The 992 - Porsche had to get it right this time.....
Discussion
Regardless of the praise heaped on the 991.2 GT cars, there could be no mistakes with the design of this new 992 Carrera, after the abject disappointment of the 991 generation (and being one of the more vocal people who opposed the design of the car as time went on) I would confess to being slightly nervous as to whether Porsche could recover from it and deliver the goods with the 992.
After the years and years of mistakes and problems of their design department had with the 991, especially the rear-end and the interior, it is therefore a relief to see that Porsche managed to create a new car of two halves which treads the tricky rope of trying to please old and new customers alike and for me Porsche have managed to (mostly) fix the 991 design problems and roll it into a new car which is both fresh and modern.
Yes, they were never going to fix the biggest gripe - the enormous size of the car - that horse had bolted (thanks Nissan!) and Porsche remain stubborn on the design of the sunroof and they have at least tweaked the rear wing so it looks significantly easier on the eyes but it remains a fudge.
All said, almost everything else I and others raised on the launch of the 991 has appeared to have been addressed in some way - ignoring the move to Turbocharging.
Speaking of the the two halves, to me the new 992 gives both to a nod to the past with the front-end re-design, the old skool Turbo engine grill and a nod to the future with a new, wonderfully designed (by Porsche recent standards!) rear end, wrapped into a leaner side profile and lower stance which looks just delicious.
The ridiculous decisions Porsche made with the 991 regarding the small rear lights, OTT rear script writing, multiple body shell sizes, small brake disc sizes in huge wheels, exhaust exit placement, exit sizing and the yawning gap between the wheel arch and body (if you did not spec Sports PASM) have all been either eliminated entirely or at least mitigated.
And yes.... the interior on the new 992, it blows away that pretty awful 991 interior which, lets face it, was out of date even before it had launched. The new 992 interior has been, aside from a couple of caveats, replaced with a wonderful set of changes. I will never argue against a dash that looks like Kitt out of nightrider.
And what about those blasted 991 door finishers eh?....my word, at last, the door finishers, the door finishers.... have been sorted out on the 992, not to mention the blasted plastic blanking plates on the central console - all gone.
Porsche have also listened on the exterior colour front, after years of complaints they finally add one of the final jellybean colours - Green.
I am also very hopeful that Porsche have listened to its customers regarding overly tall 1st-3rd gears and we will get a nice surprise with the new 992 8 speed PDK Box.
If there are any downsides or disappointments to the design of this new car, apart from the previously mentioned items like the sunroof, I would say the gear selector and the cup-holder design could have been done better and these are hardly deal breakers. I am really reaching to find things i do not like.
The added power, weight and torque of the car pretty much rules out the 2WD version for me on usability and safety grounds and so i will be looking to test Pilot a 4S.
If I were to buy a 992 I would be looking at rear-wheel steering and Porsche special coated brakes (no more PCCB required!) I cant wait to see the Lizard Green in person!
After the years and years of mistakes and problems of their design department had with the 991, especially the rear-end and the interior, it is therefore a relief to see that Porsche managed to create a new car of two halves which treads the tricky rope of trying to please old and new customers alike and for me Porsche have managed to (mostly) fix the 991 design problems and roll it into a new car which is both fresh and modern.
Yes, they were never going to fix the biggest gripe - the enormous size of the car - that horse had bolted (thanks Nissan!) and Porsche remain stubborn on the design of the sunroof and they have at least tweaked the rear wing so it looks significantly easier on the eyes but it remains a fudge.
All said, almost everything else I and others raised on the launch of the 991 has appeared to have been addressed in some way - ignoring the move to Turbocharging.
Speaking of the the two halves, to me the new 992 gives both to a nod to the past with the front-end re-design, the old skool Turbo engine grill and a nod to the future with a new, wonderfully designed (by Porsche recent standards!) rear end, wrapped into a leaner side profile and lower stance which looks just delicious.
The ridiculous decisions Porsche made with the 991 regarding the small rear lights, OTT rear script writing, multiple body shell sizes, small brake disc sizes in huge wheels, exhaust exit placement, exit sizing and the yawning gap between the wheel arch and body (if you did not spec Sports PASM) have all been either eliminated entirely or at least mitigated.
And yes.... the interior on the new 992, it blows away that pretty awful 991 interior which, lets face it, was out of date even before it had launched. The new 992 interior has been, aside from a couple of caveats, replaced with a wonderful set of changes. I will never argue against a dash that looks like Kitt out of nightrider.
And what about those blasted 991 door finishers eh?....my word, at last, the door finishers, the door finishers.... have been sorted out on the 992, not to mention the blasted plastic blanking plates on the central console - all gone.
Porsche have also listened on the exterior colour front, after years of complaints they finally add one of the final jellybean colours - Green.
I am also very hopeful that Porsche have listened to its customers regarding overly tall 1st-3rd gears and we will get a nice surprise with the new 992 8 speed PDK Box.
If there are any downsides or disappointments to the design of this new car, apart from the previously mentioned items like the sunroof, I would say the gear selector and the cup-holder design could have been done better and these are hardly deal breakers. I am really reaching to find things i do not like.
The added power, weight and torque of the car pretty much rules out the 2WD version for me on usability and safety grounds and so i will be looking to test Pilot a 4S.
If I were to buy a 992 I would be looking at rear-wheel steering and Porsche special coated brakes (no more PCCB required!) I cant wait to see the Lizard Green in person!
