Comments:
Porsche 991 Turbo S - tighter than I expected, as civilized as I expected...
and faster than a bat out of hell up to low triple digits. The low down torque and horsepower are mindbending...
What I was most surprised about, though, was how impressed I was with the Bentley GT3-R in terms of low end acceleration - it felt almost as fast, but it's much much heavier!
Sounds like it's a winner...
Sounds like the new 991 Turbo S is a winner, at least statistically. But is it as emotional as you expected?
Generally, I'm finding the newer Porsches, especially the latest 991 to be very comfortable and civilized. Almost a little too civilized.
Like reading about a bottle of wine that's rated "100 points" from Robert Parker, car companies are increasingly focused on giving car buyers the statistics, acceleration times, quarter mile times, quarter mile speeds, and Nurburgring Lap Times. And these numbers are improving, and at the same time, the vehicles are offering increased comfort.
In short: Is the soul and emotion there? Or should we not care? Who can complain with better numbers and greater comfort?
I take the BMW M3 and M5 as examples... The current F80 M3 is a better car than the E90 M3 (and the current F10 M5 is better than the E60 M5). But the former M3 and M5 with their shrilling V8 and V10 engines stirred my soul much more with the engine's sound and propensity to rev. And while the newer versions are faster and more comfortable and efficient, the sound, the visceral feeling, the lunacy, and even the guilt is just not there any more. It's turned from a very enjoyable and almost sinful experience to a moderately enjoyable and more clinical experience.
Generally, I'm finding the newer Porsches, especially the latest 991 to be very comfortable and civilized. Almost a little too civilized.
Like reading about a bottle of wine that's rated "100 points" from Robert Parker, car companies are increasingly focused on giving car buyers the statistics, acceleration times, quarter mile times, quarter mile speeds, and Nurburgring Lap Times. And these numbers are improving, and at the same time, the vehicles are offering increased comfort.
In short: Is the soul and emotion there? Or should we not care? Who can complain with better numbers and greater comfort?
I take the BMW M3 and M5 as examples... The current F80 M3 is a better car than the E90 M3 (and the current F10 M5 is better than the E60 M5). But the former M3 and M5 with their shrilling V8 and V10 engines stirred my soul much more with the engine's sound and propensity to rev. And while the newer versions are faster and more comfortable and efficient, the sound, the visceral feeling, the lunacy, and even the guilt is just not there any more. It's turned from a very enjoyable and almost sinful experience to a moderately enjoyable and more clinical experience.
i am looking forward to a most intimate experience with these cars...
in a few weeks.
New cars are mysterious in the ways they influence us
For example, I drove a Tesla P85D last week, kicked it hard a few times, and came away unmoved.
I found the car incredibly fast, but it didn't seem interesting to me at all.
Is it possible to have an un-involving vehicle that generates great specs but not endorphins?
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2015-05-22 09:49:50
Porsches generally don't have this problem.
And recently I drove 2 Jaguar F-Types which also were fast, much louder, but only partially engaging. You know there's a problem when you get bored on the test drive and then go buy an electric Fiat instead... 
This past Sunday I drove a friend's CTS-V on two 10 miles trips. He's modified it with supercharger, huge brakes, etc up to about 560 hp. Although it's got 130,000 hard miles on it, the car felt great to drive. Like riding a huge and rambunctious horse. I'm looking forward to driving a new CTS-V with another 100 hp on tap, and all dialed in by the factory.
I think I agree that better numbers and quiet interiors and lots of computer assist subtract from the thrill.
Cazalea
Excellent points!
I haven't driven the Tesla Model S P85D. I'm very wary about AWD cars because they often lack steering feel.
Yes, exactly, the Jaguar F-Type is amazing in the way that it makes you feel with their sound, until you take your first cloverleaf on-ramp turn where the back suspension conveys the rear is going to oversteer if you go any faster... That car just doesn't have a good grip set up. It has a lot of mechanical tire grip, but suspension angling seems to be not using the entire contact patch. Totally agree with you on the Jaguar F-Type. That doesn't stop one hoodied tech kid in San Francisco who seems to drive it in first gear all the time next to Grace Cathedral just to hear the sound of his Jaguar F-Type bounce between the buildings.
Have you driven the current F30 BMW 328i sedan? That car is so good, so clinical, but so good, it's extraordinary! Some lack of steering feel, but the chassis is so well balanced, the way the car rotates is sublime. The E90 BMW 328i had a lot more steering feel, but wasn't as capable nor as comfortable. I like both the E90 and the F30. But when it comes to the M3, I so far have a strong preference for the E90 over the F80. And I have a strong preference for the previous M5 as well.
Yes, exactly, the Jaguar F-Type is amazing in the way that it makes you feel with their sound, until you take your first cloverleaf on-ramp turn where the back suspension conveys the rear is going to oversteer if you go any faster... That car just doesn't have a good grip set up. It has a lot of mechanical tire grip, but suspension angling seems to be not using the entire contact patch. Totally agree with you on the Jaguar F-Type. That doesn't stop one hoodied tech kid in San Francisco who seems to drive it in first gear all the time next to Grace Cathedral just to hear the sound of his Jaguar F-Type bounce between the buildings.
Have you driven the current F30 BMW 328i sedan? That car is so good, so clinical, but so good, it's extraordinary! Some lack of steering feel, but the chassis is so well balanced, the way the car rotates is sublime. The E90 BMW 328i had a lot more steering feel, but wasn't as capable nor as comfortable. I like both the E90 and the F30. But when it comes to the M3, I so far have a strong preference for the E90 over the F80. And I have a strong preference for the previous M5 as well.
Agree the "specs" are just one part of the story and...
if it came down to a face off and personal choice for a "driver's car" I'm not sure which I would pick but I suspect it might not be the obvious one by numbers...
But I don't have enough "seat time" yet in the TurboS to make any meaningful comments as I don't like to draw conclusions from other people's words...
Hopefully more soon...
Other 'people's' words often give you ..
.. a lot of insight ... but then a lot of 'them' love the Golf R and after testing it myself i really did NOT like it ..
But then you should see the grin on those people's faces whenever they try out a Clio RS or a GT3RS , that's when you start thinking they HAVE to like the Golf R or whatever other car for that matter ;-)
suspicious Bim
King of the road as they say...more pictures please. I test drove
a 2012 911 Turbo before and it was so loud with engine sound and road noise that the sales and myself had to shout to talk )
)Definitely I want a car that is fun, fast to drive but with some comfort. These newer 911s definitely nailed it.
Rgds
Raymond
The drivetrain "music" was actually pretty muted inside the cabin on this one...
and one really didn''t hear the exhaust so much as the intake (and intercooler, according to the owner)
On the other hand, I drove behind the car on the freeway as the driver tipped in the throttle (he later told me no more than half throttle) and it sounded mean and nasty, in a good way...
Hopefully some more pics soon.
Something special about a Porsche.
I bought my wife a 991 Targa 4S and was thinking if she did not like it, all would be good in my little world but she loves it. I know it is not a turbo but I am impressed, the car does everything quite well, I would be quite happy having one as a daily driver.
Maybe it is time for a Porsche track GTG.
JerryW