RE: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS: Driven

[gregf40]

Luca Brasi said:

gregf40 said:

They can't be bought anymore.

Really, why is that? Porsche solved that problem a while ago I thought?

Yup - but they have sold out and aren't producing any more...until the RS that is.

[JDMDrifter]

911 seems to be getting quite a beat down recently, many journos are preferring the competition!

This 911 is very tasty though, in manual it's probably the perfect 991. That is of course if you don't have the extra cash for a GT3

[TheRoadWarrior]

E65Ross said:

That's an extremely interesting final paragraph....

Was it translated from Japanese perhaps?

????

[British Beef]

gregf40 said:

I've put my money where my mouth is and gone for the AMG instead.

911's (excluding GT2/3) just don't do it for me - even the Turbo to be honest.

The Mercedes (whilst slightly more expensive) looks infinitely better to me.

Mine's coming in red!

In terms of looks and performance, the Merc has the Porsche licked.

If the next AM V8 Vantage gets the Merc power plant, and sell for similar price, then that will be a very attractive proposition in the £100k field.

[Sampaio]

JDMDrifter said:

911 seems to be getting quite a beat down recently, many journos are preferring the competition!

They get so many negative comments on their stories when they glorify the 911 that they're probably just doing the opposite to regain readers' approval...

[g7jhp]

articulatedj said:

Since the rear seats don't do a whole lot of good, I can't see why I wouldn't just go for the Cayman GTS. Less horsepower, but also less weight. And more boot space.

Are you mrdemon is disguise?

[Magic919]

Hopefully Porsche will sell plenty of the 991 GTS, so I can buy a used one later on.

[Goofnik]

gregf40 said:

articulatedj said:

Since the rear seats don't do a whole lot of good, I can't see why I wouldn't just go for the Cayman GTS. Less horsepower, but also less weight. And more boot space.

...you forgot to mention it looks better too.

And from inside the car, sounds better. I would know, I bought one!

[hondansx]

g7jhp said:

articulatedj said:

Since the rear seats don't do a whole lot of good, I can't see why I wouldn't just go for the Cayman GTS. Less horsepower, but also less weight. And more boot space.

Are you mrdemon is disguise?

Ha! He has a point though.

[cayman-black]

ZesPak said:

Hmm, I do get that they are named in the same breath, but the 911 does retain it's "rear seats" that could persuade a lot of customers.

For me, it'll be the Merc or Jaguar every time. The 911 just doesn't do it visually any more, and it's almost as common as a Ford Focus for some reason. Also, I don't know about the options on the Jag or the Merc, but Porsche options get a bit silly!

It's no doubt a brilliant car, but if I were able to spend £100k on a car, it won't be a 911 anymore.

Fully agree with this, and i used to love Porsche. Plus all engine and warranty problems have put me right off.

[PunterCam]

I'd have an i8.

The merc is a bit too tacky for me, there's something too glitz about them these days. The only modern one I liked was the sls convertible - grey with a red roof, magnificent. This new merc but without a roof might appeal more...

The Jag will date, I'm fairly sure of that. In the flesh I think it's quite plain - tries to be pretty without any muscle or something. I don't think modern design delicacy really works, alfa 8c excepting. Crash structures and legislation have seen to that.

And the 991 is one of the most boring cars I've driven. Crap sound, boring interior which felt nothing like a sports car, and a chassis which - as the author here mentioned - doesn't feel like a 911, certainly at normal to quick speeds. Then there's the fact that it looks much bigger than the older ones. 21" alloys (I think) on the one I drove, and they only just looked in proportion! Madness.

The BMW might be flawed, but if I had £100k to spend, it'd probably be on that... Maybe. Actually, I'd probably try and find another £50k and get that 8c.

[TDT]

Goofnik said:

gregf40 said:

articulatedj said:

Since the rear seats don't do a whole lot of good, I can't see why I wouldn't just go for the Cayman GTS. Less horsepower, but also less weight. And more boot space.

...you forgot to mention it looks better too.

And from inside the car, sounds better. I would know, I bought one!

