Tag Archives: Porsche

Opinions

Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57

1 Comment
Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway
Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway

Fuel economy isn’t usually a concern for supercars, but Porsche’s new 918 Spyder will supposedly show a Prius what’s what. Back when Porsche first released the 918 Spyder concept, they claimed it would be able to do 78mpg — the world laughed at the idea. Well now, with the production car finally released at the Frankfurt Motor Show , they are holding fast to that claim, so one must presume they have done a few tests that confirm it is possible.

The 918 Spyder can also produce 887hp, but certainly not at the same time it is doing 78mpg. Yes, the choice will be yours from the driver’s seat. While I’m sure that few will actually bother trying to best a Prius in MPG with that sort of power on tap, it is nice to know you can if you want to. The 918 Spyder allows you to have your cake and eat it too, and that is not something true of most similar such cars.

Continue reading Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57 →

Car Shows

2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Paddock Highlights

Leave a comment
Porsche 962
Porsche 962

During the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the paddock of Laguna Seca is always full of interesting and legendary things. 2013 was no exception, with drool worthy race cars everywhere you looked. In particular there were numerous Porsche 962s, monster Group Group C racing cars for those unfamiliar with them. It is always difficult to focus your attention while down in the paddock because everywhere you look there is something awesome to see. I will let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.

Continue reading 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Paddock Highlights →

Car Shows

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2013

1 Comment
Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus
Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus

The Quail is probably the most exclusive show during Monterey Car Week. The best cars are always in attendance, many of which don’t even show up at Pebble Beach — despite Pebble Beach being the far more prestigious event. There is some political BS surrounding the event that I could address, but frankly, I only care about the cars.

Put simply, the Quail is absolutely the show to go to on the Friday of Monterey Car Week, provided you can get in. Every event on the Monterey Peninsula is worth checking out, but the comparative quality of the automotive crop at this event is staggering, even with the high standards of the other events. We got there a bit late because of prior engagements that day, but I we still managed to see most of the event. I’m going to just let the pictures do the talking from here. Enjoy.

Continue reading The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2013 →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Evo Magazine: Analogue Supercars

3 Comments

This may well be the most incredible test Evo Magazine has ever put together. With the onset of modern supercars, and the digital age, they wanted to take a look at some of the best old-school “pure” supercars. McLaren F1, Pagani Zonda F, Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F40, Ferrari F50, Noble M600, and Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670 SV, oh yes, prepare yourself for some epic.

Car Shows

2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 2

Leave a comment
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

After day two, I am convinced that 2013 has to be the best New Hope Auto Show I have ever attended. The first day had many fantastic American cars, and the second day had a barrage of phenomenal  foreign cars. The field ranged from modern exotics to classics, and I was thrilled with the sheer variety of cars; not just a bunch of the same types of Ferraris lined up.

Highlights included some truly breathtaking pre-war Rolls Royces, a variety of special Porsches, and one of the prettiest Mercedes 300 SLs I have ever laid eyes on. There is much more, including a few cars not often seen in the US, so check out the gallery (below) to see. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading 2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 2 →

Car Shows

PCA Meet in Mendham, NJ

2 Comments

Porsches 911 964 Turbo and 993 Turbo

Recently we attended a Porsche Club of America meet in Mendham, NJ. It was a nice evening and some fantastic cars showed up. I was able to take my dad’s 996 Carrera, and I had a nice drive up with some family friends in their bright blue 914. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading PCA Meet in Mendham, NJ →

Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars, Luxury Cars, Road Review, Used Car Gems

Road Review: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera (9.5/10)

8 Comments
1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 996
Photo by Dan Valanzola

The essence of the Porsche 911 hasn’t changed all that much over the years, and when something does change it usually stirs up controversy. The car you see here is my Dad’s 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera (996 generation), and it marks one of the most drastic inflection points in the 911’s history: the switch from air-cooling to water-cooling. Here in 2013, early 996s haven’t had the most love from collectors, and their value has fallen far more than most 911s. That said this is still a Porsche, and Porsche doesn’t make bad cars. I have driven many Porsches, ranging from a Cayenne V6 to the mighty 997 Turbo S. All of them have been extremely entertaining within their own context, and my dad’s car is far from an exception.

Continue reading Road Review: 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera (9.5/10) →

Car Shows

CF Charities Supercar Show: Porsche, Rossion and Mclaren

Leave a comment

Porsche Carrera GT and Rossion Q1

We attended the CF Charities Supercar Show in Warminster, PA last weekend. There were some really nice cars there, but the grand entrance made by a Porsche Carrera GT accompanied by a Rossion Q1 was a moment that stuck out. I’m told both cars are owned by the same person… must be wonderful. There was also an artist at the show who was doing paintings of cars for owners who had donated money at a benefit held the night before. While I was there he was doing a nice job with a Mclaren MP4-12C. Great event. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading CF Charities Supercar Show: Porsche, Rossion and Mclaren →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris drives the new Porsche 991 GT3

3 Comments

It seems Drive has gotten a world exclusive on the car everyone wants to know about, the new Porche 991 GT3. