Brian Halling
New member
Yesterday I visited the Geneva Motor Show, specifically to see the 981 before I finalise my order (April build [
]). Here are a few new things I discovered which are not obvious from the promo information:
The new hood is much better than the 987 version. It appears very smooth on the outside with a more pleasing shape and hardly any signs of the supporting frame. With no metal cover it goes up and down in a flash (circa 9 seconds), and best of all it engages and disengages the central catch automatically without you having to take a hand off the wheel.
Although the interior is reportedly bigger I found this hard to appreciate, as the sloping central console is rather in your face. It also means the loss of that useful little cubbyhole beneath the 987 heater controls. Where do you put your sunglasses now? Add smaller door storage and I felt the cabin had shrunk. However, with the seat right back the legroom has definitely improved. I believe the cabin length has been increased because the front and rear overhangs have been decreased. This undoubtedly improves the overall look of the car, but at the expense of the rear boot which is now much smaller. I bet my custom cases will no longer fit - another Porsche marketing opportunity!
The seats in the display model (leather, but the same shape as the standard ones I was assured) had high sides which will no doubt provide great support when driving enthusiastically, but may prove a challenge getting in and out for more mature (like me) drivers and passengers. It's a shame that display models are always fully loaded, as every time I found a useful gizmo (like the electrically adjustable steering wheel) it turned out to be yet another extra.
My OPC has no samples of the new colours, so choosing one of them before the official UK launch on 28th April may be a bit of a lottery. My original order specified Aqua Blue, but it turned out to be a bright, vivid Dinky Toy blue, so I have changed it to Dark Blue. Anyone contemplating Lime Green should wait and see it in the metal before confirming their order - the consensus of the multinational crowd around the display model in this colour was 'it reminds me of the morning after a heavy night out'! Driving the porcelain bus?
I found much to admire and nothing to feel doubtful about. The new shape is clearly more muscular, which will hopefully dispel for ever the soubriquet 'hairdresser's car'. The proof of the pudding will surely be in the driving, but based on a close inspection, courtesy of my Porsche VIP pass, I was pleased and reassured by my visit.
I will post some of my many photos on my web gallery and provide a link when finished for those who would like a closer look.
]). Here are a few new things I discovered which are not obvious from the promo information:The new hood is much better than the 987 version. It appears very smooth on the outside with a more pleasing shape and hardly any signs of the supporting frame. With no metal cover it goes up and down in a flash (circa 9 seconds), and best of all it engages and disengages the central catch automatically without you having to take a hand off the wheel.
Although the interior is reportedly bigger I found this hard to appreciate, as the sloping central console is rather in your face. It also means the loss of that useful little cubbyhole beneath the 987 heater controls. Where do you put your sunglasses now? Add smaller door storage and I felt the cabin had shrunk. However, with the seat right back the legroom has definitely improved. I believe the cabin length has been increased because the front and rear overhangs have been decreased. This undoubtedly improves the overall look of the car, but at the expense of the rear boot which is now much smaller. I bet my custom cases will no longer fit - another Porsche marketing opportunity!
The seats in the display model (leather, but the same shape as the standard ones I was assured) had high sides which will no doubt provide great support when driving enthusiastically, but may prove a challenge getting in and out for more mature (like me) drivers and passengers. It's a shame that display models are always fully loaded, as every time I found a useful gizmo (like the electrically adjustable steering wheel) it turned out to be yet another extra.
My OPC has no samples of the new colours, so choosing one of them before the official UK launch on 28th April may be a bit of a lottery. My original order specified Aqua Blue, but it turned out to be a bright, vivid Dinky Toy blue, so I have changed it to Dark Blue. Anyone contemplating Lime Green should wait and see it in the metal before confirming their order - the consensus of the multinational crowd around the display model in this colour was 'it reminds me of the morning after a heavy night out'! Driving the porcelain bus?
I found much to admire and nothing to feel doubtful about. The new shape is clearly more muscular, which will hopefully dispel for ever the soubriquet 'hairdresser's car'. The proof of the pudding will surely be in the driving, but based on a close inspection, courtesy of my Porsche VIP pass, I was pleased and reassured by my visit.
I will post some of my many photos on my web gallery and provide a link when finished for those who would like a closer look.
