Ordered an AMV8 over a Porsche
(wow...I didn't realise I ranted on for so long! I guess I just wanted Porsche to understand why we went with the AMV8, and maybe they can address some of the points I have made below....Surely I am not the only one that feels this way about Porsche....???)
My dad and I Just ordered an AMV8.
It has been specified as follows:
- Tungsten Silver (Exterior Paint)
- Phantom Grey (Leather Interior/Carpet)
- Tailor's Grey (Headliner)
- Alloy (Facia)
- Flint (Seat Belts)
Options include:
- 19" Wheels
- Red Callipers
- Chrome Grill
- Xenon (HID) Headlights
- Cruise Control
- Battery Conditioner
Before the purchase I test drove the Porsche Cayman, 997 and 997 S.
The main reasons we decided on the AMV8 were (in no particular order):
- Exclusivity
- Looks
- Engine
- Interior
- Dynamics
Exclusivity:
AM are only making 3,000 AMV8s a year versus approx 30,000 911s. Older Porsches have in the past held their resale value quite high. I don't expect this to happen to the 996 and 997 Porsches in the future. There are lots of examples of this in the Porsche range (eg 993 GT2 v 996 GT2). If you have lots of money and don't care about depreciation...then that is fine. But for most of us that isn't the case. I think this will be a big problem for Porsche in the future, when customers who have been burnt by huge depreciation, will avoid the Porsche brand.
Also...now that there are so many Porsche's on the roads...the non-Porsche-enthusiast types think they are all 'just Porsche's'. I drove the AMV8 through one of the richest parts of Sydney (Vaucluse), where people don't even blink an eye to Porsches, and people were straining to see:
1. What was making that awesome V8 sound (I'll talk about this more later)
2. What sort of great looking is it!
After I had driven by they were still straining their necks to look at the AMV8!!! Contrast that with the 3 Porsche's I tested, hardly anyone even glanced at it! (Note: except for the female police officer that pulled me over for a random breath test! She was very impressed with the standard 997). So this can be a plus or minus depending on what you want. But for us, exclusivity in terms of depreciation was a key consideration.
Looks:
The AMV8 just blows away the 911 and Cayman. It is just downright sexy. And because of the exclusivity, you don't see them very often, and thus don't tire of looking at it!
Looks are very subjective. However, 9 out of 10 people generally say they like the looks and design of the AMV8. With the Porsche's I don't think the 911 design is cutting edge enough now in 2006 (except for maybe the 997GT3RS). I love the 993, but come on guys (I'm talking to Porsche in Stuttgart), its been 10 years, and the 997 looks so similar to the 993! I want something new from Porsche, and don't want to be given a product (eg Cayman) that is engineered to go slower than their flagship model (911). I actually enjoyed driving the Cayman, but kept feeling like it needed more power and that it was engineered to go slower than the 911. I feel strongly that Porsche needs to break free. I also don't understand why the 911 has to be a rear engine (I'll talk about dynamics later). Why can't the 911 be a mid-rear? Rear engine is great for the track (like in my formula ford days), but on the road....mid-rear or front-mid engine layout is way better!
Why not make the racier/track versions of the 911 rear-engined, and the other road going versions mid-rear????
Engine:
Yes I know...the 997 S engine pulls harder etc. but on the road, you can hardly tell the difference. Plus I love V8s. Maybe it is an Australian thing (see www.v8supercars.com.au ) but a V8 has a way better sound than a 6!
I also strongly believe, that the AMV8's V8 is the best road-going engine/exhaust sound EVER - period!!!!! I've heard heaps of Lambos etc.....and the AMV8 kills them!
Interior:
When I got into the Porsche....I immediately felt disappointed. It all just felt like plastic and like it was going to break! When I got into the AMV8, it felt like a piece of fine jewellery! Plus most things are standard on the AMV8. The Porsche options list is huge....CRAZY HUGE....and expensive!
Dynamics:
Now, I have a bit of experience of rear-engined cars on the track (eg Formula Ford). And on the track, this is awesome! With the weight over the back you get better grip out of corners. And under braking the weight over the back keeps the car level and thus brakes better. Now we all know the golden 911 rule...thou shall not lift. If you do, you risk the rear spinning around. And on the track this is fine because you rarely would have to lift, and if you do, it is a relatively safe environment. However, on the road, there ARE times you have to lift, and the potential consequences if you do are a lot more severe than on the track. I'll give you an example that happened to me about 3 months ago. I was driving along the Great Ocean Road (http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/ ) to my beach house. I know this road back to front and have been driving it for 10 years. I was going very fast out of a bend and came suddenly upon a car that was doing about 4 times less in speed (excuse me for not being precise with my speeds, but the Police here are very strict and the fines very large!) Anyway, to cut a short story even shorter, I HAD to lift and brake suddenly. Had I been in a rear-engined 911, it WOULD have spun. I know the 997 is programmed to limit this, but in an emergency situation sheer physics will always win!
When I got into the AMV8, and put it on the limits etc., it just felt so natural and inspiring on the road. It didn't feel like it was going to bite me. It was very progressive. Now I have never driven a front-mid on the track, however, this car will rarely be tracked (that's what race cars are for!) so our decision was based on what was best for the road.
Conclusion:
So based on the above we decided on the AMV8. It arrives in April 2007 and I can't wait!
