Picking up a 991 today for a ten day test
Discussion
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Its big, especially from the rear. It feels very big when you enter and the rake of the windscreen makes the forward view very spacious. OTOH, in bright sunlight you get an annoying reflection from the top of the dash onto the windscreen. RS experience is of course very subjective, and my take is compared to other cars I drive like my M6 is that its a lot edgier. I recall talking to Hans Stuck after he had tested an RS.1 at the NS, and he said" Jesus Christ! --this is a very ,very easy car to drive at 7/10. Try 9/10 and you have to be very,very good" . I have spun an RS.1 once at Spa and it happened very quickly, luckily with only ego damage. I am not a competitive driver, so to get the best out of one takes more talent than I have. I just love trying. The 991, on the other hand is incredibly forgiving. I took some corners on a private road last night at speeds that amazed me. Obviously the Mezger engine is in a class of its own. No idea what the 991 RS will get , but no Mezger.
In a way , the way to look at the 991 is as if you have never driven a Porsche before and see it as a new, unknown brand.
FisiP1 said:
One day I learned to close that center flap between the drinks holders when they are deployed, and much stress has been avoided ever since.
I'm sure you already know that, and they are still pretty crap with it closed, but the memory makes me laugh every time I see it open like that.
I never actually use the things unless its when I am parked and grabbing a coffee. To be fair, I have equally ridiculous contraptions in other German cars. I have a feeling that all, the manufacturers have some sort of trade association..( Deutsche Kaffe Kuppen Gruppe? ) where they all sit around and guffaw at each other while wondering about the benighted foreigners who actually drink coffee in their carsI'm sure you already know that, and they are still pretty crap with it closed, but the memory makes me laugh every time I see it open like that.
RDMcG said:
I never actually use the things unless its when I am parked and grabbing a coffee. To be fair, I have equally ridiculous contraptions in other German cars. I have a feeling that all, the manufacturers have some sort of trade association..( Deutsche Kaffe Kuppen Gruppe? ) where they all sit around and guffaw at each other while wondering about the benighted foreigners who actually drink coffee in their cars
I took a lady friend out for the first time in mine a few days ago, she isn't big on cars but her reaction to it verbatim was 'what an amazing car, but those cupholders were disappointing'.Quite an amusing summary I thought.
Did a 350 mile run today. Its quite strange..it seems to have two different personalities. In relaxed, auto, highway mode on a big US highway, it changes into 7th gear very quickly, at about 60 MPH or and likes to loaf along at 1900 RPM. In this mode it feels utterly different from any 911 I have driven..pleasant, smooth and relaxed. It does not advertise its other capabilities. Seats are immensely comfortable for long distance.Drop it into sport or sport plus and the while thing changes, becomes much more urgent , - (I was on highway today , so tomorrow will be the back roads.). Although I do not like the colour, four people talked to me and admired it.
It is amazingly easy on fuel. I got 600KM out os a tank in mixed driving over the past couple of days.
Niggles: the reflection of the top of the dash n the windscreen continues to be annoying, and there is also a bright reflection of trim on the driver's rise window like a streak.
Good things today: I fit four cases of wine into the boot and they remained completely cool although uninsulated.
It does not seem too big from the front..here is a white one:
Boot holds four cases of wine...not bad
As mentioned, the nav system shows up in the right hand display in front of the driver,,briefly before an exit or turn.Very tidy, this:
So far, it bears not the slightest resemblance to my RS, but its an impressive car in its own right.....
It is amazingly easy on fuel. I got 600KM out os a tank in mixed driving over the past couple of days.
Niggles: the reflection of the top of the dash n the windscreen continues to be annoying, and there is also a bright reflection of trim on the driver's rise window like a streak.
Good things today: I fit four cases of wine into the boot and they remained completely cool although uninsulated.
It does not seem too big from the front..here is a white one:
Boot holds four cases of wine...not bad
As mentioned, the nav system shows up in the right hand display in front of the driver,,briefly before an exit or turn.Very tidy, this:
So far, it bears not the slightest resemblance to my RS, but its an impressive car in its own right.....
Pesty said:
I imagine by being a very good customer who buys a few cars from them.
I sometimes write articles for US magazines and even the odd Euro one. I had a fair sized article in Total 911 last year for instance. Obviously I also buy cars. Thus I sometimes get cars to review from various people. In the last few years I have had a mix of cars to try ..a Bentley Continental, CL63, Mini Vert,Electric Mitsubishi,BMW Alpina and so on.. The stuff I am posting here is really just background for an article I will write later
RDMcG said:
...
So far, it bears not the slightest resemblance to my RS, but its an impressive car in its own right.....
