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I think the nubin on the 918 looked more like a Prius affair but that didn't create anywhere near as much stink as the 992's nubin.
It could also be because the 918 sells to approx .001% of Porsche buyers so it's hard to get angry over something the average person will NEVER afford much less drive.
Furthermore, there are some of us myself included, that do not see the 918 as some sort of holy grail or the gold standard that all other Porsche sports cars should be striving for.
All good points but like I said, perhaps they should have just got rid of it like Ferrari and McLaren have on most of their cars and just gone with buttons.
In the 991 the PDK shifter was a work of art, sculpted from top to bottom along with details around its base - it added focus and presence to the slim, center console. Porsche even offered several different versions that you could option to personalize the look of the shifter. The tactile feel of simply shifting into drive or reverse, along with the ability to use it at speed was engaging, and probably swayed more than a few manual transmission fans into purchasing a PDK equipped 911. The neutered nubbin doesn't look like anything other than a shaver, and its stunted appearance is exacerbated by the fact it is slightly recessed and surrounded by the extra wide swollen center console adorned in featureless black plastic.
It has gone from being a key, strong feature of the cabin that really emphasized the sporty nature of the 911 to an irrelevant Prius-like "meh it'll do" afterthought. Coupled with the oversized 7-Eleven cupholder thingy, the awkward void between the screens and the dash spanning, dust collecting "ledge" and we have gone from appreciating German engineering excellence in the predecessor 991 to wondering how those in charge of the new 992 program approved this VW parts bin mash-up.
The interior just looks like it's trying wayyyyy too hard. Looks so busy, tacky and cheap. The nub-nub is just the beginning of the downhill slide. No nub-nub for me.
Location: The way to hell is paved by good intentions “Wenn ich Purist höre...entsichere ich meinen Browning” "Myths are fuel for marketing (and nowadays for flippers too,,,)" time to time is not sufficient to be a saint, you must be also an Hero
I think the nubin on the 918 looked more like a Prius affair but that didn't create anywhere near as much stink as the 992's nubin.
As has been pointed out numerous times, that's because the 918 basically is a Prius. It's a highly-automated hybrid, in which the shifter is much less relevant as a control.
The 911 is not a hybrid. Not until Porsche alters the deal further.
And yes, I agree with your other post, in that it would have been better to just get rid of the shifter entirely, rather than to replace it with a vestigial nubbin that serves no function other than to call attention to what was removed. A classic example of weak, indecisive design from B-level players. Not what you like to see when spending this kind of money.
Don't talk about hating anything. The thread may get shut down like the two others. Geez, can't even criticize anything without getting your hand slapped on here?
The nubbin looks a bit silly. However the gimmicky exterior door handles seem to fly in the face of everything Porsche was always about. This is the same company that puts straps in some GT3s instead of door releases to save weight, and because they serve the essential purpose. These are just the opposite - unnecessarily complicated for no purpose. I think Porsche has been slowly evolving in this direction for some time. The dumb gauges that don't even give the correct temps is a good example that comes to mind. All that said, Porsche seems to know their buyers well and I have no doubt the 992 will do well.
It seems to be a combination of aesthetics and functional loss that are most, um, unsettling to people. Like many, I'm looking forward to seeing what the interior looks like with a MT shifter.
Location: The way to hell is paved by good intentions “Wenn ich Purist höre...entsichere ich meinen Browning” "Myths are fuel for marketing (and nowadays for flippers too,,,)" time to time is not sufficient to be a saint, you must be also an Hero
It seems to be a combination of aesthetics and functional loss that are most, um, unsettling to people. Like many, I'm looking forward to seeing what the interior looks like with a MT shifter.
either with the manual shifter the central tunnel remain a crap design even less cohesive with a manual shifter