Car and Driver calls new Porsche Turbo heavy and clumsy?

Car and Driver calls new Porsche Turbo heavy and clumsy?
In the latest issue of Car and Driver there is an article called 'Lightning Strikes Twice', where they test some of the world's fastest cars on the track.

To my surprise, it seemed like they were not impressed with the new Porsche Turbo, saying it's not the best lap dancer.

The exact quote is 'The latest Porsche Turbo is terrific on the street but disappointing on the track. The power is there, but the car feels heavy and clumsy next to the 911 GT3'.

So if I read this right, all the new Turbo is good for is being a snob's street cruiser?

And all the customers who plunked down a buck thirty on the latest turbo got duped?

What is your take on their comments?

And remember, it is the Fourth of July tomorrow and we LOVE fireworks!



IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/4/2007 10:38:05 AM
-1 Boost
car and driver are idiots


IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/4/2007 9:53:07 PM
-1 Boost
the proper term is "is"


dannyboy2dannyboy2 - 7/3/2007 8:41:36 PM
+7 Boost
Motoring journos are prone to exaggerating to get their point across. I'd expect the Turbo to feel heavier than the GT3, of course it will feel more like a cruiser on the track compared with the racecar-like GT3, but the difference wouldn't be as great as the impression the review gives.

They are different cars, one is designed specifically for track work, the other a bit of both.

How long is a piece of string?


bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 7/3/2007 8:50:30 PM
+4 Boost
no it doesnt even remotely sound like thats what they are saying, the GT3 is much more focused on track performance and handling than the turbo is, there saying by comparison to the GT3 the turbo seems this way.....nice way to pull a quote out of context....i thought they had lost it until i read the actual quote.....nice try


truecarlovertruecarlover - 7/6/2007 1:17:35 AM
+2 Boost
You are absolutely correct - they said it only feels that way in comparison to the GT3. That would only make sense since Porsche designed that specifically for the track.


EL34EL34 - 7/3/2007 11:13:25 PM
+2 Boost
El34 calls Car and Driver full of $h!t.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 7/3/2007 11:14:38 PM
+1 Boost
Anything will feel heavy and clumsy to a 997 GT3...

Besides, 997 Turbo is more of a speed car, not track car. I got the 997 GT3, and its the best handling machine ever!!! EVER!!!


528i528i - 7/4/2007 2:11:19 AM
+2 Boost
why did you leave arsenal?? Coming from a Manchester united fan.



SevorbeupstryIsBackSevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/4/2007 2:48:42 AM
+1 Boost
Money?


M53RM53R - 7/4/2007 3:59:10 PM
+1 Boost
Because hes not happy with the ranking this year.


M53RM53R - 7/4/2007 4:15:46 PM
+1 Boost
528i

hm... im a milan fan... go hide ;)


528i528i - 7/5/2007 2:29:29 AM
+1 Boost
they got lucky this time, we'll get you next year.


M53RM53R - 7/5/2007 11:08:54 AM
+1 Boost
I cant wait... but I wouldnt call 3-0 lucky... I would call scoring the 3rd goal in the 90th minute against milan lucky though.


528i528i - 7/5/2007 7:44:31 PM
+1 Boost
there is always next year.


xj13xj13 - 7/3/2007 11:42:29 PM
+3 Boost
Car and Driver should stop drinking on the job.


investor27investor27 - 7/4/2007 1:56:43 AM
+3 Boost
I have to disagree. The 911 still looks absolutely beautiful...timeless.


528i528i - 7/4/2007 2:09:16 AM
+2 Boost
like somebody said the other day CAR and CAN'T DRIVE.


SevorbeupstryIsBackSevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/4/2007 2:47:42 AM
+1 Boost
Wow wow hold your horses 001 with those insulting conclusions..

The 911 Turbo is a totally different animal than the GT3, therefore you must drive it different too. Believe it or not but the Turbo is actually the most intimidating car on the limit because its limit is so absurdly high.

As I stated before Car and Driver are not good track drivers, I've seen many videos and I wasn't impressed with the basic mistakes they made.

The 911 Turbo is still one of the worlds fastest cars AND you can use it every day. That's what makes it so good. But it is nowhere near heavy and clumsy... jeeezs who are C&D fooling here?


makkystylemakkystyle - 7/4/2007 3:58:25 AM
+2 Boost
Hmmm... could it be that the GT3 is designed to be a racecar and the Turbo is designed to be a powerful and beautiful street machine. There is a reason that they make both of these cars which to the average consumer are fairly indistinguishable: they are for different uses and markets. If you want to drive on the track, get a GT3, if you want it for the freeway get a Turbo.


AnthonyAnthony - 7/4/2007 5:09:50 AM
+2 Boost
I think most here, including the demographic of Car and Driver readers, are smart enough to understand the comments of the magazine in their context. GT3=Track, Turbo=everyday.


indoctrin8edindoctrin8ed - 7/4/2007 5:22:24 AM
+1 Boost
In this article, the GT3 is the next car down in price and it performed nearly as good. They also mention that the Carrera S is "So good" that the 911 turbo is likely next to be revamped.

I believe that Porsche will revamp the 911 turbo next.


pcar4evrpcar4evr - 7/4/2007 6:20:06 AM
+1 Boost
The 997 turbo has it all - looks, handling, power, braking, reliability, comfort - what's not to love. It happens to be a ferocious track car in the hands of someone who can actually drive.


pcar4evrpcar4evr - 7/4/2007 6:36:08 AM
+2 Boost
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Pq_mm9BHI

Jason Plato is a British racing champ who drives and reports for Top Gear.