With these new sensors on the dampers and advanced traction control systems I'd maybe try a C2S back to back with a C4S. More to spend on options if you like the C2S 
I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
IMI A said:
With these new sensors on the dampers and advanced traction control systems I'd maybe try a C2S back to back with a C4S. More to spend on options if you like the C2S
I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
Thanks mate, I have been lurking, I can only drive a 1.8L engine car until next May (cough).I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
Being in purgatory has been a nice cleansing experience for the driving soul.
Carl_Manchester said:
IMI A said:
With these new sensors on the dampers and advanced traction control systems I'd maybe try a C2S back to back with a C4S. More to spend on options if you like the C2S
I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
Thanks mate, I have been lurking, I can only drive a 1.8L engine car until next May (cough).I'm surprised with your new found frugality over the last year on sports cars that you're not going for a Golf GTI after the Polo GTI - brill cars.
Welcome back
Being in purgatory has been a nice cleansing experience for the driving soul.
Taffy66 said:
Is it a given, or pure internet gossip that the manual 992 will be a no-cost option rather than the cheaper derivative..I'm more interested in the basic Manual however if its the same price as the PDK i might reconsider..
That is also what i read. Over here in the Netherlands new 992 C2S went up by 12% compared to outgoing 991C2SYou guys are lucky in the UK
Taffy66 said:
Is it a given, or pure internet gossip that the manual 992 will be a no-cost option rather than the cheaper derivative..I'm more interested in the basic Manual however if its the same price as the PDK i might reconsider..
I remember when Harry Metcalfe reviewed the 991.2 he said he thought the standard Carrera was his pick as he thought it felt “the least turbocharged”. I love a manual car but do wonder how it would integrate into a 992 with all the electronic systems. Also that central cup holder looks like it won’t work with a manual box too well....if that’s a concern. Cheib said:
I remember when Harry Metcalfe reviewed the 991.2 he said he thought the standard Carrera was his pick as he thought it felt “the least turbocharged”. I love a manual car but do wonder how it would integrate into a 992 with all the electronic systems. Also that central cup holder looks like it won’t work with a manual box too well....if that’s a concern.
Depending o whether or not the Manual saves £3k and say 30kg, it could be my preference..I agree if the central cup holder's placement is retained in the Manual then its a clear sign from Porsche that its much more focused on the PDK moving forward.To put my conspiracy hat on, perhaps Porsche if making the Manual 992 as awkward a choice as possible to give them an excuse to drop it when the 992.2 arrives.
foxsasha said:
Wudee said:
That is also what i read. Over here in the Netherlands new 992 C2S went up by 12% compared to outgoing 991C2S
You guys are lucky in the UK
What's the base price there? The Carrera S is £93,110 here.You guys are lucky in the UK
Taffy66 said:
Cheib said:
I remember when Harry Metcalfe reviewed the 991.2 he said he thought the standard Carrera was his pick as he thought it felt “the least turbocharged”. I love a manual car but do wonder how it would integrate into a 992 with all the electronic systems. Also that central cup holder looks like it won’t work with a manual box too well....if that’s a concern.
Depending o whether or not the Manual saves £3k and say 30kg, it could be my preference..I agree if the central cup holder's placement is retained in the Manual then its a clear sign from Porsche that its much more focused on the PDK moving forward.To put my conspiracy hat on, perhaps Porsche if making the Manual 992 as awkward a choice as possible to give them an excuse to drop it when the 992.2 arrives.
nn7man said:
Isn't rear wheel steering just another intrusive nanny? Just when you thought you knew what the car was going to do, it thinks it knows better? And it adds weight and complexity and cost whilst diluting what a rear engined 911 is all about?
It works absolutely seamless on the 1.2 GT3nn7man said:
Isn't rear wheel steering just another intrusive nanny? Just when you thought you knew what the car was going to do, it thinks it knows better? And it adds weight and complexity and cost whilst diluting what a rear engined 911 is all about?
I think I would sooner have RWS on the car than PDCC. I don't really see RWS as a nanny but allowing the car to act with greater nimbleness and generally more pleasant to drive, I do prefer the drive of the Boxster/Cayman over the 911 and its balletic balance. It is rightfully an option on the 992 as it is purely down to personal taste, I can appreciate why people would not want it but i think its a triumph whereas PDCC is a bridge too far.
As with the 4WD preference I see the 992 as more of a 928 concept car than a 911. I would never consider an old skool 911 with big Turbos and electronic aids but with 450 '2018 vintage' Porsche horses under your foot i.e. faster than pretty much anything else on the road, I see these cars as very much well beyond my own personal skill levels to drive safely at speed in the wet without some compromises on assistance.
Dr S said:
It works absolutely seamless on the 1.2 GT3
I know how it works, I have a GT2 RS with it and it does add something to a rocket ship GT car My point was more about putting it on a boggo 911and the cost-benefit-intrusion equation for a car that doesn't need it - it dilutes the essence of a 911 IMHO. Funny how its not an option on the 718? MDL111 said:
Taffy66 said:
Cheib said:
I remember when Harry Metcalfe reviewed the 991.2 he said he thought the standard Carrera was his pick as he thought it felt “the least turbocharged”. I love a manual car but do wonder how it would integrate into a 992 with all the electronic systems. Also that central cup holder looks like it won’t work with a manual box too well....if that’s a concern.
Depending o whether or not the Manual saves £3k and say 30kg, it could be my preference..I agree if the central cup holder's placement is retained in the Manual then its a clear sign from Porsche that its much more focused on the PDK moving forward.To put my conspiracy hat on, perhaps Porsche if making the Manual 992 as awkward a choice as possible to give them an excuse to drop it when the 992.2 arrives.
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