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Excellent article but if the Porsche marque is to become less exclusive (not that 996s are rare! 
)and more towards the mainstream i for one will be taking my money over to the Ferrari centre opposite my local OPC later on this year.
(Bet i still end up with a 996tt though!)
>> Edited by elms on Tuesday 6th January 18:26
)and more towards the mainstream i for one will be taking my money over to the Ferrari centre opposite my local OPC later on this year. (Bet i still end up with a 996tt though!)
>> Edited by elms on Tuesday 6th January 18:26
elms said:
Excellent article but if the Porsche marque is to become less exclusive (not that 996s are rare!
>> Edited by elms on Tuesday 6th January 18:26
...or maybe Maserati on my budget - but even they are heading the way of Porsche, with a saloon already almost on the market and an SUV in the pipeline.
elms,argonaut,
are you then saying you're more interested in exclusivity than capability?
Serious question, not a dig. The whole Cayenne debate has just got me wondering whether we enthusiasts all kid ourselves we choose our cars based on their dynamics and the driving experience, but in reality it's what we think they say about us that really drives our purchasing decisions. In my case I would like to say it's the former, but wonder if I am really honest with myself.
What do other people reckon drives their decisions in buying a Porsche?
Chris
are you then saying you're more interested in exclusivity than capability?
Serious question, not a dig. The whole Cayenne debate has just got me wondering whether we enthusiasts all kid ourselves we choose our cars based on their dynamics and the driving experience, but in reality it's what we think they say about us that really drives our purchasing decisions. In my case I would like to say it's the former, but wonder if I am really honest with myself.
What do other people reckon drives their decisions in buying a Porsche?
Chris
chris_n said:
elms,argonaut,
are you then saying you're more interested in exclusivity than capability?
Serious question, not a dig.
What do other people reckon drives their decisions in buying a Porsche?
Chris
...Chris, for me, and I suspect for most people who buy the newer models, it's both really (that's why I didn't buy a Maserati originally) - but with the bias well towards the driving experience. Porsche needs to preserve both to justify high prices and to keep residuals of its cars up. It's currently the most profitable car maker, but only because punters are prepared to pay the prices it charges.
Otherwise, we may as well just buy the next Jap £30k coupe that gives us the driving experience of a Porsche - when some manufacturer actually builds it, that is
welshchris said:
I reckon if more people used dynamics and the driving experience as their main Porsche-buying criteria, then the 996 wouldn't have been such a good seller - We'd all still be driving 993's
But then what do I know?
Chris
...don't think I agree with that. The 993 has subjectively more 'character' and provokes more 'emotion' than a 996, but objectively, the 996 is the better car - lighter, faster, better handling, better driving position, comfortable interior, invaluable safety features (e.g. PSM), air-con that works etc. etc. Even sounds better than air-cooled with the Porsche Sports Exhaust fitted.
I would just have liked the 996 cars to be less common - victim of its own success, I suppose.
I went from an 89 clubsport to an 02 996 C2 back to a 95 993..
the 996 is the better car in many respects,,in some ways too good!
I knew within 5 mins of driving my 996 that i would not keep it forever despite a very enjoyable 14mths of ownership.
There is something about the older air cooled cars that is just more Porsche
the 996 is the better car in many respects,,in some ways too good!
I knew within 5 mins of driving my 996 that i would not keep it forever despite a very enjoyable 14mths of ownership.
There is something about the older air cooled cars that is just more Porsche
chris_n said:
elms,argonaut,
are you then saying you're more interested in exclusivity than capability?
Serious question, not a dig. The whole Cayenne debate has just got me wondering whether we enthusiasts all kid ourselves we choose our cars based on their dynamics and the driving experience, but in reality it's what we think they say about us that really drives our purchasing decisions. In my case I would like to say it's the former, but wonder if I am really honest with myself.
What do other people reckon drives their decisions in buying a Porsche?
Chris
I chose the 996 as a combination of both. I was also considering the new BMW M3 but the main thing that swayed me the Porsche way was the exclusivity over the very capable M3 as the BMW looks like any other later shape 3-series whereas the Porsche is very individual looking. Which was important when i was signing the cheque!!
As for capablity all cars in that price sector that i wanted are very good at what they do but i noted the alternatives as...Noble-Most enjoyable car ive driven, but too extreme for everyday use. Ferrari 355-Right size but potentially high running costs. Early Diablo-Bit too big to throw about down a wet greasy lane.
