The new 911: Built for a new generation of car enthusiasts?
Discussion
There were times drivers of automobiles needed to know how everything worked. Starting it meant knowing about compression and ignition. Changing gears didn't happen by flipping some levers with your fingertips either. It was a sequence of carefully timed actions, that probably needed a bit of muscle too. Maintenance required knowledge of the location of numerous grease nipples, frequent oil changes and polishing the cellulose paint before it got dull again.
Most of above mentioned challenges got erased by the sands of time. Synchromesh made smooth gear changes possible for even the least skilled drivers. Better lubricants meant less frequent oil changes and two-pack paint meant longer lasting luster. Which doesn't sound like a bad thing, and it isn't. But the cars of the fifties, sixties and seventies still had very visible and recognizable technical components, which made working on them a pretty straightforward job. A set of spanners, a screwdriver, some McGyver tape and a hammer can keep you going for a long time. See for yourself during classic car events.
Then came the eighties, introducing electronical ignition and fuel injection to the masses. Things were getting a bit more complicated now, but it still wasn't rocket science. With a little more than an average interest in Bosch's K-Jetronic and a decent handbook, problems could be solved, although sometimes that meant replacing components rather than repairing them. At least the components were still visible...
Ever tighter noise regulations meant car manufacturers had to find ways to silence parts of the car that until the nineties still were allowed to rattle and roar. Plastic mouldings restricted the view on large parts of the engine, but you still could identify that part of the car as an engine bay. So in some cases opening a bonnet during car shows still attracted small crowds.
One of the first cars that made opening the glovebox more interesting than opening the bonnet was the Audi A2. But that was ok. It was a people mover, as exciting as any household appliance, although it's (invisible) aluminium construction was sort of cool. So it didn't matter what powered it, and that you couldn't see it. Opening the bonnet actually even wasn't possible unless you were a dealer or had the right tools. All the owner could open was a black plastic hatch that looked like a radiator grill. Behind that you could fill up the windscreen washer fluid and the engine oil. That was it. And the soccer moms couldn't care less, and I can't blame them.
But then some pics of the new 911 started appearing on the net this month. A thouroughbred sportscar, with a powerful liquid cooled flat six. Or has it? Might as well be a nuclear powerplant or a thousand hamsters. All that's visible are a couple of fans, cooling the neutrons or providing the hamsters with fresh air. There will be a very good reason for hiding whatever powers the car, but I want a sportscar that shows what makes it go the way it goes.
That's why I think the new 911 is designed for a new generation of car enthusiasts. I must be getting old.
Most of above mentioned challenges got erased by the sands of time. Synchromesh made smooth gear changes possible for even the least skilled drivers. Better lubricants meant less frequent oil changes and two-pack paint meant longer lasting luster. Which doesn't sound like a bad thing, and it isn't. But the cars of the fifties, sixties and seventies still had very visible and recognizable technical components, which made working on them a pretty straightforward job. A set of spanners, a screwdriver, some McGyver tape and a hammer can keep you going for a long time. See for yourself during classic car events.
Then came the eighties, introducing electronical ignition and fuel injection to the masses. Things were getting a bit more complicated now, but it still wasn't rocket science. With a little more than an average interest in Bosch's K-Jetronic and a decent handbook, problems could be solved, although sometimes that meant replacing components rather than repairing them. At least the components were still visible...
Ever tighter noise regulations meant car manufacturers had to find ways to silence parts of the car that until the nineties still were allowed to rattle and roar. Plastic mouldings restricted the view on large parts of the engine, but you still could identify that part of the car as an engine bay. So in some cases opening a bonnet during car shows still attracted small crowds.
One of the first cars that made opening the glovebox more interesting than opening the bonnet was the Audi A2. But that was ok. It was a people mover, as exciting as any household appliance, although it's (invisible) aluminium construction was sort of cool. So it didn't matter what powered it, and that you couldn't see it. Opening the bonnet actually even wasn't possible unless you were a dealer or had the right tools. All the owner could open was a black plastic hatch that looked like a radiator grill. Behind that you could fill up the windscreen washer fluid and the engine oil. That was it. And the soccer moms couldn't care less, and I can't blame them.
But then some pics of the new 911 started appearing on the net this month. A thouroughbred sportscar, with a powerful liquid cooled flat six. Or has it? Might as well be a nuclear powerplant or a thousand hamsters. All that's visible are a couple of fans, cooling the neutrons or providing the hamsters with fresh air. There will be a very good reason for hiding whatever powers the car, but I want a sportscar that shows what makes it go the way it goes.
