JimFlat6:
Chris Harris is a petrol head, racer and a automotive intellectual. His recent GT3 test showed he has some doubts about just where Porsche is going. Maybe he drove the new Turbo S and was completely underwhelmed. Not that it isn't super fast etc, but its so refined with so many digital "enablers" that the joy of actually driving may not have been there for him.
This is a problem shared by many car manufacturers as a combination of technology advances in many areas, vast improvements in materials understanding/quality/use, safety legislation improvements, tyre performance and great leaps in NVH importance have combined to bring us cars that are much more rigid, better insulated, much quieter, and have far higher levels of mechanical grip. These all combine to make the driver feel less connected until you start to breach their limits through higher speeds. These attributes are great for an everyday car to carry you stress free through the grind of congestion but not so much pleasure for a weekend toy. Trying to cover both bases with one car is extremely difficult.
There has been a greater focus on removing driver inputs to improve fuel and CO2 figures through the increased use of DCT style transmissions, electric steering and stop/start. There is also the downward creep of advanced technology that was once the preserve of high end luxury cars into everyday mundane hatchbacks - things like radar cruise control, lane change assist, brake assist, headlight assist that are even further removing driver input/responsibility.
Enthusiasts say they don't want these features in any of their sports cars but if you read a lot of forums where buyers are purchasing their first expensive sports car, many of those buyers are critical of Porsche, Ferrari, Aston etc for not having all of these whizz bang gizmos that they have become accustomed to in their MB's, Audis, Lexus, BMW etc and also complain about the harsh ride or constant loud noise of the engine. It's therefore little wonder the marketing departments of Porsche and others are demanding that their engineers incorporate all of these systems as it is what the new generation of buyers expect. There are now nearly as many discussions on some forums about the media system in a car and it's connectivity to smart phones, the web etc as there are about aspects of it's performance, handling, engine, braking etc.
It is a slow but steady creep towards the inevitable - cars that drive themselves. As traffic volume increases and driving standards generally decrease as a result of ageing populations coupled to a growing number of younger drivers more interested in social networking whilst driving than paying attention to the road that may be no bad thing on major routes
All of the above is a major factor in the rise of popularity of older models amongst enthusiasts. Throw out the air con, heated seats, advanced cabin sound proofing, rigid modern bodyshells, wide profile tyres, engine management systems, all the acronyms - PTV, PASM, PDCC, PTM, ABS...., media unit, the list goes on.... and you are left with a car that you have to actually drive, one in which you are not insulated from the outside conditions because you can feel it's hot or cold, you feel the available grip through that most sensitive instrument - the seat of your pants , you feel cornering forces building as you have no power steering, you have to plan your approach to corners as you have no safety back up if you over cook the speed etc. It brings back the most important short, three letter addition to the spec sheet - FUN