I believe Chris Harris (Top Gear) was at the Valencia event as well. I really enjoyed his review and ended up watching it twice. I've never been a fan of his before, but I think in this review he comes off much more mature and charismatic than before. Or it's just me. Anyway, spoiler alert. He loves it.
Carfection (Henry Catchpole) was also there and did a great review.

Both on YouTube.

 

Thanks Mr Stout for very comprehensive info!

One thing that no one touched upon is the Rear Axle Steering - which I believe almost all press cars are equipped with. I have this option on my 2019 Cayenne S and find that it feels natural when driving hard, but I cant really get used to it during normal (slow) driving as the rear end feels a bit loose 8although it does improve driving in tight spaces). I am about to swap my Cayenne for a 992 (and go for a Volvo for the family) and have settled for a pretty basic spec without PDCC, rear axle steering etc. Just curious to hear any views on RAS in the 992 - thus far I have not heard any negative feedback

Many thanks in advance!
Adam

 

the new 992 is amazing!

 

^ Very interesting commentary, and I agree that the pricing is changing the equation and way I would use, and think about, the 911. And what I would cross-shop (witness the used FF thread, which mirrors my interest in the 550 Maranello over various long-hood 911s). Those cross-shops are complicated for a variety of reasons, but the fact they are coming into view says a lot.

The greatest pity is to see track toys that are no longer useful as track toys because the people who track them, won't. I'm not sure that is the broader narrative, however. Would love to see statistics of track use from 996/997 era to 991/992 era. These, too, will be clouded by the number of cars sold then and now—as well as how much more user friendly the cars have become on the street.

^ Always appreciate your comments. Usually with experience and perspective.

I believe I addressed weight in my thread on the Zuffenhausen/Hockenheim trip, and again here. In speaking with the engineers (who are none too happy about the weight gains, either), they put it at 50~ kg rather than your figures on a like for like basis (it's tricky with no 7MT out this time at the launch, which also needs to be considered on the not-so-nice price gain—dictated by the launch with the S PDK only, unless the 7MT is going to be a no-cost "performance manual"). But, to revisit quickly, the weight gain comes in no small part from the new 8sp PDK, which adds another main shaft (heavy) and a bigger case, which then requires a bigger void in the unibody, which then requires more strength in the unibody (making the usual targeted gains harder to achieve). And so on. These are decisions made a lot higher up the food chain, by executives as well as regulations they must meet. And, of course, by customers. Or what is perceived to be customer preference.

As to the 3.0, we're on two sides of that coin. I was worried as was everyone else about the 3.0 going in for the NA 3.4 and 3.8. After testing every Porsche flat six from the 993 forward (and by testing, I mean a minimum of 500-1000 miles, often 2000-3000 miles, and occasionally 10,000-30,000 miles), I think it breathed new life into the Carrera—and is, plainly, one of Porsche's top five or ten production flat sixes. Better in terms of character than any factory 911 Turbo I can recall and up there with the best of Porsche's NA flat six water coolers—though not as exciting as some of the wilder ones. In terms of both power and character, I view the 3.0 as better than all but a very few air-cooled engines (2.2 MFI and 2.5 come to mind....a lot of the rest are over-rated in terms of power band character, imo). But then, I am neither an NA adherent nor a coupe-only driver. I just like what I think is good or very, very well done, which is why I'd take a 987.2 Boxster Spyder over some "bigger/better" 911s—but would rather have a 991.2 Carrera than my old GT4. Others' mileage, of course, may vary!

Your point about sticking with NA also raises another thought, when considered with the build numbers of the 991.2 GT3s: The 3.0 allowed PAG to hit its targets re: regulations, etc while delivering a better car (imo) to those customers while still delivering a LOT of NA 911s to those who just had to have that, and a better NA engine than maybe any in its history short of the CGT. When I look at it like that, who lost? How many GT3s did they build again, both in number and as a percentage? And they also offered a third engine character in the 911 Turbo/S. It is probably the least appealing to me in terms of character, but it is both sumptuous and stupid fast—which fits that product pretty well, too.

Definitely don't view my take as definitive. Just hope it is useful.

It's invisible in the 992 Carrera S. I got a faint "the back is up to something" even in the Carrera T, something that left me with mixed feelings on our 600-mile 991.2 Carrera 7MT vs Carrera T 7MT w/RAS road test. My counterpart loved the added agility and stability, and I did too. But I don't like that odd sensation of another driver (a computer) at work in simple cars, or any cars. And I felt RAS was slightly apparent (think hints, from time to time) in simpler cars like the Carrera S and T, where it was better hidden in cars like the Turbo and GT3. Seems like lessons have been learned, and applied to the 992. Call me a fan of RAS as a result. Would be curious to try a 992 without it…and in a simple spec. I usually prefer the simpler specs, but the 911 continues to grow, and that's why we are getting more systems—particularly those like RAS and PDCC.

 

 

I'm a bad guy to ask on this one, as it comes down to configuration preferences.

If, like me, you like a simple 911 with a manual gearbox, the choice is clear: 991.2 Carrera T, a known qty.

If you want PDK and gizmos, things get interesting. To me, the cross-shop might be 991.2 Turbo/S (any, they're literally all very good) or 992 Carrera S/4S.

 

Thanks very much! Sounds like I should perhaps re-consider. Eagerly await a comparison with a 992 without RAS though as the thought of a more organic / natural spec still feels right..

I also eagerly await a picture of an Aventurine Green example in natural light. There is one circulating on instagram that some people claim to be Aventurine, but it is an Agate that someone tweaked.

 

There's been an obvious stunner when it comes to exterior hue that simply suits the car better than others at press launches of late. 918 was Dark Blue Metallic, GT4 was Guards Red, etc. There wasn't this time—none of the cars present looked better than the dark blue car used in Christophorus, and if I had to choose among them it would have been GT Silver. Too bad no Aventurine. Would have really liked to see it, as I loved the old one from 993 days.

 

I had the same dilemma last summer. It was an easy choice for me since I wanted something where the kinks were worked out (991.2) and was readily available (no wait). At this point it's a little tougher decision, but I think I would still chose the T since I wouldn't want any 'first year model' issues.

 

Same here. My local Porsche dealer (in Stockholm) showed me a sample of the colour the other day and it looks great - but different from both the configurator and the car at the LA show (see below). A bit darker than Agate, with a sort of bronze undertone. Different than the 993. I am yet to confirm my spec so lets see if more images turn up.



Aventurine to the right, Agate on the left with a glimpse of night blue even further left. Light not perfect but quite accurate

 

Better than the 4.0 in the 997 four-point-oh?

 

Yes, I prefer the 911R 4.0 and, especially, the slightly harder-edged 991.2 GT3 4.0 to the Mezger 4.0 in the 997. One can argue noise. I suppose.

One can also argue total package, in which case I'll still take the 997 4.0. Every time.

 

 

 

Multiple reviews today mentioned the improved steering feel (especially on 2S) which is encouraging...

Also I've found the same thing with euro delivery... Porsche dealers genuinely seem to not want my money. BMW dealers have always been super cool with me on euro delivery.