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nberry said:
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Fanch said:
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Later Porsche acknowledged the 996 was only a transitional vehicle and deviated from the true spirit of the 911.The 997 is the true 911. WTF?????
When and where did Porsche say that Nick?
Do you have a copy of the article please?
It would indeed be outrageous. I've never heard that before but would be extremely disappointed.
Francoise, the retired head engineer for the 996 acknowledged that the 996 was cobbled together to deal with cost issue and deviated from the usual hardcore driveability of the 911. He claimed because Porsche got over the financial hump the 997 was more in the spirit of the Porsche 911.
Carlos the 997TT will no doubt be an excellent performer and may even outperform the 430. So what? They will be produced en mass and if I wanted one I could have it by flashing two nickels to any Porsche sales person. However, once I have it what am I going to do with it? It will look like every other Porsche and drop like a rock in value as did the 996 TT. 
As far as losing money driving it off the showroom floor, any time someone pays $100,000 or more for a purchase and it loses at least 10% in value once possession changes hands, it speaks volumes regarding the purchase. 
I think saying that the 996 was "cobbled together" is out of context. So I will attempt to clarify it a bit.
Prior to the 996, the 993 and 964's cars were essentially each built TWICE! Once during assembly and then again AFTER
assembly, the latter due to QC in an attempt to make everything WORK and FIT right. Cars would literally come off the line and be stripped and rebuilt !
During the 993 cycle Porsche realized that they had to assemble cars differently if they were every going to make any money again! So they called in consultants from Toyota Supply Chain Management Services. Now those fellows did reorganize Porsche fcatory assembly,QC methodology,parts storage and delivery. I do not know how much of an impact they had on the design of the M96 engine design, but it had to be substantial, because the mantra then was "lean engineering"and "lean production."
Porsche managed to not only reduce assemble costs on a very complex car, but also managed to reduce hard parts costs while producing a sports car that met all of its performance targets. Most buyers simple have no clue as to
what a dry sump is, as most Ferrari buyers probably have no clue as where the Fiorano test track is either. But Porsche did choose to continue the 996 and GT3's with the older, more robust motor for those who do know and care.(and if that really matters at all is pure speculation)
All of this hand wringing about defects here and there being any causus belli to denounce Porsche in total is pretty much forum trash talk and hand wringing. Porsche has never built the "perfect" mechanical example of the 911 and to expect zero flaws and warts is ludicrous.
As for the people who moan like cows that the idea of spending a 100k on a sports car and whining that it better be 100% mechanically perfect, those guys are just spoiled brats with no real knowledge of hi performance engineering, small production automobile manufacturing, and likely have no real appreciation for useing the capabilities of the sports car they lust after anyway. Let them impress valets and parkling lot ogglers with something else.
I have watched a brand new Ferrari start up, catch fire and burn itself into the parking lot, does that mean I would ever say, "Oooohh Ferrari, dont ever get one of those, there no good!!!" No. These are specialty cars,
not taxis meant for Roumania !!!
So, to all who complain about Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati having dubious build quality, I say go cry a river about it all!
Care to describe?
) a fully optioned-out 17,000 mile 1993 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo (really a Mitsubishi), a 1990 Chrysler/Maserati TC (A lousy car, but it's only got 6,000 miles, one of 500 Maser-powered built, #498 to be exact. The last three built were the only triple black cars built, our car #498 was built for Henry Carlini, who was the head of Chrysler's Performance group at the time, #499 still belongs to Lee Iacocca, and #500 resides in the Chrysler museum), and a 1979 Porsche 928 5-speed with 6,600 miles. 
