Skytop

My svelte gorgeous Porsche may be 'turning' into a pokey slug! Yes! <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

I have been uncomfortably aware of new model mid line cars appearing on the market possessing equal or greater power ratings than my Porsche. Can the shine on the Porsche emblem be fading?

Nissan Z has 289 HP, Mustang has 390+ HP, the new Subaru S has 300 HP. The new Vette is to have 370 HP and even the Itcypussy Evolution Lancer goes 0-60 in 5.1 seconds! Hell, even Caddy is coming out with 1000 HP! HA!~ Little old ladies in big 'ol Caddies will now be the scurge of P cars! Yikes! <img border="0" alt="[icon501]" title="" src="graemlins/icon501.gif" />

What's this world comming to? Is Porsche A.G. listening? Should this situation be directly addressed or viewed philosophically?

It seems that auto makers are finally resorting to power to sell cars. Frankly, we may now be living "in the good 'ol days" with all this muscle available to virtually anyone!

B-Line

Hey Skytop,

Although I agree with your findings, I must point out one thing.
Prior to owning my Pcar, I had a modded audi S4 with 320 HP.
It was a monster off the line, the AWD was amazing. It had room for four and could plow through the snow.
It also plowed through every turn at every track I ever went to.
My point is: Porsche has never been the absolute fastest, or even best handling car. It's something different. It's not the status that makes it special, it's not the performance that makes it special, It's the feel, smell, taste, emotion that makes a Porsche special.

Yes, we are in an era where everyone has +250hp..
But I'd still rather drive my 911 than some american S*** box.

Franklin229

Ponies are one thing but usable power is another. I do not have charts available but it would be interesting just to see where these other cars make the most of their published ponies across the power band, as well as how efficiently they translate that power to the drive wheels. Front engine/rear drive cars probably loose a lot due to drive train, along with full/all wheel drive configurations. Let's not forget about weight as well. There are a lot of efficiencies engineered into the 993 that make good use of available power.

993chaz

I've had Porsches in my garage for about 13 years now. Once in a while I find myself between having just sold one to upgrade into the newest one I can afford. For some strange reason I don't feel right if there isn't one in sitting in the garage!!

Almost like there's something missing. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Mike in Chi

Skytop

Why not put your money down on a Carrera GT?

It will be a while before they catch up to its hp.

Low cost alternative: join rennlist and get all the cerebral horsepower you'll ever need.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Ray Calvo

Ponies all you care about? Then sell your 993 and go out and buy a Viper. Better yet, a gutted out hot rod with a big nitro-burning V-8!

All I can say is shut off the computer and go down and drive one of these bombs. If they turn you on that much, sell the 993 and buy one of them. Why whine to us?

TheOtherEric

I don't think he was whining; but rather, making an observation and trying to strike up a conversation.

chris walrod

I know how you feel. Heck, my wifes Volvo has close to the same HP as the 993, and its only a 2.3 liter five cylinder. BUT, there is still something about a 911, old or new that gives me the 'I just drove a pure bred, racing inspired sports car' kinda feeling. These cars (IMHO) never lose their charisma and charm and personality. They are something special.

Take a Harley Davidson for example, a prehistoric motorcycle that vibrates and leaks oil and if they made airplanes, nobody would fly in them. There is something special about them to their owners. Something that no other motorcycle has.

Just my thoughts.

Shant Ohannessian

I agree with what B-Line said, these cars dont have alot of HP but if you take it to the drag strip, they still pull off mid 13's. The 350zx does mid 14's (ive seen it with my own eyes) It really doesnt matter, you should look at HP to weight ratio. Porsche 993 has to be the most sexiest car body ever made period. You also have to keep in mind that the other cars that make 300+ HP has to go through drive train which takes up HP. The 993 has almost no loss. Some guy dynoed his bone stock 95 993 and had 268 RWHP I believe factory rating is what 272? Those #'s are amazing to me. I have a Chevy s10 pickup truck and it has stock 180hp but only 140hp was making it back to the rear tires. I had it dynoed just for fun. I wouldnt worry too much about the HP of cars. Most of those cars with 500ho have a VERY hard time putting all that power down to the wheels. If you dont believe me, just take your car to the drag strip and compare your time with other cars. Porsche was designed for handling and road tracks. Those kinda cars dont need alot of HP. HP is good if you are drag racing.