BTW: Here's a quote from that Car and Driver article:

"There is some tail-happiness that hampers the car in places like the uphill esses of Sector Two. In the middle of that sequence, the Lotus tended to get loose, necessitating a lift of the throttle."

Lifting of the throttle in the turns? What does that tell you about the driver? LOL


SevorbeupstryIsBackSevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/4/2007 7:56:12 AM
+1 Boost
Basic mistakes.. just like I said.

By the way Plato works for 5th Gear, not Top Gear.


Agent63Agent63 - 7/4/2007 6:44:42 AM
+1 Boost
You guys make it seem like Porsche is not doing well. Their company has a lot of money. If they weren't doing good they wouldn't have much left. Their design may be so called 'old' but it's a timeless piece of engineering heritage. Their styling may not be as up to date or supercar like as the Ferrari's and Lamborghini's but Porsche 911 Turbo is a super car whether you like it or not. Just because it has a sedated style does not mean it's any less of a great sports car.

You guys are hating on the styling but functionality wise Porsche's are great.

I agree though the R8 is more up to date in terms of super cars. The LF-A looks like how a Japanese sports car should look like. Toyota desperately needs to push for Lexus to make this. It will give them a better image. The Japanese fans will love the LF-A(GT-R & Future NSX) and the Europeans will love the R8 and the rest of the models Europe has to offer. No need to argue about it. That's why I said a neutral statement.


Htay7500Htay7500 - 7/4/2007 7:50:20 AM
+1 Boost
its a true competitor for the GTR for sure.


lizthevwlizthevw - 7/4/2007 10:07:11 AM
+1 Boost
Porsche does not make this a secret. The Turbo is a street based GT, while the GT3 is a track tool. This is whats great about the 911 range, there is a 911 for everyone, just think of how many variants there are...

997, 997S, Targa's, Cabriolets, AWD or RWD, Turbo, GT3, soon to be GT2....


IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/4/2007 10:49:34 AM
-2 Boost
just a rebadged VW though?


I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 7/4/2007 10:26:06 AM
+1 Boost
My Previous Statement has been Validated

CAR & DRIVER ?

**********Those Fools Cannot Drive*******************


Audi4LifeAudi4Life - 7/4/2007 12:51:01 PM
+1 Boost
every car magazine review is always different some like a car others dont, it is like when u love a spesific car and then u see a stupid bad rating review from someone and u just want to go there and say a few nice words to the editors


yrralis1yrralis1 - 7/4/2007 2:54:19 PM
+2 Boost
Last week I traded in my four month old 997S
and upgraded to a Turbo . Comparing all
these vehicles in stock form with the GT3 : the GT3 is track ready and the 997tt is a luxury supercar . In fact many even opt to buy the car in Tiptronic .

They are very different . The GT3 with its normally aspirated engine, light weight,2 wheel drive ,limited slip differential has aseamless acceleration and a nimble road feel .

The 997 turbo is quiet yet throw it into third gear and it unleashes itself. In fact -- head to head it's numbers are quicker than the Gt3 in many categories.

HOWEVER -- make no mistake . Both the 997S and the 997 Turbo can be tuned and modified . PLUS they are COMFORTABLE as daily drivers .

My 997S had the F77 upgrade which included carbon fiber airbox, ECU recalibration, Tubi exhaust .

My 997 Turbo has even more modifications.In only two days service and bolt on parts --the car now has Carbon fiber intake, headers, ECU , larger intercoolers , and Tubi exhaust .

It hasn't been dyno tested yet but I am approximating 600HP easily trasforming this car into a luxury race car -- making it capable of sitting in traffic with the Bose system and a/c on as well as racing that GT3 on the track if desired .

Porsche couyld have easily factory produced a ten second car in the new Turbo but with warranty issues and the fact that handing the keys to a 10 second car to a doctor or CEO with no track experience for public road use may not be the best idea and I can only speculate that Porsche considered this.

Too bad Car and Driver didn't raise these points . Sometimes one can gain more insight from what isn't said than from what it .




IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/4/2007 9:54:37 PM
+1 Boost
my comment is higher up
still working out how to use the computer

the money is going fine by the way


IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/4/2007 9:55:15 PM
+1 Boost
are you sayint that Audi is just a rebaged Porsche then?


M316M316 - 7/4/2007 6:10:54 PM
+1 Boost
Great car! nough said


PorschinatorPorschinator - 7/5/2007 11:47:17 AM
+1 Boost
I'll wait for the GT2...best of both worlds!


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 7/5/2007 9:58:36 PM
+1 Boost
GT3 nimble road feel? I dont think so...

btw, I left Arsenal bc David Dein left and Arsene is shaky on whether to extend the contract or not. I still love arsenal though.


golfer38golfer38 - 7/6/2007 11:39:00 AM
+1 Boost
BTW, the Corvette Z06 beat the 911 turbo and the GT3 around the VIR. In fact its the first stock production car to break the 3 min. mark on the track. Opinions vary regarding Car and Driver, but you can't argue with track times.


ThierryHenry14ThierryHenry14 - 7/6/2007 11:17:51 PM
+1 Boost
Porsche... Corvette... Gee tough choice... (for idiots)

Of Course Porsche!


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