New 992.2 - some initial thoughts
Discussion
I am about six weeks / 2,500 miles into a new C2, and have notes which might be of use to other prospective purchasers. For context, my last 911 was a 991 GTS, and I've had a variety of models over the years, but this is my first 992 so I am simultaneously a new and old hand at it.
The good
- all the broad 911 characteristics are intact. You sink into the driver's seat with a reassuring air of familiarity and the view over the peaks of the front wings.
- the extra weight and width are not noticeable to me versus the 991. It's a long time since my 997 and previous, but I suspect you'd really feel it coming direct from that era.
- despite the lard the road handling and acceleration is still fabulous. I haven't been on track with it.
- it is all extremely well screwed together, and it feels it. The balance with the interior materials between 'opulence because we're charging you a lot', and 'perfectly engineered surface' is just right (except the stalks, below).
- I went for the 18 way seats and they are possibly the most comfortable I've had in any car
- the digital screens are crisp and (mostly) well done. I thought it was going to be a version of the VAG standard software but it seems like Porsche managed to get their own developers. Full Android/Carplay support.
The odd
- there's no run in period or 1000 mile oil change required; first service is at 2 years unless the on-board says otherwise
- it has a now-obligatory driver monitor camera, which I confidently expected to be bonging at me every time I sipped a coffee, but nothing so far
- Hankook tyres all round. Apparently these are now OEM for the base wheels.
- no paper owner's manual of course. You have to download it inside the Porsche app, with its own not-very-good search function. The manual doesn't seem to be available as a separate PDF.
The bad
- the road noise is really bad. I know this is a common complaint, and it's at least partly down to poor UK surfaces, but it really is poor and especially when more basic cars can make a better job of it. If you are a prospective buyer and are sensitive to noise, you must do an extended test drive.
- the 'safety' feature settings are a mess. The three dangerous ones (lane keep, speed bonging, stop/start) are turned off in different places using different methods. I understand they are constrained by EU regs (though are they strictly applicable to UK spec cars ?) to not have them on a button, but they could at least all be under one menu. I had a Peugeot hire car over the summer and it had a home screen icon which opened up one menu with all the ADAS items to click off.
- the column stalks are really quite tinny plastic. Maybe it's a crash safety thing, but those highly used touchpoints could be improved proportionally much higher than the cost, by using aluminium or titanium
The good
- all the broad 911 characteristics are intact. You sink into the driver's seat with a reassuring air of familiarity and the view over the peaks of the front wings.
- the extra weight and width are not noticeable to me versus the 991. It's a long time since my 997 and previous, but I suspect you'd really feel it coming direct from that era.
- despite the lard the road handling and acceleration is still fabulous. I haven't been on track with it.
- it is all extremely well screwed together, and it feels it. The balance with the interior materials between 'opulence because we're charging you a lot', and 'perfectly engineered surface' is just right (except the stalks, below).
- I went for the 18 way seats and they are possibly the most comfortable I've had in any car
- the digital screens are crisp and (mostly) well done. I thought it was going to be a version of the VAG standard software but it seems like Porsche managed to get their own developers. Full Android/Carplay support.
The odd
- there's no run in period or 1000 mile oil change required; first service is at 2 years unless the on-board says otherwise
- it has a now-obligatory driver monitor camera, which I confidently expected to be bonging at me every time I sipped a coffee, but nothing so far
- Hankook tyres all round. Apparently these are now OEM for the base wheels.
- no paper owner's manual of course. You have to download it inside the Porsche app, with its own not-very-good search function. The manual doesn't seem to be available as a separate PDF.
The bad
- the road noise is really bad. I know this is a common complaint, and it's at least partly down to poor UK surfaces, but it really is poor and especially when more basic cars can make a better job of it. If you are a prospective buyer and are sensitive to noise, you must do an extended test drive.
- the 'safety' feature settings are a mess. The three dangerous ones (lane keep, speed bonging, stop/start) are turned off in different places using different methods. I understand they are constrained by EU regs (though are they strictly applicable to UK spec cars ?) to not have them on a button, but they could at least all be under one menu. I had a Peugeot hire car over the summer and it had a home screen icon which opened up one menu with all the ADAS items to click off.
- the column stalks are really quite tinny plastic. Maybe it's a crash safety thing, but those highly used touchpoints could be improved proportionally much higher than the cost, by using aluminium or titanium
"now-obligatory driver monitor camera" more EU nonsense that no one asked for. I have the speed bings and bongs + lane warning that yanks the steering, both can be turned off with 2 button presses^ so not the end of the world. Camera looking at your face is the line for me and I'll have to pass on new cars.
^not Porsche
TX.
^not Porsche
TX.
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