For those not on Pistonheads to read my post there, here is my new 991.2 C4 GTS....after what feels like an eternal wait.
Here's a few first impressions after the first few miles....
- It looks spectacular and I'm very happy with the Carmine Red colour choice. Love the ride height and stance, although the -20mm option is VERY low. So much so that I'm going to need to be careful over speed bumps and even going into my drive (admittedly on an unfinished road) it just touches the ground in the middle of the car. In this respect it seems to ride much lower than the R8 did. One of the few boxes I didn't tick was the £1.5k axle lift system, mainly because it was yet another expensive option but also because I'd probably forget to use it!
- The interior quality and level of personalisation sets a new high benchmark for me. The various leather/stitching options have come out really nice and I'm delighted with the painted air vents (with their somewhat preposterously leather covered slats!)
- I reckon it sounds FAN-bloody-TASTIC. I get why some die-hard 911 aficionados might be a bit 'meh' about it as yes, it is a different sound. But different doesn't equate to inferior. It still retains a proper 911 howl, but it's deeper (and arguably more refined-sounding) than the old N/A. As good as the V10 in my previous R8? Probably not, but then it's so different it can't really be compared. I didn't miss the V10 sound in the 987 Boxster I bought as a temporary smoker, so I'm not going to miss it now.
- Power delivery is good, and it feels very fast. Even in the context of the 610bhp R8, simply because that needed revs all the time. This just goes hard at any revs, so I would argue in day to day situations on UK roads, at worst it's as fast as the R8. In my opinion, it's still obviously a turbocharged engine....some comments suggest it feels N/A but it's far too strong for that and yes, there is some momentary lag low down. But the lag is only really noticeable in the standard driving mode; it's so well managed in Sport mode that it MUST have some kind of anti-lag system working away in the background. Throttle response is good, again not 100% N/A sharp (I'd give it 98% to the R8's 100%), but you'd have to be on some kind of OCD-spectrum for it to bother you.
- It feels surreal in bends. I'm conscious PDCC is not liked by all but I don't like the feeling of body roll so I do rate the system. The combination of PDCC and 4WS makes it feel somewhat invincible.
- The ride is fairly 'robust' though! Actually, it's just very hard, but at least it's very well controlled. Honestly, if the GT cars are materially stiffer than this then it's a good job I can't get one as they're not for me! In it's softest setting, it's materially harder than the R8 was in it's firmest setting.
- I debated the value of the Burmester option in the Macan and Cayenne, mainly because it was quite a bright sounding system in those cars (although on hearing the crappy Bose in the 718 my wife has just bought, I would still go for Burmester again and again). In the 911 there's no such concerns; it's a good sounding upgrade and if you do like to listen to music, it's a worthwhile upgrade.
Here's a few first impressions after the first few miles....
- It looks spectacular and I'm very happy with the Carmine Red colour choice. Love the ride height and stance, although the -20mm option is VERY low. So much so that I'm going to need to be careful over speed bumps and even going into my drive (admittedly on an unfinished road) it just touches the ground in the middle of the car. In this respect it seems to ride much lower than the R8 did. One of the few boxes I didn't tick was the £1.5k axle lift system, mainly because it was yet another expensive option but also because I'd probably forget to use it!
- The interior quality and level of personalisation sets a new high benchmark for me. The various leather/stitching options have come out really nice and I'm delighted with the painted air vents (with their somewhat preposterously leather covered slats!)
- I reckon it sounds FAN-bloody-TASTIC. I get why some die-hard 911 aficionados might be a bit 'meh' about it as yes, it is a different sound. But different doesn't equate to inferior. It still retains a proper 911 howl, but it's deeper (and arguably more refined-sounding) than the old N/A. As good as the V10 in my previous R8? Probably not, but then it's so different it can't really be compared. I didn't miss the V10 sound in the 987 Boxster I bought as a temporary smoker, so I'm not going to miss it now.
- Power delivery is good, and it feels very fast. Even in the context of the 610bhp R8, simply because that needed revs all the time. This just goes hard at any revs, so I would argue in day to day situations on UK roads, at worst it's as fast as the R8. In my opinion, it's still obviously a turbocharged engine....some comments suggest it feels N/A but it's far too strong for that and yes, there is some momentary lag low down. But the lag is only really noticeable in the standard driving mode; it's so well managed in Sport mode that it MUST have some kind of anti-lag system working away in the background. Throttle response is good, again not 100% N/A sharp (I'd give it 98% to the R8's 100%), but you'd have to be on some kind of OCD-spectrum for it to bother you.
- It feels surreal in bends. I'm conscious PDCC is not liked by all but I don't like the feeling of body roll so I do rate the system. The combination of PDCC and 4WS makes it feel somewhat invincible.
- The ride is fairly 'robust' though! Actually, it's just very hard, but at least it's very well controlled. Honestly, if the GT cars are materially stiffer than this then it's a good job I can't get one as they're not for me! In it's softest setting, it's materially harder than the R8 was in it's firmest setting.
- I debated the value of the Burmester option in the Macan and Cayenne, mainly because it was quite a bright sounding system in those cars (although on hearing the crappy Bose in the 718 my wife has just bought, I would still go for Burmester again and again). In the 911 there's no such concerns; it's a good sounding upgrade and if you do like to listen to music, it's a worthwhile upgrade.