So i found the 996 to have the best attributes of all of its rivals and with only relatively minor faults.
>> Edited by elms on Wednesday 7th January 14:21
clubsport said:
I went from an 89 clubsport to an 02 996 C2 back to a 95 993..
Yeah but Clubsport, you did go back to a '95 993RS didn't you? - That's one special car. I'd be interested to know if you would have ever considered going back to a bog-standard 993 C2 or C4
I bet you wouldn't
Chris
Clubsprout went from his 996 to a 993RS via a 968CS, which kind of muddies the pond a bit.
After a 968CS, a 993RS will feel faster, more characterful and even more focussed. This meant that the 993RS was going to have a good reception, even after the glow of 996C2 cupholders had started to fade...
Probably didn't alter the scenario much, but even so... Paul, do you reckon you'd have gone for a GT3 if you hadn't had the 968CS in the interim?
After a 968CS, a 993RS will feel faster, more characterful and even more focussed. This meant that the 993RS was going to have a good reception, even after the glow of 996C2 cupholders had started to fade...
Probably didn't alter the scenario much, but even so... Paul, do you reckon you'd have gone for a GT3 if you hadn't had the 968CS in the interim?
welshchris said:
I went from an 89 clubsport to an 02 996 C2 back to a 95 993..
Yeah but Clubsport, you did go back to a '95 993RS didn't you? - That's one special car. I'd be interested to know if you would have ever considered going back to a bog-standard 993 C2 or C4
I bet you wouldn't
Chris
...yeah!! What he said!
I also bet that if we start talking about the track-focused models, EVERYONE would go for a 996 GT3RS (if they could afford one and didn't prefer a girly tiptronic, like me.)
If I was going to get a new Porsche, I would definitely get a GT3-RS, unless for everyday duties in which case a Dazmobile would get my cash.
In terms of sheer driving pleasure, the jury is out until it's been driven. I drove a GT3 Mk2 and it was an amazing car but felt a bit removed from the action compared to the rawer and less sophisticated 964RS. ie you may get more pleasure from an inferior older car, just like flying a spitfire is probably more exciting than flying a fly by wire Airbus.
I would love to see a back to back Evo test, like they did a while back, considering noise, tactility etc. In that, a 993RS beat a 996GT2 etc for sheer driving pleasure and a 1973 RS topped the lot. I bet the 996GT3-RS narrows the gap tho'. I would still love one
In terms of sheer driving pleasure, the jury is out until it's been driven. I drove a GT3 Mk2 and it was an amazing car but felt a bit removed from the action compared to the rawer and less sophisticated 964RS. ie you may get more pleasure from an inferior older car, just like flying a spitfire is probably more exciting than flying a fly by wire Airbus.
I would love to see a back to back Evo test, like they did a while back, considering noise, tactility etc. In that, a 993RS beat a 996GT2 etc for sheer driving pleasure and a 1973 RS topped the lot. I bet the 996GT3-RS narrows the gap tho'. I would still love one
domster said:
I would love to see a back to back Evo test
Hopefully someone from Evo is lurking on here and they will get busy arranging it! I'm sure it should be easy to set up for the people that pulled together Fezza 288GTO, F40, F50, and Enzo for a back to back test in this month's issue!
chris_n said:
elms,argonaut,
are you then saying you're more interested in exclusivity than capability?
Serious question, not a dig.
What do other people reckon drives their decisions in buying a Porsche?
Chris
Just thought I should add my ideas to this given that I did the opposite of most of you and bought a Maser instead of a 911!
I drove a 996c2 manual back to back with a maserati 3200gt manual.
The 911 was undoubtedly the finer handling car, but in the end I bought the 3200. Why I hear you ask?
Main reasons were :
exculsivity - there are a _lot_ of 911s in Surrey.
interior - 3200 brilliant - 996 dull as (IMHO!).
noise - v8 vs v6 - prefer the V8 rumble myself.
power - 400bhp vs 320bhp. (ok it weighs more, but he turbo thump in the back is a real corker!)
In the end the balance was that I'd rather have an individual vehicle that was a bit different, nicer to sit in on a daily basis, and largely unrecognisable by the general public than the 'best handling' car.
Still fancy a GT3 though, the extra edge on a car like that really does justify itself!
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