Fanman,

My mistake on the Z06, I'm not a vette guy. I forgot they went from 385 HP to 405. I meant to type 996 GT2 with 477HP; the GT3 has 380HP, I made the correction.
Thanks,
K

P.S. Chris C./Life Dies- why so negative???

 

personally, I think Porsche needs to grow a pair & put out at least 500 hp. This 20 hp every few years was cute when other cars weren't close, but now Porsche is seriously falling behind. 10-15 years ago a Porsche Turbo was putting out hp & acceleration #'s that were supercar like. These days it will be barely on par with the Z06 (or even a $40K GT500). They need to tweak a few noses & get some serious hp increases. It was different back in the day, but now you have Corvettes going from 300 to 350 to 400 hp. Z06's going from 405 to 500 hp. Even Mustang Cobras going from 390 to around 490. The days of 15-20 hp bumps is over. In the notion of who cares. This potential buyer of a 997 TT cares. If I buy the car I expect it to be superior to these other cars in ALL respects, not just SOME respects. You shouldn't have to make excuses/justifications after you buy a $130K car.

Also, this notion of a "regular" vs. "S" model is just absurd. As if spending $130K on a car isn't enough to get their best technology. They need to collect another $18K on top of that. The rumors of a 485 hp 997 TT & a 525 hp TT "S" is the very reason I will seriously hold off on buying another Porsche. I love the cars but hate the pricing model & increased power model lineup.

 

How's that different from a regular vette to a Z06? All manufacturers play the same number game.

 

I disagree. Dodge introduced a 250HP Neon but simple fact of the matter is it remains a neon. A vette is a vette is a vette is a vette. I'd feel better about a person who drives a 380HP 997 Turbo than the guy who drives a 500HP turbo. It shows me his brand loyalty overcomes his ability to rationalize by the numbers he sees. Porsche is a brand of heritage but unfortunately has become a mass marketed company trying to keep up with the Jones;. God forbid we have another 996tt. I can't stand to see people ***** about resale values anymore.

 

That comparison is more appropriate of a Carrera to a Turbo, not Turbo to Turbo S.

 

I must be the "new generation" of Porsche owners that don't give a Rat's patooty about heritage. I want performance & power for the money I spend. The way I see it is that the Porsche name has little to do with how many races it won, etc & more to do with at one time if you drove the "turbo" Porsche, you were the bad boy on the block. You had a car that could meet or beat almost any car on the street. That is where I want Porsche to be. I'm willing to buy a Porsche if it is equal or better than it's comparable cars (Corvette Z06, DodgeViper, Ferrari F430, etc.) in ALL respects. I used to be that you didn't have to make excuses when you bought a Porsche, but it seems that these days the people at Porsche have lost their way. It used to be that the Porsche Carrera matched the Vette, now the comparos go to the Carrera S. The last model iteration the GT3 was matching fenders with the Z06, now if the rumors are true of a 420 hp GT3 it will be badly outclassed by the Z06. Porsche needs to step up, stick their heads out of their hole & see that the world is changing. Other car makers are giving their cars 50hp (Viper) or 100 hp bumps (Z06. M5/M6). 20 hp here or there isn't going to do it.

 

Incedentally, Porsche does bring superior fit and finish that the Vettes (interior plastic pulls off in chunks), Vipers and Fords just dont have. Taking everything into consideration, it is a well rounded delivery for the buck. I just hope the future performance numbers arent so close to these domestic rivals as Porsche should more clearly define the brand direction with punch.

 

Incedentally, Porsche does bring superior fit and finish that the Vettes (interior plastic pulls off in chunks), Vipers and Fords just dont have. Taking everything into consideration, it is a well rounded delivery for the buck. I just hope the future performance numbers arent so close to these domestic rivals as Porsche should more clearly define the brand direction with punch.

 

No doubt that Porsche has a FAR better interior & prestige in it's name. That said, it should match/exceed the competitors across the board in performance. That is why you drop $135K. Part os it is prestige, part of it is performance. You shouldn't have to make any excuses when you buy a $135K Porsche. The last thing I want to say is "well you may be faster in a straightline, but I have a nicer interior." The magical # in automotive land seems to be 500 hp. from the Z06, to the Viper to the BME M5/M6, or the upcoming 6.2 L Mercedes AMG engine. All meet or exceed the 500 hp level.

 

I don't think Porsche has ever played a "horsepower" game. In fact in the 1/4 mile there have been any number of factory hot rods that might have been able to beat it. Even going back. What Porsche does and has done is take small displacement and extract well balanced performance with longevity from it. If you want to race from Stop light to stop light then get a Hemi. It has tons of horsepower and torque, and it is not a bad car. It is even cheaper than a vette.

The later generation Vette's are good, even excellent. If you want one buy one, at least the Z06.

All the talk of big horsepower I find pretty interesting. It is really the package that counts.

 

The last time I looked, the Nurnburgring, Lime Rock, Watkins Glen, VIR, Daytona (infield), Sebring, and a #$%load of other tracks were not 1/4 mile dragstrips. I always thought of the P-car as a road course car that loves finding the apex.

The corvette is a great car. If you don't like the Porsches anymore, go buy a goddamned Vette. Go buy anything that makes you feel good when you put your foot into and it puts a grin on your face.

I like the feeling I get when I get behind the wheel of either of my P-cars. It doesn't matter that my Boxster S only has 250 hp. When I put that Sum ***** through a corner (It has M030), it feels awesome.

My $.02.

 

Chris C.

Could you please take my wife off your F-ing Avatar?!!?

 

As a die hard 911 man, I can't help but wonder if Porsche is giving up against a field they have dominated for so many decades.

The truth is that it took all those years for the Vette to catch up. Now its time for Porsche to get going again and they will.

 

I truly beleive they will as well. I have yet to be disapointed by Porsche.

 

Actually the new Z06 has shown some pretty damn impressive times at the "gring" lately. The days of classifying Corvettes as straightline performers & Porsches as "autocross/roadcourse cars" are over.

When people say it's the "package' that counts. I agree 110%. I believe a $135K Porsche should outhandle, outbrake AND out accelerate it's competitors. It needs to be the bad boy on the block. Scrap the 525 hp "S" model, step up & give us a 525 hp regular Turbo car. Technology is there, stop trying to nickel & dime us to death.

Chet M,

Let's hope you are right.