wow-I don't think you could word it any better than that! It's always about selling more.

 

While at the same time offering more and more extreme performance variants. 2010 GT3? Awesome. 2010 GT3 RS? Epic. RS4.0? Automotive wet dream. In Europe the 4.0 has plastic side and rear windows for crying out loud...that's awesome!

I'll guarantee that the 991 GT cars will up the ante even more.

 

I don't care about sales or marketing, but capability. With rare exceptions, each 911 has been quantitatively, measureably better than the one that came before it, and yet has kept true to it's heritage. Besides, realistically, what's Porsche supposed to do, keep the 911 the same forever to satisfy the "purists"? How long do you think they would stay in business doing that? Today's "purist" often becomes tomorrow's anachronism; the perception of purity keeps shifting with the times.

Many of the purists who whined about the demise of the 356 came to love the 911, and later others, after lamenting the demise of the air cooled 911, came to appreciate the 997. Now they are claiming that IT is the last "classic" Porsche. It's happened over and over and someday will happen again when the successor to the 991 arrives. It's human nature to cling to the familiar and be suspicious of the new (especially if you have a lot of money tied up in the familiar ). As Bill said, the more things change the more they stay the same.

 

Some valid points, Mike. I agree. But let me introduce you to the 996, which replaced the 993. Puts some holes in your theory.

 

I owned a 996 for seven years and it wasn't nearly as bad a some have made it out to be. It did perform better than the 993. You'll note, however, that I said that each 911 has been better than the previous ones, "with rare exceptions", which I think covers that base.

 

This just makes me happier with my dated 997.1

 

I am afraid this is true. With the 991 Porsche clearly enters the trophy wife market. Move over Maserati. there is a new cushy GT in town and its got just as much bling for less money. Just check out that badging. Kidding aside, the same might have been said of the 997 but I do think the 991 is a more radical departure than those before it. ( The 996 never would not have bothered so many but for those stinking headlights)

 

+1... albeit, we have to wait and drive before concluding the above 100%. But 100% agreeing with you at least on the aesthetics.

 

What would you be switching to if you decided to move out of 997.1?

 

Well of course! What do you expect from a corporation that's in the business of selling cars? Should Porsche's business plan be to keep the purists happy with every detail, sell fewer cars, and eventually become an obscure niche manufacturer or wither away completely? As business people and professsionals, is that what you'd settle for with your business? I would have thought the successful people on this forum would understand better than most how competition works in a capitalistic environment.

Sorry if I sound sarcastic, but the argument about standing still with your product purely for the sake of tradition in a highly competitive, highly regulated environment like the automobile industry is ridiculous. Porsche has done a far better job of maintaining it's roots while still moving forward, as it must, than just about any other car manufacturer I can think of. They still make wonderfully desireable, high performance vehicles that are immediately recognizeable as Porsches even after 60 years. Yet we nitpick about consoles, tail lights, and lettering on the rear deck. Amazing.

 

tons of new images here > The New Porsche 911 Carrera Revealed

 

The rear is just such a graphics disaster. But everything deleted/removed looks odd as well (the link above provides a photo of the car to the left without any emblems).

IMO, the big, round plastic rump badging was better done on the 928:

 

note they left the 996 out of the equation. intentional?

 

100% agreed.

I think de-badge is a MUST HAVE option... it's absolutely ugly with both badges. I wish there was a "Porchase" debadge option, but you can only delete the model name!

AGAIN, this is PURELY designed to ATTRACT new buyers from emerging markets, the people who cannot tell a Porsche from behind UNLESS they see the name literally SPELLED OUT!

 

They need all those badges so you don't think you are behind an Audi TT.

If the Porsche badge bothers you, self delete with dental floss anything that disturbs you.

I'm surprised that they did not put Ferry Porsche's life story back there.