Porsche not perfect shocker: PH Blog
Why the 911 GTS might not actually be perfect and why Porsche isn't helping the situation
Some seemed to think I was some sort of champion of free speech for being the first journalist to dare 'say it how it is' and criticise a Porsche. Others that the only reason for possibly finding fault in such a perfect car was inability to drive it properly. One inescapable conclusion was that Porsche makes it very difficult to compare seemingly like-for-like cars, thanks to the huge range of options and their subsequent influence on the way it drives. Porsche isn't the only one either - see Audi and the variety of suspension and powertrain options on RS models.
This whole 'choice' thing is much overrated in my book and only serves to confuse matters. My new chippy has a very Yorkshire solution to the problem of being stuck behind some idiot ordering 'special' this or 'extra large' that. It serves haddock (one size) and chips, ordered - and enjoyed - in the multiples required. No mucking about, get in, get out, everyone knows what they're having and it tastes lovely. Absolutely no room for confusion.
But there are so many variables with the GTS that the two-wheel drive one I had, including optional PASM Sport suspension, PDK and its £170 colour coded key (yes, really) could be completely different from the one the bloke on Twitter was saying was 'intoxicating'. Outwardly they'd look pretty much identical. They'd wear the same badge. But depending on the options we could actually be attempting to compare cars with very different chassis and powertrain components. And subsequently very different behaviour, especially when you factor in different driving modes and their influence on throttle, steering, differential, gearshifts, active engine mounts and more.
Even a Cayman S can be specced with six wheels of varying size and weights, different steering, a choice of three suspension settings and with or without torque vectoring and a mechanical locking diff - just think how differently two cars with extremes of these options packages could drive. And what a minefield this leaves a few years down the line for those shopping in the classifieds.
It's like saying 'I love fish'n'chips' to a man who likes his cod with the skin on and fried in vegetable oil when in fact I'm talking about haddock fried - properly in my book - in beef dripping. We're both talking about fish'n'chips. But we're not comparing like with like.
Back on topic I'm not advocating a return to the Henry Ford days of 'any colour you like as long as it's black' but I don't think manufacturers are doing us any favours by offering customers options that so dramatically impact on the dynamic behaviour of the car. It certainly makes objective comparisons - formal in the media or informally between owners - ever more challenging.
More on this in due course...
Dan
Photos: Stuart Price
"This car has XYZ options and it was still crap. Your milage may vary... " Nuff said.
To extreme this logic, surely Porsche (or any manufacturer) could just sell one car and then have a HUGE options list.
"I'd like a Porsche 911, please"
"Certainly sir - base price is £50.00 now just start ticking those boxes until you run out of cash"
Think of it like the 'make your own pizza' counter in your local ASDA. You have one or two bases and then you add and pay for whatever you want on top.
What you really have to ask yourself is 'what really IS a 911 GTS?'. Really, it's just a badge - a plain pizza base on which any old fool can add enough of a combination of toppings to end up with an awesome creation or a nasty tasting mess.
Cars should be tested on the base spec sold that way we get a benchmark.
Here's an example of how just 1 option can confuse things.
A base GTS is £ 91,098.00 incl. VAT
A Carrera S with PDK is £ 85,933.00 incl. VAT
But due to the option of the gearbox the Carrera S is quicker in acceleration and a few grand cheaper. Doesn't make the base model GTS look good value does it?
Joe public mostly care about stats and a base model GTS just wouldn't add up compared to a Carrera S with a few boxes ticked.
See table, Carrera S on left and GTS on right:
"I'd like a Porsche 911, please"
"Certainly sir - base price is £50.00 now just start ticking those boxes until you run out of cash"
That is basically what Porsche do anyway.
To extreme this logic, surely Porsche (or any manufacturer) could just sell one car and then have a HUGE options list.
"I'd like a Porsche 911, please"
"Certainly sir - base price is £50.00 now just start ticking those boxes until you run out of cash"
Think of it like the 'make your own pizza' counter in your local ASDA. You have one or two bases and then you add and pay for whatever you want on top.
What you really have to ask yourself is 'what really IS a 911 GTS?'. Really, it's just a badge - a plain pizza base on which any old fool can add enough of a combination of toppings to end up with an awesome creation or a nasty tasting mess.
Keep it true to its original formula (pizza & sports cars)- simple & don't put too much on it
So what is the sports car option list item that is equivalent to ham & pineapple - ie just wrong & ruins it all, dynamic steering?
PASM, NAV, Chrono pack, Sports exhaust and then there's the daft things "Body colour wing mirrors" WTF? Doesn't it come with that as standard?
Then you have to have the adjustable suspension, PDK etc....
Looking forward to a buyers guide as my head hurts...
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