Explain to me the "magic" of Porsche
Discussion
I probably need to hand in my PH card and I admit that some of this probably comes from ignorance (I've only passengered in and not really driven any Porsches) but I've never really "got" the appeal of Porsche (and I'm talking mainly about the Boxster/Cayman/911).
On a rational/objective level then yes. 30+ years ago, a Porsche offered superior build quality and reliability to equivalent British/Italian "exotics" and in comparison were relatively cheap to run and easy to live with, "the sports car that you can drive every day" if you'll pardon the cliche. Perhaps a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Aston Martin was a bit of a "pipe dream" and a Porsche was actually the "premium" sports car that might one day be attainable and that you could actually run as your only car if you had to. However, the competition has caught up in this regard, there are more alternatives to their core products (Boxster/Cayman/911) than there used to be, the newer cars are not without issues and arguably some of the alternatives are more exciting. Don't get me wrong, the Porsches that I rode in were "nice' cars but I found the Ferraris/Aston Martins that I have had a ride in more thrilling.
I'd probably take an Alpine A110/Lotus Emira/TVR/even a Nissan Z car over a modern Boxster/Cayman and for me cars like the AMG GT, AM Vantage, Jaguar F-Type and Audi R8 offer more characterful alternatives to a 911 ie a V8 appeals to me a lot more than a Flat 6. I'm not so keen on their modern offerings but I also used to think that a BMW M car offered a bit more character, power and practicality for the money than a 911/Cayman and not being a self-confessed driving God, I think that an M car would be easier to powerslide than a 911/Cayman where you probably need to know what you're doing. And yet, I know that I'm wrong, as every seasoned racing driver/motoring journalist/driving enthusiast loves a Porsche.
Now this might be something to do with when my formative years were (1980s), as I just saw the 911 as an "old" car and a bit of an antique, which wasn't particularly fast and in fairness, it was pretty much a 20 year old car by then. I far preferred the more modern 928 and 944 Turbo but those were not the Porsche sports cars that endured.
Granted that the 993 looked a lot more modern when it came out and very pretty, I lusted after an Arena Red 993 Turbo as a teen (and also the black 964 Turbo S in "Bad Boys" a little) .
But 996-, I'm just a bit "meh" about 911s, partly because they seem to bring out a new "special" every week and over the years it has got a bit bloated and looks more and more like a caricature of itself, although granted, a 997 Carrera S would probably be quite a nice balance between classic and modern with a perfect level of performance for the road but if I pick up a car magazine and there's a story on a "new" 911 then I normally skip it.
The only Porsche that I have really lusted after this century is a Carrera GT.
Having said that, I would consider a V6 Macan or a 2nd gen Panamera, particularly with the very rare V8 diesel, as they're quite "cool" and seem like strong offerings in their respective market segments but again like the 944/928 in the 1980s, they're the "leftfield" less focussed Porsches when I know that Boxster/Cayman/911 are the core products that should be the ones that really appeal to me.
So educate me, as I feel like I've got this one wrong and want to understand why a Porsche sports car is the car that so many aspire to.
On a rational/objective level then yes. 30+ years ago, a Porsche offered superior build quality and reliability to equivalent British/Italian "exotics" and in comparison were relatively cheap to run and easy to live with, "the sports car that you can drive every day" if you'll pardon the cliche. Perhaps a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Aston Martin was a bit of a "pipe dream" and a Porsche was actually the "premium" sports car that might one day be attainable and that you could actually run as your only car if you had to. However, the competition has caught up in this regard, there are more alternatives to their core products (Boxster/Cayman/911) than there used to be, the newer cars are not without issues and arguably some of the alternatives are more exciting. Don't get me wrong, the Porsches that I rode in were "nice' cars but I found the Ferraris/Aston Martins that I have had a ride in more thrilling.
I'd probably take an Alpine A110/Lotus Emira/TVR/even a Nissan Z car over a modern Boxster/Cayman and for me cars like the AMG GT, AM Vantage, Jaguar F-Type and Audi R8 offer more characterful alternatives to a 911 ie a V8 appeals to me a lot more than a Flat 6. I'm not so keen on their modern offerings but I also used to think that a BMW M car offered a bit more character, power and practicality for the money than a 911/Cayman and not being a self-confessed driving God, I think that an M car would be easier to powerslide than a 911/Cayman where you probably need to know what you're doing. And yet, I know that I'm wrong, as every seasoned racing driver/motoring journalist/driving enthusiast loves a Porsche.
