Thursday 15th October 2009

911 Turbo Beats Previous 'Ring Record

Latest 997 Turbo ups its game at the Nordschleife

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The recent facelift to Porsche's 997 Turbo seems to have paid dividends, at least as far as track pace is concerned. The car has recorded a lap time of seven minutes 39 seconds, a full 10 seconds faster than the previous version.

Having an extra 20bhp at its disposal will certainly have helped, achieved by boring out the engine by 200cc to 3.8-litres. The 500bhp and 516lb ft of torque on tap are also now sent through a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch 'box, which is a full 25kg lighter than the previous tiptronic auto.

Despite these significant improvements, the 'boggo' Nissan GT-R's best recorded lap time is still 13 seconds faster than the new 911 Turbo at 7:26. But 'Ring times are not an exact science, and things can change. When the GT-R came out, the best known time was 7:38, and it took many more attempts to get the stunning time eventually achieved, so with time the Porsche may be pushed that bit further too.

Considering that the new Porsche still costs nearly twice as much as the humble Nissan, Porsche's PR team will certainly be hoping so...

[Vedrfolner]

Porsche is Porsche, Nissan is Nissan.

Driving around in a Porsche will give you recognition far outside the motor-interested onlookers. Driving around in a similarly fast GTR does not. Porsche is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage. Nissan is not.

I must say that I (and anyone posting here) will know that the GTR is a great car, and probably a rarer sight because of the above. For everyone else (hot chicks included) it is not like that. The price tag of the Porsche compared to the cheaper GTR is therefore worth every penny... if you think like that.

Good lap times btw

[daz4m]

Fair point

[kambites]

Vedrfolner said:

Driving around in a Porsche will give you recognition far outside the motor-interested onlookers. Driving around in a similarly fast GTR does not. Porsche is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage. Nissan is not.

This is precisely why I wouldn't buy the Porsche.

[ThirdShift]

The Nissan represents not just where sportscars are now, but also the world that we live in today. Chatting to a few owners, they say that owning something "flash" and expensive is just not right at the moment. The Nissan is the sportscar for the credit crunch era. Back to the topic, a little disappointed that Porsche couldnt find more time out of the 911, the Gt3 race cars have come on leaps and bound over the last season so would have expected a bit more trickle down effect to bring it closer to the GT-R

[edb49]

kambites said:

Vedrfolner said:

Driving around in a Porsche will give you recognition far outside the motor-interested onlookers. Driving around in a similarly fast GTR does not. Porsche is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage. Nissan is not.

This is precisely why I wouldn't buy the Porsche.

Yep - and exactly why I have the Nissan.

[Cactussed]

Anyone said:

<Insert car> is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage.

Without getting too high up on my soapbox, this is the only thing I hate about my 355. The only thing it is a symbol of is the fact that I genuinely love cars and am forever in a state of penury trying to keep the thing on the road.

I'd be horrified at the thought of someone measuring my success or otherwise as a human being by the car I drive.

[CampDavid]

The Nissan is so far out of touch with today that it makes no odds. Driving the Nissan is more show than the Porsche, it's just massive an hugely aggressive.

Ring times don't matter a jot; they are 1. bks and 2. irrelivent

anyone who buys a car based on a time round a race track is a fool

[fluffyducky]

Rubbish! You see Porkers every day. I've seen 2 GTR's on the road, one went past me at a fair old lick while I was jogging down a B road. It was a special moment, the noise was awesome and the guy/gal was driving it well but not stupidly. Like mini's I've only ever seen one 911 driven with any passion and the guy was being a prat.

Both cars are drivers cars, however I consider the Nissan to be more exotic on account of its rarity, technical innovation and bang for buck. The performance achieved at the price point is what makes it so desirable to me.

However, the chicks won't understand that. The guys in the pub would be bored with tails of innovative drive trains... but I'd be smug in the knowledge that *my Nissan is pure bottled awesomeness.

* yes, imagination is running away with me here.

[CampDavid]

I'm not saying the Nissan's a bad car but it screems look at me. The Porsche is really quite subtle by todays standards.

Both are fast as hell and I don't think the performance of either on the ring is really relivant to many. I'd imagine I'd be going ruond in a similar speed in both, i.e. about as fast as I'd ever go around the ring

[tertius]

Good grief where did that circuit diagram come from? It must date from about 1980 or before - it has the old start finish straights from before the GP circuit was built.

