It's all realtive my friend. 930 mindblowing? I had one and "at the time" yes it was mind blowing. Now the only thing that blows my mind when I drive one is HOW I thought it was mind blowing lol With that said I would love to have another one. So as far as blowing ones mind I would assume performance would be the quintessential "mind blower". So with that being said yes the new 991 is a PERFORMANCE MIND BlOWER. I didnt say that about the 997 S when it came out. I did say the car was AMAZING and blah blah blah. This is just Porsche next level. Anddd unfortunately you do give up some of that "classic" feel. Just like you do with every new incarnation. I love em all but sorry the 997 is great and this is significantly greater(from a performance perspective) :-)

 

Mark - I haven't driven a 991 yet, but that doesn't mean I'm opposed to the idea. All cars are SUPPOSED to progress technologically, performance-wise, whatever, so seeing that progress in a 911 is a normal thing. I suppose my concern is that they are skewing that progress more toward winning the traditional luxury buyer vs. the traditional sports car buyer. That's the danger area, in my opinion - you could alienate your base in order to win market share. It makes complete business sense, but it completely dilutes the hard-won heritage.

For me, cars like the Cayenne and Panamera (as well as the Macan, etc.) should be the cars to woo luxury buyers. For the most part, they have. This however gives more credibility to my opinion that the 911 and Cayman should be always driven (pun intended) by their more sports-minded buyers. Don't believe me? How many 991s you think are going to be tracked regularly compared to 964/993/996/997? Unless it's a GT variant, I don't think many will.

I'd really love to drive a 991. In fact, if could find a rational reason to get a second 911, it'd be high on my list. The reality is that I need a sedan much more than I need another sports car. A nice CPO Panamera GTS would really fit the bill...

 

Still,

it`s gonna be a GTS

after all options thoroughly thought through you will end up with that

and you know that
that`s why you keep on ignoring it

 

Slightly OT, but Porsche needs to sell a torque-multiplying wrench for the center-lock cars. The "solutions" I've seen people come up with are a little too DIY for my tastes. Didn't the CGT come with a special wrench? It's one thing that put me off from 997.2 GT3s and the GTS.

 

"Normal' Porsches are mindblowing if you are not jaded. I remember my first 911 Targa and if I still had it, it would be as exciting as ever...(1987 Targa)..All Porsches are great, imo and a blast to drive. How come a 996 GT3 is not on your list?

Before saying too much you really owe yourself a test drive in a 991. You know my Porsche ownership history..The differences between iteration 911's have always been significant but the leap to the 991 is just to me, again a real leap..Biggest one maybe ever.

There is no danger area for Porsche, they have brilliantly figured out different cars for different uses and drivers. How many SUV owners take their trucks off road? Few 911's are tracked when compared to the total amount produced.

Porsche has this figured out in so many different ways! Not only did they come out and continue to improve the Boxster, Cayman and 911 but there are harder core versions for those who care about the track or just want a more raw experience.

I can't imagine Porsche doing a much better job actually.

I just did a short test drive in a base 991, I can and can't imagine how much more fun an S will be, GTS, GT3 and so on.

It's impossible to really have an opinion on this car (or any car really) without driving one.

I am just happy it exists. If the right 997s comes along, I might snag it but without a doubt a 991S, GTS or GT3 is in my future, God willing.

 

I'm configuring a 991S, GT silver, red interior...just for fun....

want.

 

So for the right deal would you buy a "non" S?

 

Don't really know but it was interesting to compare such a base model non S to a very loaded up 997S..

The S is like 50 more HP and other goodies...

I have a headache!

( I want it to be "rep' Silver with a Rep red interior.)

 

Mark - like I said, I'm not opposed to the 991. I think it's drifting away from the core though. I'm REALLY curious to see how the next GT3 turns out.

The other elephant in the room: price. A decently optioned S would maybe crack $100k in the 997s. Now it's almost guaranteed to be well over $100k. I've seen plenty of 991S at $130k!!! To me that's nuts. The performance and content difference between base and S doesn't justify the price IMO.

I hope you get a good one. Silver on red is classic and awesome. Just get black carpets and stitching.

 

I just dont see it that way Chris. Porsche has been throwing perfect strikes in my opinion. Time for one of my favorite quotes by Henry Ford, “If I’d asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse”.

Porsche took incredible heat when they went to water cooled with the 996. They also took heat coming out with the Cayenne. You mention that you feel Porsche is drifting away from the core? Don't you think they always hear that? Customers were flipping out back in the day of the 996 and many decried the same thinking! If Porsche listened to them, you wouldn't be driving a 997!

Not sure what you mean when you say 'the performance and content difference between the base model and S doesn't justify the price"

The base model starts at $82,100 and the 'S" at $96,400.

For $14,000 you get a 3.8 motor with 50 more horsepower, bigger brakes, 20" wheels, different exhaust and a nice letter 'S' on the engine hood. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me especially compared to the cost of Modding a non S model.

I didn't drive the S yet and was comparing the base model to a loaded up S 997 and have concluded and few if any disagree that it is superior in just about every way. It's not a subtle difference either as I keep saying.

DJ asked in a few posts above would i consider getting a base model 991 and the answer has to be yes.

There are a few reasons I might not get a 991 (yet), one is that as a die hard and long time 911 lover, I have enjoyed owning one and like experiencing the differences between each major change. And the 997 was a blast to drive and far better than the 996's I've driven.

Also, I still live in NYC and it's still a stretch to be making the move to a 911 as a true daily driver and a brand new car here is not something I have yet wrapped my mind around. The two other things that I am thinking are the 997 will hold value better of course than a brand new car that will get slaughtered the first year or two. I'll add I prefer not to buy a 991 the first year it is released.

Finally, while the base model 991 is better than the 997 in just about all ways, I know myself and I'll always want an 'S'..and I'm not sure I want to spend $110K-$120K plus tax on that right now considering all the above.

If I were relocating to California as primary residence, I could justify the move and celebrate with a spanking new 991S, loaded up and to keep for the long haul as I don't sell cars very often and can see keeping it just about forever!

I also love to have something to look forward to!

These are all nice problems to have...Give me a 997s or a 991 base model and I will be very happy.