991 Review Links - Post Here
Discussion
I will start with the car and driver, early drive:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-porsche-9...
"Meanwhile, the new Carrera is more comfortable and transits quickly, more securely, and with less of the white-knuckle body heaving and tail twitching that has long defined the 911’s unique character. Porschephiles may have been wondering at what point their beloved 911 ceases to be a 911 and becomes just a good sports car with an engine in the trunk. That day may have arrived."
The 991 appears to be "factually better" than the 997. From what I have read so far, the car has lost some traits that made it special (and not necessarily better) compared to competition. The next GT3/RS needs up the game again on being very special in order to keep me out of a 458 or MP4-whatever...
Carl_Docklands said:
the new Carrera is more comfortable and transits quickly, more securely, and with less of the white-knuckle body heaving and tail twitching that has long defined the 911’s unique character
Hmmmm... this already happened from 964 to 993. Or perhaps more poingnantly, 993 to 996 depending on oyur point of view. 
"Porsche’s attitude is that it is merely cleaning up flaws with the new car, but a lot of people like the character imparted by the old flaws. The 991’s wheel drives a smooth, precise rack that delivers instant helm response and a solid connection to the road, if not every single whisper of information that could possibly be transmitted. With this quick experience, it seems good, especially if you’re getting older".
So the old cars become classics
So the old cars become classics
The first analysis I have read on the steering feel:
"A big surprise are the unfamiliarly subtle messages – or is the lack of them – being relayed back from the newly designed steering wheel. Over the years we’ve become accustomed to the joggling inherent in all 911s up until now. Anyone who has driven one will know what I mean. This inherent on centre movement of the steering wheel at the straight ahead, a measure of liveliness and feedback many consider part and parceled of the driving experience, has been eliminated entirely through the adoption of a new electro-mechanical steering system."
They seem to like it though:
"At the end of the day, I’d even come to terms with the new steering, accepting that it lacks the ultimate precision and sensitivity of the old hydraulic arrangement.
The question I’m asking myself now is: how can Porsche possibly top it? For the moment, the original supercar has reached a new zenith – both in ability and desirability."
"A big surprise are the unfamiliarly subtle messages – or is the lack of them – being relayed back from the newly designed steering wheel. Over the years we’ve become accustomed to the joggling inherent in all 911s up until now. Anyone who has driven one will know what I mean. This inherent on centre movement of the steering wheel at the straight ahead, a measure of liveliness and feedback many consider part and parceled of the driving experience, has been eliminated entirely through the adoption of a new electro-mechanical steering system."
They seem to like it though:
"At the end of the day, I’d even come to terms with the new steering, accepting that it lacks the ultimate precision and sensitivity of the old hydraulic arrangement.
The question I’m asking myself now is: how can Porsche possibly top it? For the moment, the original supercar has reached a new zenith – both in ability and desirability."
crystalmethod said:
"With the Porsche Active Stability Management PASM in Normal mode the chassis takes on a new-found calmness. Switching the PASM into Sport instantly heightens the responses – not only in terms of damping firmness but the directness of the steering and sensitivity of the throttle, too."I always believed PASM to be Active Suspension and PSM to be the Stability control - shows what I know
o/t but amazing how they say the same old stuff when a new 911 iteration is released.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsVerdi...
read similar write ups when 964 Carrera 4 was released and again when the 964 3.6 turbo was released and again when the 993 was released! Every new model lost a little bit of 911ness
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsVerdi...
read similar write ups when 964 Carrera 4 was released and again when the 964 3.6 turbo was released and again when the 993 was released! Every new model lost a little bit of 911ness
Wiggo said:
Best review so far with some great shots of the cars which, you can download as wallpaper.Racing Yellow looks lighter than Speed Yellow.
