EN


All articles in english...

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

 

2 Kommentare

First look at the 901 REC Watch

"We had the opportunity for an exclusive look at one of the new watches out of RECs 901 collection. The 901-3 - a beautiful time piece made of real salvaged parts of an old Porsche 911. As you can tell by the Name “901” (the original model name of the classic Porsche 911) not only the base of the watch-face is made from a real car, the design is totally inspired by the iconic shapes and details of the classic Porsche 911."

The back for example is designed to look like the original Otto Fuchs rims of classic 911s. And even the rotor is styled like a break disk. A very cool eye catcher -  even it is only on the back.


The watch features five functions: time, day, date, month and an indicator about the remaining power reserve. The dials are also inspired by the 911 dashboard and are hidden behind a coated Sapphire Crystal glass.

The watch is powered by a Miyota Caliber 9100 with a 10-30 seconds accuracy per day. The power reserve can hold up to 40+ hours and the watch is water resistant to 3ATMs.


The 901-3 is fitted with many cool little details that makes it feel as premium as it does. For example the crone of the 901 is inspired by the horn cap of the classic 911 steering wheel.
Even the VIN-Number cut out is based on the original number plate cutout. The strap of the 901-3 is made of genuine black leather with orange stitching and a ribbed padding.


The 901-3 is more on the bigger and heavier side with a case diameter of 44mm, a thickness of 13.2mm and a weight of 110g. But to be honest, I really appreciated that solid high quality feel of the watch. You get the feeling, that the watch can handle a little beating.

Each watch comes with a cool little card with the VIN-Number on it where you can check out the video shows that the original car was a 1976 911. The hood of this car was replaced as part of the restoration, and the original hood became the dials of the watches.

Overall the unboxing experience is also very satisfying. The watch comes in a metal box with a cool inlay.



If I need to say something “negative” about this watch, it would be the price. Around 1700 $ isn´t cheap but in my opinion if you really appreciate high quality watches, you love small little details and are a big Porscheist, the 901 collection of watches is perfect for you. You can check out the latest pricing and availability and the other watches of the collection here 901- Collection.

For more information check www.recwatches.com | All rights reserved. ©

1 Kommentare

Why I'd choose a manual transmission over PDK for my new GT3!

"The latest GT3 comes with a sensation: The unexpected return of the manual transmission - What was already considered extinct, can now be ordered at customer's request again. If you have the small amount of 152.416€ on your bank account, of course!"

The new GT3 is actually a maintenance of the 991 GT3!

A few weeks ago Porsche presented their new developed Version of the 911 GT3 and just burned a new track record in the asphalt of the Nürburgring Nordschleife!

Only 7 minutes and 12.7 seconds are needed to do a full round with this new tracktoy on the almost 25 kilometers long route. Theoretically!

After all, even a very ambitious hobby racer won't be able to do what a professional racingdriver did. In any case, the 'new' GT3 is 12.3 seconds quicker than its predecessor. In the racing world literally about as long as a millipedes needs to get his shoes bind - a half eternity.

One point that makes the new GT3 - which is strictly spoken only a rework of the 991 GT3 - so fast, is its engine. While the 991.1 GT3 had 3.8 liters of displacement, which were enough to send full 475 horses to the PDK transmission, the new 991.2 GT3 has a displacement of 4.0 liters now. So, it reaches a full performance output of 500 horses. Added to this are a reworked chassis as well as some optical retouches on the front and rear apron.



But the real sensation does come from the transmission! For the first time ever Porsche offers two different gearbox variants with its most sporty 911 derivative to its customers. So, the six-speed manual gearbox already believed dead within the more sporty and powerful variants of the Porsche 911, is celebrating an unexpected return!

A manual transmission has only been available for the Carrera, Boxster or Cayman Versions, so far. Other sports car manufacturers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini have banned a classic manual gearbox completely already and it seemed as if the classic 'shift stick' would also give way to a vicious 'selector lever' soon at Porsche, too.

But how do we say in Germany? - The condemned live longer and so the manual transmission celebrates a brilliant return with the new GT3 and leaves the whole Porscheworld confused. So, what gearbox to choose now?!

Well. The choice is very simle, isn't it?

The PDK shifts so fast the driver can't even think the word 'Neunelf'. It also has a seventh gear, which takes unpleasent pessengers from one racetrack to another relaxed. The driver also never has to put his hands off the steering, which is quite important on racetracks, while hunting for tenth of a second. Finally the GT3 is a road legal racecar, isn't it?!

Nevertheless, if I could order a new GT3 tomorrow - just as I have compiled it a hundret times already on Porsche's online configurator - mine would come with a manual.


The elephant in the room: Manual- or PDK transmission?



What?! - But you just told us that the PDK is so much faster and better, the one or other of you might object now. Nevertheless, my decission was firm and I tell you why:

When I got the 991 Carrera S about 4 years ago, I was totally thrilled. Not only from the car but also from the PDK gearbox. There is no better transmission in the world than Porsches PDK. It switches the gears softly while driving through the city, barely noticable on the highway and lightning fast on the race track. If you use it in Sport-Plus mode it always has the right gear selected and there is no hobby racer in the world who could do it better I guess...

But something crucial is missing. The personal pleasure of driving a car!



This realization however came to me about one year later, when I got infected by the 'aircooled' virus and a Porsche 964 had to be added to the garage. Driving an aircooled Porsche is work. At times it can also be really striking, especially if you are driving up mountain passes and another green RS is hanging at your back! Sometimes you don't find the right gear and in the evenings you leave your car completely done. But:  BY GOD THIS IS TRUE FUN!!!

This is true sports car driving and nothing else.

When you finally have enough confidence in your skills and your car, driver and car almost merge into one unit. You have the feeling of absolute control. Nothing sparks you in between. You can feel the transmission working and the power running through the transmission directly to the rear wheels. There is no way of getting anywhere near that feeling without a manual transmission. No matter how good a double-clutched gearbox can be. THIS is true driving pleasure to me and nothing else.



If I had 152. 416 € (That's the exact price for a new 911 GT3 without extras) on my bank account for waste, I would definitely buy myself a new GT3 now with a manual gearbox. Maybe because it is the last one of its kind, too. I would buy it just for me. For my own pleasure and for no one else. I would drive through the Dolomites, over the Berninapass, the Sellajoch and the Großglockner. I would drive up to Finland with it and back again. I don't care if the GT3 does the 0 - 100 km/h time 0,5 seconds quicker with PDK and I don't care if it is 12 seconds faster on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. I don't even care if other drivers can overtake me on the track and of course I don't care if there is an even faster RS Version presented a few month later! - This doesn't matter to me. I would buy a GT3 for the joy of driving and nothing makes more fun than shifting manually!

Photos: Stefan Bogner - CURVES Magazin | All rights reserved. ©

3 Kommentare