KBS911

Though more technologically advanced most folks won't notice the difference appearance wise between the 997 and the new 991. It is evolutionary by design.

There is more of a difference visually between the 996 vs. 997 than the 997 vs. 991 IMHO , but they are all 911's and none can be mistaken for another car, of any brand. The 911 is ,and by all appearances will still remain, just that, a 911. Thank god! The 991 is a beautiful car, but my fear, like many is that it will lose more "character" than it's predecessors, with a numbing of driver input via more electronic controls. Early 911 model devotees can save the "dumbing down" of the 911 arguments for someone else. There is a threshold, and point of no return that hopefully will not be breached.

In short, I think Porsche nailed the looks. The performance will certainly be superior. I just hope they don't lose the "no substitute" feel that has defined the marque, in short a technically superior German version of a Nissan GTR.

RJT

Did someone actually say the first year 996 will become DESIRABLE?

Franklin229

No sure if "desirable" is the word for today-but down the road, the 996 was the first water-cooled 911. The 997 and 991 have nothing as dramatic to say w/ regards to Porsche legacy.

mdrums

Yep pretty much...it will take years and years and who know what the crop of consumers will end up thinking of the 997 down the road.

For me I believe that if the 997 becomes sought after, the GT3 and GT3RS will be "THE" cars followed the the TurboS and GTS.

Marine Blue

My feelings exactly! Just buy it to enjoy it, who cares about how collectable the car is going to be. Does anyone honestly think that the values of our cars are going to increase in an amount that will be significant? Maybe if you hold on to it for 25 years and don't drive it.

Marv

The best you can get is something that vaguely resembles the 993 cosmetically. However, the two cars are worlds if not lightyears apart.

The 991 is a much bigger car in both track and wheelbase, loaded with lots of new technology and much, much removed from the raw predecessors of decades past.

It is comical that people keep trying to find the "993" in the next 911. That will never happen. Those days are gone and DOT regulations will never allow a return of the old - and people probably would not want them anyways. Most people want all the new technological creature comforts (not to mention cold AC) and that is simply not the character of the 993.

It is just as well that the 993 will never be duplicated because it keeps those cars special and collectable.

I think Porsche's aim with the next 911 is mainly focused on improved performance, not nostalgia.

Porsche would have to do something very bad to the 911 line to make the 997 as desirable or special as the 993.

alexb76

Not really silly actually... my next car will be another 997, and a limited production variant, as I am sure it will be way more of a novelty 10yrs down the road than 992!

alexb76

What do u call "auto steering" in a sports car then?

allegretto

First, 993's dropped in value when the 996 came out. Only in the past few years have 993's been "rediscovered"' You need not take my word, look it up yourself. A few years ago you could get a clean 993 Cab in the upper 20's-low 30's. Just try that now...

Second, I keep reading how the 991 will "increase performance". Some have even said "no doubt". But I'm looking at specs and I just don't see a big delta in the Physics. Yeah, more sophisticated electric nannies can help a bit, but not that much, especially on the street where >95% will spend >95% of their lives. Unless of course rails are installed on the roads and matching rails are on the new car. Yes, perhaps the Porsche test drivers can wring a few secs on the Ring, but they are a couple or few orders of magnitude better drivers than me and most here. And none of us spends much time on roads like the Ring.

Most of all, the new car will look different from the seats due to interior changes. Will feel different due to new steering and newer suspension tuning, no doubt more intrusive nannies, and maybe you'll be a few MPH faster on your favorite expressway ramp, but maybe not.

I can guaranty that if you can't drive better than the next guy you won't be faster in the new car either. Marketing pronouncements can lie, Physics does not. Tires are tires, HP is HP.

Edgy01

As an old-timer with Porsche (since 1973) I have watched the evolution of the 911 from 2.0 liter to 2.2, 2.4 and so on. Porsche has been all about incremental changes. They watch and listen to their customers more than many other company. But they are forced to also listen to (in the USA) the DOT and EPA. When they showed us the 964 with all wheel drive it was clear that Porsche was ready to give us all a far greater number of options than ever seen before. They retained the classic coupe, cabriolet and targa versions, but added all wheel drive--a monumental event for Porsche. But they kept the majority of the sheet metal the same. Their incremental changes were predominantly internal with the added gearbox up front, virtually unseen by the customer. It proved to Porsche that they had customers with wide demands, and showed Porsche that they could deliver on that. The engine and drive-train of the 964 were re-hosted into a newer body--the 993. Little was done mechanically but much was done cosmetically to change the external looks of the "911." They had upgraded the cockpit in the 964 and much of it was carried over into the 993. But Porsche also proved that with close attention to their fundamental engineering expertise, they could offer better performance and better economy simultaneously. Most thought that was mutually exclusive, but it was well within Porsche's engineering skill set.

All the while Porsche recognized that they were approaching a thermal limit to their engines. They were going to have to move from exclusively cooling with oil to ethylene glycol and water and oil because only this way could the horsepower numbers go up. Some of the ground work for this was done within the rare 959 with oil cooled cases--but water cooled heads. (It was all about physics--and putting in more valves for better engine breathing which translates to better power production, but adding valves dictated water cooling). They were running up against solid walls with the environmentalists--they needed to consider greater fuel economy, and make them quieter.

While Porsche made their changes over the years incrementally, the introduction of the 996 violated that rule for them--for the first time. Generally, Porsche carries over an engine or a cockpit or exterior styling between significant project numbers. But with the addition of radiators to Project 996, they realized that they had to take a significant risk--starting virtually with a clean sheet of paper. They went too far in the opinion of many because they were trying to maintain some commonality with the new Boxster. These were economic decisions. In time, Porsche realized the error of their ways.

Project 997 was a major clean up of the 996. But both the 996 and later the 997 marked a significant change for Porsche. With the wisdom of Toyota teaching Zuffenhausen what Just In Time manufacturing was all about, they were able to significantly cut the production costs of the 996 (and subsequently the 997). Never before had Porsche produced the 911 in such numbers. They became extremely popular and Porsche, with the 997, had to ultimately run two shifts to keep up with the global demand. Much of this was due to their ability to offer so many varieties of 911 as well as the improved global economy (e.g., Chinese customers). Keep in mind that the 991 has been around for years. It was well along at Weissach several years ago, with much of the internals riding around in 997 'mules' that we had no way of seeing. It was the incredible success of the 997 (and the Cayenne) that underwrote the significant investment in 991 engineering. And yet, when we look at the 991, we see very little difference--particularly if you're not a 911 person! The 991 followed the Porsche rule of incremental change. The engines are virtually the same from the 997.2 cars, while the external changes (added wheelbase) and cockpit are clearly showing their efforts at evolving into what their customers demand. With the addition of the GT line of cars (GT3 and GT2) Porsche retains a version that is more attuned to the boy racers while the cabriolets and turbos keep the stockbroker's wives from getting too much of a pounding from a harsh suspension.

Which of all these 911s are keepers? The one that speaks the closest to you. Perhaps you haven't even seen that one yet. I'm just extremely glad that Porsche has been able to stay in business all these years so that we can have another 911 to choose from.

kyrocks

^^ well said.

allegretto

Nicely summarized '01.

BTW, is your husband a stockbroker too

Charlie C

Great write-up!

Targa Tim

Blue Turquoise is a unique color only, it does not qualify as a unique 997 variant.

gota911

I hope the next 993 is not the 997.2, because I don't want my car stinkin' of burnt oil and greasy smellin' exhaust fumes.