Now this might be something to do with when my formative years were (1980s), as I just saw the 911 as an "old" car and a bit of an antique, which wasn't particularly fast and in fairness, it was pretty much a 20 year old car by then. I far preferred the more modern 928 and 944 Turbo but those were not the Porsche sports cars that endured.
Granted that the 993 looked a lot more modern when it came out and very pretty, I lusted after an Arena Red 993 Turbo as a teen (and also the black 964 Turbo S in "Bad Boys" a little) .
But 996-, I'm just a bit "meh" about 911s, partly because they seem to bring out a new "special" every week and over the years it has got a bit bloated and looks more and more like a caricature of itself, although granted, a 997 Carrera S would probably be quite a nice balance between classic and modern with a perfect level of performance for the road but if I pick up a car magazine and there's a story on a "new" 911 then I normally skip it.
The only Porsche that I have really lusted after this century is a Carrera GT.
Having said that, I would consider a V6 Macan or a 2nd gen Panamera, particularly with the very rare V8 diesel, as they're quite "cool" and seem like strong offerings in their respective market segments but again like the 944/928 in the 1980s, they're the "leftfield" less focussed Porsches when I know that Boxster/Cayman/911 are the core products that should be the ones that really appeal to me.
So educate me, as I feel like I've got this one wrong and want to understand why a Porsche sports car is the car that so many aspire to.
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 21:39
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 21:40
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 21:41
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 21:43
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 21:45
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 22:13
Edited by Starsky80 on Thursday 13th November 22:15
I don't get them either the 986, 987, 996 and 997's I've driven left me completely cold. After all I read I was particularly disappointed with the steering feel. Nothing really stood out, but maybe that's the appeal?
I've read way too much about them not to buy one though, will probably have to be a GT car.
I've read way too much about them not to buy one though, will probably have to be a GT car.
Sometimes they get flack for being the boring choice but they make good cars.
Ok a lotus maybe a better driver's car, TVR more thrilling, Ferrari, Aston, Jag prettier , more exotic etc.
But they do everything well, 4/5 in all areas where other brands are compromised. Sporty Audi's.
Although not my cuppa, the interiors are great. I would love a Taycan or a 928GTS.
Ok a lotus maybe a better driver's car, TVR more thrilling, Ferrari, Aston, Jag prettier , more exotic etc.
But they do everything well, 4/5 in all areas where other brands are compromised. Sporty Audi's.
Although not my cuppa, the interiors are great. I would love a Taycan or a 928GTS.
My best mate, whom I've known for 40 years, has always been Porsche mad and has two of them now.
I was never sold on the idea. They were always too practical, reliable and abundant in numbers to have the exotic appeal of, for example, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Porsches were the cars bought by posers. People with money who wanted a sports car to show off with but weren't willing to commit to the acute aggro that comes with a hardcore Italian supercar. Ferraris and Lamborghinis were always lower, wider, more beautiful, more dramatic and you barely had a cat in hell's chance of seeing one on the road so it was mindblowing when you actually did. Porsches, on the other hand, nice, but too accessible to be considered a supercar and, let's face it, "supercar" is the zenith that the true petrolhead aspires to.
That said, in recent years Porsches have really started to appeal. As I've matured I've become increasingly enamored by the clean design and understated style of the majority of them. The 991.1, for example, is sublime. It looks and sounds gorgeous... and Porsche do have a rich racing heritage to tune into if you want to justify it to yourself as a bona fide petrolhead.
I'd still buy a Ferrari - one from the '80s or '90s - if I ever found myself with money to burn but, if I didn't, and I wanted a very nice car that did everything really well, I'd be very happy with a Porsche. And perhaps that's it. A Porsche is for people who are a bit soft, or have softened over the years. That doesn't mean they aren't great. They are. Possibly just a little too great.
I was never sold on the idea. They were always too practical, reliable and abundant in numbers to have the exotic appeal of, for example, Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Porsches were the cars bought by posers. People with money who wanted a sports car to show off with but weren't willing to commit to the acute aggro that comes with a hardcore Italian supercar. Ferraris and Lamborghinis were always lower, wider, more beautiful, more dramatic and you barely had a cat in hell's chance of seeing one on the road so it was mindblowing when you actually did. Porsches, on the other hand, nice, but too accessible to be considered a supercar and, let's face it, "supercar" is the zenith that the true petrolhead aspires to.
