RE: New Porsche 911 Caught Naked

[kambites]

Out of interest, does anyone understand the Porsche model numbering scheme? Why has this one got a lower model number than the last two iterations?

[Oddball RS]

kambites said:

Out of interest, does anyone understand the Porsche model numbering scheme? Why has this one got a lower model number than the last two iterations?

As i understand it they were running towards the end of the 99*'s or there was some sort of internal issue with what was left to use, and the car is a new platform so they started a new sequence at the same time.

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

I don't think the primary goal of a C2S or GT3 is to cover distances in comfort, it's to go round corners fast.

I disagree about the C2S. Such is life.

Just because it weighs more than 900kg and doesn't have a mid mounted K-series?

If you're not bothered about going round corners fast then you buy a C2, if you just want to go fast then get the Turbo.

Saying the C2S is GT car because it doesn't corner as fast as GT3 is like saying the Elise is a GT car because it's sofetr than the Exige (to put it in language you can understand).

[kambites]

So the next one will be 992 and on until they hit 995? That'll confuse people in the future.

I thought the numbers were actual chassis design enumerations. I'd assumed they'd simply go on to 1000+.

[kambites]

Kong said:

Just because it weighs more than 900kg and doesn't have a mid mounted K-series?

What the hell are you talking about, when did I mention weight or engine? I think it's a GT because I think it's better at long distance, high speed cruising than it is at blasting around back-roads. Yes it can do both with a fair degree of competence, but to me it feels like the latter has to some extent been sacrificed to make it better at the former and not vice versa.

Obviously I haven't driven a 991, but that's my impression of the 997 and 996.

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

Just because it weighs more than 900kg and doesn't have a mid mounted K-series?

What the hell are you talking about, when did I mention weight or engine? I think it's a GT because I think it's better at long distance, high speed cruising than it is at blasting around back-roads. Yes it can do both with a fair degree of competence, but to me it feels like the latter has to some extent been sacrificed to make it better at the former and not vice versa.

How can you quantify the fact that it's better at one than the other?

Are you comparing it to an 'ideal' of what a sports car should be or against the competition?

You alluded earlier to the fact that the 911 hasn't been a sports car since before the 993. So what was different about the 964? I'd say it compared to its contemporary rivals exactly the same as the current 911 does.

As i said, a Continental GT, DB9, CL, XK, 6 Series ARE GT cars, the 911 doesn't compare to any of them in the main areas of what a GT car should be beyond simply looks and performance. Comfort, space and room for luggage.

[jazzyjeff]

r1ch said:

Does anyone have an idea what the roof thing might be?

One of these perhaps? Porsche's latest attempt to improve the 911's packaging...



Now that's what I call a GT!

[nav p]

I have had lots of differant performance cars over a 22 year period but never a 911(had 2 928's)

I dont need an out and out sports car..but my motoring needs have now changed, a fast GT is ideal and i have to admit liking the 997 and this

Maybe its time to go 911

[Manks]

I am still not sure I believe that rear end. It looks to me like something they've stuck on to look feasible (and painted it to maintain the con) but it's not the finished look. The engine lid / bumper panel gap is wrong and the lights are clearly behind the bumper.

I also recall seeing other footage recently where the reflectors extended onto the engine lid. That's gone.

I think this is Porsche playing games and the new car won't look like this at the rear, or possibly the front. If I am right, Porsche has addressed the excessive overhang of the 997. If I am wrong, Porsche needs to buy the designer a new Labrador and white cane.

[kotafey]

gumsie said:

Seriously. Is that the same as last years car?

Boring.

Looks nice. Kinda chunky.

[PhilboSE]

I don't understand all the vitriol towards the new car and the Clarkson-esque "lazy designer" stuff. Seriously, anyone who thought this *wasn't* going to look near-as-dammit identical to the 997 needs their heads examined.

Porsche tried to replace the 911 and customer demand kept it alive. You can trot out all the "engine in the wrong place" stuff you like, fact is that the car and package work extremely well. Also anyone commenting about front ends "pogo-ing" can't have driven the latest couple of generations because the front is now very well tied down. And the positioning of the engine is now seen as a bonus, because of the traction it gives.

As for comments about bulk and size, this is still a small car by modern standards. Yet despite it's relatively compact dimensions I can still take 3 children to school in one (including all their sports gear), it can do 190mph or 30mpg AND has class-leading handling to boot. Oh, and it has 20,000 mile service intervals and a reputation for robustness and a manufacturer who stands behind their product (Porsche just offered me - unprompted - a 98% refund on parts cost for an out of warranty issue). It also has an unparalleled racing heritage. Toss in competitive pricing and strong residuals and there isn't another manufacturer out there who would change anything about such a winning combination, if they were lucky enough to have such a thing in their product lineup.

[deepthroat]

I have a 997 and I'll replace that with another in a couple of years and then another and then another.. I've driven pretty much everything out there and the 911 is just 50% of the perfect two car garage line up! The other is a Range Rover.

With those two cars you can just stop worrying about all the chuff people talk about this car and that car and throw all other brochures in the bin and stop reading Autocar! You can still watch Top Gear of course because "Last of the Summer Wine In Cars" is funny and the adventures of Compo, Foggy and the little one are quite amusing!

[Manks]

deepthroat said:

I have a 997 and I'll replace that with another in a couple of years and then another and then another.. I've driven pretty much everything out there and the 911 is just 50% of the perfect two car garage line up! The other is a Range Rover.

With those two cars you can just stop worrying about all the chuff people talk about this car and that car and throw all other brochures in the bin and stop reading Autocar! You can still watch Top Gear of course because "Last of the Summer Wine In Cars" is funny and the adventures of Compo, Foggy and the little one are quite amusing!

I disagree, it's 33.33% of the perfect 3-car garage which includes a Yaris / Mini / Fiesta. You wouldn't want the wife driving the other two, now would you?

[soad]

Sounds great!!

[V8Bart]

sounds like a bag of spanners

[kambites]

Kong said:

How can you quantify the fact that it's better at one than the other?

I can't quantify it, it's not a quantifiable thing.

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

How can you quantify the fact that it's better at one than the other?

I can't quantify it, it's not a quantifiable thing.

So I could say an MX5 is more SUV than a sports car and nobody could argue?

Lets be honest, you describe the 911 being a GT to make a point of being used to superlight track cars. The 911 isn't a GT!

[kambites]

Kong said:

So I could say an MX5 is more SUV than a sports car and nobody could argue?

I certainly wouldn't care if you called the MX5 an SUV, no. Why would it make any difference to me?

Obviously I can't speak for anyone else - you seem to take objection to other people's views on class boundaries, so I guess there are probably other people like you who you might upset.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 9th August 18:41

[Kong]

kambites said:

Kong said:

So I could say an MX5 is more SUV than a sports car and nobody could argue?

I certainly wouldn't care if you called the MX5 an SUV, no. Why would it make any difference to me?

I didnt say anyone would care, i said nobody could argue.

[kambites]

Kong said:

I didnt say anyone would care, i said nobody could argue.

Of course they could argue. People can argue with everything?