Drooling Orgasm Dept. - Porsche 918 Unveiled

[dales]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/0 ... ction-918/



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Meet the car that people are identifying as the production version of the 918 Spyder. It’s gorgeous, really, and it has a lot of nice shout-outs to the incomparable 904 in its styling and proportions.
 
This video, which may not stay up for all we know, purports to show this production 918, interspersed with images of the concept car. While the price of the 918 is ridiculous, the hybrid powertrain is of dubious value, and the marketing verges on the positively Ipecacian, the car itself is a thing of beauty. Now all Porsche needs to do is scale it down a bit, put a turbo four in it, sell it for $39,995, and all will be forgiven. 

[Gob]

[dales]

We'd best be careful, Gob.

dgs49 will bellow forth with exclaimations of: "outdated engineering" - "poor handling" - "unrefined powerplant" - "ugly styling" - etc.

[Gob]

Which will be treated with the utmost respect which I give the rest of his views....

[dales]

Indeed.

[Jarlaxle]

Ye gods, that thing is hideous. Looks like the result of a Lotus fucking a Boxster at Fukushima.

[dales]

Sez you.

[loCAtek]

It could never make it, over a speed bump

[dales]

Well, that settles it!

[Lord Jim]

Separated at birth?

[dales]

Jim, Jim, Jim....

The cars in question are not even the same COLOUR!

[loCAtek]

[dales]

Anyone remember these?

1963 Chrysler Turbine-Powered Car



The Powerplant

[PMS Princess]

Haven't seen those other than magazines! Didn't it have problems with acceleration? Gotta' love the classics and muscle cars. I always loved 1968 Camaro.

Here's some of the cars have or previously owned.

'48 Chevy Dad owned since high school

1952 Chevy Panel Truck1.jpg (51.43 KiB) Viewed 1469 times

1952 Chevy Panel Truck

1962 Rambler1.jpg (56.41 KiB) Viewed 1469 times

My brother's 1962 Rambler Cross Country Wagon (he also has 63 Dodge Power Wagon Delivery, 1940 Panel Truck, 1938 Chevy Business Coupe, and another 1964 Rambler Ambassador.

[dales]

WOW!

I just love those cars.

[dgs49]

To address the sarcasm directed at me above, I might point out that (1) this car does NOT have a "boxer" engine (V8), (2) it is NOT rear-engined (mid-engine), and (3) it is NOT air-cooled.

Apparently the whiz kids at Porsche AGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT that the traditional 911 was a seriously flawed design, which is why they jettisoned its major features, to produce a state-of-the-art design.

[dales]

Apparently the whiz kids at Porsche AGREE WITH MY ASSESSMENT that the traditional 911 was a seriously flawed design, which is why they jettisoned its major features, to produce a state-of-the-art design.

Why not whore hire yourself out as an "automotive engineering consultant" and bestow your vast knowledge upon those dunderheads in Stutgart?

For a car that was "seriously flawed" ............ that's why it keeps on winning races at tracks around the world some 50 years after its inception.

[dgs49]

The facts speak for themselves. Any car with 60% of its weight on the back wheels is seriously dangerous in the hands of anyone but the best of drivers, and REQUIRES a sophisticated, computerized traction management system to keep from flying off into the bushes with uncontrollable oversteer in serious turns.

If the design wasn't obsolete it would be copied, Shit, even the Japanese don't want any part of it.

The 911 has a lot in common with the Electra-Glide. They are both grossly obsolete machines for which stupid people pay a premium.

[dales]

I drove the snot out of an old 356A for years.

I never got into any trouble, when I could feel the car about to break away - - - - I actually pressed on the accelerator in a tight corner or gradually eased off the accelerator on a sweeper. Did not hit the brakes in any event, that will more than likely throw the basturd into a spin.

It's called "oversteer" some can deal with it, others can't.

Again, look at the 901 victories at the track for the past 50 years.

I would assume that the 901 series with their revised suspension settings were not as "dangerous" to drive fast for the ham-fisted and uncoordinated.

If people are unable to deal with "trailing throttle oversteer" they should drive what your putter along in, dave.

Right?



eta: Did you get your clock cleaned by some old doofus driving a clapped out H-D or a long-on-the-tooth 911?

TooFunny!

[dgs49]

Your points are irrelevant to whether the 911 is a modern, viable design. Clearly it is not, or SOMEONE would be doing something similar. Even Porsche knows that it is shit, and the only reason they keep selling it is the stupidity of the buying public. Just like H-D.

On the personal side, I have often ridden Harley's on vacation (usually the only bike that is available for rental), and each time it confirms my assessment that they are over-priced junk. On my current ride, an '06 Vulcan 2000, I have to suffer along with more power, a smoother ride, better handling, better fuel economy, and Japanese reliability. But I just deal with it.

I paid $14000 for my -06 350Z roadster, which any fool can drive fast, looks better than a 911, and will go 200,000 miles (after I'm long dead) without any significant repairs or maintenance. Only a complete, self-absorbed fool would buy a new 911.