That said, in recent years Porsches have really started to appeal. As I've matured I've become increasingly enamored by the clean design and understated style of the majority of them. The 991.1, for example, is sublime. It looks and sounds gorgeous... and Porsche do have a rich racing heritage to tune into if you want to justify it to yourself as a bona fide petrolhead.
I'd still buy a Ferrari - one from the '80s or '90s - if I ever found myself with money to burn but, if I didn't, and I wanted a very nice car that did everything really well, I'd be very happy with a Porsche. And perhaps that's it. A Porsche is for people who are a bit soft, or have softened over the years. That doesn't mean they aren't great. They are. Possibly just a little too great.
You sound a bit like me OP to be honest. I'd rather have a V8 AMG GT over a 911 for example. Plus the first time I actually drove a 911, I actually preferred my M4 over it because it was a touch more playful for example.
The trouble with Porsche for me, is that they're the default choice for badge and image arguably, so a lot of folk tend to flock to them for that in my view.
The Taycan used to be really popular as well, whereas now that doesn't seem to be the case though. So I think folk end up realising that a Porsche isn't the be all and end all really for me.
In saying that, I'd pretty much rob my Granny for a lovely late example of the V8 928 GTS though!
The trouble with Porsche for me, is that they're the default choice for badge and image arguably, so a lot of folk tend to flock to them for that in my view.
The Taycan used to be really popular as well, whereas now that doesn't seem to be the case though. So I think folk end up realising that a Porsche isn't the be all and end all really for me.
In saying that, I'd pretty much rob my Granny for a lovely late example of the V8 928 GTS though!
I was similar, thinking that a 911 is a bit meh... After all, a bit of Jack of all trades. Go Lotus or Caterham for lightweight, tactile fun, go Aston, Ferrari, etc for exotic kicks.
But finally gave it a go 4 years ago, with a 997.1 - and I'm sold. I'm not particularly tall or well built, so we can fit us and the kids in OK, and there's few cats that you can do the school run and a track day in.
You can do long haul drives if needed, I've done 500 miles in a day and it's been perfectly doable... Obviously, if that was a regular occurrence, I'd pick something else, but every now and then it's fine.
There's a subtle feel to the steering, not like a Lotus of feeling everything, but a real depth that takes a little while to tune into.
It's not for everyone, but I now see the appeal... Plus, I can afford to run it, parts are plentiful, there's loads of aftermarket support and is OK to work on. I'd not be able to afford anything more exotic, perhaps a Jag F Type or Audi R8 would be in a similar bracket, but above that and it all gets a bit silly.
On that note, you can drive it without it having to be an adventure, handy if you want to pop to the shops for a pint of milk...
I'd say that get a cheap one, enjoy for 6 months, and then see from there.
But finally gave it a go 4 years ago, with a 997.1 - and I'm sold. I'm not particularly tall or well built, so we can fit us and the kids in OK, and there's few cats that you can do the school run and a track day in.
You can do long haul drives if needed, I've done 500 miles in a day and it's been perfectly doable... Obviously, if that was a regular occurrence, I'd pick something else, but every now and then it's fine.
There's a subtle feel to the steering, not like a Lotus of feeling everything, but a real depth that takes a little while to tune into.
It's not for everyone, but I now see the appeal... Plus, I can afford to run it, parts are plentiful, there's loads of aftermarket support and is OK to work on. I'd not be able to afford anything more exotic, perhaps a Jag F Type or Audi R8 would be in a similar bracket, but above that and it all gets a bit silly.
On that note, you can drive it without it having to be an adventure, handy if you want to pop to the shops for a pint of milk...
I'd say that get a cheap one, enjoy for 6 months, and then see from there.
As others have said, so I'm not really adding anything new, a Porsche is just the sensible choice when you have a 6 figure budget. You might be tempted by a more exotic brand, but when you inevitably sit down and work out running costs, look at reliability, and practicality, you find yourself drawn to the Porsche. Sure, if you're dripping with money, buy whatever you want... and a Porsche to use daily.
A Porsche is the only choice for something fast, reliable, not ruinous on costs, and yet still has that dream car appeal. Oh, and it has rear seats, so you can sell the idea to the wife as a family 2nd car.
Name another car that does all this...
