I could have put this in the 997 section but since I have a 991 I thought it would work here just as well.

We call our cars 991's and yet we divide the 997 version into 997.1 and 997.2. I know what this means in the conventional wisdom but I wonder how it got that way. I could understand 997 version 1 and 997 version 2 but the .1 and .2 don't make any sense. If you are using the numbering system used by computer applications, the first one would be 997.0 (or for short 997) and the second one would be 997.1.

We are now calling our 991's just that—991. Will we have to change it to 991.1 when the improved (hopefully) or upgraded version arrives? Or will it be correctly called 991 until the 991.1 version comes out?

Just thinking out loud here.

 

It's just a convention. It works because everyone understands it.

 

997.2 is the mid life facelift version of 997. All Porsche forum members are used to this. Some magazine will use 997.5 instead.

Yes, there will be a 991.2 version 3 years from now.

 

Didn't I just say that. I'm just wondering why.

 

I know what it is. That wasn't the question. The question is how did this happen since it goes against normal version numbering traditions.

I'm being philosophical, not stupid. Or maybe I am, since everyone is too set in the convention to question how it came about. I use the same numbering system but it doesn't make sense since there can't be a 99X.1 without a 99X.0.

Oh well, never mind.

 

Someone probably just started the convention and it caught on. I suspect there's no deeper reason. And personally, I like the convention.

 

01110111011001010010000001100100011011110110111001 11010000100000011101000111100101110000011001010010 00000110100101101110001000000011000000100111011100 11001000000110000101101110011001000010000000110001 00100111011100110000110100001010

(we dont type in 0's and 1's)

.2 makes sense because it;s 2nd version, .1 first version.

 

The 991 IS already a 991.1

You just haven't come out of the closet with it yet!

 

In just about any set of sequences besides computer applications the first is #1, the 2nd #2, the third #3... Why? Because that is the sequence we learn in pre-kindergarden. It's logical.

The sequel to any movie series is not "Batman 1"... The 2nd iphone isn't the Iphone 1...

When the 2nd of almost any product in existence comes out, it nominates the original as #1. Shorthand does the rest... since we are dealing with numbers, the 991.1 is totally logical.

Besides, in the 996 world the first model was the MK1, the facelift was the MK2. Shorthand again kicks in, 996.1 & 996.2

 

^NOLA gets full mark in this question.

 

I was just thinking about it for wives (and I don't know why because I'm not divorced).....but it wouldn't work so well to day wife for the ex and wife1 or first wife for the current?

Doesn't seem like it works in any case for wives.........probably because the 2nd is rarely an improvement over the first .......just a newer model!......(just an observation)

 

Btw, when did the 997.2 (version 2 997) come out?? Just curious.

 

2009. Direct injection engine and PDK being major changes. Other, slightly less noticed changes.

Enough of a change to trade.

That's what I remember.

 

Thanks! Your response made me check out what Wikipedia had to say and here is what I found (the bold emphasis is mine):

"The 997 was revised in 2008 for the 2009 model year. The updated Porsche 911 (called 997 Gen II internally at Porsche) included following changes:

• A revised suspension
• A revised front bumper with larger air intakes
• Headlamps with newly optional dual HID projectors, a new LED taillamp shape, and LED turnsignals
• New direct injection engines with redesigned Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE)
• Redesigned PCM system with optional touch-screen hard-drive navigation
• Tiptronic S option was replaced by PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) 7-speed dual clutch transmission."

So if Porsche was calling the revised 997 their "997 Gen II", then Porsche led the way for the use of the 997.2 nomenclature. That would make the previous 997 the Gen I 997 or 997.1 for short. Based on the 997 history, if and when a Gen II 991 comes out, then the existing 991 will become 991.1.

I also read that Porsche added a few extra HPs to the 997.2 engine as well (maybe a benefit from the direct injection).

A side note: Apparently Porsche developed PDK in the 80's, but did not use it on production Porsches until the 997.2 and only after BMW, Nissan, and others beat Porsche to market with advanced dual-clutch transmissions for their top-line production cars.

 

Seems like it's "Microsoft -speak" too, which has kind of taken over as a colloquial way of labeling things. Windows 98.1, etc.....