Disappointing Test Drive -- 991

[Porsche Tres]

Well, we started out with a new '75, bare-bones 911S coupe, no sunroof, no radio or speakers (you had to put your own in, that's what 'stereo shops' were for!), no A/C,  leather sport seats (beware your 'less than slim' friends!), and 5 speeds on the stick.  Cost me only $14K OTD because the dealer wanted it off the lot.  Because of Fed regs, the car sat 'elevated' and looked like a Toyota until you had it lowered (another $ 100 for the dealer) to spec..  What a gas to drive!  It wasn't 'sophisticated', but it was more of a sports car than the Ford Mustang I had just unloaded.

 

Later came a new '82 911SC coupe, had most of the 'farkles', pretty color (Rosewood w/tan leather interior) for $36K.  Flared rear valences, made more 'rumble' at the pipe, still fun to drive, but seemed more 'sophisticated', less ruff-around-the-edges than the '75.  Still fun, just 'different'.  And it was the biggest, most expensive 'Jonah' I have ever owned.  Within two years (outside the ONE YEAR warranty, by the way!) the sunroof and speedo quit working, the alternator/voltage regulator (unitized) went t/u, I got a flat that couldn't be repaired, somebody backed into my right door, something flew up in the r/r wheel well and 'dimpled' the fender, later something (never did find out what) also 'dimpled' the engine cover, etc., etc.!  Good grief!  I sold it for a song in a weak 911 market (at the time) and considered it my last.

 

Then, at the end of 2011, I bought a used (not CPO) '08 C4S coupe with 22K on the clock.  I got tired of watching Porsches on the road, and 'that old feeling' was creeping into my system again.  Not like either of my previous two cars, I was in 'love' again!  Life was worth living if you had to drive, although this was a Tiptronic S model, my concession to 'retirement' and the reality of 'traffic', the bane of SoCal.  Car drove like it was on rails, and ripping thru the curves with the '35 mph' advisory at 65 put a big smile on my face.

 

Got the urge to 'buy up', so last month sold the 997 (reluctantly), bought a CPO'd 2012 991 C2S.  Different car (again).  Yes, it is bigger, the badging is not 'enhancing', the steering doesn't give you the 'feel' that I experienced in my early cars, and it's got so many 'farkles' that you have to keep a persosnal library in the car to figure out how to program the radio.  But it's 'evolution', the car is more GT than pure, ruff-endged 'sports car', and perhaps it reflects the needs/wants/desires of the folks out there that can afford this brand.  Think about it:  how many people, in what economic catagory, can buy a car, a 'fun' car, that is totally impractical for most families, for $124K and up???  There is a lot of 'gray hair' driving the newer models, and they are not looking for 'ruff-edged' cars, they want 'fun and comfort', and that's what Porsche is giving them in the 991.  If you want real 'sport', buy a GT3, a Boxster, or some other more 'sporty' car.

 

I'm not saying this is the way it should be, it' just 'evolution', meeting the desires of the persons who, unlike when I bought my first Porsche, can afford the machine.  I buy used because I can't justify the purchase price of a new machine and then watch it depreciate $30K or more in 3 years, money that could be spent doing other things.  Personal choice, but I still love the car now, just in a different way.  Fortunately there are still plenty of low mileage, older models out there for those that long for model yes gone buy.  Whatever your choice, whatever the year, there still is no other care out there that looks like, or is as much fun to drive.  Hope you all find your 'dream car'!

[AndyA6]

Just visiting here and reading this thread, interesting!

I had a lot of Porsches in my life, 12 to be exact. Anything from. 356 to various 911 to a Cayenne and finally to a 986 Boxster and now a 2014 Boxster.

To all of you who think a 991 is too "GT", you have a point, as a hardcore fanboy I still miss my 964 C2 built to RS specs, big time.

I find the current Boxster the most fun to drive car by far and the best value as well. And I drove several 991s over time to compare.

Edited December 27, 2014 by AndyA6

[Mijostyn]

Hi Andy, Welcome aboard.

 

The 2014 Boxter is a wonderful car and many do think it handles better than a 911. I think this GT/not GT argument misses the point.

The 911 has certain handling characteristics that many of us find endearing. If you want more sports car character then you get a GT3 or GTS or go to the aftermarket. The 911 is the only car pretending to be a sports car/super car that you can load your wife into with a weeks worth of baggage and your bikes on the top and actually go somewhere. In all wheel guise it is perfectly capable in the snow. As a road tool it is without peer. I would miss your 964 and I think you should find another then when you win the lottery you can Singerize it!!

I think what bothers me most about the 991 version is what I call the Audi factor. 911s have always been sort of ...rustic. The rough edges giving them character which actually varies from one to the next. The 991 is so polished, jewel like, that it is harder to find the character in it. Again, the GT3 and GTS are big steps in the right direction. I have a Turbo S and it is almost entirely devoid of character regardless of what the reviews say. Once I own it outright I will fix that with a Fabspeed exhaust, chip, and bigger rubber with Forgeline wheels. The goal being to turn it into an all wheel GT2. The nice thing about these cars is since they are raced there are all sorts of options out there to personalize your car.