ELUSIVE

Most 997's have dipsticks too.
Their just behind the steering wheel.

gota911

OCBen

Me too.

Wish they had gone progressive a la the Carrera GT and done something distinctive and edgy with the headlights, instead of going regressive. Some have said the round headlights make the car look ugly. Can't say I disagree.

kmo

Beetle front and cheesey interior. Porsche can do better.

texas911

Seeing the facelift photos, I like the current setup better. Just as I liked the orginal 996 look better than the camel faced update they did.

ELUSIVE

I have to admit...after just going from a 987S to a 997S, I think i prefer the front end of the 987S better. Something about the shape of the headlights.

Le Chef

I'm happy with the current shape and details of my 997. It seems to fit better with the evolution of the 911's design (964 - 993 - 997) than the 996 which looks odd and strangely old-fashioned these days.

I would imagine Porsche will be more progressive with the Cayenne, Coxster (thanks Jeremy), and Panamerica/928 where the weight of history won't hold them back quite as much.

dstrimbu

Congo:

I don't think so... the 911 will always be a flat-6. It will be H20-cooled, and it may even be supercharged (Porsche + Ruf + the Ruf/ASA supercharger?) - but it will always be a flat-6. What in the heck else would fit? If the engine moves location, it won't be a 911.

And the luxury part plays to the new genre of Porsche buyers. No one can call Porsche's marketing dept. stupid...

Another model with an 8 or 10 cylinder engine? Panamera. A C-GT replacement? Who knows.

Porsche has stated that the flat-6 at the rear is "sacrosanct" in the 911. That's pretty strong verbiage coming from the Germans...

Just MHO,

-don

Nutbeem

The Ford Taurus years? Yikes.

I agree with the caller who said that it will be just one more iteration of the 911 development. Nothing special, although some variants stand out, like the new Targa and the new GT3. Same with the 996.

I understand the allure of the classic Porsches, the same way we fondly remember all kinds of old stuff. I have fond memories of my old Mac Plus, but my new Mac Book Pro kicks its ***. Same with the 996/997 over the 3.2.

nkhalidi

I think it was Enzo Ferrari who, when asked what was his favorite Ferrari, responded, "The next one."

Objectively (numbers), the 997 improves on just about everything from the 996. Subjectively (looks, seat-of-the-pants), many prefer the 996. Nothing's wrong with either, but I'm not going to hold my breath thinking that my 2006 Carrera S is going to go down in history as some fantastic, irreplaceable automobile.

My car is 12 months and 2200 miles old, and I'm already thinking about a GT3 RS down the road. I don't think cars are like music, art, poetry, or literature; cars can be improved.

Baggerdude

I've been infatuated with Porsches ever since I saw my first 356 back in the early 60s. Think it was a '56 or a '58. I don't know all the particulars, I was just a kid. But, the car was dark green/black and sounded and looked like nothing else I'd ever seen in a Western Nebraska cow town. I was fortunate enough to ride in it several times as well. Kewl ...

I've had a handful of "911's". The first one was one of the first '911's' ... a '67 or '68 (I think ... I forget the exact year?) blue 911T that literally rusted away. Had umpteen zillion miles on the clock, too. But, it was a REAL sports car!

I had several other 'preowned' 911s from the '70s and then bought my first new car in '79. Then another in mid 80s and my last new car in '89.

Two years ago, I bought a 993 C4S. I think the 993 is the 'high water mark' of the Porsche marque. Others may agree or disagree. But, the air cooled car seems to have evolved to this apex before becoming the 996 H20 cooled car. I couldn't resist getting one of the last and best looking of all (IMO) 911s.

I now have a 997 in the works. I've driven one as well. I like the car a great deal ... both mechanically and aesthetically. Not so with the 996, altho Porsche sold (I believe) more of this body style than any other. They are quite popular.

Here's my take on the Porsche marque as I know it. Porsche has always been a real sports car sans all the amenities that others seemed to have added to their cars .... Jag, Ferrari, Merc and others. Yeah, the P-cars have succumb to adding some, tho. They know we would not continue to buy cars with horrible seats, crap for wipers, and roll up windows.

And then there's the iconic and unmistakable "shape" of the 911! Wow...!

As I dropped into the 997s sports seats, looked at the gauge cluster, poked the key in to the LEFT side of the wheel and dropped my hand to the shifter ... I felt at home. The 2007 version is like a big brother to my original late 60s 911. I love that ... it's like going home, eh.

Whether the 997 becomes an icon or not will be sorted out by pundits and history. But, I think it has all the ear marks of doing so. I'm sold. I'm getting one in March! Can't wait either.

Marsellus Wallace

I dont think the 997 will go down as being one of the 'all time great' Porsche cars,nor will it start to look dated like some feel the 996 is becoming.Its a useful improvement of the 996,and nothing groundbreaking about it.

Ray S

I've got some news for you. If the 996 is a "Ford Taurus" you are riding around in a modified Taurus.

Just where do you think your motor, chassis, and suspension came from? Modified, yes. Entirely new car.....no.

rayng

IMO, the 997 will be a watershed model in modernization. With a drastically improved interior and return to the oval headlights, the 997 is an artful blend of nostalgia styling and modern technology. It's legacy however should and would most likely be defined by its racing success.

In Porsche lore and future "desirability" I think the '98 993s (c4s) will likely be most desirable as it represents the most beautiful, and harks back to a time where the brand was not dilluted (and polluted?) by the Cayenne--a sporty suv but by no means a sports car. Would Ferarri, Shelby, Aston Martin, or Maseratti build an suv? I'm not sure how the Cayenne adds to racing tradition and long-term desirability of the Porsche brand.

Flame on....

Alan Smithee

The Cayenne (and upcoming Panamera) adds sales volume for Porsche and provides diversification from its sports car lineup. This ensures steady profit and enables Porsche to continue racing, as well as develop and build outrageous sports cars like the Carrera GT. So, yes, the Cayenne does add to the desirability of the Porsche brand.

All of the manufacturers you list rely on corporate parents for financial support and/or "racing tradition".