IMI A said:
o/t but amazing how they say the same old stuff when a new 911 iteration is released.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsVerdi...
read similar write ups when 964 Carrera 4 was released and again when the 964 3.6 turbo was released and again when the 993 was released! Every new model lost a little bit of 911ness
Yep. They will get all misty eyed about the 991 when the next iteration is released.http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsVerdi...
read similar write ups when 964 Carrera 4 was released and again when the 964 3.6 turbo was released and again when the 993 was released! Every new model lost a little bit of 911ness
Funny how the steering is being criticised on the 991 and some on this site are lamenting the loss of the 997's steering feel. Have a read of this first review of the 997 from back in 2004 by Autocar where the steering on that car is initially regarded sceptically. Journalists looking for flaws....... never 
"My only puzzlement concerns the steering. Because the variable-ratio steering is lighter and slightly less direct around the straight-ahead, the immediacy and linearity of responses in that crucial first movement off-centre, taken for granted by longtime 911 drivers, are reduced. This is the biggest change to the steering since the adoption of power assistance on the 964 in 1988 and, at first experience, just as controversial. I spent day one in South Africa confused by the rack’s messages, even admitting to missing the constant joggling of the wheel, a 911 peculiarity for more than 40 years that has finally been eliminated. Initial turn-in seemed slower, less urgent, and I was sawing at the wheel through third-gear sweepers, convincing myself I could feel the rack’s ratio changing. By the end of the second day, after belting the S over the challenging Franschhoek Pass and tapping into the car’s greater agility at the limit, taking advantage of its superior grip and more adjustable handling, I’d come to terms with the new set-up. Everywhere beyond the first 30 degrees of wheel movement the steering is quicker and more precise. Body control is brilliant. The 911 stays flat, linking corners in a series of incisive, flowing movements, the suspension soaking up bumps and surface changes that would upset the previous 911’s poise. Be warned, 996 owners need to accept that the 997 feels different. It took me until the third morning to accept that the changes to the steering truly worked."
Full 997 review for comparison http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Po...
"My only puzzlement concerns the steering. Because the variable-ratio steering is lighter and slightly less direct around the straight-ahead, the immediacy and linearity of responses in that crucial first movement off-centre, taken for granted by longtime 911 drivers, are reduced. This is the biggest change to the steering since the adoption of power assistance on the 964 in 1988 and, at first experience, just as controversial. I spent day one in South Africa confused by the rack’s messages, even admitting to missing the constant joggling of the wheel, a 911 peculiarity for more than 40 years that has finally been eliminated. Initial turn-in seemed slower, less urgent, and I was sawing at the wheel through third-gear sweepers, convincing myself I could feel the rack’s ratio changing. By the end of the second day, after belting the S over the challenging Franschhoek Pass and tapping into the car’s greater agility at the limit, taking advantage of its superior grip and more adjustable handling, I’d come to terms with the new set-up. Everywhere beyond the first 30 degrees of wheel movement the steering is quicker and more precise. Body control is brilliant. The 911 stays flat, linking corners in a series of incisive, flowing movements, the suspension soaking up bumps and surface changes that would upset the previous 911’s poise. Be warned, 996 owners need to accept that the 997 feels different. It took me until the third morning to accept that the changes to the steering truly worked."
Full 997 review for comparison http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Po...
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2751...
Looks good in pics 5 and 9
"People who have always wanted a 911 shouldn’t feel that they’ve missed their moment. The 991 is smoother, quieter, larger, more comfortable on a long drive, but it’s still fundamentally a 911.
So the basic arguments for and against remain the same if you’re looking at, say, the Jag XKR, the Maserati Gran Turismo, or a used Aston. It may be less exotic, but the 911 remains a blue-chip choice and more of an engineering wonder than its rivals."
Looks good in pics 5 and 9
"People who have always wanted a 911 shouldn’t feel that they’ve missed their moment. The 991 is smoother, quieter, larger, more comfortable on a long drive, but it’s still fundamentally a 911.
So the basic arguments for and against remain the same if you’re looking at, say, the Jag XKR, the Maserati Gran Turismo, or a used Aston. It may be less exotic, but the 911 remains a blue-chip choice and more of an engineering wonder than its rivals."
http://www.insideline.com/porsche/911/2012/2012-po...
"But once you've adjusted to the utterly horizontal cornering attitude, you'll find yourself wondering what Porsche did to the 911's once-sublime steering. Don't get us wrong: There's enough steering feel and weight to prudently guide the 911 at insane velocities. But this isn't the same feeling we're used to. Nor is it one we'd prefer.
That's because the 2012 Porsche 911's steering is fully electromechanical. It utilizes two sensors — one to measure inputs from the driver and one to measure inputs from the road — and metes out electrically motivated assist according to a Porsche-specific software calibration. We hesitate to call it numb, but it's far from the granular, feelsome feedback we've experienced elsewhere — even in other 911s. Effort, too, is on the light side."
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