At first I thought it was a joke (April Fools maybe?). But, then I realized it was still March (at least when I posted this it still was) and April Fool’s day is not until tomorrow. The timing seems odd to raise pricing on their most profitable model. According to most economic pundits, we’re in the middle of a significant global economic slowdown. This is usually a time to give price incentives and help reduce inventory. However, based on the strength of demand, that hasn’t been a problem for Porsche lately and their corporate profits prove it. It’s obvious that Porsche’s strategy to keep stock low at most dealers is paying off.
Here’s the full Press Release for your Review
Stuttgart: For the first time since the launch of the second generation Cayenne, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, will be increasing prices. The price changes, effective 1st June 2008, will be between 1.4% and 2.8%, depending on the model.
IOverall, all second-generation Cayenne models are very much in demand from customers.The main reasons that customers value the Cayenne are the new engines featuring direct fuel injection and fuel consumption reduced by up to 15% and the option of being driven by the environmentally friendly bioethanol fuel E10.The price increases will be accompanied by a range of product upgrades – for example, a completely new development, the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) Multimedia System with touch-screen operation and hard disc navigation. In other models this is available as an optional extra, but in the Cayenne Turbo it comes as standard.
The new prices (incl. 19% VAT and country-specific requirements):
Cayenne (Manual gearbox) 52,449 Euro
Cayenne S (Manual gearbox) 67,681 Euro
Cayenne GTS (Manual gearbox) 78,034 Euro
Cayenne Turbo (Tiptronic S) 111,711 Euro
What is the purpose of zero to sixty straight line comparisons, especially when the cars are not evenly matched in the first place? I think the answer depends on who is conducting the test. In the instance of this post, it’s Autocar and Chris Harris. Simply put, I think this type of test brings eye-balls to a web-site and helps to spark conversation and controversy amongst loyal readers. What other reason is there to compare a Porsche GT2 to a Corvette Z06 in a straight line speed test? Let me know what you think.
Take a look at the following video and you be the judge.
Horespower
Porsche 911 GT2 530 HP
Cheverolet Corvette Z06 505 HP
I admit, on paper, the cars are fairly close. However, even if you overlook the fact that the GT2 has 25 more HP, is rear-engined (helps traction off the line) and has a proper suspension, you can’t get past the fact that the GT2 is a purpose built track car from the days of “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday” (the least of all those purposes is drag racing in a straight line).
Don’t get me wrong, the Corvette is a fantastic performing car (especially when you factor in the price differential) and this simply isn’t a fair or proper comparison. To me this is simply another instance of the media helping to perpetuate the legend that is Porsche. As you can tell from the image at the top of this page, comparisons like Porsche vs. Corvette have been going on for a long time and I don’t expect them to stop anytime soon. This is something I don’t have a problem with, for obvious reasons. What do you think?
Favorite Chris Harris quote from the video (in reference to the Corvette):
“The bonnet appears to end in a different time zone. It’s miles away.”
Admittedly, not all the news that Porsche releases to the press is exciting. However, what caught my eye on this particular news note, was the display they are planning with regard to various Porsche exhibits. More specifically, on display (among other interesting Porsche cars) will be the 1971 Porsche 917 “short-tail” that won the ‘24 Hours of Le Mans” in 1971 and still holds the record to-date for both distance (5,335.313 km) and average speed (222.304 km/h). That’s pretty impressive considering we’re talking 37 + years.
For those of you not familiar with the 917, this is the model that basically put Porsche on the endurance racing road-map with wins at Le Mans in both 1970 and 1971. Of course, we can’t forget the car was made even more famous by Steve McQueen in his epic racing story Le Mans. The 917, with a flat 12 motor, was capable of speeds in excess of 248 Mph and a 0 to 60 time of 2.5 seconds. That’s comparable to today’s F1 cars.
The Porsche Pink Pig
My favorite of all 917s, for no other reason than the name, is the 1971 917/20 otherwise known as the “Pink Pig”. Click on the thumbnail to the left to see a larger version. The car got its name from the paint scheme that showcases the names of certain cuts of meat (written in German) similar to that of a butcher diagram.
