nberry:
Good information!
BTW, the MP4 is around $230,000 (which can be discounted) in the US. The 991TTS MSRP is $185,000.
In Germany, Turbo S and MP4-12C prices are quite comparable. My car is 203k EUR (I actually wanted to add a couple of more options but not worth it...210k EUR would have been the price tag), the MP4-12C is 200k (base car) and maybe 10-20k options, depending on what you want (of course there are more options but this is what I would have wanted). So the price tags of both cars, in Germany, are quite comparable. Maybe not in the US or other regions though. This is why we are talking MP4-12C here...
@Kreso: I agree, the next gen GT2 and especially GT2 RS will be real MP4-12C competitors and yes, the 991 Turbo S is fast as hell on the track, 7.27 is the same time the new GT3 achieved on semi-slicks...until Timo Kluck(?) apparently achieved a 7.25 or 7.26 time (I don't remember) recently.
No doubt, the 991 Turbo S is a fast car but the performance difference vs. the 997 Turbo S is only minimal, at best. With 30 hp power more but also 20 kg weight more. Not what I expected.
Don't get me wrong, I knew that before I ordered the 991 Turbo S but I still think there is time to tweak a couple of things here and there, even if the official power/performance data stays the same (I agree, I don't think something will change but it would be possible if Porsche really wanted).
As I said before, I ordered the 991 Turbo S, so I truly believe this will be an amazing car but why not try to put some pressure on Porsche to improve a couple of things here and there before they actually produce the first customers cars?
Examples for possible improvements on the Turbo S which do not cost a lot and/or do not require any re-certification:
1. Tweaking the engine mapping for slightly better acceleration performance (it would be sufficient if test results in car magazines are amazing, they could leave the factory claims the same)
2. More options for the Sport Chrono package (adjustment of single options like throttle response, overboost time, etc. in the PCM system, with the possibility to save and name favorite combos).
3. Nicer engine badge/airfilter box (something with carbon or whatever but different from the regular Turbo)
4. Different mapping for the exhaust system flaps, so the car sounds raunchier, a bit louder
5. PDK Sport Mode (similar to GT3) with the push of a button and/or adjustment from PCM system (Sport Chrono)
6. "Turbo S" instead of current "Turbo" engraving below the PDK shift lever (maybe this was only a flaw on the pre-production cars and the final thing gets the "Turbo S" engraving?)
7. Black painted exhaust pipes (better differentiation from Turbo exhaust pipes). They are already darker as far as I understood but not really black (like on my Cayenne GTS for example).
8. Speedmeter with 360 or 370 kph scale (right now, the final number is 350 kph) for both, Turbo and Turbo S
9. Option to put a "Turbo S" logo on the headrest (like the red GTS on the Cayenne/Panamera GTS models)
10. Option for black painted wheels
11. Option for "black" LED front lights
12. Option for darker (or even black) backlights
13. Option to choose a different PCCB caliper color (like red or black for example...)
I'm also not a fan of the new daylight running lights, the "four spots LED" daylight running lights from the Panamera/Cayenne GTS/Turbo/Turbo S are much nicer in my opinion but I guess it is too late to change that.
A few little things can already change the buying experience...
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche Panamera Turbo S, Cayenne GTS (958), 991 Turbo S (Oct. 5th), BMW X3 35d (2013)