Jun 16, 2015 12:55:28 PM
Jun 16, 2015 12:57:02 PM
olli:So here is the promised brief summary of my initial impressions after the first, very enjoyable weekend
Test drive
As I am still running it in, I did not cover any meaningful distance on a motorway, let alone a track. Instead, I drove it extensively on a “lap” with a total distance of about 120 km of country roads strung together over the years in my wild motorcycling days, with mostly very light traffic and some great low to mid-speed corners. I did various permutations of the “lap” several times….
Engine
Heeding RC's and the dealer's advice, I did not rev it above 4-4.5K rpm. As the engine and the sound (flap opening) really come alive only from about 3.5K rpm, this did not leave a whole lot of room for manouevre and I barely scratched the surface of what this thing can do…but it was a delight to know that so much more is coming. Below this level, the engine is smooth and very well behaved, it is hard to believe that you are supposed to sitting in a road legal track toy, the sound is good but unobtrusive.
PDK
Given the self-imposed initial rev limit, it was great to benefit from the ultra quick upshifts to keep the engine in the targeted rev range even during more spirited driving (all settings in normal). Keeping it there during downshifts under hard braking was not so easy, though...
Chassis, Handling
Given some the twisty roads involved, the available speed range was more than sufficient to get an initial sense for what the car is capable of. I know these roads like the palm of my hand and I have many reference points from my previous 911s (GT2/3/RS, most recently my DD 997.2 Turbo S) and other cars (plus bikes).
In a nutshell, based on my personal experience, there is just nothing that comes close to it in terms of the sharpness and precision of the turn-in, not even a hint of understeer and cornering speeds are amazing without even trying too hard. But one thing is for sure, there is no way anyone could exploit its handling potential on a public road…
Interior
The 918 bucket seats are great for spirited road (and, going forward, track) driving and I found it easy to find an optimal seating position. However, as the angle of the backrest cannot be adjusted/tilted, you will find your creature comfort may be somewhat compromised after a couple of hours or so…and your lower back will confirm that.
DD Useability
I have to say that to my surprise, the RS seems to be much more usable in the real world than expected. If you don’t push it and have PDK in auto mode, it is a pretty civilized car and it does not make you feel compelled to use its power and overall handling potential all the time, leaving you with a sense of frustration when that is not possible due to traffic conditions, etc.
The ride is not overly harsh or stiff, and if it was not for the wing and the bucket seats, you could be forgiven for forgetting that you are not sitting in an “ordinary” 911.
Well done Olly,as soon you are out of the engine break in,make us an update.
997TT RS Tuning stage II(sold),2011 Cayenne Turbo(sold),waiting 991 GT3 RS
Jun 16, 2015 1:07:03 PM
Gauss:There's something about the car that makes it look a little bulky in some videos and photos...maybe it's the big tyres and the high ground clearance.
When stationary the ride height at the back looks very elevated.
It could be that with the excessive down force generated at speed from the large wing and the consequent high pressure on the suspension, this high elevation when not moving was essential.
"Form follows function"
Jun 16, 2015 1:23:23 PM
SportCarGroup:
43
GT Silver
for the first time since last 10 years I like a silver Porsche. I would go for GT silver.
Jun 16, 2015 2:15:05 PM
Jun 16, 2015 2:23:53 PM
I saw this week-end many RS in Orange and trust me with black wheels(to my eye) it looks AMAZINGLY good ! - also the orange seat inlays are fantastically cool ! still sticking with White but Orange is a very good choice whoever ordered it !!!!! In General the car has unbelievable presence live ! Love it !!!
Jun 16, 2015 2:38:10 PM
BjoernB:I saw this week-end many RS in Orange and trust me with black wheels(to my eye) it looks AMAZINGLY good ! - also the orange seat inlays are fantastically cool ! still sticking with White but Orange is a very good choice whoever ordered it !!!!! In General the car has unbelievable presence live ! Love it !!!
you take me up a few,thanks...
997TT RS Tuning stage II(sold),2011 Cayenne Turbo(sold),waiting 991 GT3 RS
Jun 16, 2015 2:40:44 PM
Super Darius:BjoernB:I saw this week-end many RS in Orange and trust me with black wheels(to my eye) it looks AMAZINGLY good ! - also the orange seat inlays are fantastically cool ! still sticking with White but Orange is a very good choice whoever ordered it !!!!! In General the car has unbelievable presence live ! Love it !!!
you take me up a few,thanks...
u will be a very very happy man once you have it - it's a entirely new Level....
Jun 16, 2015 2:41:25 PM
JP1:About the color, in my opinion, difficult to say but its not "strong" enough - the color in the sun is "fading?" away...
like to tell you prefer it more "shining"?
under the lights of Geneva seems more brillant,but for me maybe too much...,for example i don't like the orange of McLaren,is "shots" too much...
--
997TT RS Tuning stage II(sold),2011 Cayenne Turbo(sold),waiting 991 GT3 RS
Jun 16, 2015 3:29:32 PM
LO to me looks like the colour you would get if you mixed 3/4 of orange with 1/4 of red paint. It definitely looks more orange than red in real. In photos/videos it always looks the other way around. The name is rightfully "Lava ORANGE" and not "Lava RED".
Porsche 911 GT3 - Guards Red 997 MKII Clubsport
Jun 16, 2015 4:07:19 PM