nate

I was thinking of the thread on building a <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=004102" target="_blank">GM V8 powered 911</a> when I was looking through the September issue of Road & Track and saw an article on the 2004 Carrera ("Porsches with Personallity" - page 59). According to the article the 2004 will be offered with two engine choices a 3.8l H6 and a 4.5l V8. The power is definatley appealling, but IMO, it's no longer a 911.

richard glickel

Personally, I don't think the 996 is a "911".

I suppose back in '64 the 356 guys, didn't feel the 911's additional two cylinders were really Porsche-like.

Of course, 8 cylinder engines are nothing new to Porsche (and I'm not referring to the 928). The Porsche factory had good success with 8 cylinder power plants in the early '60s.

So, the future Porsches won't be a 911, and the 911 wasn't a 356, and so on . . . but, it will be a Porsche. There is no substitute?

Richard
'87 Carrera-3.6L

Chris Martin

I just read that myself. Interesting idea! I can only imagine what kind of power Porsche can massage out of a twin turbo v8.

I agree it's not your fathers 911, but as long as the engine is in the rear I say it's a 911. Things have to progess and for Porsche to maintain it's stature in the market they need to be on top. If it takes a v8 so be it.

nate

[quote] Personally, I don't think the 996 is a "911". <hr></blockquote>

I agree whole heartedly. I think it is an incredible car, but the last true 911 was the 993.

I'm sure that Porsche has thought about the higher center of gravity with the V configuration. To me this seems to be a serious flaw in putting a V8 into a 911. I have also read and been told that the horizontally opposed configuration of the jugs upsets the vehicle's stability (in a turn) less than an inline or V configuration because the pistons push and pull at the crank in opposite directions.

Mongo

though this is coming from a 944 and 928 owner, some 911 owners don't consider our cars 'real porsches' but I would hate to see any american powerplant in a pure German vehicle. it's sacriligious. <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />

<img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

kenratboy

Why not an inline 8?

He he he...

I to just gor Road & Track today!!! Nice issue.

Hey if the Ceyanne will have the V-8, why not toss it in the 911? But, will there be any room left in the little engine hole... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Geoffrey

I thought the picture in Road & Track of the 911 looked a lot like the current Mustang GT.

Sean Hamilton

[quote]Originally posted by nate:
<strong>
........but the last true 911 was the 993.
........</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'd agree Nate - the last of the air/oil cooled and the last of the 911 shape - they were on a good thing but for everything after the 993, they didn't stick to it (IMHO).
Still, same was probably said when the over-riders and platypus bumpers came out all those years ago.

nate

[quote] Still, same was probably said when the over-riders and platypus bumpers came out all those years ago. <hr></blockquote>

This is probably true, but the architecture of the vehicle changed with the addition of the water cooled power plant in the 996. It is similar to the BMW series lines. The 3 series has a 325, 318, etc. They are all the same series, but different models in the series. For Porsche, they are all 911s, whether air or water cooled. Probably irrelevant since the 996 is a great car and I would assume that the engineers putting a V8 in the sucessor to the 996 will craft a great car as well.

lou951

I disagree with those that say that a 996 is not a 911. I've owned various 911's including a '96 993 C4. Although it was a great car, my present '02 996 is a better car in all respects. Many of those that don't like the 996 don't see it for what it is. It is the culmination of all the 911 technology and tradition and the next step in the line's evolution. We all know that to keep the boxer six alive it had to go the water-cooled route to meet present and future emmission requirements. Even the racing air-cooled motors started using water-cooled heads to promote even and efficient cooling that led to optimal thermal efficiency. I do, however, have a sweet spot for the 993's muscular styling, but the 996 is a more efficient design.
This is almost the same snobbery that went on between the 911 crowd and the water-cooled transaxle crowd in the 80's. Funny thing was that a 944 turbo could outperform a 911 in it's day and today a 996 could outperform a 993/964/911 any day. It's just evolutionary. HMMM, but about that v-8?