Porsche pulls Carrera GT
Supercar's production ends ahead of plan
Porsche Carrera GT
Porsche is pulling the plug on the Carrera GT supercar only three years into its life, before it reaches the end of its planned production run.
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Stuttgart only ever planned to make 1,500 of them but the 1,111th has only just been delivered -- presumably in the face of falling demand; there have been widespread stories of slow sales. In spite of that, Porsche has dubbed the car "the most successful high-performance sports car of all time".
Over half the cars made since its induction in September 2000 have gone to US-based customers, as will the last one, which Porsche will deliver in April.
It may not have sold well but it's a mighty machine: its mid-mounted 612bhp 5.7-litre V10 propels the £316,888 car to 60mph in just 3.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of over 200mph. The engine was based on a design that Porsche could have used for a Le Mans car, had it been so minded.
Innovations include a lightweight gearbox with features such as an inner gearshift mechanism combined with low-friction, precisely-mounted Flexball shift cables on the outer shift mechanisms, and a ceramic clutch. The two-plate, dry clutch is only 169mm in diameter, helping to give the engine and transmission a very low centre of gravity. It's also the world's first production car with a monocoque chassis and module frame made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic.
As for why it didn't sell, who can say? Early tests suggested that it wasn't as easy to live with as it might have been -- the clutch caused some issues -- but ask yourself: if you had £300k to spare, would the Carrera GT have been on your list?
I`m sure it´s abilities are towering though.
On a similar note, today I hail from Germany- and I am test driving two Porsche 993 RSs tommorow and looking at another one.
I hope they´`re more raw than the Turbo!
Not sure this story is true.
Porsche's press release states that car number 1111 was delivered to a customer, making it the highest number of supercars (by whose definition?). Furthermore it states the last car will be built in April. This suggests the planned run of 1250 (reduced from 1500 some time ago supposedly after the US dual-airbag problems) remains unaffected.
The press release does not state that production has stopped at 1111.
Marquis_Rex said:All the best for your teutonic times ahead MR. Can't say the same for your planned excursion away from FI though, keep taking the pills - and get a Ruf GT2 instead
I`ve never had the fortune of driving one, but even if I did have the money I doubt it would have been on my list. It doesn´t excite me and I don`t like V10 engines.
I`m sure it´s abilities are towering though.
On a similar note, today I hail from Germany- and I am test driving two Porsche 993 RSs tommorow and looking at another one.
I hope they´`re more raw than the Turbo!
www.porsche.com/uk/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pag/?pool=international-de&id=2005-12-28
Guy
GuyR said:
Not sure this story is true.
Porsche's press release states that car number 1111 was delivered to a customer, making it the highest number of supercars (by whose definition?). Furthermore it states the last car will be built in April. This suggests the planned run of 1250 (reduced from 1500 some time ago supposedly after the US dual-airbag problems) remains unaffected.
The press release does not state that production has stopped at 1111.
That's what I heard, pleanned production down from 1500 to 1250.
Marquis Rex said:
On a similar note, today I hail from Germany- and I am test driving two Porsche 993 RSs tommorow and looking at another one.
I hope they´`re more raw than the Turbo!
Don't worry, they are certainly more raw. You'll also have to work the car harder too.
Christmas is coming late for me this year, picking mine up in a few weeks
turbobloke said:
I`ve never had the fortune of driving one, but even if I did have the money I doubt it would have been on my list. It doesn´t excite me and I don`t like V10 engines.
I`m sure it´s abilities are towering though.
On a similar note, today I hail from Germany- and I am test driving two Porsche 993 RSs tommorow and looking at another one.
I hope they´`re more raw than the Turbo!
Thanks mate!
I would have consdered a GT2 but I can't afford one!
Anyways if I don't like the RS the beauty is that I can probably sell it for the same if not more than what I paid and go back the FI route!
I wish there was more SERIOUS interest in my 993 tt!
PH said:
but ask yourself: if you had £300k to spare, would the Carrera GT have been on your list?
Yes. It would have been a short list. Comprising one car.
silver993tt said:
Nice but always been too expensive IMO.
If you want an (effectively) all carbon fibre race car for the road, it takes £300k. Whether or not paying for such a vehicle is sensible is up to the customer, but it's certainly not bad value for money, especially when you compare it to the Zonda.
GuyR said:
Not sure this story is true.
Porsche's press release states that car number 1111 was delivered to a customer, making it the highest number of supercars (by whose definition?). Furthermore it states the last car will be built in April. This suggests the planned run of 1250 (reduced from 1500 some time ago supposedly after the US dual-airbag problems) remains unaffected.
The press release does not state that production has stopped at 1111.
...and neither does the article.
rah said:
Not sure this story is true.
Porsche's press release states that car number 1111 was delivered to a customer, making it the highest number of supercars (by whose definition?). Furthermore it states the last car will be built in April. This suggests the planned run of 1250 (reduced from 1500 some time ago supposedly after the US dual-airbag problems) remains unaffected.
The press release does not state that production has stopped at 1111.
...and neither does the article.
But the article is rather misleading, I'm sure you'll agree. A bit of negative spin has been applied to a fairly innocent press release.
Clubsport have the one you reject and put him out of his Porscheless misery... 
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