When 370 is enough
08-03-2018, 12:23 PM
#16
When most of us were younger, speed was precious. It was hard to come by, and with carbon-fouled spark plugs and compromised carburetors, still harder to keep. We learned to always take "more speed" whenever it was made available.
Today, speed is a cheap commodity. Many Accords will outsprint a '67 911S.
But somewhere we've decidedly lost much of the flavor.
You, sir, have taste and found some flavor in that 370hp.
I think this is why our 185hp 911SC is every bit as enjoyable as our 400hp C4S (well, aside from the lack of ventilated seats!)
Today, speed is a cheap commodity. Many Accords will outsprint a '67 911S.
But somewhere we've decidedly lost much of the flavor.
You, sir, have taste and found some flavor in that 370hp.
I think this is why our 185hp 911SC is every bit as enjoyable as our 400hp C4S (well, aside from the lack of ventilated seats!)
08-03-2018, 12:50 PM
#17
The more power you have, the more fun it is to wind the engine all the way up... but the less chances you have to do it.
I think you’re right, previously the 991.1S and now the .2 Base sit in that sweet spot where the car is very quick but just slow enough be able to give it a good workout on windy Norcal roads.
I think you’re right, previously the 991.1S and now the .2 Base sit in that sweet spot where the car is very quick but just slow enough be able to give it a good workout on windy Norcal roads.
08-03-2018, 01:22 PM
#18
08-03-2018, 01:49 PM
#19
Rennlist Member
OP, you've nailed a big reason why, even though I have a 911 Turbo S, I love driving my 718 Boxster GTS -- I can freely stomp on it and throw it around curves almost with abandon, whereas the TTS has so much power that I have to be more careful and light-footed. Two very different driving experiences.
08-03-2018, 02:15 PM
#20
Some of the most fun I have had on the street was in a Miata ND... That was a hoot!
Horsepower isn’t everything.... but it is fun
Horsepower isn’t everything.... but it is fun
08-03-2018, 04:47 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
Great post Pete!
There are times that I long for my departed 968 on a weekly basis...all 236hp of it. Was simply such a fun car. The GTS is just as fun, but in a different way; and not necessarily due to the significant bump in (okay, nearly double) horse power.
If only we had all the room & resources--in time and money--for every one of our desires.....
There are times that I long for my departed 968 on a weekly basis...all 236hp of it. Was simply such a fun car. The GTS is just as fun, but in a different way; and not necessarily due to the significant bump in (okay, nearly double) horse power.
If only we had all the room & resources--in time and money--for every one of our desires.....
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maschinetheist (08-31-2020)
08-03-2018, 08:07 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
You are spot on Pete- the "mere" base Carrera has great balance between power and chassis capability. I've said this a few times, but I often look down at my speedometer and I'm thankful I am driving the "slow" Carrera. Just don't want to go faster on public roads, and I'm not planning to do much at the track.
Hey and one other thought- don't know about my fellow Rennlisters, but even the base Carrera is a load of money. Saving $20k over an S or $30k over a GTS meant a lot to me. The price of the base Carrera was only slightly annoying to my wife. I knew how far I could push....and didn't cross that line.
Hey and one other thought- don't know about my fellow Rennlisters, but even the base Carrera is a load of money. Saving $20k over an S or $30k over a GTS meant a lot to me. The price of the base Carrera was only slightly annoying to my wife. I knew how far I could push....and didn't cross that line.
08-03-2018, 08:17 PM
#24
Rennlist Member
Me too! Agree, Pete! And besides....it's all relative:
https://youtu.be/v7tHGD9GZ_c
https://youtu.be/v7tHGD9GZ_c
08-03-2018, 09:05 PM
#25
It's not just a 991.2 phenomenon, Pete. I have the same epiphany in my 991.1 base Carrera.... When shopping for my 991.1, the added power of the S was almost indistinguishable from a base to my AMG-hardened seat dyno, and the base does allow me to apply pleasingly-aggressive-but-thankfully-attentuated power in corners that satisfies my curve lust like a Thai-hot Pad Gra Prow. So yes, I agree that a base Porsche is a well-balanced, extremely enjoyable machine.
I have the same epiphany in my 991.1 base Carrera.... When shopping for my 991.1, the added power of the S was almost indistinguishable from a base to my AMG-hardened seat dyno, and the base does allow me to apply pleasingly-aggressive-but-thankfully-attentuated power in corners that satisfies my curve lust like a Thai-hot Pad Gra Prow. So yes, I agree that a base Porsche is a well-balanced, extremely enjoyable machine.
08-03-2018, 09:22 PM
#27
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Or at least, it's enough for me in this car.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
I'll see your 370 and raise you a narrow body and black calipers........ definitely a sweet spot for me.
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maschinetheist (08-31-2020)
08-03-2018, 09:48 PM
#28
It's more fun to drive a *slow car fast than a fast car slow.
*as if a 991.x base is a slow car.
*as if a 991.x base is a slow car.
Or at least, it's enough for me in this car.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
It's a funny thing, but the other evening I was out for a quick romp in the woods before the sun got too low and, corner to corner, I found myself not only sated by the thrust and pace of a "mere" Carrera, but wondering if I needed or even wanted more power. And the answer was...no.
This is funny to me because I drive all sorts of cars and have gotten used to 500-750 hp, and even 900 hp. Don't get me wrong...I like power when I have it under foot—but I find that the character of the engine matters far more to me: the way it makes its power, and how that power output ties into everything else about the car. The grip. The handling. The brakes. Etc. And that evening, as the air cooled (but was still warm) in those woods, this "mere" Carrera was a very, very sweet package.
That is all.
08-03-2018, 10:49 PM
#30
Nobody buys wine for its high alcohol content but the good bottles are still delicious.