Is the 992 a supercar?
Thread Starter
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 8,987
From: Doylestown, PA
Is the 992 a supercar?
Jason Cammisa recently commented that, with the 992, the 911 is now a supercar. Other folks have been calling the 911 a supercar for a while, but is it?
Personally, I have typically used the following four criteria to establish "supercar"-ness.
So, let's apply my criteria to the 992...
What are your thoughts? Do you have any criteria that you personally use? Is the 992 a supercar?
Personally, I have typically used the following four criteria to establish "supercar"-ness.
- Limited and/or handbuilt production
- Liberal use of lightweight exotic materials (Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Magnesium)
- Distinct compromises in utility in the name of extreme performance
- Body and chassis are not derived from a base car that failed the above three criteria
- People often add cylinder count to this, but the Ford GT has a V6. So, that one really isn't relevant anymore.
- Everything is so stupid fast now, that 0-60 times are now also an irrelevant qualifier. I sure as heck wouldn't call a grocery-getter like a Tesla Model 3 a "supercar".
- By not being performance based, the above criteria should age very well -- across generations of supercars. #2 would likely have to be tweaked as to what's exotic will change over the decades. For example, aluminum hasn't been exotic for decades, but was exotic at one time.
So, let's apply my criteria to the 992...
- Limited and/or handbuilt production -- FAIL
- Liberal use of lightweight exotic materials (Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Magnesium) -- FAIL
- Distinct compromises in utility in the name of extreme performance -- FAIL
- Body and chassis are not derived from a base car that failed the above three criteria -- FAIL
What are your thoughts? Do you have any criteria that you personally use? Is the 992 a supercar?
Banned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,521
Likes: 459
From: 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
No
is this 992 forum full of fools or dealers' ppl?
is this 992 forum full of fools or dealers' ppl?
Race Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,899
Likes: 219
In the Porsche family of passenger cars built in this century I look at the 918 and GT as being super cars. The 992 is an outstanding car, but it's not a super car. OTOH if 992 owners want to think of it as a super car, I certainly have no objections.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 8,987
From: Doylestown, PA
918 and GT each satisfy the four supercar requirements that I put forth in my original post. 👍
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
Talos Takes Your 991 Porsche 911 GT3 to the Next Level for a Cool $1.13 Million
Verdad Gallardo
9 Vehicles Porsche Helped Engineer that Aren't Porsches
Verdad Gallardo
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Verdad Gallardo
I've Written 500 Rennlist Articles: Here's How Porsche Has Changed Along the Way
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Unnecessary Porsches Ever Built (And Why We Love Them)
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 S/C vs 718 Spyder RS: 10 Categories, One Winner
Joe Kucinski
This Builder Is Turning Heads With Its Slantnose 911 Creation
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche 911 GT3 Artisan Edition Pays Homage to Japanese Culture
Verdad Gallardo
Porsche Reveals Coupe Variant of the Electric Cayenne With a Fresh Look
Verdad Gallardo
Nordschleife Master
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2,326
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 28,108
Likes: 2,322
From: DFW, Texas
No.
I'd add to be a super car you must have very limited dealerships located only in major metro areas. Add regular maintenance that is on a par with Aircraft ownership expense and trouble ( ask me how I know).
As I have pointed out to folks that love the idea of Ferrari, Lambo and others; it's a toy. It's not for travel. On the other hand you can use a Porsche that way. There are dealerships. With real parts departments and two massive parts distribution centers in the US. One of my best buds was parts manager at Dallas Ferrari dealership. When we would go to lunch I was in the parts depot. The bare essentials in that small area was amazing. When real spares were needed it was direct from Italy. Sloooooowly.
I'd add to be a super car you must have very limited dealerships located only in major metro areas. Add regular maintenance that is on a par with Aircraft ownership expense and trouble ( ask me how I know).
As I have pointed out to folks that love the idea of Ferrari, Lambo and others; it's a toy. It's not for travel. On the other hand you can use a Porsche that way. There are dealerships. With real parts departments and two massive parts distribution centers in the US. One of my best buds was parts manager at Dallas Ferrari dealership. When we would go to lunch I was in the parts depot. The bare essentials in that small area was amazing. When real spares were needed it was direct from Italy. Sloooooowly.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5,129
Likes: 911
From: Destin, Nashville, In a 458 Challenge
Dang brother, if you are so bothered by the banter here and don’t even like 992s, then who is the fool for hanging out here and getting uptight over people’s thoughts and opinions here?
911 has always had supercar performance coupled with everyday drive ability and cheap maintenance. In essence, it is the production number that keeps 911 from getting the supercar tag.
IMO, the use of GT, sports car and super car tags are a joke these days and mean about zilch, especially when insecure types start throwing around GT and sports car labels to try and convince others their car is better.
I do think 911s, esoeciallly the turbos and GT cars are supercars based on performance criteria but not exotics. But seriously, who gives two Fricks either way.
911 has always had supercar performance coupled with everyday drive ability and cheap maintenance. In essence, it is the production number that keeps 911 from getting the supercar tag.
IMO, the use of GT, sports car and super car tags are a joke these days and mean about zilch, especially when insecure types start throwing around GT and sports car labels to try and convince others their car is better.
I do think 911s, esoeciallly the turbos and GT cars are supercars based on performance criteria but not exotics. But seriously, who gives two Fricks either way.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 302
Likes: 232
From: Zug, Switzerland
Jason Cammisa recently commented that, with the 992, the 911 is now a supercar. Other folks have been calling the 911 a supercar for a while, but is it?
Personally, I have typically used the following four criteria to establish "supercar"-ness.
Personally, I have typically used the following four criteria to establish "supercar"-ness.
- Limited and/or handbuilt production
- Liberal use of lightweight exotic materials (Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Magnesium)
- Distinct compromises in utility in the name of extreme performance
- Body and chassis are not derived from a base car that failed the above three criteria
There is something about the ‘bedroom wall poster’ test too I think.
This most stringent of criteria excludes some cars that otherwise qualify on 1-4.
I feel some 911s win and keep boys hearts in a way some purported supercars do not.
Last edited by JHesketh; Dec 1, 2019 at 02:44 PM.
Thread Starter
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 8,987
From: Doylestown, PA
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 530
Likes: 320
From: NYC
Believe there are lots of subjectivity to it and I'd argue that a Turbo S is a supercar. It checks all the boxes in terms of speed, power, performance, and price point so not all 911s can be lumped into a single category.