I must say, were I going to be anywhere near Essen, Germany this looks like a great event with the chance to see some fantastic current and historic Porsche cars. If anyone happens to go, please send me some picture!!!! What event am I talking about? Read below for more information.
Porsche Press Release
Stuttgart. This year at the Techno-Classica in Essen, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, and its Classic Customer Centre will be giving visitors a glimpse behind the scenes. The company’s Classic department, which has its home on the main Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen site, will be on show from 27th to 30th March 2008 at the greatest vintage car fair in the world. Under the spotlight will be its product and service range in connection with repair, maintenance, care, restoration and the procurement of original spare parts for Classic Porsche models.
On the Porsche stand in Hall 3 the emphasis will be on detailed advice provided by Porsche’s own restoration specialists. The experts will be happy to answer visitors’ questions – ranging from the availability of spare parts for Porsche Classic models to the maintenance and servicing of historic vehicles. Porsche drivers who enjoy working on their Classic vehicles themselves will also be well served: there will be a large range of literature available on the stand, from owners’ manuals through parts catalogues and CDs to repair instructions. In addition, the ‘living workshop’, in which Porsche specialists will be demonstrating their skills to enthusiasts and experts alike, will give visitors a chance to see original works’ restoration.
As well as the Classic Customer Centre, the approximate 800 square metres of exhibition space will house eight Porsche clubs displaying various privately-owned vehicles. Collectors and souvenir hunters will be able to view the current product range from the ‘Porsche Design Driver’s Selection’.
Porsche lovers will particularly relish the various exhibits on display: for example, a current 911 Turbo from Porsche Exclusive is shown side by side with another 911 Turbo dating from 1974, privately-owned by Ferry Porsche. The top attraction for motorsport fans will definitely be the vehicle which won the 1971 ‘24 Hours of Le Mans’. The Porsche 917 short-tail, racing as 22, set the standard as a light-construction prototype with a special magnesium lattice-tube frame. Driven by Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep, the vehicle won Porsche the second of a current total of 16 victories at Le Mans and set the still unbeaten records for distance (5,335.313 km) and average speed (222.304 km/h).
I’m a bit of a “Porsche Purist”, what others may call a snob. For the most part, I like my Porsches to be original, true to what the manufacturer intended with little to no modifications. As an example, my 1973 911T was all original (including paint and interior) with no modifications. My current 1997 993 C4S is exactly the same, all original, no modifications (except the options from the factory).
However, that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate anything else. I understand the need and desire for modifications. My 993 would, in some people’s opinion, benefit from a suspension modification (lower it to ROW specs) and get rid of what is routinely referred to as the “SUV” ride-height. Based on cars I’ve seen with this mod, I tend to agree and just might do this to my car. Compared to the subject of this post however, this type of suspension modification is infinitesimally small. Not surprisingly, it takes things a little too far for my taste.
Jeff Dutton’s 1955 Porsche ‘Silver Bullet’ Custom Hot Rod.
Built on a 914-6 chassis with a body based on a 1955 356 Continental, it is fitted with a 3 liter, 279hp RS-spec engine, and a 915 gear box. Momentum created by the racing spec’d engine is temporarily halted with addition of “full-trick” 934 brakes. The polished disc wheels are 17” in diameter and match the other accents/trim on the car.
Putting technical specs aside, which are impressive, I would prefer to focus on the aesthetics of the car. According to an article I read in Keith Martin’s on Collecting Porsche, the idea behind the car was to create an “Outlaw Porsche” (chopped hotrod) that still remained true to the original design theory and production of legendary Porsche designer Erwin Komenda. While I agree that it is still recognizable as a Porsche, I’m not sure I would have spent the money (hundreds of thousands is the claim) to build this car. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves and you be the judge. Click on anyone of the thumbnails for a larger image and take a look at the Fantasy Junction listing for even more images.
The car is currently offered for sale, on consignment, at Fantasy Junction. According to Chris Christianson, of Fantasy Junction, the current owner placed the car on consignment in early February and has set the asking price at $175,000. I tried to research previous owners; unfortunately, all I found were references to an attempted previous sale in 2001 at RM’s Monterey auction where the car was bid to $55,000 and did not sell.
