Picking up a 991 today for a ten day test
Discussion
James McScotty said:
I've driven a brand-new 991 cabrio PDK from Glasgow to Inverary and back. It felt more like a big Mercedes than a Porsche, in my opinion. The steering is lifeless, and the whole thing feels big, soft and unwieldy. It was pretty boring to drive.
OTOH, the current base model Cayman is fantastic, and goes round corners like a go-kart. Maybe the Cayman is the spiritual successor to the 911?
Now you have gone and done it!OTOH, the current base model Cayman is fantastic, and goes round corners like a go-kart. Maybe the Cayman is the spiritual successor to the 911?
Very interesting/informative thread which may get even more animated?
James McScotty said:
I've driven a brand-new 991 cabrio PDK from Glasgow to Inverary and back. It felt more like a big Mercedes than a Porsche, in my opinion. The steering is lifeless, and the whole thing feels big, soft and unwieldy. It was pretty boring to drive.
Odd that you should feel that way. I've recently sold a 997 identical to the one you've just bought and in my opinion the 991 feels no bigger, it's also much sharper and a great deal more exciting to drive. Unless of course you leave it in cruising mode in which case it's pretty docile.nsm3 said:
Manks said:
......and a great deal more exciting to drive.
Is it really though? If you were talking Radical or even RS 4.0, I could understand that.I would caveat that I haven't driven one, so I am prepared to be surprised.
Will revisit the 991 when the 4WD versions come out out of curiosity as maybe I'll have got the 997 out of my system by then. We shall see...
crystalmethod said:
Exactly this. I test drove a 991S and GTS 4 three times back to back before deciding that the 997 was closer to an Elise and the 991 was more like an SL and that I wanted the
GTS, having had a 991 letter of intent lodged for months. The OPC was
offering all sorts of finance deals but I paid cash so that wasn't the reason
for going 997 again. I just felt more
alive driving it.
Will revisit the 991 when the 4WD
versions come out out of curiosity as
maybe I'll have got the 997 out of my system by then. We shall see...
And if I do go 991 I wish I could de spec that motorised steering column. It seems so un 911. I know that's unlikely and also irrational but all the same. GTS, having had a 991 letter of intent lodged for months. The OPC was
offering all sorts of finance deals but I paid cash so that wasn't the reason
for going 997 again. I just felt more
alive driving it.
Will revisit the 991 when the 4WD
versions come out out of curiosity as
maybe I'll have got the 997 out of my system by then. We shall see...
crystalmethod said:
nsm3 said:
Manks said:
......and a great deal more exciting to drive.
Is it really though? If you were talking Radical or even RS 4.0, I could understand that.I would caveat that I haven't driven one, so I am prepared to be surprised.
Will revisit the 991 when the 4WD versions come out out of curiosity as maybe I'll have got the 997 out of my system by then. We shall see...
James McScotty said:
I've driven a brand-new 991 cabrio PDK from Glasgow to Inverary and back. It felt more like a big Mercedes than a Porsche, in my opinion. The steering is lifeless, and the whole thing feels big, soft and unwieldy. It was pretty boring to drive.
OTOH, the current base model Cayman is fantastic, and goes round corners like a go-kart. Maybe the Cayman is the spiritual successor to the 911?
A very good point. Maybe now they will be less coy about giving what will effectively be the 'drivers' Porsches the serious mid-range torque they are capable of handling. OTOH, the current base model Cayman is fantastic, and goes round corners like a go-kart. Maybe the Cayman is the spiritual successor to the 911?
Manks said:
Odd that you should feel that way. I've recently sold a 997 identical to the one you've just bought and in my opinion the 991 feels no bigger, it's also much sharper and a great deal more exciting to drive. Unless of course you leave it in cruising mode in which case it's pretty docile.
It's hard to know how to respond, other than to say I disagree 100 percent. The 991 felt like a blancmange on wheels, to me.Manks said:
crystalmethod said:
nsm3 said:
Manks said:
......and a great deal more exciting to drive.
Is it really though? If you were talking Radical or even RS 4.0, I could understand that.I would caveat that I haven't driven one, so I am prepared to be surprised.
Will revisit the 991 when the 4WD versions come out out of curiosity as maybe I'll have got the 997 out of my system by then. We shall see...
The 991's a seriously capable car - there's no doubt about that. How are you defining "special"? I agonised over the two cars and the best way I can describe it is that I felt more alive with the GTS and like some sort of pilot in the 991. Will definitely revisit the 991 though...
James McScotty said:
Manks said:
Odd that you should feel that way. I've recently sold a 997 identical to the one you've just bought and in my opinion the 991 feels no bigger, it's also much sharper and a great deal more exciting to drive. Unless of course you leave it in cruising mode in which case it's pretty docile.