A Porsche is the only choice for something fast, reliable, not ruinous on costs, and yet still has that dream car appeal. Oh, and it has rear seats, so you can sell the idea to the wife as a family 2nd car.
Name another car that does all this...
It's a good question, and I've tried many cars over the years before buying a Porsche, from TVR Chimaera to 650bhp Skyline GTR (R32) and CLK55AMG.
Maybe it's the right time for me as I don't find hot hatches as interesting (driven a couple in the last decade) and life's too short to be driving a family car but on the other hand I can no longer be arsed with triple plate clutches in traffic jams (I used to commute in the R32 which had one and didn't mind doing so 20 years ago).
So for me a "boring" automatic 996 Turbo ticks all the boxes at the moment (it also happens to be the first Porsche I've ever driven and owned). It's very much more interesting than a "Golf in a posh frock" (my TT shed - which is also a pretty decent drive despite the sneers that other driving enthusiasts give it) and when I encounter London traffic, it's easy to deal with that in the 996. And yet when the road opens up, it's a giggle both in a straight line and round corners. And those corners - it feels so good to carve out those corners. The weighting feels good. And even rolling through my housing estate at 20mph or even just sitting in it with the engine off, everything feels special.
Here's the thing, despite it being described as an "everyday" sports car and having a great automatic box (a Mercedes 5 speed), I actually would not like to commute everyday in it. It is still a bit tiring to drive unless you're in the mood. I think it's the "sensitive" steering combined with the firm suspension that can get tiring.
I know people on here who've owned one describing it as boring and have swapped theirs for a Ferrari Something or whatever but if "this" (ie where I am automotively-speaking) is boring then whatever is considered "better" sounds like a pain in the arse to deal with.
It has that right balance of special pain in the arse and usable that is right for where I am in my life, I guess. It's fun enough to drive to the gym but not so tiring that I can't drive back with knackered legs.
And that's why I'm not keen to sell up and have held on to it 3 times longer than I planned to!
(Excuse the multiple edits. There are a lot of different angles to consider!)
Maybe it's the right time for me as I don't find hot hatches as interesting (driven a couple in the last decade) and life's too short to be driving a family car but on the other hand I can no longer be arsed with triple plate clutches in traffic jams (I used to commute in the R32 which had one and didn't mind doing so 20 years ago).
So for me a "boring" automatic 996 Turbo ticks all the boxes at the moment (it also happens to be the first Porsche I've ever driven and owned). It's very much more interesting than a "Golf in a posh frock" (my TT shed - which is also a pretty decent drive despite the sneers that other driving enthusiasts give it) and when I encounter London traffic, it's easy to deal with that in the 996. And yet when the road opens up, it's a giggle both in a straight line and round corners. And those corners - it feels so good to carve out those corners. The weighting feels good. And even rolling through my housing estate at 20mph or even just sitting in it with the engine off, everything feels special.
Here's the thing, despite it being described as an "everyday" sports car and having a great automatic box (a Mercedes 5 speed), I actually would not like to commute everyday in it. It is still a bit tiring to drive unless you're in the mood. I think it's the "sensitive" steering combined with the firm suspension that can get tiring.
I know people on here who've owned one describing it as boring and have swapped theirs for a Ferrari Something or whatever but if "this" (ie where I am automotively-speaking) is boring then whatever is considered "better" sounds like a pain in the arse to deal with.
It has that right balance of special pain in the arse and usable that is right for where I am in my life, I guess. It's fun enough to drive to the gym but not so tiring that I can't drive back with knackered legs.
And that's why I'm not keen to sell up and have held on to it 3 times longer than I planned to!
(Excuse the multiple edits. There are a lot of different angles to consider!)
Edited by Hoofy on Friday 14th November 00:22
JohneeBoy said:
As others have said, so I'm not really adding anything new, a Porsche is just the sensible choice when you have a 6 figure budget. You might be tempted by a more exotic brand, but when you inevitably sit down and work out running costs, look at reliability, and practicality, you find yourself drawn to the Porsche. Sure, if you're dripping with money, buy whatever you want... and a Porsche to use daily.
A Porsche is the only choice for something fast, reliable, not ruinous on costs, and yet still has that dream car appeal. Oh, and it has rear seats, so you can sell the idea to the wife as a family 2nd car.
Name another car that does all this...
