Re: New 991 Turbo/Turbo S - If you could change them...what would you want?
RC:
Mithras:
No, I still don't understand. You put an extra gear in there for fuel efficiency and CO2. I'm fine with top speed being in 6th gear (6 are more than enough) and have a long long 7th. I would just like shorter gears 1 through 6. As it is both 6th and 7th are overdrives... The gap between 2nd and 3rd is massive right now and that has nothing to do with emissions or gas mileage.
So you basically want Porsche to make the cars slower? Does this make sense to you? Especially nowadays, when "family" cars like the new Audi RS6, the new M5 or the latest E63 have a top speed of 305 kph (over 190 mph)? The 991 Turbo S is in my opinion the perfect Autobahn car, the top speed is high enough to satisfy most customers and of course the somehow "limited" top speed (318 kph or 199 mph) has also advantages for Porsche since they do not have to spend more money for tires, aerodynamics, etc. development/production cost. Every additional kph/mph in that speed range creates issues regarding tires, aerodynamics, cooling, etc., so keeping the speed lower, actually saves development/production cost and of course leaves some "air" left for future improvements.
Also look at McLaren for example: The MP4-12C is a very fast car with a top speed which will never be "needed" in most regions. So why doesn't McLaren provide a shorter gear ratio and thus a slower top speed? I'm no engineer but I guess there is more into it than meets the eye and according to engineers (not necessarily only Porsche) I've met and spoken to over the various years, adapting fuel consumption/CO2 values to new laws is a real pain in the ass. I take their word for it.
Like I said before, I'm no engineer but things aren't that simple (anymore).
Define slower! I couldn't give two hoots if a car can go 185mph or 205mph. But shave 1.5 seconds off the 0-200kph and I think you have a faster car, even if the top speed is slower...
There are only a few countries in the world where top speed is even close to a consideration. The overwhelming vast majority of Porsches are sold in places where they will never get to their top speed. But faster acceleration can still be used. I think THAT is what makes the car faster. And that is shorter and tighter gears. You don't need to be able to go 100mph++ in 3rd when you have 4 more gears!!!
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Past-President, Porsche Club of America - Upper Canada Region