STG

K-A

So bland. Honestly, and this has been a long time coming since I originally bought M-B's and BMW's, but M-B and BMW don't really have much to offer over appliance grade cars anymore. Nor are they even more exclusive in many areas. I have a Mazda 3 that costs $215 a month and is more fun to take through turns than a base 3 Series, and has an interior not too far off in quality. Exterior of some of these appliance grade cars have caught up to the volume German cars (interior so much, when you get into the upper range models). M-B appears to have given up on their sedans, as the C/E/S look identical. The new E is a bar of soap, absolutely nothing special or interesting looking about it. It's a brand new car which not only wears such a common design language (we've been seeing that design for 5 years now, and it's everywhere thanks to the C Class), but wears a common design. They've gone so far into homogeny that "design language" is giving them too much credit. It's literally a differently scaled version of the same design.

BMW is right there too, with the new 5. That thing somehow looks less elegant and expensive than the model it replaced. It somehow looks a ton more like the F30 3 Series that debuted in freaking 2011 than the old 5 Series which debuted in 2010.

That's why for me, it's so important that Porsche maintain their hierarchy as the one remaining "special" and exclusive German brand. Their sales numbers are still extremely boutique compared to the big players. But they're at that "BMW in the 90's" moment where they have a decision to make: Remain the brand that made them rich (highest profits and margins in the business by a MASSIVE amount, at least before the Macan came out) and famous, or sell out and become bloated, greedy volume chasers like everyone else.

I co-sign that idea. 996 is a bargain and the only older 911 that hasn't appreciated in value. Would be extremely fun as a "toy," and they're so "cheap" that you can really make a fun project car out of it. I believe 996's will eventually start to appreciate like every other older 911. First it was the water cooled novelty and experience, which will now push into the N/A novelty and experience. Yet like you said, the 996 being oldest, naturally is the rawest of the water cooled cars. Which will bode well for it.

I truly love the 991.1 taillights. IMO the best in the lineage as well. Clean, flush, symmetrical, simple, lends a language of leanness and precision.

Agreed. Air cooled will always be the realest deal, and the ones which every 911 are judged against. They're the kings. I saw one driving past me the other day and it was like watching magic, royalty, the image of my dreams and aspirations as a kid. I even forgot that *I* was in a 911, in the presence of that thing, because it *IS* the 911. The mere fact that I was driving a car that shared the same name as it made me feel even better about my OWN car. That's how much I like the air cooled 911's. It's an experience. And like I said before, the only car I ever like more than mine, when mine is next to it, is an air cooled 911.

BTW, how many miles does your .1 have?

PJ Cayenne

Mercedes has crossed the line into nothing special territory, you have to go into AMG products to get anything distinctive. BMW has become a German version of Lexus. Except for Porsche, I may be cured of expensive German cars. (We have two VWs in the fleet and they are terrific).

promocop

Argon_

Porsche is for sure at a crossroads, and much evidence points toward them catching a bad case of BMWitis.

As for the 996 toy, the idea is gaining more traction with every successive Macan I see.

Before anything else, I was a BMW guy. Fond memories of being flung about in the back seat of an early E46 M3. It was the car of my best friend's mother, and it was golden age BMW through and through.

That BMW is dead.

It's last spasm of life was the E90 3 series; the last base model car with sport baked into the chassis.

STG

PORSCHE is getting bigger and chasing volume. No doubt about that. In 10-15yrs yrs the company will not be recognizable to what it is today.

Big dealership investments and big investments in electric means they will be spinning the electric marketing hype like nothing you've ever seen with more mainstream models on the way.

With statements by them with their aggressive plans for electric and hybrid, the golden age of Porsche carbon spewing high rev ripping sounds are going to be history unless you keep these cars in your garage.

I think there will be more niche boutique car companies that will cater to enthusiasts down the line. Made to order, etc ..

ipse dixit

The No. 1 goal for any car company in existence is to stay in existence. Not to cater to niche enthusiasts.

It's the reason why Ferrari will be making a SUV, as will Roll-Royce. And the reason for the introduction of the Urus.

Bemo

^^^Truth and why I still cling onto my 8yr old E90. Great chassis, awesome engine, hydraulic steering rack and a performance exhaust...

STG's depressing summary is likely very accurate. Sigh.

To stay on topic, I'm not a fan of the 992 looks or power plant, mostly the latter.

STG

Yup. Back on track. 992 SPY SHOTS. Porsche, send some eye candy out to counter the shock here.

Papa Fittig

So go with mass market models. But keep one for niche enthusiasts. Make it the way they want. Make it 2x more expensive. Current GT3T demand proves this is one of the options to seriously consider.

STG

Bad name. All I see is ANUS.

Dewinator

Drifting

RRDnA

I like the direction Porsche are going - the performance levels are increasing along with the driving dynamics (e.g. grip and handling, braking and acceleration all measurably better).

This thread is about the future not the past. . Lets keep it on topic.

The 992 is turbocharged and thats the way it is, the 992 GT3 will be as well - great outcome from my perspective.

Argon_

So all you care about is the spec sheet?

Claiming that some performance figures in the back of a magazine represent driving dynamics is completely asinine.

a 2.0 turbo 330i will spank an E30 318i, but to claim that it has superior driving dynamics is ridiculous. You buy a new BMW to commute, you buy an E30 to enjoy.