matt777

This time they might be right I have zero interest in the new stuff anyway. New cars have no character.

Ed Hughes

There's more than a few 928ers like this too...

race911

928 is a whole 'nother deal. The "superior" mid-engined 914/6 always had vocal minority supporting it, and cursing the factory for giving up on it so soon. But the marketplace speaks. Just as now with the Cayman. 2010 US sales were about 1K? Versus 7K 911s?

nedsky

That was a well written article. He mentioned the size of the Boxster and Cayman. I parked next to a Boxster at a golf course last weekend and was very surprised at how much bigger it was than my 993.

Quadcammer

boxster length 172.1
993 length 167.7 difference. 4.4"

boxster wheel base 95.1"
993 wb 89.4 difference 5.6"

boxster width 70.9"
99 width 68.3" difference, 2.6"

boxster height 50.9"
993 height 51.8"


Doesn't seem to be that drastic to me.

Canyon56

Whether or not it's right or wrong to have an engine in the rear, there's nothing really wrong with sticking to one's philosophy of design and engineering and improving upon it as the years go by. To be sure, part of the "iconic design" is also part of the marketing and, in return, part of the desire to own a 911.

Leica AG is a good example of what Porsche has chosen to do. Their M series rangefinder cameras are still based on the original camera from their 1932 design. It's much improved but still the same basic design and philosophy. Users of SLRs and DLSRs will say the rangefinder is all wrong and obsolete. The Leica M sells for a high price (hand assembled in Germany) and yet they can't keep up with demand.

Leica built a SLR line, too (Leica R.) Just like Porsche built SUVs (and now the Panamera.) But there's something about a well-built, quiet, and unobtrusive rangefinder camera that works so well as a tool. Sure, a big Nikon or Canon has more bells and whistles and can actually do more (telephoto and macro work, etc.) The Leica M has its shortcomings, but what it was designed to do, it does better than any other camera.

There are arguably "better" cameras. And there are arguably "better" cars. But both the M rangefinder and the 911 persist. And it's not just solely for superficial reasons.

goofballdeluxe

Quad, ask any woman if several more inches makes any difference. Report back here with your findings.

2Many Cars

Although the Boxter isn't that much bigger I think most expect it to be smaller (closer to the 914) so when you see them side by side with a 993/911 they look big.

2Many Cars

Goofball don't you know its not the size of the car but how it takes the curves that matters.....or something to that effect.

Quadcammer

its how you use it dammit

but clearly you get my point.

appearance and fact can be a bit off.

nedsky

I think you're right, 2Many, I was surprised because I thought It'd be the other way around. Quad's exactitude aside, the Boxster looks a lot bigger.