The 991 – first impressions of a duffer episode 2.
Discussion
I have started a new thread for this because when I tried to add to my original one I kept getting "Parsing Error". If a kindly mod would be able to tag this onto the original thread I'd be grateful.
Alright then, so today was the first time I saw the car in daylight and I was surprised to note that it has a grey interior, or actually I black / grey 50/50. The car itself is Tedious Silver Metallic which does nothing for it at all and in my opinion anyone ordering this car should specify ABS (Anything But Silver).
Having viewed the car from all angles and in different lights I cannot say that I am unconditionally in love with the new design. It’s better than the 997 but there are some gawky features, for example the spoiler lip and rear lights that wouldn’t look out of place on a Halloween pumpkin. But then I don’t think that there has ever been a Porsche that I didn’t feel had a beauty spot somewhere or other – with the possible exception of the 930.
I had a play about with the sunroof today and again found myself wondering what on earth Porsche was thinking. Okay it might technically be excellent but it looks like a collaboration between the hairdressers of Paul Daniels and Donald Trump whose brief was to design a something that looks like it’s fallen onto the car from a tree.
My pickiness about the aesthetics aside, I have to admit to being ever so slightly excited about the prospect of driving the 991 again today and as I climbed aboard for the first time I’m sure I had a silly smirk on my face. The feeling I got as I fastened the seatbelt again reinforced my impression that I was about to fly this machine, not drive it. In part I think this feeling comes from the way that the cockpit surrounds the driver and that interfacing with the controls is like becoming part of the system.
Today the car was mostly used for a family trip to a country pub some twenty miles away. The journey included some dual carriageway, some B roads and A roads with sweeping bends. I was surprised and impressed to find that even with the family on board the car behaved almost exactly the same as with just me in it. The performance was still breathtaking and the additional weight almost completely unnoticeable.
This particular car has Porsche Sports Exhaust which I presumed was already switched on. Not so. I found the button today that turns it on and what was already an impressive growl from the engine became more of a bellow. Which got me thinking: Does a car that sounds so good without a sports exhaust actually need the thick end of two grand spending on it to make it sound just a little bit better? Would that money be better spent on something else? PDCC maybe?
But then again the car seems remarkably flat in the corners, so does it really need PDCC? I assume that it hasn’t got it but I am not sure. The handover yesterday was quite hurried because the dealership wanted to let me have the car as soon as possible, which suited me just fine for two reasons. Firstly because I wanted use of the car as soon as practical and even if they had done a detailed handover I’d have forgotten most of it almost immediately.
Whilst I have never felt that a Porsche interior was beautiful or intuitive (and still don’t) the 991 is the best yet. The build quality is excellent and the switches just a little bit easier to use than on the 997. The ashtray is a bit of a mystery mind you, it will accommodate a carefully folded toffee wrapper at best. Pointless for even the least enthusiastic of smokers.
So how did the car fare on the family outing? Well, the kids loved it and squealed with excitement as the PSE roared. Mrs Manks too liked the more luxurious, spacious feeling of the interior over the 997. It was quite telling that we were all still quite cheerful at the end of the trip whereas in the past I’ve had complaints from the Manklets about leg room and being uncomfortable. To be clear, though, the back seats of the 991 are still really only suited too occasional use and as a feature to allow a family man to argue that the 911 is such a practical purchase.
Despite the family day out I did manage to conjure up a feeble excuse to go out in the car on my own and ponder what I had learnt, and I think it is this: In this car Porsche has moved the game on and has not been afraid to take some risks: The electronic PAS, the interior plushness and the obvious move to a broader more GT orientated car. There isn’t even an engine to look at, just two electric fans.
This car does not appear to be about pandering to purists; it is more about being an incredible means of travelling from point to point in an efficient, fast and quite beguiling manner.
Alright then, so today was the first time I saw the car in daylight and I was surprised to note that it has a grey interior, or actually I black / grey 50/50. The car itself is Tedious Silver Metallic which does nothing for it at all and in my opinion anyone ordering this car should specify ABS (Anything But Silver).
Having viewed the car from all angles and in different lights I cannot say that I am unconditionally in love with the new design. It’s better than the 997 but there are some gawky features, for example the spoiler lip and rear lights that wouldn’t look out of place on a Halloween pumpkin. But then I don’t think that there has ever been a Porsche that I didn’t feel had a beauty spot somewhere or other – with the possible exception of the 930.
I had a play about with the sunroof today and again found myself wondering what on earth Porsche was thinking. Okay it might technically be excellent but it looks like a collaboration between the hairdressers of Paul Daniels and Donald Trump whose brief was to design a something that looks like it’s fallen onto the car from a tree.
My pickiness about the aesthetics aside, I have to admit to being ever so slightly excited about the prospect of driving the 991 again today and as I climbed aboard for the first time I’m sure I had a silly smirk on my face. The feeling I got as I fastened the seatbelt again reinforced my impression that I was about to fly this machine, not drive it. In part I think this feeling comes from the way that the cockpit surrounds the driver and that interfacing with the controls is like becoming part of the system.
Today the car was mostly used for a family trip to a country pub some twenty miles away. The journey included some dual carriageway, some B roads and A roads with sweeping bends. I was surprised and impressed to find that even with the family on board the car behaved almost exactly the same as with just me in it. The performance was still breathtaking and the additional weight almost completely unnoticeable.
This particular car has Porsche Sports Exhaust which I presumed was already switched on. Not so. I found the button today that turns it on and what was already an impressive growl from the engine became more of a bellow. Which got me thinking: Does a car that sounds so good without a sports exhaust actually need the thick end of two grand spending on it to make it sound just a little bit better? Would that money be better spent on something else? PDCC maybe?
