First Impressions

[pwebb]

I know some of you are going to the 'first night' tonight, so I hope you will give us some feedback on the event and your first impressions. And then the rest of us can report on our dealer launches through to the last one on the 15th, I believe.

Very positive road report in Evo magazine this month, so I'm looking forward not just to the launch, but a test drive as soon as I can get one arranged.

 

[cymro]

Went to Cardiff last night, they had an S in black, blue white and grey. The best colour for me was the white.

I was very disappointed with the sliding roof, the opening is not any larger than the present sliding roof I have now. It also looks horrible when it is opened.

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: cymro
The best colour for me was the white.
I was very disappointed with the sliding roof, the opening is not any larger than the present sliding roof I have now. It also looks horrible when it is opened.

I concur

 

[Alex L]

Couple of crappy iPhone pics from last night at OPC Reading

Great night with champagne, canopies, an acoustic band, talks/demos, free £20 vouchers, prize draws, sign up for 991 demo drives, free model 991 car, and lots more.

400 people attended and were all treated to a fantastic evening.

 

[garyw]

So you didn't get this then.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m5TIsfs2Q4 [8D]

A week to wait for me..

garyw

 

[jdpef356]

Thats a copy of the Morgan Aero Eight launch right down to the Malvern Hills in the Background[]

 

[pwebb]

Excellent night at Dick Lovett, Swindon with another full house. Four cars on display in basalt black, agate grey, carrara white and aqua blue. First impressions very favourable and the overall look seems to my eyes well resolved. The interior has a more airy feel than I expected, the new spoiler looks the business and the rear end is quite muscular. Not keen on the sunroof and the fact you can't see any of the engine is a disappointment. Geoff Turrell was there to introduce the car (does he ever get to see his family?) and there were some pretty good prizes I'm told. Good to see some PCGB members there too and the evolution display had some wonderful 911s.

A few snaps from the evening.

not my favourite parts

loved the spoiler

and free entertainment...

 

[jdpef356]

Cambridge Centre 6th Dec 11.

Attended the Cambridge Launch last night. I don't think I have seen so many people at the Centre before. Complete with live music and young slips of ladies dressed in black darting between those gathered offering all manner of mini bites. Once again our Regional ladies seemed quite at home quaffing Champagne for the second time this year at the Cambridge Centre. The Centre also ran a quz with prizes on offer for the winners.

The speeches and presentation of the car over it was time to take a look[8|

Just my opionion (but also voiced amongst others) that the car looked great, if a liittle large. However,there was one exception. The Sun roof which is an optional extra at just over a grand. One member was heard to say he would give them the cost not to put it on the car![]
Others commented on the size of the door post (quite large) which in turn they told me restricted the rear view through the quarter light.

The workshop had the heritage display cars many of them belonging to Club members. Just my opinion but somehow these older cars have a certain charm that is now missing from those now on offer. Perhaps its just me getting a bit long in the tooth. Al these cars looked great but the two that stood out were Paul Ebbs 993 and the really lovely 911E of Richard Hill.

Stephen and Charlotte Mummery were also in attendance. A presentation was made to Charlotte for her sterling work along side Stephen over many years giving us the fine Club magazine we all enjoy. Photos were taken of the award so look out for these in PP.

As the individuals headed for the exit PCGB members gathered to quaff the last of the champers . Porsche certainly know to put a party on.[]

 

[yan]

Nice...

Maybe the sunroof can be operated from the key fob (unlike 996, 997 ...) ? []

 

[CLIFFWILKINS]

PC Cambridge last night.Great venue and hospitality many thanks.
The car 1st impression looks big. 911s seem to be getting bigger.You feel miles away from windscreen.
Hate the sunroof the way it folds back guess you dont have to have it.
Dont like the rear end apart from the new lights very aston i think.[]
Would not have all those badges on the rear bumper either.
Quality is superb inside gone up a level I think.
Like most new models i guess it takes some getting used to Only my opinion of course.
Think i will stick with my GT3[]

 

[blaine54]

Hatfield for me last night. Looks wise I thought it was in keeping with evolution, a bit more plumped up with the front arches being more pronounced. Under the skin there sounds like some interesting touches, but again nothing radical and the interior well you could have been in a panamera. I just get the design of the roof, I'm sure it gives more headroom but it looks plain nasty and the front day time running lights look like they are out of a halfords parts bin. They did fire one of them up and she did sound very nice, but for 98k on a reasonable spec I think I'd get a loaded GTS...but of course it's all imho []

