The Turbos Are A-Comin'!

[Jake Raby]

I started all my craziness with 4 cylinder Porsches, and going back to them will be fun. I own two of the last 2099 4 cylinder Porsches ever built and drove one of them 160K miles in 8 years.

[woodsman]

Maybe Porsche has no choice but to turbo everything since everyone else IS-- BMW, GTR etc. Torque is exhilarating and the majority of Porsche's new- car buyers (the people they care about- not the second, third owner and their repair expenses) don't know or care how the acceleration is produced just that it's class- leading as per Porsche's place in the world and that the occupants are surrounded by luxury while speeding forward. The exhaust note will change but Porsche is already electronically modifying that and piping it to the occupants through the driver's side A- pillar ( 991).

[fatmike]

Goodbye throttle response!

Hello turbo lag. But the modern engine doesn't have turbo lag anymore... LOL.

Horrid decision for a Boxster, but it is what it is. We should expect nothing else from Porsche.

Shame they can't just make the car lighter and shrink the engine. 2400 lbs with a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated flat six that revs to 9K. Match it to a short ratio 6 speed and we're in business. That car would be plenty fast and could get great gas mileage.


/

[RBatsch]

Interesting discussion for sure.

My Boxster S is the first NA (non turbo) car I've owned in 30 years. I do enjoy the instant throttle response of the Boxster but I miss the explosion of the turbo. I've driven newer turbo charged cars (my Viggen is a 2002) and they exhibit much less turbo lag. Newer turbo technology (Porsche's VTG), the use of twin turbos (one small and one big) or turbo/supercharger combinations will ensure even throttle response throughout the rev band. I'm all for more power, especially more efficient power. I don't care how many cylinders, displacement, cylinder configuration, etc.

I wish my Boxster's 3.4 put out more than 100HP/L which is very common in a turbocharged engine. My SAAB Viggen makes just over 300HP (with 368 ft.lbs.) while only a 2.3L that gives me 34 mpg on the highway, with minimal turbo lag but explosive power...what's not to like??? Now if only it could handle like the Boxster...

[papasmurf]

Originally Posted by fatmike

Shame they can't just make the car lighter and shrink the engine. 2400 lbs with a 2.5 liter naturally aspirated flat six that revs to 9K. Match it to a short ratio 6 speed and we're in business. That car would be plenty fast and could get great gas mileage./

What would they do with the navigation system, 12 way power and heated seats, 20"+ wheels, etc. Very few buyers would pay the current asking prices for a boxster if it did not include these amenities that are deemed standard for cars in this price range. If they wanted to do the "baby boxster" then I could see it working but then there would be people complaining about the brand being diluted and a car wearing the porsche badge without coming with the kind of options the more expensive models feature. I really wish the baby boxster would have happened but I can see that apart from it being cheaper and lighter, there would not be as much to differentiate it from the boxster to most casual observers and still have strong sales of both cars.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by papasmurf

then there would be people complaining about the brand being diluted ....

that's already here. Porsche will sell 200K cars this year. That will be another million Porsches on the road in just five years. Like a used $6K X5 on Ebay, you'll be able to buy a once $70K Porsche for peanuts. There are not remotely enough used car buyers willing to take on that much supply for out-of-warranty cars that require expensive parts and specialized labor. Unless the seller caves and sells for small money.
Even now, on any given day there are nearly 4,000 water-cooled Carreras on Autotrader for a buyer that needs a 911 in a day. I'm not sure how the brand escapes dilution and ubiquity with an tidal wave of supply no matter what kind of VW turbo engines they're putting in the cars.