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Loll, nope. I took the 2001 up to 750 hp. Had s 2003 Ruf 550 as DD. Traded it for an 04 cab/Ruf. The 996 NA was for ex wife. I used to go through cars quickly.
I am surprised the 992 didn't have the Ironman spoiler - that is cooler than the clam. They didn't bother to differentiate the models at all, even I had to double take these images.
I couldn't care less about the plastic. Porsche was always supposed to be about driving quality first and frills second. In large part it still is, thanks to the oft derided options list which lets you put manual seats into a 200k car.
I'd jump at the chance to buy a 992 with black injection molded front and rear bumpers, no center console, and a stick gearbox, so long as it drives like a 996 GT3.
^ Can't speak to G20 (I've stopped paying attention to BMW), but the F30 was…quite simply…one of the WORST cars I tested on the loop. It was an early one, with all the performance options and a manual gearbox. And the 3 was dead. And I do mean dead. Got out there, on some of the best driving roads in the world, and thought, "What I am doing out here in this thing? And I have miles to go…" Zero joy in the machine. Not much of a machine, either. No good sounds. Lifeless steering. The snap in the chassis, the well-judged dampers…gone. When I later drove an M3, it was in some ways even more disappointing. Talk about numb.
Everyone loves to point at the Bangle 7 as the beginning of the end, but for me it was the E60 5. Every single E39 that I tested felt special—even a 528i non-sport wagon—while precisely none of the E60s felt special. Ferrari's E60 was doing away with three pedals. Both brands are effectively dead to me when it comes to new cars. For me, anyway, their back stories are their only stories…
Agreed with all of the above. As a lifelong BMW enthusiast and an 8-yr owner, the F generation has been the biggest disappointment with the brand. Hence why I snatched a used E92 M3 to enjoy the last somewhat "real" ///M while I could. I love the naturally aspirated large displacement motor, proper halos and hydraulic steering rack. Having driven an E46 however I think it's even more connected if not as special.
BMW lost its way and so has Porsche with the 992. They may wine and dine you all they want but STG is spot ON with this thread. Dynamics and performance, just like BMWs, march forward but there's huge price to pay with the aesthetics, weight and latest Chinese spec turbo motors that everyone is so desperately trying to be fond of...
Gents and Ladies - New to Rennlist here, and enjoying reading the various posts. This one seems like quite the hot topic! As the saying goes, to each is their own. So I'll also offer a few observations and join the fun since I just ordered a new 991.2 two weeks ago with a March build. My current car is a 2014 981S that I ordered shortly after it was released. It's a great car and I specifically wanted a mid-engine at the time so I didn't order a 911. That said, I've had my eye on getting a 911 for about a year now and have driven the 991.2 a few times. Before putting in a build, I decided to wait to see the 992 release. All this background is to say that my observations here are not based on any potential bias attributed to having owned the 991 (I've seen that raised by some folks against 991 owners in this thread). Rather just the gut reactions of a driving enthusiast. I mainly enjoy driving up and down twisties and taking some road trips with the Mrs. I've tracked cars before, but not my own car yet (don't really have time for it at the moment, but possibly in the future).
Observations:
1. First, I hope all 992 owners enjoy the heck out of their cars and I hope Porsche has successful sales numbers (I think they will just based on historical figures). I say this particularly because I personally want to see more Porsche sports cars in the future.
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that giant light bar on the 992 rear end and the clam shaped spoiler were the driving forces in my decision to opt for the 991. Robocop fans across the world can rejoice though. Yet I will say that the more I look at the 992 rear and especially from an angle rather than straight on, the better it looks. Cannot get over the claim spoiler though. On a yellow car, it's like Pac Man riding back there.
3. The interior is, well, "different" and not in a good way. The automatic shifter/shaver seems almost universally disliked and the giant cup holder just doesn't seem right for a sports car, and I see that it pops out!
4. The side view is improved in my eyes and looks sleeker with the integrated door handles.
5. The front also looks sharp to me, and probably a tie for me with the more curvaceous 991.2 . I like the 992 bonnet, which does harken back to vintage 911s, like the 901 and 964. Not sure I like the Ferrari 458-like fascia, but it has an aggressive look.
6. And my last observation for now . . . the front lights that look like an X also look pretty sweet, but also remind me of the following . . . Happy Driving All!
I thought I saw a 992 in the wild today in LA. After a split second, I realized that it was actually the new Panamera. Comparing the backside of the Panamera with the 992, I actually prefer the Panamera. More coherent. Less bulbous. Less cluttered.
In this or another 992 thread, I saw the 991.2 and 992 backside side by side. Wow - what a difference. I do not know what you call the structural design element on either side of the rear window but the way the 991.2 tapers down from top to bottom versus the 992 is way more better to these eyes. The "flare" on either side of the rear view mirror is far more pronounced in the 997 and 991. Whenever I see the 997, I am always taken aback as to how darn good it looks from its derrier. The way the lines taper down in the back just really works for me. Not so much on the 992.
Yes, the nubbin is the gift that keeps on giving in the 992. The mini-nubbins are a variation on the big daddy nubbin theme. As I recall, the 992 key fob somehow incorporates the nubbin/shaver look as well. I could not find a picture of the new key fob on Google but I do recall that when I saw it, I was like, wow, Porsche went all-in on this nubbin theme, didn't they?! It won't be long and #nubbin will be trending on Twitter and Instagram.
First, car companies make design mistakes. Edsel anyone? How about mid 60’s Mercedes w/ fins? Second the top to bottom design integration that Porsche embraced with the 992 is all about selling lower end models by making those buyers feel they are getting part of the top dog. Inevitably this lessens the value to the top dog buyers, but they are a smaller piece of the profit pie and worth the risk to the corporate minds who make these decisions. Mercedes has done this throughout the sedan and coupe lines. The 992 design is more corporate VW than what was independent Porsche. It took a few years for this to finally come to fruition, but the corporate train has left the station.
01-31-2019, 07:41 PM
Yet I will say that the more I look at the 992 rear and especially from an angle rather than straight on, the better it looks. Cannot get over the claim spoiler though. On a yellow car, it's like Pac Man riding back there. 