I'll be very interested to hear what everyone thinks of my views? However, don't get me wrong, I am not knocking Porsche, just some of their decisions that don't meet my personal needs.
My dad and I Just ordered an AMV8.
It has been specified as follows:
- Tungsten Silver (Exterior Paint)
- Phantom Grey (Leather Interior/Carpet)
- Tailor's Grey (Headliner)
- Alloy (Facia)
- Flint (Seat Belts)
Options include:
- 19" Wheels
- Red Callipers
- Chrome Grill
- Xenon (HID) Headlights
- Cruise Control
- Battery Conditioner
Before the purchase I test drove the Porsche Cayman, 997 and 997 S.
The main reasons we decided on the AMV8 were (in no particular order):
- Exclusivity
- Looks
- Engine
- Interior
- Dynamics
Exclusivity:
AM are only making 3,000 AMV8s a year versus approx 30,000 911s. Older Porsches have in the past held their resale value quite high. I don't expect this to happen to the 996 and 997 Porsches in the future. There are lots of examples of this in the Porsche range (eg 993 GT2 v 996 GT2). If you have lots of money and don't care about depreciation...then that is fine. But for most of us that isn't the case. I think this will be a big problem for Porsche in the future, when customers who have been burnt by huge depreciation, will avoid the Porsche brand.
Also...now that there are so many Porsche's on the roads...the non-Porsche-enthusiast types think they are all 'just Porsche's'. I drove the AMV8 through one of the richest parts of Sydney (Vaucluse), where people don't even blink an eye to Porsches, and people were straining to see:
1. What was making that awesome V8 sound (I'll talk about this more later)
2. What sort of great looking is it!
After I had driven by they were still straining their necks to look at the AMV8!!! Contrast that with the 3 Porsche's I tested, hardly anyone even glanced at it! (Note: except for the female police officer that pulled me over for a random breath test! She was very impressed with the standard 997). So this can be a plus or minus depending on what you want. But for us, exclusivity in terms of depreciation was a key consideration.
Looks:
The AMV8 just blows away the 911 and Cayman. It is just downright sexy. And because of the exclusivity, you don't see them very often, and thus don't tire of looking at it!
Looks are very subjective. However, 9 out of 10 people generally say they like the looks and design of the AMV8. With the Porsche's I don't think the 911 design is cutting edge enough now in 2006 (except for maybe the 997GT3RS). I love the 993, but come on guys (I'm talking to Porsche in Stuttgart), its been 10 years, and the 997 looks so similar to the 993! I want something new from Porsche, and don't want to be given a product (eg Cayman) that is engineered to go slower than their flagship model (911). I actually enjoyed driving the Cayman, but kept feeling like it needed more power and that it was engineered to go slower than the 911. I feel strongly that Porsche needs to break free. I also don't understand why the 911 has to be a rear engine (I'll talk about dynamics later). Why can't the 911 be a mid-rear? Rear engine is great for the track (like in my formula ford days), but on the road....mid-rear or front-mid engine layout is way better!
Why not make the racier/track versions of the 911 rear-engined, and the other road going versions mid-rear????
Engine:
Yes I know...the 997 S engine pulls harder etc. but on the road, you can hardly tell the difference. Plus I love V8s. Maybe it is an Australian thing (see www.v8supercars.com.au ) but a V8 has a way better sound than a 6!
I also strongly believe, that the AMV8's V8 is the best road-going engine/exhaust sound EVER - period!!!!! I've heard heaps of Lambos etc.....and the AMV8 kills them!
Interior:
When I got into the Porsche....I immediately felt disappointed. It all just felt like plastic and like it was going to break! When I got into the AMV8, it felt like a piece of fine jewellery! Plus most things are standard on the AMV8. The Porsche options list is huge....CRAZY HUGE....and expensive!
Dynamics:
Now, I have a bit of experience of rear-engined cars on the track (eg Formula Ford). And on the track, this is awesome! With the weight over the back you get better grip out of corners. And under braking the weight over the back keeps the car level and thus brakes better. Now we all know the golden 911 rule...thou shall not lift. If you do, you risk the rear spinning around. And on the track this is fine because you rarely would have to lift, and if you do, it is a relatively safe environment. However, on the road, there ARE times you have to lift, and the potential consequences if you do are a lot more severe than on the track. I'll give you an example that happened to me about 3 months ago. I was driving along the Great Ocean Road (http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/ ) to my beach house. I know this road back to front and have been driving it for 10 years. I was going very fast out of a bend and came suddenly upon a car that was doing about 4 times less in speed (excuse me for not being precise with my speeds, but the Police here are very strict and the fines very large!) Anyway, to cut a short story even shorter, I HAD to lift and brake suddenly. Had I been in a rear-engined 911, it WOULD have spun. I know the 997 is programmed to limit this, but in an emergency situation sheer physics will always win!
When I got into the AMV8, and put it on the limits etc., it just felt so natural and inspiring on the road. It didn't feel like it was going to bite me. It was very progressive. Now I have never driven a front-mid on the track, however, this car will rarely be tracked (that's what race cars are for!) so our decision was based on what was best for the road.
Conclusion:
So based on the above we decided on the AMV8. It arrives in April 2007 and I can't wait!
I'll be very interested to hear what everyone thinks of my views? However, don't get me wrong, I am not knocking Porsche, just some of their decisions that don't meet my personal needs.
The car just gets away from the driver more quickly.
