[hesperus]

Porsche World Roadshow

Well Porsche had the event over here and I got some seat-time in a 991 Carrera/S, back-to-back with 997 models.

It was combination of on-track and on-road. unfortunately, i got stuck behind a rather conservative driver and I kept having to back-off, so can't really say I got the full 991 experience on-track (no overtaking allowed).

Regardless, enough of an exposure to form some quick impressions, arranged here in rough order of "impact" to me (most to least,) on this first acquaintance.

1) Exterior styling is not quite as striking as I expected

From the first pictures, i thought to myself how amazing this car must be in person. I've generally found some cars to be so-so in pictures, but in the metal, they really look better. since i found the 991 pics made the 997 look so frumpy, in person the newer car would be jaw-dropping.

Its definitely very clean, very pretty, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations. NOT to say its not better looking (mean: more aggressive) than the 997. it is. just not as much of an impact as I thought.

2) Interior is fantastic

Opposite is true of the interior. in pictures, i thought the interior looked too Panamera-ish, too busy, "futuristic".

In person, the interior just makes the 997 really feel old. i'm not a huge fan of the Panamera center console, and while that design element has filtered down to the 991, it works much better here.

Also, Porsches in general tend to look just drab and sepulchral with an all black interior. but one of the cars on hand had such an interior, but managed to avoid that blah atmosphere. probably the materials and brushed aluminum (look?) accents. but still, nice surprise.

Is it too GT and not enough sports car for a 991? maybe. but it was a very nice place to be!

3) 991 feels lighter, more nimble on-track than 997, also more composed as things start to get ragged

Not much to say here, it seems every magazine and review has said as much. I'm no Chris Harris, Jason Plato or Tim Schrick, so i wouldn't be able to squeeze every iota of performance from the car even if I had it to myself on a track all day. But the track we were on was very very tight and technical (see video clip below,) such that there were lots of low speed corners where you could push the car.

Back to back with a 997 GTS, I immediately noticed even at low speeds on track, the 997 felt more "nervous" (mainly that nose bobbing motion,) and also felt heavier, relatively ponderous.

Also, in a tight decreasing radius 2nd gear turn where you can easily feel the car transitioning from g-loadings well within the limits of grip, to starting to have the tires howl and the car beginning to "fight", the entry into the "ragged edge" came much earlier in the 997.

Note this doesn't mean the 991 felt boring or video-game like in a GTR kind of way. it was still very much "alive", though not as much "work" as the older car. that is a positive or a negative, depending on one's POV...

As for the electric steering... yes, lighter than the 997, but to be honest, if the press hadn't made a big deal of the change, i probably wouldn't have commented on it, and chalked it up to overall improvement in refinement, w/o a reduction in overall feel or "granularity" to the same degree.

4) 991 much more refined

On-street, no surprises. a MUCH better daily drive proposition than the 997. the 911 was always the best all around DD sports car, and the 991 just updates the CV.

5) they got the exhaust sound RIGHT.

It sounds wonderful, and pops and crackles on the overrun. it doesn't have the spine chilling Mezger rush, but for a non "GT" P-car, this is done right IMO.

Last thoughts?

In current form, I would not trade my 997.1 GT3 for the 991 Carrera. But that's because my car is a strict weekend car, where adrenalin and a bit of "work" is part of what i look for. for someone looking for a DD, there's no contest really.

The 991 GT3 will be an incredible all round package. BUT I wonder what they'll do with the motor now that the GT1 block is gone, especially now we've seen in the 4.0 how close to perfection that engine is/was...

Short clip from the event. Note the 991's here are not as sideways as the 997's. No conclusions to be drawn here, just so happens that in this clip, they weren't sideways.

[DJ]

As always great submission, thanks Hes!

[lopro]

nice short little vid.

[ECB]

great,I mean really great review!

[JonF]

Great video and review!

[tips]

thank you

[hg_wng]

nice writeup

[Vchris]

Tyres were a bit ...tired! I have the same feeling about the 991 than you.interior is the best improvement for the car, for the rest...i like the front and the side of the car but still prefer the 997.2 back...

[wodanbrlam]

Cheers... we'll put it on the site once it's been out etc..

[lopro]

pic is not working