Palmball
MB Enthusiast
WOW! :thumsup:
OK, with the area plastered in snow it wasn't the best day to pick up a 500hp sportscar but that wasn't going to take any enjoyment away. I arrived at 9.30am and was treated to probably the best handover I've ever experienced...not too much information but just enough to show they care and value my custom. Unlike many other experiences, it was a pleasure buying from the Porsche dealer (and a thumbs up for Sytner)!
I didn't really get the chance to do too much hard driving today despite a round trip of 150 miles to see my parents - obviously there were the conditions but also so many police around today...everywhere!!
However, my initial impressions are of quality, brilliant engineering and of course, performance.
Quality because the way my 911 feels made, the materials used and the sheer structural stiffness and integrity of the car are outstanding...easily the most impressive I've experienced to date. Inside, every switch and button has a lovely damped, positive feel and in driving, the car goes down the road without suffering any form of body flex - it has that really solid, hewn-from-stone feel that makes it appear indestructible. Is this what you pay for in a 911?
Maybe, but there are other fantastic examples of how well engineered it is. Take the gearchange - it's got huge power and torque but it still has a lovely solid, smooth and light clutch and the slickest gearchange you could imagine - a short, well oiled throw accompanies every gearchange and I don't miss the automatic one bit! Then theres the adjustable rear spoiler which pops up and down smoothly on hydraulic rams depending on speed - that impressed me too!
Inside, it has Porsche's latest touch screen nav/comms/interface which is the fastest reacting in-car system I've used to date - and it's full of mod cons like DVD player, Bose (excellent by the way unlike the terrible Bose I heard in the Datsun), iPod etc etc. This is one of the reasons I had to have a Gen 2 model as the system in the Gen 1 is some way behind.
Mine has the dynamic sports seats which are very supportive. They have fully adjustable side bolsters - not just on the back rest but the deep bolsters by your legs too! It had a lot to live up to against the C63's excellent seats and whilst not as agressively bolstered in the backrest, this is countered by bigger bolsters for your legs. They're different for sure and they do have a more solid structure, more like a racing seat, but they've been very comfortable and feel like they'll last forever!
Finally on the inside, I absolutely LOVE the instrument panel - with it's five seperate binnacles it's got a lot of information but theres just something about having all those guages showing things like oil pressure, turbo boost, oil temp etc. that impresses me. The speedo is a bit difficult to read though - it's a secondary gauge to the rev counter and and goes all the way to 225mph in half a dial so its a good job you get a permanent digital readout!
So, what about driving then? Oh my God....it moves so fast! Say you give it 75% throttle and think 'sh!t, this is insanely quick'...then you add another 10% throttle and it's like you've just added a rocket to jet - the acceleraton is insane and no matter how fast I thought the C63 was, this is in a totally different league. I love the fact that even the final centimeter of throttle travel gives very defined and noticeable additional acceleration...in most other cars I've had, the final 50% of throttle seemed to give very little extra over the first 50%.
The other noticable part of the performance is the torque - I'm seriously not exaggerating when I say that in 6th gear at say 70mph, it'll pull to 71mph with the same ferociousness as the C63 did in 3rd. Seriously, it feels like it could drop anything in 6th gear alone!
With the Sport button pressed (part of the Sport Chrono Pack) it gives it even more torque so add about 5-10% to my description above!
Handling-wise, my best description compared to anything else I've had, yes M3 included which to date was the best handler I've had, is that this drives like a 'proper' sports car. It's stiff and VERY direct - you turn the wheel (which is so full of feel that I don't think I knew what feel was before) and the car just darts round a corner very much like a big go-kart. Yes, that's probably the best way to describe it - like a big, heavy go-kart with lighter steering! God knows what a Gen 2 GT3 RS is like if the 'luxury' Turbo is this good
You can feel the differentials and 4wd adjusting the power delivery mid corner very obviously - it builds with slight understeer which made me want to lift off but when I got used to driving through this, the power transferred rearward again and it pushed round quite neutrally. I didn't get the chance (or have the balls today) to push harder but it's time will come!
Ride quality is pretty good - it actually rides things like catseyes and sharp bumps like expansion joints and transverse painted yellow lines better than most normal cars but in most circumstances it is very firm but well damped - it has a particularly nice 'oiled' feel as you go over broken or rutted surfaces.
There is a button to set the electronic dampers to a harder setting but I found this too hard for normal roads - it'll be an absolutely wicked setting round the 'ring though!
My final point from my first days' driving was that in all this I still managed to acheive 22mpg....incredible given the performance on offer I think. :thumbsup:
Initially, I wasn't as excited about this car as I have been some of my others, mainly due to the looks which I'm still not the biggest fan of. But after a day with it I think this is going to be a grower - something that gets better with time....and I guess it's only time that'll tell if that really is the case.
Heres a few pics from today - I haven't got an interior shots but I'll put some more up tomorrow.
Picking it up from the dealer...
Finally got it out of the showroom...
On the way home - the inlaws who were following were snapping away (not sure why....they'll see it enough!)...
And finally I got it home where it was significantly more dirty than it was 15 minutes before...
These bloody optional alloys are held onto the hub by ONE nut....which needs to be tightened to 550nm!! Now, I like to periodically remove my wheels to clean them properly and polish up the calipers....do you know how much a 500nm torque wrench costs!!!!
And finally, this beast was in the dealer being moved on today. It apparently won all the rallies it entered in the 80's and was worth in excess if £1m!!
