What's a purist ?

What's a purist ?

Author
Discussion

nickfrog

Original Poster:

21,146 posts

217 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
I occasionally read that Porsche don't cater for them much in its product offering.

So I wonder if there was an objective definition of a purist in car terms and why would have Porsche allegedly stopped caring for their needs ?

IMI A

9,410 posts

201 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Someone who's into lightweight RWD cars. Manual gear change , steering with feel and normally aspirated engines. Last car Porsche made with this recipe was 964/993 RS IMO. Later cars are a bit too heavy although 996 GT3 best of the moderns so generally speaking a purist would like the aforementioned cars. Porsche certainly doesn't make anything like them at the moment and will struggle to with electric steering and turbo cars.

Porsche911R

21,146 posts

265 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Cayman R comes pretty close IMO as does the 987.2 spyder.
Also lighter than a 993.

And we won't see car like those 2 again which is sad news.

Sparkyhd

1,792 posts

95 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Someone who believes they understand the definition of the brand better than anyone else (even Porsche) and their pick of features and options is THE final word.

DavidJG

3,537 posts

132 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
IMI A said:
Someone who's into lightweight RWD cars. Manual gear change , steering with feel and normally aspirated engines. Last car Porsche made with this recipe was 964/993 RS IMO. Later cars are a bit too heavy although 996 GT3 best of the moderns so generally speaking a purist would like the aforementioned cars. Porsche certainly doesn't make anything like them at the moment and will struggle to with electric steering and turbo cars.
Agree, although from what I'm hearing the 991 R may well come close. As you say, the challenge is with electric steering and forced induction. My 'fun' car is a 987.1, and I was genuinely shocked when I tried out a 981 (thinking about 'upgrading') - the 981 is ultimately faster, but lacks feedback and involvement. As someone who's owned a fair few Porsches over many years, including 3.2 Carrera, 928GT, 986, 987S, I'm genuinely disappointed by the latest offerings. I know that Porsche is seriously hampered by the latest emission regs forcing EPAS, turbos etc, but surely a company of this heritage can produce a car that feels better to drive than the 981??


jayxx83

504 posts

196 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Have to agree with the above. Drove a friends 991 GTS and agree it's an amazing car, but not 40k better than my 987 Spyder. The steering works but you don't feel connected to the road. The 987 is talking to you all the time and feels so great when loaded up.

The brakes stop very well but you don't feel anything through the pedal. The Spyder lets you feel the tread blocks through the pedal. The old 997 GTS also let you feel this sensation.

The motor torque is great although the pdk lets you flick about easily. Still a great engine to rev out.

Really does feel like a sanitised sports car. My friend is an enthuasiast but not a fast driver and not into cornering. Just likes cruising and putting foot down now and again. Great for him but I couldn't bring myself to buy one. Still covers ground at a mega pace and does get the adrenaline pumping, but the Spyder does far more for me.

Would like a 911 alongside the Spyder but will prob have to be 997.2! Shame as a 991 interior inside of the 997 chassis would be perfect.

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

246 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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nickfrog said:
So I wonder if there was an objective definition of a purist in car terms....
If you Google "pub bore" I think you'll find the answer quite quickly.

fire3500

71 posts

127 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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997 on the drive and early base 944 tucked up in the garage count? I pull the 944 out when I fancy a "drive"... biggrin

AndrewD

7,537 posts

284 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
IMI A said:
Someone who's into lightweight RWD cars. Manual gear change , steering with feel and normally aspirated engines. Last car Porsche made with this recipe was 964/993 RS IMO. Later cars are a bit too heavy although 996 GT3 best of the moderns so generally speaking a purist would like the aforementioned cars. Porsche certainly doesn't make anything like them at the moment and will struggle to with electric steering and turbo cars.
Ahem, Carrera GT came after964/993 RS!

