Ahem.

That's a way to look at it, and not entirely inaccurate when it comes to some "journos" (I happen to think journalism is a higher calling, and shouldn't be applied to automotive writing unless it crosses into actual journalism that benefits the public at large). Some of them are into "the life" in a way I'll never understand. I'd rather be home with family, or go for a drive on the loop, quite frankly.

The other way to look at it is it's typically 55-70 hours in the air and airports for 36-40 hours on the ground. I think I slept maybe 10-12 hours last week between Monday and Friday. You fly business class because, otherwise, most people would be DOA. And probably wouldn't come back for a second trip. And I suppose it's a matter of safety, too, when strapping people from distant lands into 500-hp cars in unfamiliar places. Homework due during/after the fact, plus all you missed at the office and at home. Complaining? Nope, and I doubt few who go on one of these trips would. Go on a few and it becomes what it is: Work, and both more and less different from "work" as I've known it than I'd have thought 21-22 years ago, when I was working on a shipping dock at Costco. The saving grace and silver lining for me—probably the thing that's kept me from going out and getting a real job—has been the chance to get one-on-one time with engineers and designers, particularly as the years have piled on and those relationships aren't new each time we meet, but deeper.

And, for what it's worth, Porsche deserves better than the conspiracy theory often thrown around. Do people get blacklisted? Sure. For cheap shots? Maybe. For the reasons you mention? Maybe. But also for doing stupid stuff (you'd be amazed…), and then the internets are abuzz with speculation—usually misinformed. My experience, after reviewing the cars for 20 years with both praise and criticism, the relationship has only gotten better. Preuninger knew I was going to say the 991.1 GT3 was a great technical achievement but also the first GT3 I had no interest in owning. His response (I suspected he'd never speak to me again)? Let's have a beer next time you're in town. PCNA, too, has never been anything other than professional with me. We both understand the aisle, and this began with Bob Carlson. And it continues to make my job a pleasure.

It's something I really like about German culture: An argument or debate, with strong disagreement, isn't personal. Other than my time in college, I haven't seen enough of that in our country.

 

Don't forget the two unforgivable sales, the 993 GT2 and 997 RS 4.0. Actually, the 997 was the keeper, as the 993 GT2 was a disappointment after I finally drove one. F40 looks, surprisingly 993 Turbo-ish dynamics. Maybe if one turns up the boost and likes to slide it gets better?

 

 

Or maybe Joe Rusz of Road and Track.* Remember him?

Reminds me of what Matt Farrah of The Smoking Tire preaches. I believe he recently flew all the way to Bahrain ( I think) for the launch of the Lambo SVJ. For like literally 3 hours in the car. How long is that flight from LA?

Having said that, there is also a epithet in the group of journalists / bloggers /etc. that I follow on IG and Twitter moaning about the "Shrimp Cocktail" crowd. Those are the people there just for the "lifestyle perks" and who would rather be there than with their families. They are in every industry. When I was doing a lot of business development at a former job, those same people were out at EVERY event, 2-4 times a week. And what's more was every event was 80% vendors, 20% paying clients. These guys and gals were literally just going to drink and eat the food. Barely got any actual business from it. Same with the local Realtors. There's a group we call the "lunch bunch" because they don't sell, they just show up to the events hosted by Title Companies, Builders, etc. for the food. The ones that produce rarely come to those...they are out hustling.

A clarification - I am not putting down the job title of Business Development. It is a vital role and many good and hard working people serve their companies well while doing it. But in every group, there exists a population along for the free ride.

 

 

 

I remember Chris Harris on one review mentioning the 991.2 non turbo, "turbos" as if he was unconvinced that Porsche did a good job with that relative to the 991.1 engines. Of course I don't remember the video I saw that in.

 

But of course—and saw Joe at the LA Auto Show…

My "highlight" so far was 991.2 Turbo/S. SF to Johannesburg for…two laps in the new Turbo plus a few more laps in Carrera derivatives someone forgot to introduce. While Kyalami is a fantastic (!) circuit, the severely limited track time had me asking about the "recommended route" for road testing. I asked if the roads were any good (the map wasn't promising), and the answer was "no." Someone else asked about safety of driving around in new 911 Turbos with German plates. The answer? "Not so much." Everyone took a pass. You win some, you lose some. I didn't have much to write about…until PCNA did one of the best North American launches I can remember to highlight the 991.2 Turbo: A long day at Thunderhill in searing heat (the cooling seats shut off in my test car during the last session, while all A/C shut off in another car in my run group) followed by a two-day trip to Monterey and, in my case, another 1,500-2,000~ miles with the car. Talk about time to evaluate.

