Traction Inc.

carsxgirl:

One of my favorite quotes ever. (Taken with Instagram at Porsche of Spokane)

Racing is the ultimate test.

(Source: swissstash)

» Traction Inc.: Remember when BMW's were the Ultimate *Driving* Machine?

that911:

BMW isn’t the company they were 10 years ago.  BMW used to build cars that lasted forever.  Now they build cars with planned obsolescence.  I loved the cars BMW used to make.  I can tell you that I will not be buying made by BMW after the e38, e39, and e46. 

I have a friend that’s a BMW mechanic, and he says the same thing.  But BMW isn’t alone. Compare any new Porsche with what was in their showrooms a decade and a half ago—it’s like an entirely different company.  Even Ferrari has been completely transformed.

(Source: gearheadsandmonkeywrenches)

You want track performance? The 991 has a button for that. You want a smooth and cosseting street drive? There’s a button for that. You want to act like a loon or have a start-stop system that’s so quick you can be sitting at a light with your engine off and still blow the doors off 95% of whatever rolls up next to you? Buttons for both.

You want a visceral, emotional connection? Where the hell’s that button?

The difference between an air-cooled 911 and the current 991 is the difference between a finely-crafted mechanical watch and an iPad. The watch does one thing, and does it well. The iPad does everything and does it all better than the watch.

But the watch is not just a watch, whereas the iPad is just a very fancy tool. The craftsmanship that went into making the watch no longer exists and it is therefore irreplaceable. The iPad is only as good as the latest update, and like Apple, only a few months in and Porsche has already released a version that is very slightly improved.

It is the best Porsche yet. The best 911 ever. A technical marvel and an engineering masterpiece and one of the finest pieces of machinery ever made. It is probably the best car I will drive all year.

And I don’t want one.

Brendan McAleer, The Truth About Cars

So there’s a brand new Porsche 911 on the market. A true sports car icon since its introduction 45 years ago, the new car (code named 991) continues to set the benchmark by which other drivers cars are measured. As a new Porsche it is of course faster, more capable and more refined than the last one. But I’m not alone in thinking that a little bit of the 911’s soul is being lost in each new generation.

If you read all the reviews, the new 991 is seriously good to drive. So my only real issue with the car is a philosophical one. The latest generation Porsches, like BMWs and so many other cars these days, have become several orders of magnitude more complex than the cars I learned to drive and wrench on. At some point it has got to become too much.

Fifteen years ago, the interior of the Porsche 993 had a total of maybe 8 switches. Luxury accessories were limited to power seats and electric windows. The throttle was connected to the engine with a steel cable, and traction control was up to the driver.

Today’s 991 represents the bleeding edge of automotive technology. Bi-Xenon and LED lighting. CFD modeled aerodynamic elements, located even on the suspension. Super fast automated double clutch gearbox. Driver adjustable suspension settings, engine mapping, even exhaust sounds. Active stability management. Dynamic chassis control. Direct fuel injection engine with fully variable valve timing and advanced emissions controls. Eelectromechanical power steering and electric parking brake with hill-hold. Carbon ceramic brakes. Adustable spoiler. Two-zone automatic air conditioning. Large LCD interface for GPS and communications systems with ParkAssist sensing. A center console covered in buttons for interior comfort, sound and phone controls. And of course, all the computer systems to govern it all.

By all accounts, the 991 sounds like a stellar automobile. But it is stupefyingly complicated and expensive to develop, build and maintain. A few years from now, when I’m in the market for a used one, I’m not sure how will that shape my purchasing decision.

Porsche CEO: Small Sports Car Would Hurt Brand

For several years now the rumor mill has had Porsche in talks with parent company VW to introduce a new small sports car platform that would give Porsche a model below the Boxster (which these days starts at $50K). And once again the word from on high is that the project has been cancelled.

CEO Matthias Mueller said this week, “We would do no good to the brand if we were to lose traditional Porsche customers… Possibly we need to wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work for Porsche.”

Because, you know, historically Porsche buyers have disliked small sports cars.

How ironic then that worry about the loss of ‘traditional Porsche customers’ didn’t impede the rollout of the Panamera sedan, Cayenne sport-ute and the upcoming Macan crossover.

Today 75% of Porsche buyers are buying sedans and SUV’s. A decade ago (‘traditional Porsche customers’ - right?) that number was 0. In any case, it seems that tarted-up Volkswagens must be the new Porsche ‘tradition.’

that911:

tractioninc replied to your post:  Sad thing though is that you can get an early 996 for less than a 993 or even 964. And it’s a faster, more modern, more comfortable car. That has less soul. PS - 996 turbo’s are getting close to $30K these days.

The only problem with 996/997 Carreras is that they don’t have Mezger engines. The M9X based powerplants in more modern 911’s are garbage compared the Mezger engines in early 911’s and GT/Turbo variants of the 996 & 997. They also feel soulless. They are very good cars and I’ve debated buying a 996 Carrera as a DD/track car, but it just isn’t for me. If I had a 993 DD it would be a fairly built and comfortable GT2 Evo replica (my boyhood dream car) and I’d keep my car as a track car.

If you’ve driven a 996 and an aircooled 911/964/993 then I’m sure you understand why most people opt for the aircooled versions. They are great fun to drive and every second in the drivers seat is enjoyable compared to the bland feeling of a base 996/997 Carrera. That being said, I do still like base 996’s & 997’s. I just wouldn’t own one.

For those in the know, there are a few 996’s with Hans Mezger-designed engines and are worth serious consideration: the 911 Turbo, GT2 and GT3.  While the GT cars are track monsters, the Turbo model is truly a supercar for daily driving.  Friendly road manners, stout reliability and all-wheel drive are paired with a 420 (later 450) horsepower powerplant for accessible, awesome speed.  Early examples are over a decade old now, and can be found for the same money as a new Nissan Maxima.  Yeah.

The Porsche Boxster.  Not just for trophy wives.

KW coilovers, GT3 control arms, GT3sway bar, Tarret endlinks, lightweight flywheel, Wevo engine and tranny mounts, 15x7 wheels with 23x9x15 cantilever slicks, Hawk racing pads, X51 oil pan, custom race exhaust,CF and fiberglass deck lids, Recaro seat, etc. 2200 lbs with the top off. Like a Boss.