+1

Going from 997 GTS to Cayman GTS - pick on Tuesday! Rarely used the rear seats as other than the occasional shelf.
Love the looks and the headline figures of the 991GTS - can understand that some will be enticed - but the £20-30K difference is a lot to swallow I think vs the Cayman GTS - obviously will hold a decent amount of the extra vs a normal C2S/4S as the 997 GTS does.

[Palmball]

gregf40 said:

I've put my money where my mouth is and gone for the AMG instead.

911's (excluding GT2/3) just don't do it for me - even the Turbo to be honest.

The Mercedes (whilst slightly more expensive) looks infinitely better to me.

Mine's coming in red!

HEY! Get in line

Likewise, the 911's looks just don't do it and having sat in both, I also think the Merc's interior is a step above. If the AMG drives anything like the SLS, but better (as has been suggested), it'll feel phenomenal....or at least I hope so. Sure, I suspect it'll be less technically perfect than a 911, but more interesting as a result. AMG is where my money's gone, also in red

[ZesPak]

PunterCam said:

I'd have an i8.

The merc is a bit too tacky for me, there's something too glitz about them these days. The only modern one I liked was the sls convertible - grey with a red roof, magnificent. This new merc but without a roof might appeal more...

From all the cars you named I'd say this Merc is the least tacky, and the BMW the most.
That said, I agree on the 8c, though a completely different proposition.

[m444ttb]

Magic919 said:

Hopefully Porsche will sell plenty of the 991 GTS, so I can buy a used one later on.

Agreed. Roll on 2026

[BlueRSedFly]

Always lusted after the 997GTS. If I ever manage to get a 911 that will be the one I will search out. The 991 is just too fat, too comfort orientated and stupidly expensive. Cayman GTS also very pricey but it comes across as a more honest and probably more enjoyable car. Still all of them remain a dream for me and I guess I should be glad that all of this type of car are still being made and more importantly still being bought. Long may this continue

[hondansx]

Palmball said:

gregf40 said:

I've put my money where my mouth is and gone for the AMG instead.

911's (excluding GT2/3) just don't do it for me - even the Turbo to be honest.

The Mercedes (whilst slightly more expensive) looks infinitely better to me.

Mine's coming in red!

HEY! Get in line

Likewise, the 911's looks just don't do it and having sat in both, I also think the Merc's interior is a step above. If the AMG drives anything like the SLS, but better (as has been suggested), it'll feel phenomenal....or at least I hope so. Sure, I suspect it'll be less technically perfect than a 911, but more interesting as a result. AMG is where my money's gone, also in red

Familiarity breeds contempt. Doesn't make the 911 a bad looking car.

Wonder when people will get tired of seeing yet another red AMG GTS...

[gregf40]

hondansx said:

Familiarity breeds contempt. Doesn't make the 911 a bad looking car.

Wonder when people will get tired of seeing yet another red AMG GTS...

I didn't say the 991 is a bad looking car at all - far from it.

It just doesn't look 'exciting' to me in GTS guise. The Merc on the other hand does IMO.

[Palmball]

hondansx said:

Familiarity breeds contempt. Doesn't make the 911 a bad looking car.

Wonder when people will get tired of seeing yet another red AMG GTS...

No, not a bad looking car at all....but I'm afraid the 911 shape just doesn't do it for me, and yes, I would agree a lot of that is familiarity and the fact it's remained so similar over such a long time. However, I do think we're a long way off the AMG looking a familiar sight - I suspect it'll be similar in popularity to an R8 (so still rare enough to be standout sight when you see one, even after a few years on sale) and surely theres not going to be more than two of us silly enough to order one in red! Most will order theirs in the numerous shades of silvers, greys and blacks!

Edited by Palmball on Tuesday 18th November 23:39

[900T-R]

E65Ross said:

That's an extremely interesting final paragraph....

... that begs the question 'how hard can a Mercedes be to live with'? We're not exactly talking Morgan/Caterham levels of discomfort, are we?

It just puzzles me... for the day to day stuff, just about any modern mainstream car is a perfectly pleasurable and refined place to be in, I don't feel there's any real differentiator there unless you're talking about cheap US stuff with dashboards and door panels made out of recycled bin liners... My virtual £100K would go to the car that feels the most special thanksverymuch...