Originally Posted by bdbdbd

I'm quite sure the the 991 will be an improvement but some things I'm still unsure about. At the moment, they seem a step back to me:

Electric E-Brake
With the "Old-style" handbrake, I always had peace of mind I could pull on it and it would always work regardless of the state of the battery, keys in ignition, or any other variable. Plus, there was the satisfying clicking of locking the brake when exiting the car.

20" inch wheels
I think this is a marketing effort to show more "bling". Bigger wheels mean more unsprung weight, meaning less performance (Rubber is lighter than steel). Still hope we can run smaller wheels.

7 speed manual
I think this is great and a major improvement over the 997. When you're cruising on the interstate (say around 85 mph, between LA and San Francisco), it's nice not to have the motor droning around 3,500-4,000 RPM). Plus, you'd have major fuel savings too.

Updated interior/electronics
If you read many postings here, you see many users complain how dated their Porsche electronics feel compared to MB, BMW, Honda, Nissan, etc. Better Bluetooth profiles, Navigation options, customizable settings are what the next generation of buyers are clamoring for. I think this is overall a good thing as it will let us enjoy the car more (i.e. better NAV which helps us find and avoid traffic jams).

Let's wait and see how things turn out in the fall.