 

[Oggy]

ORIGINAL: blaine54
but for 98k on a reasonable spec I think I'd get a loaded GTS...but of course it's all imho []

Or even this for £1,995 more ?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3431174.htm

I'm sure the 991 C2S is a brilliant car...but is it 997 Turbo S brilliant ?? Really my only point here is that for me, it's way too expensive (but I've said that before and also I'm a tight northen git [])

 

[pwebb]

ORIGINAL: Oggy


Or even this for £1,995 more ?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3431174.htm

I'm sure the 991 C2S is a brilliant car...but is it 997 Turbo S brilliant ?? Really my only point here is that for me, it's way too expensive (but I've said that before and also I'm a tight northen git [])

Had to tie down my 991 order today - just as well I hadn't seen this! That's virtually a new car at C2S money - and looks pure class. You're right, there's no contest really.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

An excellent very enjoyable evening at PC Bournemouth for me last night. Not much to add to the comments above other than to say I like the look of the 991 BUT that sunroof wouldn't be on my options list. The dissapointment for me was to discover that the Sat Nav still doesn't do full post code search! About time Porsche caught up with the 21st century on that.

 

[kasspa]

Like the overall 'beefy' look but would love to hear the turbulence at 140 mph with that sunroof open or does it give more downforce[]..... it's got to move hasn't it?

Not keen on the gap between rear spoiler & car when raised either.... anyone with other ideas?

 

[tscaptain]

A very enjoyable evening at the Exeter PC launch tonight. Visually I think the car works very well (apart from that sun roof)- lets see what it's like on the road where it really counts! Some photos from the evening - tried to get a shot of that new active chassis/roll control thingy through the wheel (not too successfully!)

 

[mnk303]

Great night at Burgess Hill.

Common comments I heard were as follows

Odd sun roof
Real price hike.......ie: by the time any must have option was on the car most were hitting £85k plus
Very nice quality interior
Bigger
Pretty
Most stated comment . "expected a bigger change"

From my angle I thought the quality in the interior was up a real level, more like a Merc SL now
If you like 911 cars you will always like this car, for me I am sad that the price is pushing the car into a different arena, Porsche now will compete harder as it hits the Italian cars head on, I am sure they did the homework, but just maybe they have lost a bit of the rawness and driver involvement with the new. That maybe what they want, except if like me my Porsche is my special car used on sunny show off days then why would I buy the new one.

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: mnk303


Most stated comment . "expected a bigger change"

I understand that from just walking around it but in what, I wonder? It's longer, the front track is wider, the cabin is quite different (from mine anyway!) , it's lighter and it has the usual power hike. But more importantly it's the things that nobody except the press and dealers have yet to discover and that is how it drives! 7 speed manual, sharper PDK and that PDCC which, by all accounts, is the real trump card. Seems like a fair amount of change to me?
I do agree on the price though. I had a play with the configurator and hit £97k.......[&:]

 

[mnk303]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

ORIGINAL: mnk303


Most stated comment . "expected a bigger change"

I understand that from just walking around it but in what, I wonder?  It's longer, the front track is wider, the cabin is quite different (from mine anyway!) , it's lighter and it has the usual power hike.  But more importantly it's the things that nobody except the press and dealers have yet to discover and that is how it drives!  7 speed manual, sharper PDK and that PDCC which, by all accounts, is the real trump card.  Seems like a fair amount of change to me?
I do agree on the price though.  I had a play with the configurator and hit £97k.......[&:] 

All I was doing was stating the words you could hear the most from beng nosy and listening to what people were saying.

Bottom line is IMO is people will not want to pay £,0000's more for a car that "looks" the same, we all want for people to go wow there is the new Porsche ...........will joe public? From where I am standing the answer will be no. After all if i have just lost £30-50k on my 997 and then spent £90k on a 991 I would like to feel it looks different, when the two are side maybe, but how often will that happen in real life?

After all people first buy with the heart you have to get in drive it to buy with a brain, some won't bother! Many a new car is brought with the heart look at the Ferrari 512 crap drivers cars but sold well.

 

[tscaptain]

Yes I realise that Martin but I'm curious as to what changes, especially on the exterior, people were expecting or hoping for. But that's sort of the whole point isn't it? It has to still look something like a 911 so the outside changes will always be subtle. 20" wheels, a different spoiler and a changed rear end for example. Taken as a whole it's certainly much more change than from 996 to 997 - and they sold a lot of those! I am just surprised how many orders they have before anyone has test driven it yet!