IMI A

9,410 posts

201 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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AndrewD said:
IMI A said:
Someone who's into lightweight RWD cars. Manual gear change , steering with feel and normally aspirated engines. Last car Porsche made with this recipe was 964/993 RS IMO. Later cars are a bit too heavy although 996 GT3 best of the moderns so generally speaking a purist would like the aforementioned cars. Porsche certainly doesn't make anything like them at the moment and will struggle to with electric steering and turbo cars.
Ahem, Carrera GT came after964/993 RS!
Sos always think 911 when someone mentions Porsche and you're quite correct - like the little yellow beetle you bought too - epitomises a purists car IMO wink

IMI A

9,410 posts

201 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Being a pub bore just googled weight on a CGT and at 1380kgs excluding driver its perhaps quite heavy to be a purists car. One of my all time faves nevertheless and surprised it doesn't weigh less.

72 RS is 960 kgs for example.

hunter 66

3,905 posts

220 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Bearded club member .....crawling under cars at the concours ....

Mousem40

1,667 posts

217 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Can any convertible be regarded as a purist's car? Perhaps a targa like the CGT, but the rest, I don't think so.

I agree with the points above, a purist is after minimum weight, N/A, manual, minimum frippery, maximum feel.

mollytherocker

14,366 posts

209 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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I see a purist as someone who craves the unfiltered simplicity of the original Porsche DNA.

Its not just about lightness, its about being connected to the car and road as directly as possible.

Its about your actions having a direct and proportionate effect on what the car does, no matter what the outcome

Its certainly not about having your inputs monitored, managed and altered within a set of safe parameters!

craigjm

17,955 posts

200 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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Ozzie Osmond said:
nickfrog said:
So I wonder if there was an objective definition of a purist in car terms....
If you Google "pub bore" I think you'll find the answer quite quickly.
This

In Porsche terms that should mean a squashed beetle... erm i mean 356 hehe Although generally with Porsche its anything post the air cooled era and heaven forbid that it should only have two pedals.

Slippydiff

14,830 posts

223 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Porsche911R said:
Cayman R comes pretty close IMO as does the 987.2 spyder.
Not even close.

Porsche911R said:
Also lighter than a 993.
Maybe lighter than a standard 993 C2/C2S/C4/C4S, not lighter than a properly specced 993 RS (ie no aircon, airbags or electric windows and proper lightweight seats)

Porsche911R said:
And we won't see car like those 2 again which is sad news.
I very much doubt the real purists will mourn their passing, they were the result of some inspired tinkering by the engineers at Stuttgart, but hardly the stuff of legend you'd have us believe, and certainly nothing close to the focused flyweight original 911R.

The GT4 is step in the right direction, but the chocolate front turrets and hopeless gearing show there's room for improvement still. If they produce a GT4 R/RS with another 35hp, decent gearing, put it on a proper weight loss program and use a bodyshell fit for purpose, it might well be considered a car for the modern day Porsche purist.



supersport

4,059 posts

227 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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Probably depends on how old you are or what your first Porsche was.

Is all bks, you either happy with your choice or not, although clearly air is better than water biglaugh

Dan911

2,648 posts

208 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
IMO (and I'm normally wrong)

a RWD, manual vehicle with minimal aero, no drivers aids (maybe ABS?) light as possible. (so NO sunroof, maybe AC no extra weight items)

Older 911's, 964 C2, 964RS, 992 C2, 993RS, 96GT3's and just getting in there due to numbers, low weight and feel - CR and 987.2 Spyder.

The 911R is trying to replicate that...

n4aat

458 posts

212 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
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I think there's a difference between a Porsche purist and a driving purist. And also depends on available budget.

A driving purist would probably not consider any Porsche model. Although part of that may be budget related (meaning hundreds of thousands not tens of thousands). Lotus, Caterham etc would be higher on the list I think.

Driving feel and sensation is one thing. But for me a pure driving experience is one where you live or die by your own inputs and talents and not those of a computer quietly and imperceptibly admonishing your mistakes, which also means that you never learn from them and improve your skills.

I suppose it's real versus fake.

Espresso vs filter
Original art vs giclée print
Cervelo bike vs Cerrera bike
Mulberry bag vs Matalan special





Orangecurry

7,426 posts

206 months

Sunday 21st August 2016
quotequote all
A purist is someone who believes that less is more.