After reading all the post on the Galardo vs the 997tt thread, it occurs to me that Porsche might have missed the boat with the styling of the new turbo. To keep up with the looks of the F-cars and the G- cars they could have taken a few more risk with the styling( and to separate it from the other 911's). They could have used ideas from the CGT (headlights, tailights, body panels, and some styling influence from the oldGT1's. When I was at Champion Motors the other day there were 2 Gallardo's in the Porsche service bays ( a sign of things to come). Under the skin the new turbo is top notch, but it's looks are no better than my 996tt. I am sorry, but a pristine, modded (engine upgrades, techart bodies) 996tt for under 80,000 is a no brainer verus a 997tt.

 

Very true... unless your going for the low-key look....

which not many people are.

 

Very true, I looked at a 997T before finally settling on my Bentley, (yeah i know totally different cars) but the new turbo did nothing for me looking at it.
I am a die hard Porsche fan and I love the car and the technology they posses but this new turbo was a bland looker. I agree with you Rich that they should have made it look a little bit different and more stand out from the regular 997. When I started the 997 turbo it all sounded so serene and not supercar "wow", drove a AM DB9 and man that thing sounds mean. I probably will get flamed but seems to me that Porsche didnt incorporate much of anything looks wise from the CGT as that is one Porsche that def. looks super mean and has the brass to back it up. I am not doubting or complaining about the P cars performance but the 997T needs to be dressed to kill and thrill and not so demure and run of the mill. People have said to me just wait for the 997GT2 but that even looks like its going to be a flop in my book looks wise. The 996 GT2 still to this day looks better to me than anything Porsche has to offer (besides the allmighty CGT).
I also have been told just wait, Porsche is coming with something better with the GT2 but to me it sounds like the Chicago Cubs moniker " just wait until next year".

Bajo

 

Bling is in, there is no fighting it. Porsche for many years was the "thinking mans' sports car.Now, the "thinking man" wants a little sizzle and the non thinking men and women only want sizzle.

 

In my opinion, the 911 production models are not intended to "keep up with the looks" of other cars like the Ferrari's and the Lambo's (cars which the 997 TT dusts).

The design may not be to everyone's liking but I'm sure that, taking into account the dedication of their engineering dept, it is like that for very specific performance and functional reasons.

The understated quality of Porsche's design are what makes it appealing to the dedicated Porsche driver base, who for the most part couldn't care less about flash and being noticed on the street and are all about drive quality and car control.

Save the wow factor for the attention seekers (Never understood the desire to drive a car in the hopes that people will notice you and gawk anyways).

 

I cant stop drooling everytime i see a new 997TT.... Although, I can see where you are coming from

 

Why would you want to pay close to $150,000 for a car that looks like a $70,000 car? Take your argument a step further, if drive quality and control you want why not buy a cheap Porsche like a Cayman or a Boxster and save yourself $100,000?

The point is if your going to spend $150,000 for a car should it not look and sound like a $150,000 car? Porsche is positioning the 997TT as a supercar and yet it looks very pedestrian.

 

I agree. After months of waiting, I decided to cancel my order and go with the car that I know is more me. I bought a 2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 for invoice! and saved 40k in the process. It just didn't make sense to buy a car that needed a new exhaust, aero kit, interior upgrades and wheels to make it suit my taste. I love porsche , and the performance. But it looks like a car your wife would bring home groceries in. It just doesn't stir me. I love the CGT but just can't justify the price. I wanted a commited sports car with real sports car sound. And the Viper is bad to the bone!! When I test drove it, I fell in love. It's raw, loud, attention getting and fast as hell even from 80mph and up! I can't go any where without people turning heads and asking me about it. Within the first week everbody at work knew my name , people I had never met! Everyone says it's the best looking car they have ever seen. I can't wipe the smile off my face or stop driving it. I will watch what porsche does with the styling in the future, but for now I can't imagine driving anything else.

 

I think I'm coming from a completely different angle. Your argument is that looks and sound are more important in a car (at least to you). If you need people to bow to you and give you some false sense of status through what kind of car you drive, please, stay off the Porsche lots.