That's why I think the new 911 is designed for a new generation of car enthusiasts. I must be getting old.
I admit this does have more of an aesthetic appeal then it's modern antecedent.
But I expect there's just a bit of a performance difference to justify it. There's nothing to say you couldn't theoretically maintain the modern car yourself, the fundamental technology is broadly similar - the problematic bit being the lack of OBD computers in the home mechanic's garage.
I think of it more as less time spannering = more time driving - which can't really be a bad thing. Can it?
But I expect there's just a bit of a performance difference to justify it. There's nothing to say you couldn't theoretically maintain the modern car yourself, the fundamental technology is broadly similar - the problematic bit being the lack of OBD computers in the home mechanic's garage.
I think of it more as less time spannering = more time driving - which can't really be a bad thing. Can it?
aizvara said:
So, essentially, you think the new Porsche, which has not been released yet, is not for you because there is a cover over the engine?
Are the tools required to remove it more complicated than contained within the average socket set?
Not sure, but I love beautiful engines. And think it's a shame it isn't visible any longer. But there are lots and lots of people who couldn't care less, and Porsche has a perfect car for them, I guess...Are the tools required to remove it more complicated than contained within the average socket set?
AndrewW-G said:
Zwoelf said:
I admit this does have more of an aesthetic appeal then it's modern antecedent.
a 964 motor with throttle bodies? . . . .
Klassiekerrally said:
Not sure, but I love beautiful engines. And think it's a shame it isn't visible any longer. But there are lots and lots of people who couldn't care less, and Porsche has a perfect car for them, I guess...
I too love beautiful engines, visually yes, but mostly in the way they sound and perform. I understand what you are saying; however if its a visible engine you want then there are some tractor makers from Italy who might be able to help.Klassiekerrally said:
But then some pics of the new 911 started appearing on the net this month. A thouroughbred sportscar, with a powerful liquid cooled flat six. Or has it? Might as well be a nuclear powerplant or a thousand hamsters. All that's visible are a couple of fans..
Hasn't this been the case with 911 since, well since for ever?aizvara said:
I too love beautiful engines, visually yes, but mostly in the way they sound and perform. I understand what you are saying; however if its a visible engine you want then there are some tractor makers from Italy who might be able to help.
Hahaha, yes, but they lack the sound and performance I like...Klassiekerrally said:
aizvara said:
I too love beautiful engines, visually yes, but mostly in the way they sound and perform. I understand what you are saying; however if its a visible engine you want then there are some tractor makers from Italy who might be able to help.
Hahaha, yes, but they lack the sound and performance I like...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XPtj7UR4yI
sconzo said:
You've clearly had too much of a good thing Klassiekerrally.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XPtj7UR4yI
Not sure what that means (English is not my native language, being Dutch), but that Aventador sounds great, and the small piece of engine that's visible at least looks nice.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XPtj7UR4yI
It's maybe the most important part of the car, so why hide it, like in the new 911?
Klassiekerrally said:
Not sure what that means (English is not my native language, being Dutch), but that Aventador sounds great, and the small piece of engine that's visible at least looks nice.
It's maybe the most important part of the car, so why hide it, like in the new 911?
I think what aizvara meant by a tractor maker from Italy was Lamborghini - they started out making tractors. Maybe I'm just being too smart for my own good though and he actually did mean tractors.It's maybe the most important part of the car, so why hide it, like in the new 911?
Great opening article.....and you're English is word perfect.
Edited by sconzo on Sunday 24th July 23:50
aizvara said:
Klassiekerrally said:
Not sure, but I love beautiful engines. And think it's a shame it isn't visible any longer. But there are lots and lots of people who couldn't care less, and Porsche has a perfect car for them, I guess...
I too love beautiful engines, visually yes, but mostly in the way they sound and perform. I understand what you are saying; however if its a visible engine you want then there are some tractor makers from Italy who might be able to help.Ettoire Bugatti was pretty adamant that the engine should be admired as a piece of art and built with that in the back of his mind. He was a forerunner and most of the more exclusive manufacturers appreciate this approach. When you produce a product with the simplist functionality the unpretentiousness of the entity can be attractive in itself. It's the form and function working as one.
The beauty of an engine, for me, is that the functionality of each part is minimalist and therefore has a certain degree of 'honesty'- nothing superficial in an engine compartment IMO - and therefore I can more admire the engine that is 'exposed' rather than one that is blanked off with plastic covers.
I suspect that the covers hide a certain lack of discipline.
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