Autocar 911 40th anniversary issue

Autocar 911 40th anniversary issue

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iguana

Original Poster:

7,193 posts

275 months

Wednesday 28th May 2003
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Just bought it & a good (in parts) read, with a good bit on RS's at the 'ring & write up on the new GT3.

However I fear Journo Andrew Frankel will cause Domster to unleash his wrath

I will quote just one bit as an example (he is talking about the 964RS)- "the 964RS remains a strong candidate for the worst riding road car of all time"
he does admit its is great on track tho, but they diddnt even take one to the ring to play with the 3.2CS '73Rs & GT3 & 993RS!!

Oh GT2's and the 3.6Turbo 964 get a slating too....

domster

8,431 posts

285 months

Wednesday 28th May 2003
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Well, it IS probably one of the worst riding road cars ever - but my old Caterhams weren't any more comfortable on a bumpy surface.

These softy journos.... I dunno

Believe me, my fully rosejointed Ultima riding on race dampers will make the 964RS seem like a Dunlopillo Comfort 2000 Air Mattress!

MauriceC2S

230 posts

270 months

Wednesday 28th May 2003
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Well Iguana, you just put me off buying it - said Frankel is the editor of Motor Sport, which I keep meaning to cancel but never seem to get around to it. I kept it in preference to 911 & PW, but it was close!

I remember him describing a track test of something magnificent (older F1 I think) - he seemed to be spending so much time dribbling in awe he could not get on with it.. He must get brown trousers going around Marble Arch!

Cheers, Maurice

iguana

Original Poster:

7,193 posts

275 months

Wednesday 28th May 2003
quotequote all
In truth Maurice its well worth buying, quite a few decent bits in, and reasonably in depth, not spotted any howlers yet- so its better than GT Purely in that respect also hopefully Frankel will drive down the 964RS prices so I can one day afford one

clubsport

7,372 posts

273 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
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Nice to see the 911CS getting a good write up,maybe because Chris Harris owns the press demo car when it was launched...Frankel,seems to have Porsche in his blood,I recently read his review of the 968CS and just missed out on the purchase of his 993RS...doh!

domster

8,431 posts

285 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
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Well, it definitely is a case of iguana trying to drive 964RS prices down... giving us lizard spin like a bad labour spin doctor...

Quotes from the very same Autocar issue:

"[the 964RS] is probably the finest factory-fresh track car the company has ever built" (p48)

"in a track environment [the 964RS] is perhaps the best 911 there has ever been - quicker even than the 993RS over a given lap, superbly responsive and currently great value for money" (p75)

And also of interest is that in the 2.7RS vs 3.2CS vs 993RS vs GT3Mk2 shoot out, the 993RS won.

Good issue. The road test of the GT3Mk2 makes you want to go out and buy one.

LOL
Dom

iguana

Original Poster:

7,193 posts

275 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
quotequote all
Yes Dom I know its not all all bad, I just wanted to make you bite

Spoted a few howlers- 'the CS has shorter springs & Bilstein dampers' hmm springs on a 3.2 ehh, waa waa nill point.

Some of the pricing is a bit odd like 2.7 (74-77) from £12K-£16k what £12k for a tatty 2.7 Lux!! more like from £4k to £150K (74 3.0RS)

Also top end prices for 964 £22k-26K!! bloody hell, RS's yes & RHD RS's even more, but normal C2 or 4's go for lots less than that RHD or LHD.

Overall tho, a very good effort from the Autocar lot, yes all the info is in books but its good for those that dont know too much about 911's.

There is a good model line up chart on the back of the poster too.

iguana

Original Poster:

7,193 posts

275 months

Thursday 29th May 2003
quotequote all

clubsport said: just missed out on the purchase of his 993RS...doh!


What actually his own & not his brothers one? that was quite 'well used' but not daft money I seen to recall, he sold that for a sweet '73Rs tho.



>> Edited by iguana on Thursday 29th May 12:32

clubsport

7,372 posts

273 months

Saturday 31st May 2003
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Just re read the big test and noticed that the all conquering 993RS was the actual car I considered buying at my local OPC 15 months ago.
There were a few things I didn't like with that car,maybe sorted in the time frame,,but a bit weird to see it win out as possibly the greatest 911 ever beating the new GT3...and I wasn't impressed and happily walked away..Doh!

steve-p

1,448 posts

297 months

Saturday 31st May 2003
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My favourite bit is the comparison panel by model, where the verdict for 993 says "The best car Porsche ever built". Knew that already, of course

Semi OT bit: drove down to sunny Dorset yesterday to buy a Land Rover - saw and got waved at by no less than five other 911s on the 160 mile round trip, the newest of which were a 964 coupe and a 964 cabrio. The sunshine, perhaps helped by the Autocar article, must have brought them all out to play.

randeria

77 posts

299 months

Saturday 31st May 2003
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>>My favourite bit is the comparison panel by model, where the verdict for 993 says "The best car Porsche ever built". Knew that already, of course

Autocar last year did the top ten cars of all time, as voted for by Gordon Murray, Peter Stevens, Jonathan Palmer, Martin Brundle, Nick Mason etc etc - all people who know their cars. No 1 was the Mclaren F1. No 2 was the 993RS... soon after reading that I bought one, and don't think I'll ever change it. It really is a fantastic car.

Zubin