Another 991 review.
03-06-2012, 10:14 PM
#76
Ironman 140.6
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
The absurdity of this comparison is highlighed by looking at the dimentions of, say, an F430 (which I am in the market for). The F car is an inch longer and fully 4 inches wider than the 991. It does sit about 2 inches lower and, if anything, I think that makes the car look even wider in comparison the Porsche.
03-07-2012, 04:28 AM
#80
Nordschleife Master
03-08-2012, 04:33 PM
#82
Nordschleife Master
Hear this a few weeks ago and waited till I had independent confirmation
Maybe most of you know this too;
The exhaust note of the 991's synthesizer is nothing of the sort. It's intake noise through a tuned tube. I had wondered about exhaust leaks and asked at the dealer at my test drive. The salesman casually told me it wasn't an exhaust note, but a "complex combination" of sounds... yeah sure...
makes me want one even more now...
Maybe most of you know this too;
The exhaust note of the 991's synthesizer is nothing of the sort. It's intake noise through a tuned tube. I had wondered about exhaust leaks and asked at the dealer at my test drive. The salesman casually told me it wasn't an exhaust note, but a "complex combination" of sounds... yeah sure...
makes me want one even more now...
03-08-2012, 05:01 PM
#83
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
This begs the question of what is a Sports Car vs. Grand Tourer? Is there a definition set by some authoritative source or is it according to what we each perceive to be a sports car?
I would classify a F430 as a sports car for sure.
I would classify a F430 as a sports car for sure.
03-08-2012, 05:55 PM
#84
Three Wheelin'
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The 911 has been on the american diet for decades. I lined up a few starting with my 59-d, then 78sc, then 997s and its amazing how much they have grow over the decades especially looking at the fronts. The 991 is continuing a tradition already in place. Personally I like it and look forward to tucking one away.
03-08-2012, 06:58 PM
#85
Pro
I had a chance to drive a 991 this weekend, and really push the car both on the highway and through a few twisties. I described it as a 997 on both Prozac and Testosterone. Very, very capable, fast and fun to drive, but with the "edginess" of the 997 gone.
03-09-2012, 04:17 PM
#86
No question. Without hesitation. We have a F430 F1, and it's about as raw as it gets. Maybe even too raw. It's a large, expensive go-Kart.
03-10-2012, 01:14 PM
#88
Rennlist Member
I think it's the 4" longer wheel base and 20's that contribute to the "BIG" look and feel. Hell even mountain bikes come in 29"'s now. The 991 has certainly retained the 911 silhouette but regardless, it is a bigger car. If I'm not mistaken the Corvette Z06 is a shorter car overall than the 997/991, but anyone that has driven one knows it feels, drives and looks like a bigger car.
As has been mentioned, it is the proportions, not overall dimensions, that make the 991 feel like a bigger car. It may not be wider overall, but the wider front track, combined with taller front fenders and higher 'frunk' lid, when compared side-by-side with a 997, gives it Panamera-like proportions.
03-11-2012, 09:47 PM
#89
With all due respect, I understand your point completely, I just disagree with it. I don't think that if you "did the math" that the volume of the new car would be meaningfully greater than the old car. There'd have to be an awful lot of very significant differences in shape to make up for the fact that length, width, and height dimensions are so close, and IMO there aren't. I can't prove my position with absolute certainty and neither can you, I suspect, unless you have full dimensional data for both cars to calculate or a 997 and 991 available to do a displacement test in a swimming pool. Absent that, we'll just have to disagree.
I do find it interesting that this discussion began with claims about the huge physical size differences between the cars, and now we're talking about subtlties in shape and perception. If we had started out here, I don't think there would have been much disagreement in the first place.
I do find it interesting that this discussion began with claims about the huge physical size differences between the cars, and now we're talking about subtlties in shape and perception. If we had started out here, I don't think there would have been much disagreement in the first place.
I've position the plaques centered on each other, however I lined up the bottom of the chassis to match, instead of the bottom of the wheels. This is because the 991 sits lower than the 997, so the given height is about equal from the ground. But if measured from the bottom of the chassis to the roof, one can clearly see where the size is different.
The roof, front end, rear end, and fenders are all larger on the 991. The cab forward design of the cockpit also shows an increase in size if you look at the front glass to rear glass area.
If I had such diagrams from a bird’s eye view, I’m certain the overall width proportions would show similar gains. All of this adds up to an undisputed larger car, both mathematically as well as visually. Whether this size difference is “meaningful” is subjective.
For me, this extra size would not stop me from buying a 991. OTOH, it doesn’t make me want to rush out and buy one either. If the 991 were smaller than the 997 by such dimensions, that would have been much more “meaningful” in my case.
