OldGuy

What happened to the revolutionary 911 that was due to come out in 2011/2012?
there was going to be a big overhaul and we have all been waiting for this great car that was going to be the leading car of the sports car world. I just read the
Road and Track 991 overview and its just an other evolution with small baby steps forward or in some cases sideways. There is no 3.8 anymore the suspension is the same and the look over all is sharpened but its still a 911. I thought we were all waiting for this HUGE overhaul of the 911 in the 991 or 998. Am I just off my rocker or had Porsche just lulled us to sleep?

quickxotica

R&T needs a new copy editor. There is no 3.6L 991. The S remains a 3.8L. Glaring mistake that jumped right out at me when I got my copy on Monday.

As for the rest of your post: The proof will out soon enough. Right now all we have is marketing.

gota911

Paul,

I agree! In my opinion, you are currently driving the 911 with the largest "(r)evolutionary changes" since Porsche moved from air to water cooling. Here are my thoughts, you (or anyone else) can disagree if you like, but this is the way I see it.

• The changes to the 996 MK II versus MK I were minimal, mostly cosmetic.
• The 997.1 versus the 996 MK II was a bigger change, but mostly centered around a few tweaks on the exterior (headlights, suspension, introduction of PASM) and a full make over of the interior. Basically the same motor as the 996.
• The 997.2 versus the 997.1 completely new motor, which eliminated the Intermediate Shaft (IMS), introduction of DFI, PDK, Sport PASM, refined suspension, easier to use Navigation, minor changes to the exterior.
• The 991 versus the 997.2 - New body design, new interior design, Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC).

I probably left out a few changes, in all of the "upgrades," but this was not intended to be a comprehensive review of all of the changes.

Edgy01

Porsche has always been a baby steps operation. No one in such a business makes a revolutionary change to their cash cow. Why take something that you can sell easily across the world with minimal changes and then change it radically? (What if you screw up?)

Even simple things like engine sizes have moved slowly. First the 911 was a 2.0 liter engine, then 2.2, then 2.4, then 2.7, and then 3.0 and then 3.6 and then 3.6 and 3.8.

racer

FTFY

Agreed Porsche's have always been evolutionary, sans aircooled to watercooled change with the 996. The 996 was quite revolutionary when you consider Porsche used the same chassis from A pillar forward to build an entire new line of cars (the Boxster/Cayman series).

One would likely argue the only "revolutionary" Porsches are those that aren't 911s

The fact that the 998 3.4 makes MORE power than the 996/7 3.6 is also impressive.

gpjli2

[QUOTE=OldGuy;8868980]What happened to the revolutionary 911 that was due to come out in 2011/2012?
there was going to be a big overhaul and we have all been waiting for this great car that was going to be the leading car of the sports car world. I just read the
Road and Track 991 overview and its just an other evolution with small baby steps forward or in some cases sideways. There is no 3.8 anymore the suspension is the same and the look over all is sharpened but its still a 911. I thought we were all waiting for this HUGE overhaul of the 911 in the 991 or 998. Am I just off my rocker or had Porsche just lulled us to sleep?[/QUO

I know you're not new here. I have no idea what you expected was going to happen. You might have noticed a certain pattern over the past 40 years. Sit back and enjoy the show.

Harvey Yancey

I think everyone is being a bit myopic here. Considering the parameters that the 911 will never deviate from (rear engine, flat-6, 2+2) this is (to me anyway) pretty radical stuff. A 4-inch wheelbase stretch? This is a pretty big deal as well as the car transitioning into a mid-rear engine design.

I am wondering what you guys were expecting or want out of the 911. Care to elaborate?

MagnusB

I was expecting the changes in width, engine placement etc would lead to improved handling?
No mentioning of that?

rnlarctic997

I think that the 991 will be as evolutionary as the step from the 993 to the 996--the almost 4 inch wheelbase stretch will be HUGE in the handling department. The fact that the car is a bit longer and 100 lbs. lighter is also HUGE. The power to weight ratio is better to boot!! Only questiion in my mind is the electromechanical steering--can it retain the same feel as the gen1 997???

This car will be a better car than the 997 in several ways... can't wait...the GT variants are just over the horizen...

OldGuy

GP and Harvey, if you have been here for as long as I have this is what we talked about, also many people HERE were going to wait until this revolutionary edition was going to come out and the target years were around 2011/2012. Things that were discussed and leaked out of the company-***NOTE MOST of this was BEFORE VW BOUGHT PORSHCE***

The PDK was one of the things we talked about, its been delivered. The TIP has always been considered a failure compared to the manual and now the PDK is worthy if not better than the Manual, Indeed the PDK is a manual tranny shifted automatically and the new manual will be like the PDK manual parts

Elimination of the flat 6 and maybe a detuned or NOT version of the 4.8L CGT motor. This may or may NOT have stayed with the rear engine layout.

WHich leads to the next possible issue was the mid engine movement, which was going to put the 911 at the head of any car in the handling department, if is isnt already.

There were MANY MANY topics of discussion- so GPJ instead of insulting me try to understand the intellectual content and the history of my post. I am not as stupid as you may think. YES everything has been evolutionary, and thats why people were talking bout this 2011/2012 Revolutionary change that was talked about. I have had or been around some form of 911 since 1969. So YES I have NOTICED the 45 year evolution. I have been around the 911 show probably longer than you have.
That doesnt change my mind about the 997.2 though, THat WAS a revolutionary change and what a CHANGE It was!! It got me to move from TT's and GT3 to a ordinary Carrera 2 S, which is better than the other 911s I have had.
Before knocking someone think about the topic first.

Tcc1999

There are probably many who'd disagree with the 993 to 996 vs. 997 to 991 evolution comparison. I don't know enough to really have more than a minimally informed opinion so I'll keep it to myself.

The 991 will be/is more advanced than the 997 but whether it is better is subjective and relative to what a particular individual is looking for. For example, I don't think that the 991 is better than an RS America or a 993 Turbo (or even a GTS but I'm biased there) but it is more advanced in too many ways to count. Advanced doesn't necessarily equate to "better". PAG does a lot of things that make people wonder but kudos for them giving us choices.

allegretto

one thing is clear;

the best Porsche is MY Porsche

In other words, they are ALL great cars. Some like air-cooled, some water. Some will bless the 991, some will turn up their noses.

what's great is soooo many choices among the years.

my '12 GTS is obviously the best... but I'm lusting for a 993TT... but a beautifully restored long-nose is sublime for that Sunday Morning ride... unless...

see what I mean?

JLHendrix

The debate has been raging here for a while. Check out the 991 micro forum on this site. The question of how radical a departure porsche has made in the 991 has several dimensions: Aesthetic, performance, comfort, drivability etc. Of course much of it boils down to a subjective assessment of what you believe constitutes the identity and uniqueness of the 911. Check out the other site. It is fun.

sjfehr

Well, obviously! Why would anyone buy a car they didn't think was the best possible choice out of the thousands of options out there?

Quadcammer

uhhhh


$$$$$$$$$$$