C&D AP Article - More Good Stuff on the Way
03-12-2015, 02:54 PM
#31
Race Director
I really enjoy AP and respect his points of views, but with all due respect to him and the entire GT motorsport team at Porsche, these decisions he's hinting at (NA engines, PDK, RWD, etc.) aren't really his to make, or those of the GT division.
They are R&D, and Porsche has a separate department that has to (1) balance the books, (2) answer to shareholders, and (3) prevent an internecine proxy fight.
It would be great if Porsche could do and produce all the things we want here (i.e., 7MT car, NA engine, RWD, under 1200 kg, etc.) but the future of Porsche (as our own Eduardo has alluded to) is a mid-engine FeFi in the guise of the 960, or whatever they want to call it.
They are R&D, and Porsche has a separate department that has to (1) balance the books, (2) answer to shareholders, and (3) prevent an internecine proxy fight.
It would be great if Porsche could do and produce all the things we want here (i.e., 7MT car, NA engine, RWD, under 1200 kg, etc.) but the future of Porsche (as our own Eduardo has alluded to) is a mid-engine FeFi in the guise of the 960, or whatever they want to call it.
03-12-2015, 03:01 PM
#32
Race Director
what I cant square in my mind how the GT division can NOT use these technologies when the main divsion is? I mean the current Turbo is faster than the GT3 with the same tires. So whats AP to do to keep up w/ the next 911?
03-12-2015, 03:47 PM
#33
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
So far the Porsche customer base is buying that mantra from the GT division lock, stock and barrel.
So far.
03-12-2015, 03:57 PM
#35
Race Director
I know people who know AP.
What worries me here is the above highlighted. This will need board clearance to become reality.
They didnt have problems selling 3300 GT3 and they wont have problems selling 1800 RS both of which are PDK. The fact 1800-2500 Cayman GT4 (a new product and the cheapest GT car ever yet) is sold out is probably not evidence enough for the board to pay for BOTH a manual and PDK version of a GT3 in the future.
My prediction here is GT3 will be offered manual only 991.2 gen (it will be slower than 991.1 Gen) and the 991.2 Gen will be offered PDK only for headline performance figures and outright Ring time "dominance" in class/price.
Yes customers will be given the choice. GT3 or RS. No bad thing I reckon...if AP can get the board to compromise to that level...
What worries me here is the above highlighted. This will need board clearance to become reality.
They didnt have problems selling 3300 GT3 and they wont have problems selling 1800 RS both of which are PDK. The fact 1800-2500 Cayman GT4 (a new product and the cheapest GT car ever yet) is sold out is probably not evidence enough for the board to pay for BOTH a manual and PDK version of a GT3 in the future.
My prediction here is GT3 will be offered manual only 991.2 gen (it will be slower than 991.1 Gen) and the 991.2 Gen will be offered PDK only for headline performance figures and outright Ring time "dominance" in class/price.
Yes customers will be given the choice. GT3 or RS. No bad thing I reckon...if AP can get the board to compromise to that level...
I think that is what you meant and I hope you are right because I would sign up for the manual now
03-12-2015, 03:57 PM
#36
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
At some point Porsche is going to go mid-engine supercar-ish (i.e. the FeFi 960), at which point it'll be FI V8, full blown flappy paddles, etc.
It's just a matter of whether they can still retain driving experience and feel in that kind of setup/platform. The 991 TTS is not it, as great of a car as that may be.
03-12-2015, 04:26 PM
#37
Three Wheelin'
AP is very good at edging the line of just enough info in an interview. He has handled these interviews with precision for a long time. While all news is positive, the way everything is tactically worded it was basically saying that we aren't committed in a specific direction. The GT4 is selling well because it's a great chassis, now is a GT and the fact it falls at a very good price point for all the above when compared to GT3. Let's not kid ourselves, all these GT4s would still sell out if they had only offered the PDK-S. So while I love the fact they intro'd the car with manual I'm not sure the story has ended on if manual is here to stay in GT lineup. I think the ultimate test for market on manual will be to offer both trans at same time and when smoke clears find out if market says yes, we want the enjoyment manual trans gives us in our GT cars.....my suspicion is that with a high revving NA engine with correct trans ratios the PDK-S will dominate these GT cars going forward. Let's hold out hope that AP is a great salesman in boardroom to keep them around.
03-12-2015, 04:32 PM
#38
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More than 500 hp on super fine car
like 911 ( is not a muscle car)
without a motosport
dual clutch (PDK S not a PDK...) is really a bad idea
like 911 ( is not a muscle car)
without a motosport
dual clutch (PDK S not a PDK...) is really a bad idea
03-12-2015, 04:54 PM
#39
Thanks for the input.
03-12-2015, 06:38 PM
#43
991.2 would work well as a 991rs replacement! Skip the aero holes and vents and put most of the other RS stuff in it including the 4.0! And then put the 991.2RS on a real diet! And I mean old fashion RS club sport diet! Barely street legal. Home run!
03-12-2015, 06:46 PM
#44
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i look in past to buy a 997 or 993 whichever model
competing with mclaren and ferrari
with a manual.. that s for nostalgic
but then what better than a manual 993 or maybe a beatiful Singer?
03-12-2015, 07:09 PM
#45
And no Ferrari thanks, though perhaps one day after FF/ F12 prices crash...