners is breathtaking.
I hope the 991 captures some of this connection.
I have also driven a few GT-Rs
I don't believe the GT-R is "uninvolving" or "detached". I find it more interesting, more characterful than the 997 Turbo.
The GT-R has a mechanical sensation to it. It feels like a complex machine, with the drivetrain grinding and whirring underneath you. With the GT-R you can sense the torque being moved around and the gearbox doing it's thing. There is something interesting about it. Some people see this as a bad thing - you read criticisms of the GT-R for its "strange noisy drivetrain" but I think it's terrific. It is like you are inside a machine and controlling it.
I do not personally see the GT-R as uninvolving at all. And the way it catapults out of corners is breathtaking.
I hope the 991 captures some of this connection.
fuchsiasteve said:
A pointless car for the UK. As others have stated its only use is blasting the Autobahn in Germany. There are much more refined cars than this which can cope with the UK speed limits whilst giving much superior levels of comfort. It's far too refined for track work so you are left with a car which will leave you wanting to try and use its power on the road with the result of losing your licence. Hey it's a free country though (well apart from all that fuel tax! Lol)
Seriously, why are you on this thread? If you have no interest in the car and you have no contribution to make other than "its too fast" then why bother? I ask you, what did you expect from this car? What did you want it to be? How did you expect or want it to handle? What performance were you expecting?As for this statement "There are much more refined cars than this which can cope with the UK speed limits whilst giving much superior levels of comfort." REALLY! Just about every car on sale in the UK today is capable of breaking the speed limit, some are more refined than others, that is why we have choices and manufacturers make differing models. Personally I am not so keen on the more focused driving experience of something like a GT3 (although they do appear to be a very good deal and if I had been quicker off the mark I probably would have ordered one), I have a GTS and whilst I love the performance it does require a bit of effort to get the most out of it. Most of my driving is to and from the airport on major A roads and motorways and my car is a daily driver. For me the Turbo S offers everything I am looking for.
v8matt said:
I strongly suspect that most of the people moaning on here about 997/1 Turbos and how they're so dull and boring, and bhing they they don't want to own one have:
a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
The Turbo is, without doubt, one of the most capable all rounders you can buy. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, it'll just do it. It's a proper supercar. Please don't compare it to a GTR.
How many of you dreamed of owning a Nissan when you were a kid? Not one of you, I'll wager.
//lights blue touch paper, stands well back
I dreamed of owning a porsche when I was 10 and since then Ive owned 6- I still have one right now.hing they they don't want to own one have:a) never owned one
b) never driven one
c) never been driven in one
The Turbo is, without doubt, one of the most capable all rounders you can buy. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, it'll just do it. It's a proper supercar. Please don't compare it to a GTR.
How many of you dreamed of owning a Nissan when you were a kid? Not one of you, I'll wager.
//lights blue touch paper, stands well back
but also own a GTR
if I was a kid now, Id dream about a GTR
and do you know what? IMO the GTR is better in so many ways than every porsche (many turbos included) I have ever driven including the GT3 I owned
Sadly modern porsches (except GT/RS models) are becoming so dull I could not even consider spending the money-
the GTR is such a better drive on so many levels of involvement, and the reaction to it on the roads is infinitely more positive than any porsche I have ever owned, that for the time being I cannot be without one.- I love it.
As for feel, Id suggest taking a GTR out on a track- interestingly as a long term porsche track dayer, the GTR has an oddly similar feel even though its 4wd/ front engined / and massive- in that it feels beautifully connected and makes you think- yes with all the electronics on, it would feel muted and too controlled, but it can all be kicked off or reduced and it transforms into a beautifully balanced monster.
downsides- its too big for everyday parking etc- its very very hard -
Depressingly as a massive porsche fan, I feel the porsche turbos (since the 996) have lost something - and Id bet if you showed a 10 year old a picture of one now- they wouldnt know what it was.
It takes great skill to rag a Turbo with the electronics turned off, watch this guy, he almost comes unstuck at around 2minutes 30 and buries it into the Armco, that aside, I have not see anyone abuse a Turbo harder on track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1WQq4OyuBE
After watching the video, can you still say that the Turbo is "un-involving"? No, it is as involving as your driving skills allow. For that driver, it must be one of the worlds great driving experiences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1WQq4OyuBE
After watching the video, can you still say that the Turbo is "un-involving"? No, it is as involving as your driving skills allow. For that driver, it must be one of the worlds great driving experiences.
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