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I have just seen the Dakar live and its absolutely breathtaking! I think I just have to share that with you.
Actually, I have seen it first on the Autobahn. I was so damn lucky I met it on my way to Porsche Museum. Two impressions: it sounds great (I would say even a little beefier than a standard GTS) and it has a big, big road presence! There is definitely something about a 911 shape riding so high and on beefy wheels. Other drivers definitely noticed as well, its menacing even in the rearview mirror. Being limited to 240 Km/h seems even generous, because the tires have extremely deep thread, almost agricultural. There is an option to switch for a regular summer tires, which could be tempting, but some of that magic would be definitely lost. Either way, it can get to 240 Km/h very quickly, it disappeared into the horizon immediately, looking very planted all along the way. Its fun, its "sexy", but some can find it "too much", of course. You can not have everything so for an elegant 911 please refer to standard Carrera.
In person, in Porsche Brand Store: Wow. Just wow. I felt like a small child. Put a big smile on my face, like nothing in a long time (OK, my new Touring). I have to admire how much attention has been put into a car good for only 2500 units. The livery looks great and its a combination of a split-colored chassis and stickers. Actual paint looks great, no weak points in the execution (which is quite complicated). Once again, the car has a big presence. Wheels are very different from anything in regular production, there are many strengthened points to be found in wheel wells, insulation and shock absorbers. Design elements of front and rear are completely reworked.
The same counts for cabin, so many changes! First of all, it has the biggest alcantara treatment I have ever seen in any 911. Literally everything could be covered in the so called Race-Tex and especially door sills look great. My favorite detail is the 911 Dakar badge in front of co-pilot, looks great. More 911s should have the designation here! Then there is the roll cage, which also fits the car very well. Obviously, very unique is a "ceramic" trim all around the interior. It feels very different to, say a LR Defender, just like an actual ceramic, including the temperature sensation. Centre of the interior is almost similar to a 992 GTS. Interesting, PDK control switchgear of a GT3 will, arguably, do better (but given a PDK shift **** is something which is installed in the car with the actual gearbox and GT gearboxes are different...I understand). What is interesting - inside the door trim, there is actually a thin Race-Tex line, so these are actually "two-compound".
Me for scale
Talking with a chassis and kinematics engineer: I was told it has been in the works for 2 years. He confirmed the amount of testing and driving was enormous and they worked not only on a lifting system, but on a completely new character. They set it up very differently, spending a lot of time on the AWD system, which, as I was told, has a major impact on behavior not only en-power situations, but also on lift off oversteer etc. Mechanically it is the AWD of a Turbo, but reportedly it could not be more different! They tried to change the "original 911" character to achieve a car which could be handled in a long, sweeping drifts, just as you do on a rally stage. All of the development was coordinated with these special Pirelli tyres and they are adamant even with this pure off-road thread, it could tackle the Nordschleife without overheating and in a pace similar to a GTS. No small feat I guess! Little electronic features like "Rally Launch Control" are, as I have been told, only an icing on a very thoroughly reworked cake.
Personally, I absolutely love it. It could not be everyones cup of tea, but you have to admit Porsche just makes us smile. It is somehow ridiculous, but that's the point. But given how much they, reportedly, put into the car, I truly believe it will be enjoyable and will offer something for situations and scenarios previously forbidden for 911s and sports cars in general. As I work in construction and engineering I can really imagine what a "workhorse" it could be! )
Saw it yesterday. It is very cool but the pricing makes no sense at all to me. Basically makes it a collectors car.
Depends on who the "collector" is.
For some, a quarter of a million dollars is par for the course for a daily driver or a weekend off-roader.
I mean, for example, I know guys who daily a 911R, which is more "limited" than the Dakar and arguably more likely to appreciate or hold its value going forward if bubble wrapped and stored in a temperature controlled environment in stasis.
Taking it back full circle, there are those that would be flabbergasted that anyone, I mean anyone with two IQ points, would ever consider daily'ing a 125K+ car (i.e., a 911 of any iteration). Just goes to show it's a matter of perspective.
Last edited by ipse dixit; 11-20-2022 at 02:41 PM.
The Dakar is quite polarizing. I think it looks ridiculous and is a blatant money grab/marketing exercise by Porsche. My wife thinks it's great and would love to have one to replace our C4 as she would love a bit more "utility" in our 911 and wouldn't be caught dead in a Macan or Cayenne. It's moot, though, as 90% of them will go into collections with the rest split between offroad racers and well-heeled preppers.
I am annoyed that it’s a limited model and likely already sold out. As a result, I basically lost immediate interest in it.
Maybe they will make it a regular trim with the 992.2, because the “limited” nonsense is total meh.
I feel the same way. I’m exhausted trying to fight for an allocation for any 911 without paying stupid fees. I realize there are plenty of Gordon Gekkos out there who it’s not a problem for, but even at 2500 units, you’ll almost never even see one on the road. All in some collection as a museum piece.
A lot of different opinions and viewpoints, great!
First of all - my pleasure, I am glad you like the post.
And the elephant in the room, the price. Personally, I have been a little surprised as well. For European market its 222.222€ without the “Roughroads” livery, which goes for another 26.000€ and a roll cage for 3.5k€ on top of that. Originally I expected the car to be mostly the same as a Touring, so in the Range of 180 to 200k€.
However…after seeing the car and some of its features, I can still uphold the case of the car. If it was just a lifted 911 with a few plastics, it would not work (then it would get close to a “cashgrab”). But given the suspension is actually active and with different ride heights, incl. completely reworked AWD, chassis control, engine mounts and bespoke “rallye” stability control, I really see the money in it. And now “the proof”.
You can easily end up with a 222k€ Turbo. I would even say that is a below median Turbo, as Turbo S is a favourite choice of the most. Turbo is priced because of its pedigree, engine, versatility of its AWD. This car is basically a Turbo, but with a plethora of bespoke and expensive-to-develop systems on top of that and also a nice backstory. And would you hesitate to daily drive a Turbo? I dont think so.
Turbo also would depreciate, whereas this will most probably not, which is nice. Is that the reason not to daily drive it? OK, but then its not the car, its the owner who is the problem. The only problem could be the allocations and please bear in mind my judgment is based on the list price. In Europe any ADMs are strictly prohibited (the question of you getting it is mostly purchase and “fan” history). Of course, if I should judge it with additional US dealer ADM of +200k$, it does not make sense. But many cars would lose sense that way, dont they…
11-19-2022 | 06:27 PM
911 Dakar in person
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