It's hard to know how to respond, other than to say I disagree 100 percent. The 991 felt like a blancmange on wheels, to me.crystalmethod said:
Yes. I paid cash, but made sure I understood the market before buying, as anyone would I guess.
Made sure I had the leather interior though. That standard GTS dash is dreadful :-)
If the 991 had been the same price as the 997 would you have bought it?Made sure I had the leather interior though. That standard GTS dash is dreadful :-)
You know what, a GTS with full leather and wheels with bolts would be a great car. But the PDK box is still a little slow.
James McScotty said:
It seems to me that perhaps the person you really need to persuade is possibly yourself, Manks. Anyway, if you genuinely like the 991, then that's all good.
Nope. I had a 991 and a 997 for several months. Could have kept either or both but sold the 997 because it was beginning to feel dated.
Manks said:
Nope. I had a 991 and a 997 for several months. Could have kept either or both but sold the 997 because it was beginning to feel dated.
Well, in that case, we like different things. Faced with a choice of 991 or 997, I'd take the latter. Just feels more involving, IMO. I'd also favour a Cayman. But that's just my opinion: different strokes, and all that.James McScotty said:
It seems to me that perhaps the person you really need to persuade is possibly yourself, Manks. Anyway, if you genuinely like the 991, then that's all good.
He doesn't "need" to persuade anyone.....he has a 991, end of.What I struggle slightly with is the impression given (not particularly by Manks, but the general pro-991 lobby) that the 991 makes the 997 seem as though it was conceived and constructed at Longbridge.
I accept it is a move forward (although I yet have to prove it to myself) as you would expect or the "Development Department" wouldn't be earning their corn. What I'm not quite buying into is the idea that for the current crop of converts, "the scales have been lifted from their eyes and they have indeed, seen the light".
As said before, I am prepared to have this view altered.
nsm3 said:
He doesn't "need" to persuade anyone.....he has a 991, end of.
What I struggle slightly with is the impression given (not particularly by Manks, but the general pro-991 lobby) that the 991 makes the 997 seem as though it was conceived and constructed at Longbridge.
I accept it is a move forward (although I yet have to prove it to myself) as you would expect or the "Development Department" wouldn't be earning their corn. What I'm not quite buying into is the idea that for the current crop of converts, "the scales have been lifted from their eyes and they have indeed, seen the light".
As said before, I am prepared to have this view altered.
My 991S is the first 911 I've bought, I ordered the 996 and 997 when they both came out and changed my mind after the test drive, to much bobbing in a straight line and when cornering fast the car wanting to go straight on!! What I struggle slightly with is the impression given (not particularly by Manks, but the general pro-991 lobby) that the 991 makes the 997 seem as though it was conceived and constructed at Longbridge.
I accept it is a move forward (although I yet have to prove it to myself) as you would expect or the "Development Department" wouldn't be earning their corn. What I'm not quite buying into is the idea that for the current crop of converts, "the scales have been lifted from their eyes and they have indeed, seen the light".
As said before, I am prepared to have this view altered.
I was prepared to have my deposit returned yet again after I put my order in for a 991S, however, after driving the car it was obvious Porsche had moved it on to be a better driving machine and it was miles better than ANY 997 variant.
On looking at the previous model it does now look very outdated unfortunately(IMO)
Tony 1234 said:
My 991S is the first 911 I've bought, I ordered the 996 and 997 when they both came out and changed my mind after the test drive, to much bobbing in a straight line and when cornering fast the car wanting to go straight on!!
I was prepared to have my deposit returned yet again after I put my order in for a 991S, however, after driving the car it was obvious Porsche had moved it on to be a better driving machine and it was miles better than ANY 997 variant.
On looking at the previous model it does now look very outdated unfortunately(IMO)
Tony, your enjoyment of your lovely new car is plain to see (we've certainly seen the same photo plenty of times) but you should beware making comparisons to cars you have not even driven, say 997.2 GT3 or Turbo S.I was prepared to have my deposit returned yet again after I put my order in for a 991S, however, after driving the car it was obvious Porsche had moved it on to be a better driving machine and it was miles better than ANY 997 variant.
On looking at the previous model it does now look very outdated unfortunately(IMO)
And by your own admission you have shied away from a basic 911 that more challenging to drive (the "cooking" 996 and 997) than the 991. Which is to miss the point that the more experienced 911 owners here (and I don't particularly count myself amongst them after a mere 5 years in Pork) derive a great deal of their satisfaction with the car from the effort made to overcome these challenges and unlock the unique magic of the 911. A delight you appear not to have sampled.
It is not by accident that the successive evolutions of the 911 have cumulatively contributed to the passion that everyone on here feels for the marque. And bigger ain't always better if you get my drift.
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