Porsche Survival

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

That arrogant attitude is another good reason for them to loose once loyal customers.

They better be praying that Korea doesn't aim at a "Substitute". The first car company that puts out something that can run with the new P cars and treats everyone who loves the vehicle as part of a loyal family, might just start said family. I don't know why Ford doesn't make a GT almost 40 instead of that bloated stang. I feel blessed to have the lightest production car the P car boys have made in the past couple years.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

They better be praying that Korea doesn't aim at a "Substitute". The first car company that puts out something that can run with the new P cars and treats everyone who loves the vehicle as part of a loyal family, might just start said family. I don't know why Ford doesn't make a GT almost 40 instead of that bloated stang. I feel blessed to have the lightest production car the P car boys have made in the past couple years.

I was lucky enough to see a couple of GTs at Griot's Garage at the beginning of the month. What an awesome looking car! Unfortunately, it's no light weight either.

[pothole]

If there was a market for light weight sports cars, Porsche and others would serve it. Given how successful Porsche has been since the introduction of the 996 (at least the car building side of Porsche, if not the speculative, pseudo financial services aspect), you'd have to say in commercial terms they know exactly what they are doing.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the GT-86/BRZ. Even if it succeeds, I doubt we'll see a wider trend of back to basics, light weight sports cars.

Personally, I think the whole notion of driving on public roads for pleasure is dying going on dead as a remotely mainstream activity.

P.S. @blue2000s my main objection to your posts here was the claim that 911s keep on getting heavier. They really don't.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by pothole

If there was a market for light weight sports cars, Porsche and others would serve it. Given how successful Porsche has been since the introduction of the 996 (at least the car building side of Porsche, if not the speculative, pseudo financial services aspect), you'd have to say in commercial terms they know exactly what they are doing.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the GT-86/BRZ. Even if it succeeds, I doubt we'll see a wider trend of back to basics, light weight sports cars.

Personally, I think the whole notion of driving on public roads for pleasure is dying going on dead as a remotely mainstream activity.

P.S. @blue2000s my main objection to your posts here was the claim that 911s keep on getting heavier. They really don't.

If what you're saying were true, the Miata wouldn't be the best selling sports car of all time. Porsche may choose to play in a different segment, but it doesn't mean the small sports car segment is dead.

Porsches do keep getting heavier. There was a blip when the 993 went to the 996 because it's lighter to cool an engine with water than with metal fins. otherwise each successive generation has gotten heavier. The 991 may be marginally lighter than the 997, by less than 100 pounds, granted.

Attached are two plots of the curb weight of various 911 models through the years, GTs, Specials, Carreras, Cabrios, ect. Look at the general trend from 1980 on, then look at the water cooled cars, still the same trend, albeit flattened a little.

from here:
Porche Curb Weight