[elster]

Was there really any need for this article.

The new version of the car is 10 seconds faster than the old one, well that is not news. What would have been news is if it had been slower. Otherwise it is just car development.

[son of clarkson]

I can't help feeling I've got to point a key factor out in all this which is better arguement. The porsche is ultimately a two seater with room for a holdall each if your lucky whilst the nissan can seat four reasonably sized people and their luggage. So not only have the porsche pr got to hope it can beat the nissan round the track it's got to do by some considerable margin.

This new breed of uber fast four door saloons are what the nissan should be fighting and looking at the cost of them it's won even before the fight got started. The world always loves the plucky contender going up against the big boys and every now and then they get beaten, but when will they learn the gt-r hertitage will give any of them a pound for pound (£-£) pasting.

Edited by son of clarkson on Thursday 15th October 12:32

[10 Pence Short]

elster said:

Was there really any need for this article.

The new version of the car is 10 seconds faster than the old one, well that is not news. What would have been news is if it had been slower. Otherwise it is just car development.

You try telling the great and the good at Porsche VW that you're not going to do an article about one of their oh-so-interesting press releases.

[elster]

10 Pence Short said:

elster said:

Was there really any need for this article.

The new version of the car is 10 seconds faster than the old one, well that is not news. What would have been news is if it had been slower. Otherwise it is just car development.

You try telling the great and the good at Porsche VW that you're not going to do an article about one of their oh-so-interesting press releases.

Send the email address or telephone number over.

[UncappedTag]

Cactussed said:

Anyone said:

<Insert car> is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage.

Without getting too high up on my soapbox, this is the only thing I hate about my 355. The only thing it is a symbol of is the fact that I genuinely love cars and am forever in a state of penury trying to keep the thing on the road.

I'd be horrified at the thought of someone measuring my success or otherwise as a human being by the car I drive.

Well put. Could not agree more

[CampDavid]

Cactussed said:

Anyone said:

<Insert car> is a symbol of wealth, success and sports car heritage.

Without getting too high up on my soapbox, this is the only thing I hate about my 355. The only thing it is a symbol of is the fact that I genuinely love cars and am forever in a state of penury trying to keep the thing on the road.

I'd be horrified at the thought of someone measuring my success or otherwise as a human being by the car I drive.

An F355 in TDF Blue? That only inspires huge, huge chunks of envy from me

[spoonoff]

son of clarkson said:

the nissan can seat four reasonably sized people and their luggage

Can it??? Either there is an SUV derivative which has been released without my knowledge or none of your friends have legs. Don't believe the mags- see one up close and you'll realise that the back seats are not accomodating to those over 4 feet tall.

[Dutch Oven]

i'd rather have a 911 Turbo than some kiddy nissan

[Bullett]

son of clarkson said:

I can't help feeling I've got to point a key factor out in all this which is better arguement. The porsche is ultimately a two seater with room for a holdall each if your lucky whilst the nissan can seat four reasonably sized people and their luggage. So not only have the porsche pr got to hope it can beat the nissan round the track it's got to do by some considerable margin.

This new breed of uber fast four door saloons are what the nissan should be fighting and looking at the cost of them it's won even before the fight got started. The world always loves the plucky contender going up against the big boys and every now and then they get beaten, but when will they learn the gt-r hertitage will give any of them a pound for pound (£-£) pasting.

Edited by son of clarkson on Thursday 15th October 12:32

Sorry, have you been in the back of a GTR? It's another no legs job if your driver is taller than about 5'6" very much casual rears (like the Porsche) and pretty much most other 2+2's I've ever experienced.

[ThirdShift]

son of clarkson said:

I can't help feeling I've got to point a key factor out in all this which is better arguement. The porsche is ultimately a two seater with room for a holdall each if your lucky whilst the nissan can seat four reasonably sized people and their luggage. So not only have the porsche pr got to hope it can beat the nissan round the track it's got to do by some considerable margin.

This new breed of uber fast four door saloons are what the nissan should be fighting and looking at the cost of them it's won even before the fight got started. The world always loves the plucky contender going up against the big boys and every now and then they get beaten, but when will they learn the gt-r hertitage will give any of them a pound for pound (£-£) pasting.

Edited by son of clarkson on Thursday 15th October 12:32

Cue Infinity!