I really, really wish I can agree with you on that one. The Cayenne's rear-end...oh dear. And as for curb appeal ... honestly only the 1st gen GTS has good amounts of that.

But yeah the new Cayenne sure drives like no other in the class.

 

I love it!!!!!

 

My favorite, too!

 

I would have to admit that as well.

+1.

 

When I first received all the Panamera promo stuff from Porsche I thought they made a huge mistake making that car. After seeing the first one in person, I realized how wrong I was, so I won't made a judgment call yet on the 991.

However, it seems like the design change in the 997 to 991 is similar to the 993 to 996. I consider the 993 a classic that I'd love to own if I had the garage space. Likewise, I think I will hold on to my 997.2 for a long time, even if I purchase a newer gen 911.

 

Regarding the Dimension changes of the new 991, look at the History of the pcar:

model
bhp

weight

wide

length

‘98
996
296
+ 24
3,014
- 65
68.8
+ 1.1”
172.7
+ 7.2”
‘05
997.1
325
+ 29
3,197
+ 180
72.9
+ 4.1”
175.6
+ 3.1”

 

Regarding the Dimension changes of the new 991, look at the History of the pcar:
model bhp weight wide length
‘98 996 296 + 24 3,014 - 65 68.8 + 1.1” 172.7 + 7.2”
‘05 997.1 325 + 29 3,197 + 180 72.9 + 4.1” 175.6 + 3.1”

 

I don't believe that stylistically the 997-to-991 progression is in any way similar to that from 993-to-996. The 996 was just WRONG. It was the result of taking the Toyota philosophy of manufacturing a few steps too far (and beyond what even Toyota had ever done). Using a common front end with that of the Boxster and those goofy, senseless headlamps was a mistake that they immediately realized needed to be fixed.

 

"stylistically' the 997-991 may not be similar to the 993-996, but emotionally it feels very similar. The 991 feels like a major departure from the character and lineage that the 911 is known for and then 997 tried to restore after the 996. It is more of a GT car than true Sports Car. I think that is the comparison that many of us are trying to make when we use the 993-996 transition. I have no doubts that the 991 is a fantastic example of what Porsche can accomplish with a RWD platform, but it's losing the raw sports car feel that the 911 brand is.

I guess we need to start looking at the Cayman as that car and the 911 as a more upmarket GT...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL48J9QFW7s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D44aggufyu0

 

i have read the first review of the new 991-S in a german car magazine today:

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/fahrberichte/porsche-911-carrera-s-laenger-komfortabler-sportlicher-3965758.html

the testers said that the car has improved big time. they really liked the engine sound. the way it handles through corners (neutral and no understeer), the new electr. steering makes it less nervous and the PDCC significantly more balanced and comfortable cause the PASM can work even better now, drives like a train on high speed sections etc.. this all sounds very promising.

 

i think it looks great in the midnight blue with medium blue interior (looks like the sea blue but a bit lighter).

also check out picture #9 (and the specs on #10). a lot of folks, myself included, have been apprehensive about the 991 being too large but to my eyes, side by side with the 997, it's very close in proportion.

 

I have said it before, and I'll say it again. It is only 2 inches in overall growth. You can barely tell the difference in the picture that I have attached. 2 inches doesn't magically transform a sports car to a GT.

Also, A lot of people have said that each new incarnation of the 911 has lost some of its purity of the 911 concept and is a little too refined. So this criticism of the 991 is not unique because journalists have been saying this about every new model since the 964. This is starting to taste a little like the concept of mimesis and that each new iteration is an imperfect copy of a copy. So I don't think "purists" will ever be happy with any new model.



I really like the new engine sound too. The 991 is shaping up to be a very sweet car. Can't wait for it to be unveiled.

 

You can say it all you want, but when I look at this pic, I see a 991 that looks considerably longer than the 997 it's facing. I can tell from the shadows that the 991 is a little closer to the camera than the 997, so that distorts the size somewhat, but the lower/longer chassis does make this car look much more like a GT than the 997.

And I know I'm in the minority that prefers the shorter, stouter stance of the 997 than the 991. The 991 does't have the short, stout, bullfrog appearance...but rather looks longish like the Panamera.

As I've stated, I'm sure the 991 is a fantastic machine...but it doesn't appear to represent the lineage of the 911 that I grew to love since I first set my eyes on a 930.

 

I think the 993 owners said (in 1998) that the 996 was too long and lost the purity of design of the 993. And that the water cooled 911s were not "real" 911s!

Fast forward to the release of the 996.II GT3 and no one said the same thing again! Fast forward even more to the 997.II GT3RS or the current GT3RS 4.0 and it is proclaimed the "best 911 ever" by much of the press. It is still several inches longer than the 993!?!? So my comment is that it is a good thing that most Porsche owners do not like styling changes and the addition of size to the 911. But Porsche's engineering progress keeps the 911 current and interesting for all new owners to enjoy. My prediction is that when the 991 is released and everyone gets to drive it, the likely consensus will be that the 991 is better in almost every way than every Porsche before it, including the beloved 997.II.