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Post by johnc on Mar 22, 2019 10:23:21 GMT
I was asked by a Porsche owning friend if I wanted to go along to the unveiling of the 992 at Porsche Glasgow last night.
I met several people I knew including one who had just bought a red 992 they had in the showroom and another who said he didn't like the look of the 992 and would just keep his 991.
I have to say I thought it was a very handsome car which is now about twice the size of the old air cooled versions. Small sports car it is not but it is much more luxurious and special feeling behind the wheel: they have done a great job.
My friend who has the 991 Cabrio was sorely tempted by a Boxster GTS they had. I have to say that the fit and finish on the Boxster was very impressive and the interior alcantara trim was exceptional with carbon fibre on the dash and central consul and contrasting stitching on the leather on the seats and doors. His car is now about 6 years old and he is feeling the need to change it!
I had my first real look at a Macan and it does feel very special behind the wheel but with the number of buttons on the centre consul, either side of the gear stick, it looks more like the flight deck of an aircraft than a car - you'd really need to memorise where the important buttons were because it would be hard to watch the road and find the right button at the same time. The Panamera and the Cayenne are just enormous.
I was also talking to a guy who had just sold his Aston Martin Vanquish (taking quite a large hit financially) because he was worried about the way prices of that kind of car were falling and the growing influence of electric. He was just there for a look but was sitting on his cash until he saw what the market was going to do.
The place was mobbed and the list of people wanting test drives was enormous so I presume there are still plenty of people around with well in excess of £100K to spend.
It was a good night.
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Post by racingteatray on Mar 22, 2019 10:33:56 GMT
Just think that a 991 can be six years old makes me feel old!
Yes, I like the Macan more and more.
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Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2019 11:06:34 GMT
I'd love a 992.
Agree with you re the Macan, had a Turbo PP on my shortlist and there was a lot to like but there isn't enough rear leg room to work as a main car and slightly less than the Golf so would be tight even as a second car. It's leagues ahead of other small SUVs in terms of quality of materials and fit/finish, but as with all Porsche, full leather or full leather/Alcantara is a must.
I was close to pushing the budget and getting an ex demo Panamera V8 diesel. I'm pleased I didn't, as the job change would have meant it cost me even more than I'd thought as I'd be losing on every business mile (20k miles pa). A Panamera Turbo is one of a very short list of cars that I'd change the 750 for, but as much as I like them I can't man maths the double cost.
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Post by johnc on Mar 22, 2019 11:35:35 GMT
I'd love a 992 too and I think the quality and feel of the cockpit in modern Porsche's has moved on leaps and bounds over recent years. There is now a definite air of quality about everything. However they had a black metallic 992 in the showroom and it was covered in small scratches - it looked as though the valeter had dropped his cloth on the floor a few times whilst polishing it. I now the showroom lights are not kind to paintwork swirls but it was commented on by several people and it's not as if they didn't know several hundred were coming last night.
There was a Panamera Turbo in the showroom and it is a beautiful thing with exquisite finishes everywhere but it really is a monster of a car when you are up close: it's one for motorways and wide A roads, not lanes and car parks.
My friend (who also has a 535D touring) is unenthusiastic about my love of the M5 because he thinks it doesn't look special enough - he was the one who guided me to the Macan and told me to get in and feel the quality. I'm not 6'2" like Martin so space behind my seat is reasonable in the back and it isn't particularly long (about the same as the 4 series) so parking etc would not be a problem. I had a good poke around, pressing buttons and twisting knobs etc to see how it all felt and it was very impressive. From a quick look, the engine choices I would be interested in are the 3 litre petrol with about 350hp or the Turbo with 400+. I might explore these further but there is just one other issue - the dealership. Few I know have much positive to say about Porsche Glasgow, Porsche Edinburgh is also Sytner owned, leaving only Porsche in Perth with a good reputation although I have no idea who actually owns it. It's a long way for a service.