Ive notied it before too, why does porsche have such a name when my volvo t6 has the same amount of HP as my 993? Shouldnt an exotic car have at least 350+ HP? Well after driving a 282HP 993, my questions were all answered. I hope this helps you understand.

James_J

A couple of examples and some rambling: Lotus' philoshphy is for lightness and making do with less power; so looking at power alone is irrelevant here also.

A tank has hundreds, some in the 1000+ horsepower, but they don't corner too well. (Some may say Volvos are similar.)

Power comparisons, especially by the Evo, Skyline, WRX etc types that drive them are all they have as leverage.

A 993 is special in ways beyond power alone, to those that are able to appreciate them. It's not always easy to explain this to people.

spinning disc

Hi Skytop. it is rather difficult to watch the bar keep sliding to the right, isn't it?

Heck, my daily driver is a WRX wagon and it is quite the sprite in and about town plus AWD. I, too, am used to the power the 993 has (n/a form) and it is a tad underwhelming, but the package is decent. One thing which is quite compelling about the new watercooled 3.6 is the variable valve timing for a flatter torque curve. the M64 is a tad peaky compared to the newer technologies out there.

I can tell you how the WRX STi will be as I am first in line at my subie dealer. But i will tell you that lag in these little four bangers is horrible and nothing replaces cubic inches the M64 cars have.

The Mustang is decent, but it and the Z suffer from some serious power-to-weight problems. To whit, the Z car has almost 290hp, 6 speeds, and can only run slower than the "old" 240hp M coupe. Strange, huh? Tells you how important the powerplant power curve, gearing, and efficiency of power to the ground is.

bet

Don't forget you can take your 993 to the track and run it hard all day long. During your down time you can talk or watch the action on the track. Others are bleeding the brakes, screwing with turbos, taking wheels off to cool the brakes so as not to have brake fade on the very first lap of their next run, etc. Not to mention your car is bone stock and very track worthy (even with the high US ride height).

Don't be fooled by all the current high HP in cars, because not all HP is created equal when you consider, gearing, weight, torque curves, where the peak HP is located, etc. For example, would you rather have a 2003 Boxster producing 228 HP or a 2003 Nissan Altima SE producing 245 HP. The Altima also has higher torque figures. Which do you think will hustle around your local track the fastest and be the most durable?

spinning disc

'think most cars mentioned above (original post) also are geared for typical US 0-90mph or so acceleration.

have never driven a car (of 23 or so have owned) thus far that have the top end power from rolling cruise to super triple digits as the 993.

of course, these subjective things are never truly quantitated by typical US car magazines, which are not an enjoyable read at all compared to "CAR" (UK) or TopGear.

96P993

I think the thing that makes the 993 different then many of the newer, higher HP cars is the feeling I get when I walk into my garage. My widebody screams to be driven and when it does it just begs for more. Even standing still it has a presence that no other car has. I know it isnt the fastest thing on the street but it doesnt have to be. Speed is fun but to me get up and go and handling are the things that make the car fun..Realize the 993 has had quite a few birthdays but still gets looks like it just came out....not many car can do this!! Until that feeling I get when I step into the garage goes away (and I dont think it will) this car is the best thing on the street!!!

Derrick B.

IMO Mustangs, WRX's and cars of that ilk are 'disposable'. Just use them up and throw them away. Look at resale values for evidence of this. An 83 911SC can fetch as much as a 95 Vette ($15k). An entire Mustang GT from 1995 can be had for as much as the MOTOR of a '95 993.

Ten years from now, will anyone remember the Subaru RSX? Oops, I mean WRX. Or did they make that Evo car? Hmm, perhaps I'm shooting myself in the foot on this line of argument. People will probably remember the WRX for many years beacuse of its tremendous success at the top tiers of rallying. But many of the others will be lost on the scrap heap of time. Anyone here remember the Omni GLH?

Besides, if it's horsepower you want, check out the "Stage XXXX" thread on the 996TT board. Last time I checked, he had 650hp at the wheels!

How does that go again? For race cars - fast, reliable, cheap. Choose two.