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Did Porsche offend 911 R buyers with introducing the Touring Package?

"A few days ago Porsche presented a car that excites the minds of ethusiasts. Once again. More specificially, the new model presented on the IAA in Frankfurt is not such an approach, but rather an extension of an already existing model. We talk about the new 911 GT3 with the option 'Touring Package', of course!"

From now on you can get a GT3 without a large rear wing but with handshift and sports shawl seats, for about 156.000€. Otherwise this specific model remains what it is. A 911 GT3. In terms of figures, that means a naturally aspirated  flatsix engine with a displacement of 4.0 litres, producing 500 hp. So, what's all the fuss about?

Well, the reason is that the brand presented a special model exactly one year ago. The 911 R. The R was based on the previouse 991, the MK1 Version or 991.1 as some call it. It had a 4.0 litre naturally aspirated flatsix engine from the GT3 RS, producing 500 hp and in contrast to the RS it came with a manual transmission only.

In principle, everything exactly the same as with the new GT3 'Touring Package' but with one big difference! - The 911 R was stricly limited to 991 pieces. Only selected customers were allowed to purchase one of the commemorated vehicles at a price of slightly over 190.000€. Rumors say all 991 cars were sold within only a few hours and many interested parties didn't get one.


Soon the first cars appeared on the used car market, at breathtaking prices even for wealthy die-hard fans of superportcars. So the fuss is that Porsche now offers a model, which is quite similar to the stricly limited 911 R, to say the least. A model that can also be ordered by 'ordinary' customers. That might be a very sour surprise for some of the exclusive customers who bought a 911 R. And in fact, quite a few misunderstandings appeared on the internet already...

However completely injustified as I find it and I tell you why!

It's not the primary task of Porsche to build superexclusive models for a hand full collectors and of course it's not their task to make rich speculators even richer! No. The task of Porsche is to build dream cars. Cars, generations of men dreamed of since their childhood and dreams which sometimes should come true. A Porsche 911 has to be available also for 'normal' people  with a corresponding employment and income. This also applies to more specific models such as an 911 R. What happens to dreams when there is not at least a spark of hope for their fulfillment? - Right, they lose their value and their charm. This might also happen to a manufacturer of sportscars. When Porsche intruduced the R in 2016, this vehicle embodied the concept of a dream for a large number of die-hard Porsche 911 fans.

To them the 911 R was, like a real Porsche should be. Simple, puristic and beautiful. Freed from any superflous frills and an automated transmission. Just pure Porsche DNA! But totally inaccessible to the vast majority, even if their purse had coped an investment of nearly 200.000€. The strict limitation to 991 pieces made it impossible.

 

So with Porsche's decision of producing a GT3 'Touring Package' they might have pissed of some exclusive clients but they will make lots of purists very happy. Honestly, if you are one of the 991 lucky owners of a Porsche 911 R, do the following next time when you get in your car: Be happy with the ones who didn't get one and can buy a similar car now. Drive your car, enjoy the noise it makes and feel it, because that's what this piece of german engineering was made for: To be driven! If you are one of those speculators who shipped his new, strictly limited car directly into a secret underground carpark, wrapped it in fabric or even plastic to keep it from scratches , kilometers and a related loss of value!

Well... Than I have to tell you, you don't deserve it anyway!

© Photos: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG // Stefan Bogner - www.curves-magazin.com

 

Kommentar schreiben

Kommentare: 2
  • #1

    Hütti (Freitag, 15 September 2017 23:20)

    It were 991 units produced of the R, 250 were the 997 Sport Classic.

    But I completely agree with you. In the end it will only piss off speculators and not the ones in love with driving. An R will always stay an R, something very, very special!

  • #2

    911.LND - Team (Sonntag, 17 September 2017 19:26)

    @Mr. Hütti,

    Yes you are perfectly right! - Sorry for that. Some say, 250 was the amount of 911 R that was first planed, but after Porsche had received so many requests they decided to change to 991 cars... ;)

    Yours, 911.LND - Team