I'll never forget the guy who asked for a second lobster to take back to his room on my first press trip, as an intern for Sports Car International. "Just what have I gotten myself into?" I thought. I continued to believe automotive writers were the biggest freeloaders until my better half got into the events business, often working with some of the wealthiest doctors in the medical profession. What I learned: Humans are humans. Sounds like your experience in business development as well as with realtors only underlines that.

Ha. Thought about Manney as I tapped out the four that came to mind. A bit before my time, and known well for more than his writing about Porsche, but his contribution is clear.

Your first question is a pretty fair question, I suppose, but leads me to an (open) question of my own: Are early road testers for the mainstream car magazines the ones who should cover the inevitable faults with the cars? Can they? I think some mainstream outlets have done so in their "news" sections as the problems came to light (and think some are better than others in this regard), but I'd have to research that—and none are likely to approach the level of detail found in forums or the statistical breadth found in various surveys. It's little wonder why: Their readers, few of whom are likely to own a given car, probably don't care—unless it's a scintillating read (though one can easily agree that car-b-ques qualify). The specialist books, particularly those with wide followings, have a different responsibility when it comes to their subject, in my view. We didn't skip over the 991.1 GT3 engine issues (or 996/997 GT3 engine issues) in my time at Panorama—much as we didn't shy away from M96/M97 issues in my time at Excellence (or Panorama, for that matter). I think those topics can be covered appropriately and intelligently—professionally, in other words—without forgetting who the primary client is: The reader.

To your specific questions: How many failed? Porsche has rarely if ever been forthcoming with such numbers. Few companies are, and I suspect legal departments play no small role. As for being "held to account" by the media? That's going to be a matter of interpretation. I'd need to look across the outlets and the coverage—a pretty boring research project that awards me the grand prize of evaluating my colleagues. So, I can only speak to Panorama in those years, and we did cover the 991.1 GT3 engine problems. The most impressive campaign, however, happened right here on Rennlist, in my opinion. Driven by owners who organized. And it seemed to be handled very professionally, from what limited perspective I had. The results speak volumes.

As to the 'Ring times, 992S vs 991.2 GTS, a few variables: Comparing 992S to 991.2 GTS; tires; early lap times stated by Porsche are often revised; variables in test driver, weather, yada yada. I'd hold off on leaping to too many conclusions, but the real comparison should be 991.2 Carrera S initial lap time vs 992 Carrera S lap time. One suspects the next GTS is gonna be faster than its predecessor and the current S, and I suspect we may see the time for the new Carrera S eclipsed, whether by an outside driver or a factory driver on a good day or on good tires.

 

Well, I read my first journalist review of the 992, and I now realize that all the glowing praise of the previous model was just hot air!

It seems that I should get rid of my 991.2, which I'm picking up tomorrow, as it is a completely inferior vehicle to the 992, what a dope I've been, I bought into all the previous hype that was published on the old model.

I would have been better off burning my money. So disappointed.

 

Lol. My SA informed me my car is at the port for final inspection and then shipment to the dealer. last of the 991.2 -
I have to say, it's been tough thinking about not getting the 992, latest greatest, etc. I still default to the looks and the overall loss of practicality in the car vs the 991. I love the interior of the 991 with the analog gauges and real stick for the pdk which I like to use daily in manual mode.
Damn it, wish I could have both and sell one!

 

Hear, hear!

 

I always drive the cars I'm thinking of buying before buying them. Many here don't. Crazy to me, but to each his own. But if you do drive before you buy, you save yourself both disappointment and the time it takes to absorb the endless rhetoric and propoganda of those trying to influence you according to their personal agendas. I own two 991.2 911s and they are both keepers.

 

I have not even an ounce of interest in the 992, but I'll cosign this ^^^^.

 

Was trying to find the exact post, but didn't Stout say they engineers told him the new shifter was made smaller because a larger one would put too much torque and pressure on the transmission??

 

I'm glad Pete has posted here to give another perspective, because this thread was getting such a bad image. We were starting to look like the black sheep and hoodlums of Rennlist.