Builder of the Porsche 356 Outlaw
If you’re curious about the original owner/builder of this car here is a little more info I found while researching for this post.
Jeff Dutton comes from a family filled with impressive automotive accomplishments. In 1911 Jeff’s grandfather, Albert Octavious Dutton, began a coachwork-building business that specialized in the creation of bodies for Rolls Royce, Franchini, Isotta, etc. As Albert’s reputation grew, so did the shop’s capabilities. In 1953 Dutton’s became the first Porsche factory-appointed repair shop in Australia.
Today, Dutton’s has expanded to include a new dealership that stocks both classic and current model Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati and other hi-end luxury brands. In addition, Jeff’s son has branched out with the creation of DuttonDirect (an on-line luxury directory and magazine that covers automotive, marine, aircraft and lifestyle products). Dutton’s success has given him the means to pursue his passion of collecting, creating, driving and racing Porsches.
When most of us think of “electric” cars or a vehicle that is purpose built to be environmentally friendly, the Porsche brand is probably not top of mind. It’s not that Porsche makes cars that pollute any more than others (despite all the recent news in London) it is simply a matter of being better known as makers of the ultimate, everyday supercar; the Porsche 911.
Today’s Porsche 911s (997 variants) have their roots in all Porsche models that came before them. One such model is the Porsche 912. Imagine my surprise when surfing around the other day I came across a 1967 Porsche 912 that has been converted to an environmentally friendly, electric Porsche.
Converting a Porsche 912 to an Electric Motor
Based on an article from the German Magazine Der Spiegel, it would seem that Jens Broedersdorff and Uwe Koenzen have successfully completed a two-year long conversion of a 1967 Porsche 912 to an all electric version. This ultra quiet, electric version of a classic Porsche has a very limited range of only 90 kilometers (about 55 miles). However, with a top speed of 160 km/h (just under 100 mph) and electric quick acceleration it is certainly a novelty worth mentioning. Jens and Uwe estimate the operational costs to be somewhere around $2.45 per 55 miles making it very cost effective, just not practical as a long distance commuter. Let’s hope they can get some more range out of the car and who knows where they can go from there.
I searched long and hard to try and find more technical specifications on this project. If anyone has additional information or other resources, I would love to hear from you.
I’m always on the look out for interesting finds on eBay with regard to Porsche cars and products. This one was too good to pass up. According to the seller, this car was purchased new by Dennis Rodman (of NBA fame) and “optioned accordingly”. Here’s the catch, the car has little to no service history and nothing to prove the provenance of celebrity ownership.
However, according to the seller:
This particular 993TT was purchased new by Dennis Rodman and has been personalized accordingly. Upgrades were carried out in a no expense spared fashion, with thousands of dollars of equipment not found on stock 993 Turbos. In addition to all the modern amenities like air conditioning, central locking, and security system, it is also extremely well-optioned. Original options include litronic headlights, rear wiper, headlight washers, supple leather, full leather (including upper and lower dashboard, door panels, emergency brake handle, and center console), headrests embossed with Porsche crests, full power seats, embroidered Lloyd`s floormats and 6-disc CD changer. This car also has the full carbon fiber interior, which covers the dashboard, door panels, and handbrake handle. Aluminum gauge faces are also fitted, along with aluminum accents to the bezels, shifter, and handbrake lever.
Furthermore, the car was ordered in a special order color, Ferrari Fly Yellow, which is not quite as pale as the more frequently seen Speed Yellow. This car has been further personalized with an upgraded stereo receiver, amps and a number of performance and cosmetic upgrades. The wheels are modular Speedline, which were added at a cost of nearly $6,000. The cost of the TechArt bodywork upgrades was in excess of $6,000 and includes front bumper, rear spoiler, and Turbo S-style combined brake ducts and fog lights. A performance exhaust system with generously proportioned oval tips has also been fitted. The car has tinted windows, clear bra, and aluminum pedals. In early 2007 (mileage was 37,988) it had a complete engine out major service performed. The clutch was replaced, Stage I DME software was added, complete Bilstein PSS9 suspension kit with proper alignment and new Bridgestone tires. All work performed at Beck’s Independent Porsche in Phoenix, AZ.
