Quote:
Dock (Atlanta) said:
Quote:
Ferdie said:
This is one way to look at it - on the other side those are both the "basic" Turbos with automatic gearbox, which makes them pretty similiar in the end.
The quarter mile is about performance - it is obviously one of the platforms used to judge how much a manufacturer has improved their new car. The 996 Tip is at the bottom in terms of launching off the line, and it's the slowest 996 Turbo. Matching these two cars allows Porsche to enjoy the biggest "WOW" factor, but does not serve as a measurement of how much real performance increase the 997 TT is over the 996 TT.
Quote:
Ferdie said:On the other hand, 7 seconds improvement on the Ring shows that quite a substantial amount is due to increased hp numbers and bigger brakes - it would be pretty silly to expect bigger improvements due to the 996 TT's already fabulous performance!
Notice that you've never seen any Ring times for a 996 Turbo with X73? There's a reason for this...Porsche is in the business of selling cars (I have no problem with this, but realize it has much to do with how cars are advertised). If Porsche advertised that a 996 Turbo with X73 can run in the low 7:50's at the Ring, it doesn't leave much difference between that car and the next version to be released (the 997 TT). My guess is that if you add X50 to the 996 TT with X73, it would be very close to the 997 TT's Ring time.
When determining what performance increases a manufacturer is offering with their new model, it's important to match the best performing "old" model to the best performing "new" model.
Agree that 996TTS w/street tires prob would do 7:50ish N-ring, so P is doing clever marketing of 997TT vs typical clueless cust to compare vs 5-6yo N-ring times of 996TT w/415hp and old tech tires, etc.....
But don't know if a stiff X73 (or PASM in Sport) necessarily generates best times on a bumpy mtn road (akin to N-ring), esp in hands of a good rennteam driver (vs a pro).....
I suspect what P will struggle w/in marketing the 997TT to a few is lack of material N-ring time improvement for a pro driver, but perhaps 997TT will deliver important "feel" improvements to a rennteam-lvl driver on a bumpy mtn road in terms of traction/chassis balance/brake feel....and 60-120MPH fwy accel, w/no turbo lag
Given I'd bet 90%+ of 997TT/SL55 buyers just fixate on hp figs, 0-60MPH times, base price and lease terms (and when's the softer Cab coming out?
), the marketing challenge may not be as great as we fear.....