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Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2019 11:49:57 GMT
I'd love a 992 too and I think the quality and feel of the cockpit in modern Porsche's has moved on leaps and bounds over recent years. There is now a definite air of quality about everything. However they had a black metallic 992 in the showroom and it was covered in small scratches - it looked as though the valeter had dropped his cloth on the floor a few times whilst polishing it. I now the showroom lights are not kind to paintwork swirls but it was commented on by several people and it's not as if they didn't know several hundred were coming last night. There was a Panamera Turbo in the showroom and it is a beautiful thing with exquisite finishes everywhere but it really is a monster of a car when you are up close: it's one for motorways and wide A roads, not lanes and car parks. My friend (who also has a 535D touring) is unenthusiastic about my love of the M5 because he thinks it doesn't look special enough - he was the one who guided me to the Macan and told me to get in and feel the quality. I'm not 6'2" like Martin so space behind my seat is reasonable in the back and it isn't particularly long (about the same as the 4 series) so parking etc would not be a problem. I had a good poke around, pressing buttons and twisting knobs etc to see how it all felt and it was very impressive. From a quick look, the engine choices I would be interested in are the 3 litre petrol with about 350hp or the Turbo with 400+. I might explore these further but there is just one other issue - the dealership. Few I know have much positive to say about Porsche Glasgow, Porsche Edinburgh is also Sytner owned, leaving only Porsche in Perth with a good reputation although I have no idea who actually owns it. It's a long way for a service. The fuel economy will make your eyes water, especially on the Turbo and it's in a very different performance bracket to the M5. I've only driven the standard Turbo, which didn't feel much quicker than the Golf R, I'd put it on a par with an M140i (I drove all 3 on the same weekend), so I don't think it will feel any quicker than your 435d. Not a big issue as it's fast enough for the road, but the performance/economy balance isn't great. I know I'm like a broken record, but the Sports Exhaust is a must. The Panamera is a fraction smaller than the 750, but that is a bit big for country lanes and multi-story carparks. I use the Golf in those circumstances as often as I can, although I did have to go into a tight car park in the centre of Chester last week and even with the surround cameras it was a bit stressful. Porsche Silverstone is Sytner owned and they were excellent, right up to the point when I was serious about getting a car from them, but the WLTP chaos didn't help as they couldn't tell me when they'd get a demo or estimated lead times on new builds. |
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Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2019 12:16:28 GMT
All the Macan Turbos on Fuelly, in UK MPG.  |
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Post by PetrolEd on Mar 22, 2019 12:47:13 GMT
From experience I find the GTS the pick of the Macan range.
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Post by racingteatray on Mar 22, 2019 13:02:45 GMT
From experience I find the GTS the pick of the Macan range. Interesting. My Macan experience is limited to being a passenger in my chum's Turbo. Which is jolly nice albeit that it while it sounds suitably rorty at low speeds and start up, it doesn't sound very Porsche-like when you give it the beans. Just sounds rather generically six-cylinder-ish. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 17:55:22 GMT
When I was trawling the net for info a while back I came across this Russian video.
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Post by ChrisM on Mar 22, 2019 18:29:30 GMT
5-cylinder single turbo engines are amazing; I wish Volvo still made and fitted them in their cars
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Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2019 19:14:52 GMT
5-cylinder single turbo engines are amazing; I wish Volvo still made and fitted them in their cars I assume I’m alone on this, but I’m really not a fan of 5 cylinder engines and 3’s are even worse to my ears. I don’t know why, but the uneven sound grates a bit. |
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Post by Stuntman on Mar 22, 2019 19:56:03 GMT
I was over at my local OPC today and had a test sit in the 992. For some reason they had one in the showroom. I haven't been invited to the launch; I seem to have dropped off the radar regarding invitations to anything from this OPC.
I was there for over an hour today and at no time did any of the sales staff approach me. I turned up in the GT4, then sat in about 6 different cars and had two cappuccinos and a nice chocolate brownie.
Anyway - the 992 is very nice both inside and out. I think the interior is a massive positive step forward, and the seats in the car that I sat in were excellent. Add me to the list of fans...
(And Martin - you probably are on your own here regarding the 5 cylinder dislike!)
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Post by Andy C on Mar 22, 2019 20:26:12 GMT
5-cylinder single turbo engines are amazing; I wish Volvo still made and fitted them in their cars I assume I’m alone on this, but I’m really not a fan of 5 cylinder engines and 3’s are even worse to my ears. I don’t know why, but the uneven sound grates a bit.  . I find 3 and 5s infinitely more interesting and tuneful than the even rivals |
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Post by Martin on Mar 22, 2019 20:38:17 GMT
I assume I’m alone on this, but I’m really not a fan of 5 cylinder engines and 3’s are even worse to my ears. I don’t know why, but the uneven sound grates a bit. . I find 3 and 5s infinitely more interesting and tuneful than the even rivals I knew I’d be alone! I did say I’m not a fan, but that I hate them (I do dislike 3s though) and I’d say the same about most 4 cylinder engines and even some 6s and 8s, but just the ones with stupid exhausts, which isn’t the engines fault. |
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Post by franki68 on Mar 23, 2019 9:38:56 GMT
I think it looks great and the interior tremendous ,my only fear is has it got too big? The 991 is still compact enough to enjoy on the road ,but it’s at the limit in that respect .
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. I find 3 and 5s infinitely more interesting and tuneful than the even rivals