K-A

I agree. The rear engine experience is what makes it a 911. And as I’ve said many times, proves to be the winning potion on the streets as 911’s are non-coincidentally the most iconic sports cars in history, which every marquee chases. Also because a GT2 RS with less power at less cost puts up faster Ring times than mid engine cars with tons more HP.

I wouldn’t not buy a 911 because it’s mid engine. I love mid engine. But the 911 is extra special, and imo proves supreme thanks to its rear engine layout.

dmk2

Will the high value C8 draw a large number of Porsche owners?

Will the C8 bridge the gap between Cayman and 911 so effectively that we see Porsche bring better developed sports cars to the market?

dmk2

I haven't driven a 992, but don't feel compelled to sell my 991.2 GTS for one.

However, the C8 presents a very intriguing alternative to my 12 year old Cayman S that I have been considering replacing.

gearboxtrouble

I don't think Porsche really need to change much about the 911 as a car. Yes certain changes (eg engine downsizing) are less than ideal but they're a result of EU regulations that will be very hard to get around for everybody. Being rear engined is no longer any sort of handicap and imho actually proves a plus for the 911 because it provides differentiation while also allowing rear seats large enough for children.

What Porsche does need to change is the value proposition. The 992 is just too expensive for what it is - a modest technical update of the much cheaper 991 that just can't justify the extra money. The way identical options on the 992 cost 20-50% more than they did on the 991 is emblematic of what Porsche's priorities are here. When a well specced 992S is well over $160k delivered you're suddenly competing with more desirable cars in a much more competitive segment. The $150-$200k range covers everything from the new R8 to used Huracans and 458s. The new C8 Corvette is a complete game changer given everything I've heard from fellow PCA members I've spoken to. Forget the Stingray which is pretty much sold out for over a year here - it is a near certainty that a near future 700+ hp mid engined Z06 with a modern tt V8 will be cheaper fully loaded than a stripper 992 S. If that isn't a sign that Porsche have gone too far I don't know what is. If the 992 fails it won't be because it's a bad car but because Porsche have ruined its competitive positioning by what looks like a combination of greed and overconfidence.

I don't know how to fix it tbh. Dropping prices precipitously would look bad, even if they use the weak euro as an excuse. Perhaps some combination of a modest (~10%) drop in MSRP and a lot more standard equipment would help improve its positioning.

dmk2

It has been a year and two months since I initiated this discussion.

There have been a 100 times as many views as posts. Perhaps that means a lot of us have been thinking about this, but don’t have a unifying answer.

Should Porsche consider consolidating to one sports car platform to concentrate their efforts as they push toward electric propulsion?

Another member proposed some very interesting approaches above...

dmk2

We have debated this subject and it looks like Porsche may have been paying attention:

https://www.motor1.com/news/370288/p...-gt4-rs-spied/

Let's hope it is an unrestricted mid-engine Cayman that Porsche doesn't have to make excuses for.

ClassJ

My guess is that they will apply the same GT3/ GT3RS thought process to this.

More track focused, PDK only. Same engine, maybe a few minor tweaks to it.

dmk2

I think it will be baby steps in the RS direction, not unlike what we saw with the early 996 and 997.1 cars.

Penn4S

First the 911 has had its engine moved forward with almost every new model that has come out. The driving characteristics of the 911 are unique and when pushed, really pushed the limits are extremely surprising. Now add RWS which increases the capability car even more. And we still have rear seats and storage inside the car.
I hope Porsche does not become influenced by the Corvette C8 but instead continues to make the 911 and every other iteration better. I am not interested in a C8 nor would ever consider one as my sports car so i want Porsche to stay on mission.And I'm on number 13.

dmk2

Agreed, just give us a full potency GT4 as well

0luke1

I don’t care how good the C8 is, it’s still a chevy and will, therefore, need to be serviced far more often than a Porsche - which brings you to a chevy dealership. I’d rather spend the day in Newark Airport.

Penn4S

This

dmk2

Amen. Just service in your front yard in a wife beater, under a tree, with a hammer in one hand, and a beer in the other.

dmk2

Looking forward to seeing what effect the C8 has on converting the Porsche faithful.

Thank you to John Wright at Porsche of North Houston for helping to keep me in the fold with a 718 GT4 allocation.

Are others jumping ship to C8?

ClassJ

I can’t even bring my Porsche to a dealer for service without it being damaged.

I can only imagine the hell bringing a new mid engine corvette into a Chevy dealer.

I love how last month, the new corvette was “sold out” for 2020. This week, they announced GM is cutting the 2020 build qty by 20% due to the Union strike. But they are only cutting unsold cars dealers are buying on spec.

So..the car was not really sold out it seems.