The NA engine is dead. Long live the NA GT3!

"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
05/18/2020 at 09:19 • Filed to: None

Porsche confirmed that in spite of the Boxster/Cayman getting an NA engine back in the GTS models, the 911 Carrer a range will still be turbos.

GT cars will breath normally for as long as they can. Long live the GT3 and GT3 RS.

Also, they are saving the manuals.

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DISCUSSION (14)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 09:48

9000 RPM! One day... one day.

Time to watch this again for the 20th time:

Discerning > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 09:55

I really like the turbo engines in the 991.2 and 992. I like them much more than the NA MA1, so this is good to hear.

I just wish Porsche would put the turbo 3.0 in the 718 cars.

Thomas Donohue > Discerning
05/18/2020 at 10:01

Agreed, I drove a 991.2 Carrera S and it was fantastic. But I still want to see how far they can push the GT3 RS without any boost.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 10:11

This doesn’t bode well for the following generation. Hopefully manual sales for the 992 gen will make the business case clear.

We had to go to the board I think seven times to explain why we need to offer a manual gearbox.

Thomas Donohue > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/18/2020 at 10:20

I wonder what the overall take rate was for manuals on non-GT 911s. My guess is that it’s a low enough number to make the board members say “Why are we still making this?”

Discerning > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 10:25

Ditto. I drive a 991.2 C2 (non S) and was shocked how quick it was. I think my exact words were: “this thing only has 370hp?!” Granted, it seems they are understated, but the delivery was awesome. Low end grunt and it didn’t feel like it ran out of breath up top. So many modern turbo cars have so much down low now that they almost feel like they run out of steam within 1000 rpm of their redline.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 10:30

Was roughly 20% in 2018.

I assume the take rate on the T is pretty high (maybe more than 50%?), and the S is higher (25% in the States?) than the base Carrera.

2/3rds of GT3s were spec-ed with a manual for a while when it came back - that’s probably started to drop.

Milky > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 10:32

They could also just go with making one manual. They dont need a 7 & 6 speed.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue
05/18/2020 at 10:33

I put this together last year:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/highest-manual-take-rate-after-miata-1834810816

404 - User No Longer Available > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/18/2020 at 11:49

I think Porsche is also moving to the model where they only allow it on the higher end models. Consider the just-announced Targa: manual only available on the 4S, not the 4.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 404 - User No Longer Available
05/18/2020 at 12:11

It’s too bad, but it makes sense, I guess. The enthusiasts are more likely to want the S, and possibly the manual as well. (See BMW: manuals on remain on M cars). Hopefully it will stick around on all Cayman/Boxster variants moving forward , if not the base Carrera.

superdave847 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/18/2020 at 23:28

I would buy a Cayman GT4 over a 911 Carrera mainly because of the manual transmission option. It might be a bit slower on a track than a C2S, but its like $20k less.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > superdave847
05/19/2020 at 09:29

I greatly desire a GT4 (S apphire Blue, please) , but in reality it probably makes no sense for me to own one, considering how rough some of the roads are around here. Any fun car I buy I want to be able to serve triple duty: nice weather car to take to work a couple days a week, awesome backroadtrip companion, and capable at the track. Still at least a few years off from this purchase.

superdave847 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/19/2020 at 10:40

Hopefully the new 718 GTS checks those boxes! I would take the Python Green though.