When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I like the way my 991.2 Turbo sits, but yikes . . . this 991.2 non-"Turbo" likes a bit piggy and kind of funky when sitting right next the 997.2. I really like the 997.2 lines . . ., and think the deal is the 2011, 12, and 13 997.2 Turbo if one wants a truly bad **** looking car with great performance
A few years ago, these videos prompted me to rethink what I drive every day—and will pay for, especially in light of what I pay for in healthcare each month! When it comes to safety technology, each generation can make a big difference. I'm not ready for a Volvo XC90 just yet, and I'll still drive a vintage Porsche from time to time, but the 991 represents a far more attractive bet in today's world of distracted drivers than many of my previous choices.
I think Porsche's been practicing some of this a lot longer than we all think. Here's my story - In 1988, my brother and father were in a head-on collision at 50+ mph(100+ mph closing velocity) on a two lane road in my father's 1975.5 911T. The other driver was intoxicated and crossed the center line at dusk with no time to react. She was driving an 1981 Olds Cutlass. She was severely injured and spent weeks in intensive care. My brother (who was 10 years old at the time, and riding in the front seat without a seatbelt) - slid below the front dash and walked away with a minor concussion from hitting his head on the dash. My father also walked away with a severe bruise from the seatbelt and a broken ankle.
The front of the 911 was gone forward of the firewall. Other than the front fenders and hood, nothing larger than a matchbox left - it was utterly disintegrated. The passenger cabin was completely intact. In the process that followed, it was determined that the cabin had deformed less than 5% from its factory specifications in any dimension, the engine and transmission sheared from their mounts and the cabin floated above them. The steering column collapsed at the pinion precisely as designed, and did not move at all relative to the firewall. Even with no roll-cage, the car simply dissipated the energy of impact around the cabin and my brother and father are alive today because of that engineering excellence.
I never felt unsafe in my 993 - nor do I in the 991 - except around the lifted trucks we have around these parts of Texas...
I think Porsche's been practicing some of this a lot longer than we all think. Here's my story - In 1988, my brother and father were in a head-on collision at 50+ mph(100+ mph closing velocity) on a two lane road in my father's 1975.5 911T. The other driver was intoxicated and crossed the center line at dusk with no time to react. She was driving an 1981 Olds Cutlass. She was severely injured and spent weeks in intensive care. My brother (who was 10 years old at the time, and riding in the front seat without a seatbelt) - slid below the front dash and walked away with a minor concussion from hitting his head on the dash. My father also walked away with a severe bruise from the seatbelt and a broken ankle.
The front of the 911 was gone forward of the firewall. Other than the front fenders and hood, nothing larger than a matchbox left - it was utterly disintegrated. The passenger cabin was completely intact. In the process that followed, it was determined that the cabin had deformed less than 5% from its factory specifications in any dimension, the engine and transmission sheared from their mounts and the cabin floated above them. The steering column collapsed at the pinion precisely as designed, and did not move at all relative to the firewall. Even with no roll-cage, the car simply dissipated the energy of impact around the cabin and my brother and father are alive today because of that engineering excellence.
I never felt unsafe in my 993 - nor do I in the 991 - except around the lifted trucks we have around these parts of Texas...
Fully agree. In speaking with a dismantler of Porsches—who did it for 40 years—I was surprised by his take on the survivability in crashes in old Porsches, from the 911s/912s/914s forward. And I've always felt Mercedes and Porsche were quietly among the safest cars at any price. But the same thinking that made Porsches or the 1970s unexpectdely safe has surely been applied (and multiplied) in the company's later cars, by legislative requirements as well as ethos.
I like the way my 991.2 Turbo sits, but yikes . . . this 991.2 non-"Turbo" likes a bit piggy and kind of funky when sitting right next the 997.2. I really like the 997.2 lines . . ., and think the deal is the 2011, 12, and 13 997.2 Turbo if one wants a truly bad **** looking car with great performance
^ Yes, 991 looks noticeably bigger than 997, just as 997 looks a lot bigger than a 993. No small part of it is taillight height.
But the image above is a deceptive camera angle/distortion; the 991 looks very "bent." Moving to the right a bit would level the playing field quite a bit...stepping back a bit with a longer lens would be better still.
Pic is slightly distorted but wow, so much wider! And look at the TIRES! Like steamrollers on the 991.
Even the second pic might be a little distorted as the 991 looks higher than the original 911, when, in fact, it is lower--51.0 vs 52.6 inches.
The correct widths are 63.4 for the early 911 and 71.2 for a C2, 72.9 for a C4.
But 305 rear tires are indeed about twice as wide as the original 165s. Of course, the original only had about a third of today's power--130 DIN hp--about 124 by modern standards.
Even the second pic might be a little distorted as the 991 looks higher than the original 911, when, in fact, it is lower--51.0 vs 52.6 inches.
The correct widths are 63.4 for the early 911 and 71.2 for a C2, 72.9 for a C4.
But 305 rear tires are indeed about twice as wide as the original 165s. Of course, the original only had about a third of today's power--130 DIN hp--about 124 by modern standards.
Porsche press photo...maybe they didn't put enough air in the tires on the original 911....
Some of the more accurate pic comparisons really drive home the earlier point about how the 991's dimensions and contours—wheelbase, width, tire sizes, length—are inevitable given its performance...in light of its ability to deal with 370 to 700 hp, it's rather amazing that it is as compact next to the 130-hp 901 as it is.
Contrary to my friend's assertions, I think the 991 is a marvel of packaging and weight containment.
^ Yes, 991 looks noticeably bigger than 997, just as 997 looks a lot bigger than a 993. No small part of it is taillight height.
But the image above is a deceptive camera angle/distortion; the 991 looks very "bent." Moving to the right a bit would level the playing field quite a bit...stepping back a bit with a longer lens would be better still.
^ Still has lens distortion. Doing magazines for 20 years has made me cringe at unintentional distortion. Who said a picture is worth 1,000 words? And if it is deceptive?
I hope the 992 has its weight trimmed - 997 really has the ideal size. 997 is still modern, so I do not understand with slight inflation in the body of the 991
I hope the 992 has its weight trimmed - 997 really has the ideal size. 997 is still modern, so I do not understand with slight inflation in the body of the 991
I agree on 997 as ideal size (for me) for a modern 911. 991 a bit too big for a "911" for me, but a great M3/GT350/Golf R alternative and dad mobile...
04-30-2018, 05:24 PM