And that is what worries me, though as before, I will reserve final judgement for the GT3/RS versions if/when they arrive. My late 997 C2S was very much in the spirit of the GT3 which followed it. The C2S is a focused, driver oriented, traditionally compromised sports car; and that works for me. Personally I think it's a true credit to Porsche engineering that the 991 can do the 5 Series cosseting thing and also bear a genuinely sporting side. Personally however, that simply dilutes what would otherwise be a very very exciting car. As such, for now, "I'm ooot".So far, it bears not the slightest resemblance to my RS, but its an impressive car in its own right.....
drpep said:
And that is what worries me, though as before, I will reserve final judgement for the GT3/RS versions if/when they arrive. My late 997 C2S was very much in the spirit of the GT3 which followed it. The C2S is a focused, driver oriented, traditionally compromised sports car; and that works for me. Personally I think it's a true credit to Porsche engineering that the 991 can do the 5 Series cosseting thing and also bear a genuinely sporting side. Personally however, that simply dilutes what would otherwise be a very very exciting car. As such, for now, "I'm ooot".
Its an interesting question. I went into this fairly prejudiced about the 991. At this stage it has grown on me. not as a GT3 replacement, but as a versatile, practical car that can be dialled in to produce superb performance when you want, but that can morph back into a refined car as required. If you asked me which car I would track, it would be the RS. On the other hand, if you asked me which car would I want to to take me for a week's holiday with my wife, the 991 would win easily. I sometimes find that reviews pile onto a specific item and it seems as if its much worse than it is is reality. For example BMW's iDrive was blasted to hell, and in fact it took me 15t minutes to learn it. Equally I think the steering issue is worth discussing, but after a couple of days, I do not find myself thinking about it. RS steering is hyper communicative, and as such perfect for track, but I don't need to be engaged at that level with the car every second.There will obviously be edgy version later, and the extra width on the front among other things should produce some formidable performers. Its very valid for those who want the really edgy cars to be a tad wary, but I am looking forward to see what they do with the 991 as it develops. As it it, it will have a much broader appeal to buyers who would not normally consider the 911, while still retaining the sportiness for those who want to use it. My prediction is that 95% of buyers will go PDK. Like Ferrari fans who bemoaned the passing of the open gate gearbox, the M fans who miss the manual on the M6, there is a wind of change blowing. I am not sure how the RS/Turbo etc will be specced, but I think the number of people who actually buy manual cars is declining very quickly. I will keep my current manual cars indefinitely, but I have had an SMG M6 for years, and have no doubt that my next Porsche will be PDK whenever that is.
The thing I do not understand is launch control. I have it on the M6 and have never used it. Nor would I on a Porsche. Its just an unnatural act for me, as I do not start from a grid position in the morning
.Running the 991 hard is still very,very satisfying, and certainly a comparison with a GT3 is taking the base car of the new generation with the least civilized version of the last. ( Most people I know outside the car community have absolutely no desire to own a GT3. Its just too noisy,harsh and generally aggressive. For people who have always tracked cars it may be a bit tame, but we are talking a tiny majority of the car buying population).
Your point is completely valid, which is why I find this week so interesting. I can't help it though....the car is growing on me
Edited by RDMcG on Monday 30th April 23:44
Interesting reading. I have yet to drive a 991 but I have sat in one and as a 996 Turbo owner, the 991 just seems too damned big. 
Ok, the little tank maybe taking things a bit too far but one of the reasons I like 911s is the fact that they are that little bit smaller (and hence more practically useable) than the competition.
Ok, the little tank maybe taking things a bit too far but one of the reasons I like 911s is the fact that they are that little bit smaller (and hence more practically useable) than the competition.
JW911 said:
Interesting reading. I have yet to drive a 991 but I have sat in one and as a 996 Turbo owner, the 991 just seems too damned big.
Ok, the little tank maybe taking things a bit too far but one of the reasons I like 911s is the fact that they are that little bit smaller (and hence more practically useable) than the competition.
Ok, the little tank maybe taking things a bit too far but one of the reasons I like 911s is the fact that they are that little bit smaller (and hence more practically useable) than the competition.
The much steeper rake of the windscreen puts a lot of space in front of you, so it does seem big initially. My experience was that I got used to it quickly. The steering and cornering are so different that its a whole new ballgame. I think there will be those who will legitimately not get it, but others who will love it. It feels like the air-cooled period again when there were very good arguments about the 993-996 transition.
One interesting question for me is how they will build the track-only versions. The road car is perfectly balanced visually with the 20" wheels which fill the arches very nicely. However, if regs require 18s I wonder how it will look.
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