I take it you’re talking about a 911 rather than Porsche in general?A Porsche is the only choice for something fast, reliable, not ruinous on costs, and yet still has that dream car appeal. Oh, and it has rear seats, so you can sell the idea to the wife as a family 2nd car.
Name another car that does all this...
I think in addition to what you mention the appeal is timeless design, solid residuals and amazing brand recognition even among non car enthusiasts. To me though there has always been something more interesting than a Porsche at any particular price point.
As a watch collector I see them as the Submariner of the car world in almost every aspect.
OP, I felt the same way and after years thinking that mid engined cars were superior and the 911 rear engine was just an example of engineering prowess over designer folly I decided to get a 996 cab just to see for myself.
Near empty (low fuel and no luggage in the front), the car really shows it character and in the lower gears where you can lean on the gas and brakes, there is some satisfaction to be had achieving fluency through a series of bends. The steering is light and on some occasions disconcertingly so, but offers lots of feedback. Compares with a NA Miata or Elise; with the appropriate tires and geometry, you feel everything. The suspension design appears quite simple compared with many cars, but again offers feedback so unlike an Elise you do feel the influence of the moving weight bias and its doesn't feel planted to the point of inanimate. Disclaimer it's been a few years since I had my Elise but the low torque and subsequent need to rev the nuts off it meant that I never really got to feel any weight transfer. IME the Elise, was very capable but somewhat dead by comparison.
On a dry road you can brake late while turning in and the nose tucks in and then you can power out very early without hesitation. Put enough negative camber on the front and it wants to turn when you stand on the brakes and as you lean on the gas it wants to straighten out. The motor has enough low down torque to be forgiving in `normal' driving and when pushed provides an enthusiastic response but it's at the top end, so no great gobs of torque in the low/mid range, hence very difficult to lose it coming out of a corner (dry road). But importantly there is enough torque that you can feel some rearward weight transfer in lower gears. The rear weight bias gives great mechanical grip under both braking and acceleration so unless you're completely nuts or have big power, it's very difficult to brake traction. Even in the damp it's pretty well behaved. RWD turbo and this all changes.
More modern examples have dialled this sensitivity back to some degree to make it more usable as power has been increased. But `progress' means that these more powerful and well equipped cars are also arguably less characterful and like a 996 with full fuel and luggage in the nose, it's just a well-built car with less to make it stand out. The traits are still there but better hidden. Yes, you can experience all the good points of this design with modern versions but either you're going much faster or you have some rose-jointed 'less is more' version and either way they're a fortune.
The Boxster is the value proposition, sharing everything from the seats forward with the 911, but it has a more subdued motor, so a muted character and lacks the capability of the larger 911. It is probably the faster car but IME it's less engaging to drive. The 911 is optimal for 2 person touring and functional as an occasional 2+2 and I think this is where it really wins over a Boxer or F type - the space behind the front seats.
It is significantly flawed with well documented engine issues from 2001-2009. The cable change does not yield the greatest transmission feel, though it can be improved fairly readily. Aftermarket support is massive and (engine aside), at least in the US very reasonably priced. It's easy to work on and well documented. They're galvanised from early on, so generally better with regards rust than many cars.
Near empty (low fuel and no luggage in the front), the car really shows it character and in the lower gears where you can lean on the gas and brakes, there is some satisfaction to be had achieving fluency through a series of bends. The steering is light and on some occasions disconcertingly so, but offers lots of feedback. Compares with a NA Miata or Elise; with the appropriate tires and geometry, you feel everything. The suspension design appears quite simple compared with many cars, but again offers feedback so unlike an Elise you do feel the influence of the moving weight bias and its doesn't feel planted to the point of inanimate. Disclaimer it's been a few years since I had my Elise but the low torque and subsequent need to rev the nuts off it meant that I never really got to feel any weight transfer. IME the Elise, was very capable but somewhat dead by comparison.
On a dry road you can brake late while turning in and the nose tucks in and then you can power out very early without hesitation. Put enough negative camber on the front and it wants to turn when you stand on the brakes and as you lean on the gas it wants to straighten out. The motor has enough low down torque to be forgiving in `normal' driving and when pushed provides an enthusiastic response but it's at the top end, so no great gobs of torque in the low/mid range, hence very difficult to lose it coming out of a corner (dry road). But importantly there is enough torque that you can feel some rearward weight transfer in lower gears. The rear weight bias gives great mechanical grip under both braking and acceleration so unless you're completely nuts or have big power, it's very difficult to brake traction. Even in the damp it's pretty well behaved. RWD turbo and this all changes.