But then again the car seems remarkably flat in the corners, so does it really need PDCC? I assume that it hasn’t got it but I am not sure. The handover yesterday was quite hurried because the dealership wanted to let me have the car as soon as possible, which suited me just fine for two reasons. Firstly because I wanted use of the car as soon as practical and even if they had done a detailed handover I’d have forgotten most of it almost immediately.
Whilst I have never felt that a Porsche interior was beautiful or intuitive (and still don’t) the 991 is the best yet. The build quality is excellent and the switches just a little bit easier to use than on the 997. The ashtray is a bit of a mystery mind you, it will accommodate a carefully folded toffee wrapper at best. Pointless for even the least enthusiastic of smokers.
So how did the car fare on the family outing? Well, the kids loved it and squealed with excitement as the PSE roared. Mrs Manks too liked the more luxurious, spacious feeling of the interior over the 997. It was quite telling that we were all still quite cheerful at the end of the trip whereas in the past I’ve had complaints from the Manklets about leg room and being uncomfortable. To be clear, though, the back seats of the 991 are still really only suited too occasional use and as a feature to allow a family man to argue that the 911 is such a practical purchase.
Despite the family day out I did manage to conjure up a feeble excuse to go out in the car on my own and ponder what I had learnt, and I think it is this: In this car Porsche has moved the game on and has not been afraid to take some risks: The electronic PAS, the interior plushness and the obvious move to a broader more GT orientated car. There isn’t even an engine to look at, just two electric fans.
This car does not appear to be about pandering to purists; it is more about being an incredible means of travelling from point to point in an efficient, fast and quite beguiling manner.
Manks said:
Does a car that sounds so good without a sports exhaust actually need the thick end of two grand spending on it to make it sound just a little bit better?
But then again the car seems remarkably flat in the corners, so does it really need PDCC? I assume that it hasn’t got it but I am not sure.
I agree, PSE does seem extravagant, but you then get 2 personalities instead of 1. With mileage, it will sound even better.But then again the car seems remarkably flat in the corners, so does it really need PDCC? I assume that it hasn’t got it but I am not sure.
I reckon the Sports Chrono package which now includes dynamic engine mounts makes the biggest difference to the way the car handles .. dynamically, it's a must have option for me.
If you look at the front shock absorber and see some black plastic, it hasn't got PDCC. If the entire thing is metal, it has PDCC.
Arr i see OPC Nottingham have given you the Silver 991 from last Thursdays night, which was a very good night! Not sure about the new 991 my self, areas that dont look right for me!
- Front end looks squashed
- Front light lenses bubble out loads. If you look side on you can see through them both!
- Sun-Roof over hang
- The rear badge is massive, the same size as the rear number plate
- Rear spoiler is very big and if you stand behind the car with the spoiler up, it looks awful
Each to there own though!
phil
- Front end looks squashed
- Front light lenses bubble out loads. If you look side on you can see through them both!
- Sun-Roof over hang
- The rear badge is massive, the same size as the rear number plate
- Rear spoiler is very big and if you stand behind the car with the spoiler up, it looks awful
Each to there own though!
phil
That rear end shot looks strange .....just does not look in proportion , the lights imho are too small in comparison to the amount or rear end flesh ......
Never could warm to the back end pics of it ...... all in all a nice package but compromised when looked at from certain angles...
sounds like it drive well though ....
Never could warm to the back end pics of it ...... all in all a nice package but compromised when looked at from certain angles...
sounds like it drive well though ....
Is this OPC Swindons car?
I saw it parked out front on Saturday. Out of the showroom it's not quite as big as I thought, still, that Panamera interior isn't for me. Fortunately not a decision I'll need to lose sleep over!
Doh! Looks like its Nottingham OPC's car - anyway, DL Swindon have one in Silver too!
I saw it parked out front on Saturday. Out of the showroom it's not quite as big as I thought, still, that Panamera interior isn't for me. Fortunately not a decision I'll need to lose sleep over!
Doh! Looks like its Nottingham OPC's car - anyway, DL Swindon have one in Silver too!
Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 18th December 23:24
Manks - great write up, you are a lucky gent!
The more I see the 991, the more I like it (and I haven't even seen it in the metal yet). Reading this thread and the other one reporting about the driving experience, it does seem that the typical Porsche "new model shift" is occuring again - to a more GT oriented, wider appeal model, just like 993 -996 and 996 - 997 was described as by enthusiasts and journos alike.
Personally I think this bodes well for the upcoming Boxster and Cayman revisions (which I am sad to admit are far closer to realistic future purchases for me than the 991 ever will be - lotto expected of course).
About the only thing I don't like is the Fisher Price badge - I don't mind the 911 Carrera S bit but I do hope there is an option to delete the specsavers size PORSCHE badge? (certainly better be by the time the Boxster and Cayman come along - grrrr).
All told I hope you enjoy years of happy motoring with her - she looks proper good to me sir!
The more I see the 991, the more I like it (and I haven't even seen it in the metal yet). Reading this thread and the other one reporting about the driving experience, it does seem that the typical Porsche "new model shift" is occuring again - to a more GT oriented, wider appeal model, just like 993 -996 and 996 - 997 was described as by enthusiasts and journos alike.
Personally I think this bodes well for the upcoming Boxster and Cayman revisions (which I am sad to admit are far closer to realistic future purchases for me than the 991 ever will be - lotto expected of course).
About the only thing I don't like is the Fisher Price badge - I don't mind the 911 Carrera S bit but I do hope there is an option to delete the specsavers size PORSCHE badge? (certainly better be by the time the Boxster and Cayman come along - grrrr).
All told I hope you enjoy years of happy motoring with her - she looks proper good to me sir!
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