smiles11

All in good fun. I know a lot of Porsche faithful don’t cross-shop, but some do. I know that when I am coming up on my next 911 purchase; it doesn’t hurt to peek at the competition.

Did anyone watch the Daytona 240 this past Saturday? Arguably every car in the GTD/GTLM class is considered competition for the 911.

Lexus RC-F
Acura NSX
Ferrari 488
Mercedes AMG
Lamborghini Huracan
McLaren 720S
Audi R8
BMW M5/8 comp (GTLM)
C8 (GTLM)
Aston Martin Vantage (N/A)
Lotus Evora (N/A)
Jaguar F-type (N/A)
Nissan GT-R (N/A)

Did anyone take a peek?

Richard_Wallace

Part of the fun is cross shopping, I went away from porsche for a few years, having had several and was getting a little bored and wanting something more "modern" for daily driving. Went BMW and AMG for a bit.

In your list, not sure the 720, 488 or Huracan are competitors for the Porsche 911 (I think the others are a good list). I currently have the 720s, and it is not comparable to the 911. Not that the 911 is not worthy or anything. But the 911 is (and really has always been) more of a utility tool that is good at almost all things (Speed, handling, AWD for winters if you want it, track, comfort/GT, etc.) The other cars are a bit more on the notch up more from sports car, and not as utilitarian as the 911. The others cars are good matches for "competition", but I think the 992 has about everything you might want (minus a bigger back seat like the AMG/BMW offering).

Also had a chance to drive extensively and almost bought last year for my DD the Acura NSX. I will say, that is quite the car, very underrated. Very fast, and comfortable as well (pretty small and no back seat), storage is lacking. I was pleasantly surprised by it overall. In the end it did not really move me enough from a connection standpoint, even with the discount I was being offered (which did make it more appealing ;-) - so I waited for the 992 instead.

jcbeckman

I was actually planning on waiting for either the Z06 or Gran Sport Corvette C8 models to come out, but was in the showroom to pick up my wife's Panamera that we had ordered 9 months before and saw a Gentian Blue 992 C4S Cab on the showroom floor (newly arrived in the same shipment). Took a C2S for a test drive (since the C4S was in the showroom itself) and was hooked. And now I am very glad I did not wait; who knows how long the Z06 and Gran Sport will be delayed, while I am enjoying my car (when I can get out) now.

lalalife

Shopped the M8, AMG GT—both felt too large—and most seriously the Vantage. In the end, I couldn't get over the more touring car feel and responsiveness and receiving what felt like decades-old tech in the Aston (they don't even feature Apple Car Play! It's prior-gen Merc infotainment...).

I'm coming from an M4 comp, so all of these were a pretty substantial leap forward. Agree that the 488/Huracan/720s are very different animals. The 911 has by far the best balance of a fantastically fun weekend toy, while at the same time a very function daily driver.

detansinn

I’d consider the following as competitors for the 911 currently on the market. People reasonably cross-shop these cars.

• Acura NSX
• Aston Martin Vantage
• Jaguar F-Type
• Mercedes Benz AMG GT
• Nissan GT-R

The NSX and Vantage have a higher MSRP, but between cash on the hood and lease deals, both end up going for 911 Carrera S/4S prices. Everyone forgets about the F-Type, but it was literally an attempt by Jaguar to create a “911 killer”. Same story for the AMG GT which shares a lot of little cues with the 911. Yes, people still buy GTRs and it’s the only other 2+2 performance sports car option within this price segment.

If we’re talking 911 Turbo, the McLaren 570S is going after the same basic price point and performance. The R8 V10 is also a competitor. With the introduction of the Evo, the Huracan has truly become a $300k+ car. It and the F8 Tributo are in a different price tier than the Turbo.

I don’t think that many buyers are cross-shopping a Corvette and a 911. Someone looking at a Corvette is probably also considering a Mustang GT350/500 or Dodge Hellcat. You can put the engine in the middle of a Vette, but it still doesn’t swim with the imports.

detansinn

...and yes, I basically ignore the existence of the BMW M8 in my list of competitors, because it’s a 4500lb GT, ie not a sports car. BMW doesn’t play in this segment.

ipse dixit

Arguably the only viable competitors to a 911 (based on price, performance, marque recognition)

McLaren 570S (or GT)
Aston Martin Vantage
Mercedes AMG GT (in various specs from S to C, but not R)
BMW M8

rk-d

The 911 has the rear seats, which is the killer feature for me. The frunk is surprisingly huge and the practicality of this car is through the roof. It's basically a family car. I have a 9 year old daughter and it's the main car we use when going out.

I agree that BMW is a joke in this segment and not worth talking about - it's really a competitor of the e63s.

Some people may cross shop an RC-F. I've never driven one, but I've read they're heavy and slow. Lots of presence though.

I think the AMG-GTR, R8 and NSX are strong competitors. The Nissan GT-R is ancient, but technically in the category. Aston Martin Vantage for sure. I suppose C8, but I really question whether someone would *really* be looking to buy a 992 and ended up in a c8. I'm sure they're out there. The Zr-1/Z06 would be a different story.

Huracan, 720s, 488 -- these are $300k+ cars. Not 992 territory. Barely TTS territory - totally different beasts, IMO.

andreas722

Cross-shopping is fun because you end up remembering the 911 doesn't have any competition.

smiles11

Before my 992, I glanced at a AMG GT-C & R, and also a BMW M8 comp. Just a glance though lol

@ipse dixit the list was more so a reference point for comparisons. Obviously most on the 992 forum don’t watch IMSA/WEC or go on the tracking & GT forums like we do. So I wasn’t really touching on homologated engine cars in any aspect.

I agree, some of the cars compare closer with the 911 than others. I think the AMG & BMW M5/8 are it’s closest competitors in regards to being a daily, practicality, & performance.

Not every car is going to be a direct apples to apples comparisons. What car truly is when comparing it to the 911? There is no doubt that some of the cars on the OP list are on a completely different level, but I’m not just talking about comparing brand new MY20 cars with the other manufacturers. You can find roughly every one of those cars on the list pre-owned for roughly the same cost as a nicely equipped C2S.

So even though I glanced at an AMG and M8C which were for new MY20 cars; there are a lot more cars in the same price range with similar performance as the 911. Granted, I buy 911’s as I’ve found them to continuously outperform everything I’ve ran them up against; but again, this is why comparing is so fun.

Jim Wilke

I had a BMW 650 ix and it was a pretty nice car, better in many ways than my 911. Quieter, smoother, more compliant ride, more room..... I have a friend who lives in Indianapolis who is very tied into BMWs corporate network and the word was there would be 2 new models to replace the 650: A bigger, more cruisier 8-series and a lighter 6 series that would compete with the 911. Shorter wb than the old 6series, more power, carbon roof, light weight. In the end, BMW decided to build the bigger bloatmobile 850 and then threw some resources at the new 4 series coupe. The smaller 650 to take on the 911 was scrapped.

Keadog

If you want a MT, no car I can think of.
GT 350 Mustang? Not really the same universe. But lots of fun for the money.
Am I missing something I should be looking at? I would still rather drive a MT slower than a PDK type car faster.

brucewinter

My Aston Martin vantage Amr, 7 speed manual. 200 worldwide, still available. Not many buyers for the price. Now financing deals.

Dan Nagy

Exactly.

AKSteve

It's good to know your options. What if your relationship with your local dealership goes sour and there isn't another Porsche dealership for hundreds (or in my case thousands) of miles?