RC:
ADias:
There are 2 types of 911 fans in this forum. Those who grew up with the 911 and like its all-in-the-rear pendulum dynamics and spartan sports car layout, and those who want the latest gizmo. I belong to the 1st.
No one will convince me that the 991 will drive the same. Simply no way, given its 4" longer WB. It will drive more like a Panamera, and a Panamera drives fantastic. To the new members who love the 991, I say again - yes it will drive fantastic, perhaps more stable than the 997, but for some of us - and there ar plenty of us - that is not a good thing.
But no matter, there are plenty of great 911s since the 901 till the 997.2. Yesterday, I attended the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, part of the Monterey Car Week. Plenty of great restored 911s - some like the '73 lime green duck tail here:
See more Concours Photos HERE.
No, there are two kind of 911 fans: Those who are always seem to live in the past, claiming that the older 911s have always been better, faster, sportier, more attractive and there are those, who enjoy the subtle but constantly moving on evolution of the 911.
I belong to the second group.
The 911 is a legend, no doubt about it. I started with a 993, which, compared to my former BMW M3 Coupe 3.0 with 286 hp, was very difficult to drive. Since the 993, I had two 996 Carrera and Carrera 4 Powerkit, one 996 Turbo, one 997 Carrera S, one 997 Turbo and now the 997 Carrera GTS Cabriolet. I can assure you with every single cell of my body that the Carrera GTS is the best 911 Carrera Porsche ever built. Ever. This includes the Carrera RS.
It really depends on what you are looking for: I am looking for the most refined and fastest 911 (at the level of each model) and I couldn't care less about vintage or classic models. To be honest, I actually don't like them too much, they are unsafe (I still remember the guy who got killed in his vintage classic Porsche because the steering went through his chest...at a speed of only 40 kph), they are pretty slow compared to modern Porsches and while I like how they look, I couldn't dislike more how the drive.
Don't get me wrong but it fascinates me a lot to see how Porsche succeeds in modernizing the 911 and keeping it alive. Compare the current 997 to the competition and despite the "old VW Beetle derivate", like some call it sarcastically, the 997 is the hell of a sports car.
I didn't like the 996 too much and I think that the 997 is actually Porsche's 911 masterpiece but the new 991 is not much different and if it drives better, I'm satisfied.
Hello Rennteam Moderator,
Well, Im not living in the past..altough I also have a Porsche 356, + one other oldtimer...but I would for example never pay these ridicoulous prices for these cars today. Yes, old Porsches are unsafe..I know that..thats why Im not driving them daily...but still I like them ..Im a Porsche fan and I like to collect and own as many as possible. But just because Im drive a 356 for 1000km in a year Im living in the past?? Just because Im saying a 911 without being able to see the engine (is for me) not a real 911 anymore? Come on..your loosing every sense of neutrality here...if youre afraid to agree that even the 991 has some flaws..then..becomes clear by whom you are paid..
And yes I enjow driving my 997 much more then the oldtimers...and yes I agree with you fully the 997 is not a beetle (those comments are just ridicoulus and stupid)..and compared to the competition its still very good..Porsche has to be ashamed of nothing....and regarding the issue of the 997 not being able to be stable at high speeds...I know the 997GT3.1..the 997.GT2 and the 997.2 GT3...the last 997s are already much better at high speeds...saying that the GT3 2010 is unstable at high speeds is wrong..
Coming back to the 991: what I dont like here is that some (and it seems mostly rennteam moderators?!) are trying to keep down any sort of criticism...and just promoting the idea.."oh whatever Porsche does is great, everything new is always better, and we need now 100 switches on the dashboard..and not seing the engine anymore is great because it doesnt matter anymore"..it seems a bit like 16olds storming into the shops for getting new apple gizmos.
I dont need always the latest gizmos and more buttons..the 997 is already a very good car..but what Im trying to say is that performace wise we have reached already almost the top.just read the latest Sport Auto on the GT3RS 4.0L...
The Carrera GT in 2004 did the ring in 7:33..in the middle of 2011 only three cars that have gone below that..the good news is that two out these are Porsches..Im happy about that. But words like the 991 is ages better in handling, it will marginalise the 997 in every aspect..thats complet bs...- at least performance wise
I have already mentioned that here.
997.1 S : 8:05 at the ring
991 (standard with 350hp): 8:05 at the ring (figues mentioned by Mr Achleintner in several German articles..he should know what hes talking about)
yes..I know this wining will start...but the 997.1 had a sports chassis...but still..if the 991 is so great and so much better and so much newer..and it cant be one sec. faster then 997.1?..not even talking about the 997.2..these figures - with same hp - just leave it up to the chassis to make the difference..wich according to these numbers and facts is close to 0 - at least for the standard car.
Yes, the 991 will be more comfortable, will be more economical..will have more gizmos..but for me these things are not so important..I dont change everyday my clothes like a fashion style..
Modern cars are already so well developped (including the 997, 458 etc) that it will not be possible anymore to gain significant performance gains..people who have some racing experience know what Im talking about..
take care,