More modern examples have dialled this sensitivity back to some degree to make it more usable as power has been increased. But `progress' means that these more powerful and well equipped cars are also arguably less characterful and like a 996 with full fuel and luggage in the nose, it's just a well-built car with less to make it stand out. The traits are still there but better hidden. Yes, you can experience all the good points of this design with modern versions but either you're going much faster or you have some rose-jointed 'less is more' version and either way they're a fortune.
The Boxster is the value proposition, sharing everything from the seats forward with the 911, but it has a more subdued motor, so a muted character and lacks the capability of the larger 911. It is probably the faster car but IME it's less engaging to drive. The 911 is optimal for 2 person touring and functional as an occasional 2+2 and I think this is where it really wins over a Boxer or F type - the space behind the front seats.
It is significantly flawed with well documented engine issues from 2001-2009. The cable change does not yield the greatest transmission feel, though it can be improved fairly readily. Aftermarket support is massive and (engine aside), at least in the US very reasonably priced. It's easy to work on and well documented. They're galvanised from early on, so generally better with regards rust than many cars.
I felt I ‘had’ to try a 911 because everyone says how amazing they are and every car enthusiast should own one at least once. I went for a 992.1 GTS.
It looks great, I like the brand, it’s weirdly practical for a family of four, has sensible running costs and it’s fast. But that’s where it ends.
TLDR; it’s utterly soulless. A car should make you grin like an idiot - even better if it makes you laugh out loud. This does none of that, it just very efficiently gets from A to B rapidly.
It drives well in the sense of it being easy to get it down a road quickly but the steering lacks feel, the engine is unpleasantly ‘boosty’, it sounds s
t, the suspension is rock hard, the manual gearbox is crap and the interior is dull and drab. It just doesn’t feel special in the slightest - like a fancy Audi. Don’t get me started on the stupid centre-lock wheels!
The problem is that if you want a daily-use, four seat sports car that can do everything there really isn’t another option. But, if I was given the option of taking this or the F-Pace SVR I had a few years back, I’d be picking the big fat SUV’s keys almost every time.
It looks great, I like the brand, it’s weirdly practical for a family of four, has sensible running costs and it’s fast. But that’s where it ends.
TLDR; it’s utterly soulless. A car should make you grin like an idiot - even better if it makes you laugh out loud. This does none of that, it just very efficiently gets from A to B rapidly.
It drives well in the sense of it being easy to get it down a road quickly but the steering lacks feel, the engine is unpleasantly ‘boosty’, it sounds s
t, the suspension is rock hard, the manual gearbox is crap and the interior is dull and drab. It just doesn’t feel special in the slightest - like a fancy Audi. Don’t get me started on the stupid centre-lock wheels!The problem is that if you want a daily-use, four seat sports car that can do everything there really isn’t another option. But, if I was given the option of taking this or the F-Pace SVR I had a few years back, I’d be picking the big fat SUV’s keys almost every time.
Bought a 997.2 C2 in 2010 , fast forward to 2016 I bought an Aston Martin Vantage , both used only as a weekend car .
Out of the 2 I look back at the Aston as being overall a much better experience, the 997 always left me cold.
I look at the newer Porsche cars and nothing really hits the spot for me now.
All imho.
Out of the 2 I look back at the Aston as being overall a much better experience, the 997 always left me cold.
I look at the newer Porsche cars and nothing really hits the spot for me now.
All imho.
In my experience Porsches tend to be objectively very good, albeit not the "night and day better than all of the competition" that people sometimes make out.
However, whilst I've really enjoyed most of the older Porsches (80s and earlier) I've driven, the new ones (at least the mainstream models) are just to competent and hence too... sterile for my tastes. That's not really a criticism, it's clearly what most sports-car buyers want and Porsche need to make cars people want to buy.
From reading the above, it seems I'm not as unusual in this view as I thought I was!
However, whilst I've really enjoyed most of the older Porsches (80s and earlier) I've driven, the new ones (at least the mainstream models) are just to competent and hence too... sterile for my tastes. That's not really a criticism, it's clearly what most sports-car buyers want and Porsche need to make cars people want to buy.
From reading the above, it seems I'm not as unusual in this view as I thought I was!
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