GSIRM3

Many will say the last purist 911 predates the 991.

Larry Cable

actually just to be clear on my intent (in case it was misconstrued), it was not to make any point whatsoever in relation to the evolution of the 911 and purism etc, it was just to encourage you to experience driving a 996 GT3 should you get a chance ... nothing more... they are (all) special cars I just think the 996 GT3 is the most challenging and rewarding 911 drive I personally have been lucky enough to experience ... and I include in those experiences; watching my cup spoiler lip bounce down the A70 in my rear view mirror having bottomed the car at 120mph and torn it off, sliding across the grass heading to Shell Corner from Island at Oulton Park (and tearing off the spoiler lip in the process), and last but not least blasting up the Kesselchen to Klostertal section of the Nordschleife at 130 and wondering to myself where the line went...

great times, great 911, try one if you get the opportunity.

MJBird993

See... It has not been announced, it's just Internet lore. Every report quotes the one, singular, unconfined source.

I'll believe it when I see a press release from Porsche.

chuck911

You mean, like in my first post? 993, RS America, 73 RS…. not even gonna count the 356 guys who think the 911 itself made the 356 the last 'purist' Porsche…

Also people are nuts to think the move to turbo's is some kind of regulatory first. Porsche hasn't sold a car in America in 30 years that wasn't chock full of features dictated by our regulatory overlords. Everything from throttle response to gearing to how low the belt line isn't is a reflection of regulatory reality. Four legs good, two legs bad.

Larry Cable

I think you are in denial...

take a look at every "facelift" mule spy photo ... turbos all.

destaccado

I own both. Not a chance in F-N hell.

- Interiors that were designed to appeal to the Asian market and will look extremely dated in the next 5 years as their PCM displays begin to look like circa 1960 color TVs.

- Bastardized 7-speed manual that is really a PDK you switch the gears of yourself.

- Electric-power steering

- Overall production numbers an order of magnitude higher.

- Resale price on the 991 is following the 996/997 trend of steep depreciation as opposed to the 993 trend which closely mirrored what 997.1 GT3's are doing.

etc...

destaccado

Yep. Not a chance that the GTS with it's 7-speed PDK-manual tranny is a "purist" 911. It's a 991 with an ugly sport design front end and cheap black plastic vents on the back + the powerkit minus the carbon engine cover at a reduced price. I wanted to buy one until I went to the auto show and saw it. The cheap black plastic vents on the rear that I thought looked incredible in photos ARE that bad.

The free market already decided the 997 GT3 models are the last purist models via their resale values.

destaccado

Like you I have good years left. I gotta say - the 911 I dreamt about owning growing up was definitely not related to the 991. That 911 completely died with the 997. My 991 is a great car in the - 'everyday driver, comfortable, easy enough for my girlfriend to use, sounds great, looks incredible' sort of way. ...but in terms of fun to drive on the street my 993 and the 997's I've driven absolutely destroy it. Porsche's current motto is "every car a sports car" which is hilarious considering the 911 is hardly a sports car anymore.

FORENN

I agree with your comments about NA v. Turbo, but the GT3 is no longer MT, which goes to the Porsche Kool-Aid drinking you referenced. This issue alone rules out the 1GT3 from making the purist category. I'm a long-time 911 enthusiast/owner (five under my belt) but I barely recognize these cars any more.

MerlinsGarage

What is it?

FORENN

Some enthusiasts view the 911 as more of a GT car now. This view has been around for a while (since pre-991 days), and has been asserted by a few auto journalists, as well. [Don't shoot the messenger, please!] I think the modern 911 can be viewed both ways.

MerlinsGarage

Ok, so a higher level of performance than "Sport". Sport being Minis, GTIs, Focus etc......gotcha.

STG

With all the options and trim levels you can make a 911 a "true sports car" or a "boulevard cruiser" as I've heard it described.

It's a great thing they've done to making it appealing from a marketing perspective to such a diverse customer base in my opinion.

FORENN

Just trying to provide a helpful answer to your question. I honestly couldn't care less as I don't buy cars based on how others view them.

Your response reminds me: I believe Chris Harris, in his 991 GT3 review, said that for every purist who refused to buy a 991 GT3 because it lacked manual, there would be five new buyers because of what the GT3 has become (or something to this effect). PDK-S is very good and a bit friendlier for folks who want a GT3 as a daily driver, so I'm sure this move on Porsche's part made many potential buyers happy.

chuck911

There's a few guys showing they have a decent perspective on things, but a lot more would do well to comb through some old back issues of R&T, etc. Do that and I guarantee you'll be shocked to see almost the exact same things being said about the 911 twenty, thirty years ago. Seriously. The sport/GT question is as old as the car itself!

As for the 'purist' question, whatever that means. There's definitely those who've made a fetish, or religion if you prefer, of the clutch pedal. For them I guess as long as there's a clutch they will cling to the 'purist' pose. For everyone else its been a long, slow slog.

If 'purist' means driver only no corrective systems, well Porsche introduced ABS (and power steering) on the 964 so the last purist 911 was the Carrera. But hey, what about fuel injection? Surely 'purist' means carburetors? Or does someone want to defend DFI as being more 'purist' than Weber? I don't think so.

So then the last 'purist' 911 was whatever year they made the last 911T. Which somebody can look up but off hand I'd say takes us back to the 60's.

Last I looked, we're just shy of 2015. Awful late to be talking about the last 'purist' 911. But there you go….