grover
New member
I took the new white turbo out on Saturday from Hatfield OPC which is their demonstrator and the first day it was allowed out on the road, which is a pretty good spec car with pdk and sports chrono, I think c £110k plus.
I thought I would share some thoughts from the experience before I take up my invitation to drive around Silverstone Thursday week which will no doubt confirm my thoughts below.
First of all I have a Gen 1 997 turbo tiptronic with sports chrono. Its now just over two years old, has 18k on the clock and its an amazing car. Black on black which is a popular choice and very well specced. I bought this after owning a 997 s from new which was also a great car. The turbo is fantastic, amazing speed, so easy to use, a great GT car and my only niggles were the poor tiptronic box and the lack of a proper noise! Like all Gen 1 turbo's the only draw back of the tip version is that momentary lag when you hit the loud pedal before the turbo's pick up.
Getting in the car the first impressions were as follows. I have driven the new Gen 2 cars on road and track so was aware of the new sat nav and control system which is so much better that Gen 1 cars, so that was a positive start. I like the 3d mapping for example although why it wont do full post code is still beyond me. The rest of course was pretty much as my current car except for the sport and sport plus button, the new thicker steering wheel and flappy paddle gear changes. The outside has the new lights and some minor changes and of course the new wheels which look good. The demo is plain white and black looked good sitting waiting for me.
I sat in the passenger seat first and the car did feel more urgent than mine instantly we set off. The gear changes were very smooth under load and it seemed to want to go more than the Gen 1 car. After swapping over I settled in and found a few clear changes from the current model.
First of all the gear box I really like, the changes have taken away that slushiness of the tiptronic, so I can see no reason why not to choose that as part of the specification. I did flash the main beam instead of changing gear which the dealer also managed, but I think after a bit of practice that wouldnt happen. Its very quick, works well on fast changes and slow changes and I really like the control you have as to which gear you want. Also when you do select a different gear its instant. This for me sorted out all the downsides of the tiptronic version. Under standard mode you have 7 gears and only when you go to Sport plus does that become 6.
The general pick up and power seemed better than the Gen 1 (which of course it should with a 3.8 DFI engine) and when the power was applied hard, it seemed a lot faster than the current car, more connected between accelerator, gearbox, engine and the road, so within minutes I am wanting to place an order. You can see why only a very few cars are faster now on the road and almost all except the Caterham Superlight cost significantly more.
So after only 20 minutes I was left wanting one and wanting to know what p/x I might get and when I can get a car.
The only niggle that remains is the exhaust. I know its a GT car but why not make a sports exhaust so you can be quiet when you want and seriously loud when you want and I think it would then be perfect.
I can get a car in the spring if I want and get mid 60's p/x (anyone interested in mine please let me know as its just had new brakes and an extended warratny added). I am still in a quandry though.
Next week I get a GT3 for the week to try and that may or may not satisfy my need for noise with the famous 911 shape. I also try the new turbo on the track the week after.
I could sell now and order a 2011 model GT3 and buy something else while I wait ( I need a new family car anyway so was thinking RR sport or X5). Or I could swap over for a new turbo in the summer but at that time of year would rather wait on a 11 car not a 10 model or I can put an order down for the GT3RS and wait 2-3 years for the 998 model by then. Or I desert the brand (sorry but maybe) and get the best car I have driven all year and that is the 560-4 Lambo.
Without doubt though the new turbo is yet another leap in the 911 history, its a car that can do everyhing you can ever want from a car in speed, cruising and sensible balance on fuel (its not a sub 10 mpg car I mean). If you had the dream garage you would have to have one but my remaining niggle is the noise or rather lack of it. That said you will probbaly see me posting pics of the new car next year on the forum its so so good. Well done Porsche, I can only dream now what the 998 variant will be like...uum maybe I'll wait for one of those!
The new spec
I thought I would share some thoughts from the experience before I take up my invitation to drive around Silverstone Thursday week which will no doubt confirm my thoughts below.
First of all I have a Gen 1 997 turbo tiptronic with sports chrono. Its now just over two years old, has 18k on the clock and its an amazing car. Black on black which is a popular choice and very well specced. I bought this after owning a 997 s from new which was also a great car. The turbo is fantastic, amazing speed, so easy to use, a great GT car and my only niggles were the poor tiptronic box and the lack of a proper noise! Like all Gen 1 turbo's the only draw back of the tip version is that momentary lag when you hit the loud pedal before the turbo's pick up.
Getting in the car the first impressions were as follows. I have driven the new Gen 2 cars on road and track so was aware of the new sat nav and control system which is so much better that Gen 1 cars, so that was a positive start. I like the 3d mapping for example although why it wont do full post code is still beyond me. The rest of course was pretty much as my current car except for the sport and sport plus button, the new thicker steering wheel and flappy paddle gear changes. The outside has the new lights and some minor changes and of course the new wheels which look good. The demo is plain white and black looked good sitting waiting for me.
I sat in the passenger seat first and the car did feel more urgent than mine instantly we set off. The gear changes were very smooth under load and it seemed to want to go more than the Gen 1 car. After swapping over I settled in and found a few clear changes from the current model.
First of all the gear box I really like, the changes have taken away that slushiness of the tiptronic, so I can see no reason why not to choose that as part of the specification. I did flash the main beam instead of changing gear which the dealer also managed, but I think after a bit of practice that wouldnt happen. Its very quick, works well on fast changes and slow changes and I really like the control you have as to which gear you want. Also when you do select a different gear its instant. This for me sorted out all the downsides of the tiptronic version. Under standard mode you have 7 gears and only when you go to Sport plus does that become 6.
The general pick up and power seemed better than the Gen 1 (which of course it should with a 3.8 DFI engine) and when the power was applied hard, it seemed a lot faster than the current car, more connected between accelerator, gearbox, engine and the road, so within minutes I am wanting to place an order. You can see why only a very few cars are faster now on the road and almost all except the Caterham Superlight cost significantly more.
So after only 20 minutes I was left wanting one and wanting to know what p/x I might get and when I can get a car.
The only niggle that remains is the exhaust. I know its a GT car but why not make a sports exhaust so you can be quiet when you want and seriously loud when you want and I think it would then be perfect.
I can get a car in the spring if I want and get mid 60's p/x (anyone interested in mine please let me know as its just had new brakes and an extended warratny added). I am still in a quandry though.
Next week I get a GT3 for the week to try and that may or may not satisfy my need for noise with the famous 911 shape. I also try the new turbo on the track the week after.
I could sell now and order a 2011 model GT3 and buy something else while I wait ( I need a new family car anyway so was thinking RR sport or X5). Or I could swap over for a new turbo in the summer but at that time of year would rather wait on a 11 car not a 10 model or I can put an order down for the GT3RS and wait 2-3 years for the 998 model by then. Or I desert the brand (sorry but maybe) and get the best car I have driven all year and that is the 560-4 Lambo.
Without doubt though the new turbo is yet another leap in the 911 history, its a car that can do everyhing you can ever want from a car in speed, cruising and sensible balance on fuel (its not a sub 10 mpg car I mean). If you had the dream garage you would have to have one but my remaining niggle is the noise or rather lack of it. That said you will probbaly see me posting pics of the new car next year on the forum its so so good. Well done Porsche, I can only dream now what the 998 variant will be like...uum maybe I'll wait for one of those!
The new spec
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