Regardless of celebrity provenance or not, this is a 1996 Porsche 993 Twin Turbo with nice options, reasonable miles and a reasonable starting price. It could make a very nice car for someone assuming a thorough Porsche specific Pre-Purchase Inspection. I did leave a message with Rodman’s agent (Darren Prince of Prince Marketing) and will update this post when and if I hear back with regard to provenance.
The answer just may depend on how your system is set-up. Most people I know complain that they lose all “seat of the pants” feedback when it comes to car racing simulators and video games. With the introduction of Fanatec’s Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel, that objection may just go away.
Fanatec’s Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is an officially Porsche licensed product
Created by the German company Endor AG (That’s right, they are German too), the system artfully emulates a 911 Turbo wheel and much more.
According to a review by gamealmighty:
The wheel is comfortable to use and the perfect size for racing games. Many racing controllers come with wheels that look like they’re from a Fisher-Price toy, but the 911 Turbo Wheel is large enough to make subtle steering adjustments and won’t strain your arms even after hours of playing. If anything is going to make your arms tired, it’s the force with which the wheel will fight you on the default configuration. They weren’t kidding when they set out to make a great force feedback wheel, and the rumble and resistance in the 911 Turbo Wheel are some of the best I’ve ever found in a controller.
Combine the above mentioned advanced force feedback with 6 +1 H patterned gear shift, wireless, realistic clutch pedal with declining resistance and a pressure sensitive brake emulation and you have as close to “seat of the pants” feedback as a racing simulator can give you (unless you have the money and space to put something like this in your game room).
Lastly, for those of you wanna be Porsche owners, the Fanatec wireless USB receiver is built to look like a current Porsche key. I wouldn’t recommend putting it on your key ring as an attempt to pick up the ladies, but overall it’s a nice touch to start your racing experience by “turning your Porsche key” into your USB ignition on your PC or PS3.
The few cons that I am aware of with regard to this package:
button on steering wheel are a bit flimsy
shifter mounting solution could be a bit more sturdy
you will need to reduce the force feed back if you use the wheel on your lap as the wings won’t hold it strongly enough
Cost for the Fanatec isn’t cheap, but neither is the experience. For $350 you get one of the best wireless controllers on the market. If you’re a real-world racer you get the added benefit of a life-like racing experience that may just give you that little extra edge next time your at the track. If it doesn’t, so what, you still have another great Porsche product to add to your collection.
In the coming weeks I’ll be doing a review of the many different driving games and simulators currently available. Let me know if there are any you want included.
List of Features:
• Original Porsche 911 Turbo steering wheel design
• Licensed by Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH
• Compatible with PC and Playstation 3
• 6+1 speed H-pattern gear stick
• Additional sequential gear stick included
• Wireless pedals
• Realistic clutch pedal with declining resistance
• Pressure sensitive brake emulation with soft-stop
• Turning angle can be adjusted in the wheel to 900°, 360° or 180° or in 1° steps
• Table clamps or lap wings to play in the living room
• Illuminated button symbols switch automatically between PC and Playstation
• Mabuchi RS 550 Motor as used in RC cars for force feedback
• Two additional force feedback motors for rumble effects
• Tuning ability with built-in LED display
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At first I thought it was a joke (April Fools maybe?). But, then I realized it was still March (at least when I posted this it still was) and April Fool’s day is not until tomorrow. The timing seems odd to raise pricing on their most profitable model. According to most economic pundits, we’re in the middle of a significant global economic slowdown. This is usually a time to give price incentives and help reduce inventory. However, based on the strength of demand, that hasn’t been a problem for Porsche lately and their corporate profits prove it. It’s obvious that Porsche’s strategy to keep stock low at most dealers is paying off.
. The 917, with a flat 12 motor, was capable of speeds in excess of 248 Mph and a 0 to 60 time of 2.5 seconds. 
