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Perfectlap · 02-06-2013, 02:29 PM

If they made a mid engine Carrera I probably would have ditched the Boxster or at least added Porsche #2 long ago. But there's no beating a drive in a roadster and a Carrera with the roof hacked off just isn't right to me. It's not nearly as nice looking and convertible Carreras are not what built the legend. I can't picture Steve McQueen driving a Miami Vice 911 Cab. So the Boxster will always be the choice for a purpose built roadster, and conveniently it's still the bar-setter in that category.

As far as legacy, the 911 was pretty late to the racing game, not until the the 70's really.
The 550 Spyder was winning races in the 1950's some 20 years earlier and more importantly it was made specifically for racing.
Whereas the 911 was more about selling street cars with a rear seat. In fact, Porsche 356 #1, the 911/912's daddy, was rolled onto the unveiling with the engine in the middle. For production/sales it was moved to the rear. It was born of compromise.... whereas the 550 Spyder was born to race. And when you look at Porsche's race victories, there have been just as many if not more from midengined racing cars. In fact, the last time Porsche won overall at LeMans was in a midengine fried egg lights car.
Not sure why the pendulus 911 gets all the glory, I suspect its a generational thing -- guys who grew up learning to drive in the 70's and 80's. Beautiful looking cars though.

p.s.
Here' a great hypothetical question:

you are offered one of the two cars below for free but the hitch is you can't sell it. If you wreck it, they'll replace it but again you can't sell it.

981 RS (assuming they build one with regular softop this time, maybe manual instead of motorized)

or

a comparably priced 991 Carrera? (assumes a few options).

which do you choose? I'm using the RS because the 981 S only matches a 991 or falls a teeny tiny bit short on the time sheets.
The a 981 RS version presumably would be as quick if not faster. I think this really cahllenges the 911 mystique vs. a near perfect modern day roadster.

Non-brainer for me. 981 RS every day, all day.

02-06-2013, 02:29 PM	#2
Perfectlap Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 8,709	If they made a mid engine Carrera I probably would have ditched the Boxster or at least added Porsche #2 long ago. But there's no beating a drive in a roadster and a Carrera with the roof hacked off just isn't right to me. It's not nearly as nice looking and convertible Carreras are not what built the legend. I can't picture Steve McQueen driving a Miami Vice 911 Cab. So the Boxster will always be the choice for a purpose built roadster, and conveniently it's still the bar-setter in that category. As far as legacy, the 911 was pretty late to the racing game, not until the the 70's really. The 550 Spyder was winning races in the 1950's some 20 years earlier and more importantly it was made specifically for racing. Whereas the 911 was more about selling street cars with a rear seat. In fact, Porsche 356 #1, the 911/912's daddy, was rolled onto the unveiling with the engine in the middle. For production/sales it was moved to the rear. It was born of compromise.... whereas the 550 Spyder was born to race. And when you look at Porsche's race victories, there have been just as many if not more from midengined racing cars. In fact, the last time Porsche won overall at LeMans was in a midengine fried egg lights car. Not sure why the pendulus 911 gets all the glory, I suspect its a generational thing -- guys who grew up learning to drive in the 70's and 80's. Beautiful looking cars though. p.s. Here' a great hypothetical question: you are offered one of the two cars below for free but the hitch is you can't sell it. If you wreck it, they'll replace it but again you can't sell it. 981 RS (assuming they build one with regular softop this time, maybe manual instead of motorized) or a comparably priced 991 Carrera? (assumes a few options). which do you choose? I'm using the RS because the 981 S only matches a 991 or falls a teeny tiny bit short on the time sheets. The a 981 RS version presumably would be as quick if not faster. I think this really cahllenges the 911 mystique vs. a near perfect modern day roadster. Non-brainer for me. 981 RS every day, all day. __________________ GT3 Recaro Seats - Boxster Red GT3 Aero / Carrera 18" 5 spoke / Potenza RE-11 Fabspeed Headers & Noise Maker BORN: March 2000 - FINLAND IMS#1 REPLACED: April 2010 - NEW JERSEY -- LNE DUAL ROW Last edited by Perfectlap; 02-06-2013 at 03:11 PM.