OK, with the area plastered in snow it wasn't the best day to pick up a 500hp sportscar but that wasn't going to take any enjoyment away. I arrived at 9.30am and was treated to probably the best handover I've ever experienced...not too much information but just enough to show they care and value my custom. Unlike many other experiences, it was a pleasure buying from the Porsche dealer (and a thumbs up for Sytner)!
I didn't really get the chance to do too much hard driving today despite a round trip of 150 miles to see my parents - obviously there were the conditions but also so many police around today...everywhere!!
However, my initial impressions are of quality, brilliant engineering and of course, performance.
Quality because the way my 911 feels made, the materials used and the sheer structural stiffness and integrity of the car are outstanding...easily the most impressive I've experienced to date. Inside, every switch and button has a lovely damped, positive feel and in driving, the car goes down the road without suffering any form of body flex - it has that really solid, hewn-from-stone feel that makes it appear indestructible. Is this what you pay for in a 911?
Maybe, but there are other fantastic examples of how well engineered it is. Take the gearchange - it's got huge power and torque but it still has a lovely solid, smooth and light clutch and the slickest gearchange you could imagine - a short, well oiled throw accompanies every gearchange and I don't miss the automatic one bit! Then theres the adjustable rear spoiler which pops up and down smoothly on hydraulic rams depending on speed - that impressed me too!
Inside, it has Porsche's latest touch screen nav/comms/interface which is the fastest reacting in-car system I've used to date - and it's full of mod cons like DVD player, Bose (excellent by the way unlike the terrible Bose I heard in the Datsun), iPod etc etc. This is one of the reasons I had to have a Gen 2 model as the system in the Gen 1 is some way behind.
Mine has the dynamic sports seats which are very supportive. They have fully adjustable side bolsters - not just on the back rest but the deep bolsters by your legs too! It had a lot to live up to against the C63's excellent seats and whilst not as agressively bolstered in the backrest, this is countered by bigger bolsters for your legs. They're different for sure and they do have a more solid structure, more like a racing seat, but they've been very comfortable and feel like they'll last forever!
Finally on the inside, I absolutely LOVE the instrument panel - with it's five seperate binnacles it's got a lot of information but theres just something about having all those guages showing things like oil pressure, turbo boost, oil temp etc. that impresses me. The speedo is a bit difficult to read though - it's a secondary gauge to the rev counter and and goes all the way to 225mph in half a dial so its a good job you get a permanent digital readout!
So, what about driving then? Oh my God....it moves so fast! Say you give it 75% throttle and think 'sh!t, this is insanely quick'...then you add another 10% throttle and it's like you've just added a rocket to jet - the acceleraton is insane and no matter how fast I thought the C63 was, this is in a totally different league. I love the fact that even the final centimeter of throttle travel gives very defined and noticeable additional acceleration...in most other cars I've had, the final 50% of throttle seemed to give very little extra over the first 50%.
The other noticable part of the performance is the torque - I'm seriously not exaggerating when I say that in 6th gear at say 70mph, it'll pull to 71mph with the same ferociousness as the C63 did in 3rd. Seriously, it feels like it could drop anything in 6th gear alone!
With the Sport button pressed (part of the Sport Chrono Pack) it gives it even more torque so add about 5-10% to my description above!
Handling-wise, my best description compared to anything else I've had, yes M3 included which to date was the best handler I've had, is that this drives like a 'proper' sports car. It's stiff and VERY direct - you turn the wheel (which is so full of feel that I don't think I knew what feel was before) and the car just darts round a corner very much like a big go-kart. Yes, that's probably the best way to describe it - like a big, heavy go-kart with lighter steering! God knows what a Gen 2 GT3 RS is like if the 'luxury' Turbo is this good
You can feel the differentials and 4wd adjusting the power delivery mid corner very obviously - it builds with slight understeer which made me want to lift off but when I got used to driving through this, the power transferred rearward again and it pushed round quite neutrally. I didn't get the chance (or have the balls today) to push harder but it's time will come!
Ride quality is pretty good - it actually rides things like catseyes and sharp bumps like expansion joints and transverse painted yellow lines better than most normal cars but in most circumstances it is very firm but well damped - it has a particularly nice 'oiled' feel as you go over broken or rutted surfaces.
There is a button to set the electronic dampers to a harder setting but I found this too hard for normal roads - it'll be an absolutely wicked setting round the 'ring though!
My final point from my first days' driving was that in all this I still managed to acheive 22mpg....incredible given the performance on offer I think. :thumbsup:
Initially, I wasn't as excited about this car as I have been some of my others, mainly due to the looks which I'm still not the biggest fan of. But after a day with it I think this is going to be a grower - something that gets better with time....and I guess it's only time that'll tell if that really is the case.
Heres a few pics from today - I haven't got an interior shots but I'll put some more up tomorrow.
Picking it up from the dealer...
Finally got it out of the showroom...
On the way home - the inlaws who were following were snapping away (not sure why....they'll see it enough!)...
And finally I got it home where it was significantly more dirty than it was 15 minutes before...
These bloody optional alloys are held onto the hub by ONE nut....which needs to be tightened to 550nm!! Now, I like to periodically remove my wheels to clean them properly and polish up the calipers....do you know how much a 500nm torque wrench costs!!!!
And finally, this beast was in the dealer being moved on today. It apparently won all the rallies it entered in the 80's and was worth in excess if £1m!!