http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...911-gt-planned

 

I have mixed feelings about this.

Why is it revolutionary to find out that faster doesn't always mean more fun for everyone? I mean, it is to me, but I like going faster, not just feeling faster - there are awesome cars for doing that - Miata, FR-S, Lotus, etc...

I see this is as a reaction to Aston's "affordable" model. Masking the economics of cheaper parts with marketing schemes to provide ~"the ultimate driver's experience".

Many reasons for this, but the skinny tires on the 911, other features that have been removed, etc..., I feel it is a marketing ploy. I'm sure many will like it. Perhaps either #1 I'm not their target (as I like to actually go fast, not just feel like I am), or #2 the actual finished product will be much better than I'm imagining. Porsche does a great job at engineering... But I also thought Toyota did as well (LF-A comes to mind). So I could be wrong.

 

Weird. This may be another limited production, sought-after model that actually compares to the GT4 philosophy. The mention of the skinnier tires throws me off, though. I understand that more feedback and more "at the limit" feel is available, but is that really their answer to the "problem" here?

 

Sounds like they're describing an updated GTS for God's sakes. Or a base Carrera.

 

Sounds great to me. I have no interest in ultimate track or on-road times, but prize feel, including that of straight-line acceleration. Electronic aids and I turn each other off. A simplified bare-bones 911 with a warmed-over 3.8 NA engine would be very attractive to me as a DD.

I can do without the frills. When I started driving sports cars, wind-up windows were considered frivolous.

 

Straight line acceleration can be achieved by power, gears, and traction tweaks. The decrease in weight may help, but you're not going to gain any "feel" of increased acceleration from what they're describing in the article. The GT3 engine is enough of a straight-line feeler!

 

I also disagree with them going to some kind of 1970's era of skinny tires. That would be stupid. Maybe base Carrera size.

What they should do is build a lightweight version with the 3.4 or 3.8, put PCCB's on it, rear seat delete, lightweight carbon-backed front seats, door pulls, ...manual tranny.

 

[QUOTE= The GT3 engine is enough of a straight-line feeler![/QUOTE]

The GT3 engine, or something similar, is what I was thinking of. I agree, plenty of straight line acceleration.

 

"Instead, it will be set up to maximise feel, response and driver interaction. Crucially, it will mark the return of the manual gearbox to the 911 GT range for the first time since the demise of the 997 generation in 2011."

So are we now saying that the much vaunted PDK lessens driver interaction and feel? Quite a departure from all their marketing bumf promoting PDK as NOT taking anything away from the driving experience.

This company is becoming tiresome and somewhat schizophrenic in their desperate attempts to market the same product.

Fail..

 

I'll take a different approach - I'd suggest it doesn't take anything away from the PDK preference, just pandering to those who have a different preference. Obviously the gear changing doesn't change a car's handling characteristics (unless a driver prefers to be in neutral for longer periods of time for some reason). I do dislike the notion that the gearbox is a deciding factor in how a car handles/feels, but I cannot discount those that prefer one method of gear changing over another. I'm glad that Porsche is catering to enthusiasts (one way or the other).

Another one of my concerns is that if they are selling this as a 'stripped down' version, they would need to strip down the price tag accordingly. I have seen the opposite in the past. BUT - if this concept is offering the Porsche crowd with a Miata/FR-S option (same lotus intent, but with Porsche engineering), I do see an economic approach.

We have seen the Cayman RS (with its nylon door straps) cost more, hence my mixed feelings.

 

I think the premium to MSRP will be high.

 

That, coupled with a high MSRP anyway. They're not going to drop a GT3 engine into a 911 and give it a "bargain" price.

 

Not necessarily 'bargain', but if you're removing features from a car, engineering and materials are also removed, and labor is removed as well. If you're removing an engine, and adding an engine, the assembly time is nearly identical when building from the ground up. While the Carrera and GT3 block are not the same, they are alike enough that it shouldn't warrant a $20k price hike, especially if the Carrera block was never in it to begin with, and other features will be removed (along with less materials, etc...). These are the variables that I will DEFINITELY wait and see what they end up coming out with.

Who knows - might the next track toy car of the decade. That is what I'm hoping for. I definitely don't want to pay GT3 money for Boxster/Cayman (or slower) performance. The Boxster/Cayman is already quite fun.

 

I absolutely agree, but the market always dictates both a higher MSRP, and a higher premium, for models like this. For the most part, a "special edition" track spec car is usually more expensive than the normal edition. I can imagine this model being priced right around $105-110,000. Let your dealer add a markup, and you're talking GT3 territory already.

 

The profit margin on these cars is ridiculously high, and the overall mark-up on Porsche options is comical.
As such, a premium price point is virtually guaranteed regardless of being stripped down. How else will they pay for their new playground.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markewin...ns-in-atlanta/