If you have something to prove, the track is where to do it, not doing 15 mph down mainstreet in yourtown USA.

 

I will agree with the opinion that a $150,000 car should awe you with the presence of comparable $150,000 cars, like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, however I believe Porsche's approach to the 911TT is two-fold.

Porsche is positioning the 997TT as a supercar, yes, but a supercar that you can drive and appreciate everyday, have the practicality of a 2+2, while maintaining a performance level that is equal to some of the best supercars from other brands. In order to do this, they, Porsche, probably believe the styling of the car should not depart too much from the much evolved 911 shape. The short wheelbase, generous headroom, and relatively narrow body width give it an "everday-ness" that is proven. While cars like the F430, Gallardo, and AMV8 certainly look like a million-bucks, there isn't valet parking everywhere you go, and there are definitely instances for an everyday car when subtelty is appreciated. Leading me to my second point.

With the exception of the Carrera GT, which I doubt Porsche intended to be an everyday driver like the 911, the design of Porsches definitely reflect the company's desire to prioritize function over form, (the boxster's 2x4 plank for a spoiler for example). I don't necessarily agree with all of Porsche's styling decisions, but I can appreciate how Porsche takes a more evoloutionary approach to each revision of their 911, always careful not to distance a shape and style they've established. (Other than the corvette, I believe the 911 is probably the most recognizable sports car silhouette out there.) I hope that over time, the car will get lower and wider to be more exotic, I doubt Porsche will make any dramatic jumps for a design that is as beautiful as it is boring, Porsche knows this, and accepts this as one of the best and worst characteristics of the car.

If I was fortunate enough to have 150,000 to spend on a car, I would probably find some way to buy a 360, mostly because I love the design of late-model Ferraris, but I know (and I can't be sure until the day comes ) that I wouldn't be able to drive it everyday without worrying about resale value, mechanical issues, and maintenance costs all the time. Maybe when the time comes that I can afford to buy a 150,000 dollar car, I might change my mind for that reason.

The 997TT offers performance greater than most any other Porsche out there, 997S, Cayman S, yet not at the expense of every other benefit that owners have grown to appreciate and expect, like the practicality, reliability and usability. I know owners of the 997TT probably love the way it looks, like a 911, an 80,000 dollar car that has performance equal to cars that cost three times as much BUT is a liveable and drivable as an everyday car.

And if they want a little more flash, there always is Tequipment and Techart. For those that are looking for more dramatic styling changes, we'll see what happens with the 998, where Porsche will probably push the design a little bit more, but even then will still be evolutionary.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. No intention to argue, just enjoying a nice debate.

 

oh oh what will you say about a 90k M5 looks like a 45k 525i lol.

 

No your not. If the 911 was badged a Ford or Chevy you would run from it. You buy a Porsche because it is a PORSCHE! Yet if performance on a track is what you are looking for then why not a Corvette which will suck the headlights out of most Porsche's at dramatically lesser price.

Status is not bad especially if your going to pay $150,000 for a car. Porsche took great care to distinguish the CGT because people would be paying a hefty price for it.The marketing strategy of have a Porsche in every garage in America with look alike footprints has been noticed by several car reviewers and magazines. They have used words and phrases in describing Porsche's as:

"ubiquitious",

"seems like everyone owns one",

"allover"

"moribund styling department"

and recently in Forbes magazine in their review of the 997TT "If you can get your hands on one, that is: Ferrari and Lamborghini both have waiting lists, while Porsche cranks out the Turbos by the thousands. Think of it as a bargain."

Not much more to say.

 

All I can say is...I didn't plan on buying the Turbo because of it's exclusivity or looks. The bottom line for me is that I'm buying it because it's such an amazing car to drive! Civilized, fast and reliable. I couldn't care less about what others think about my car, only what I think of the car because its for ME to enjoy.

 

yet something that has been essentially porsche since the 911 was born

 

Revamping 911TT looks will make the current list price rocket higher. Most of the R&D went into the engine I think.

I'd like to see a 150-170k V8 TT making 550hp mid engine beast. Something like a cheaper CGT with alum frame.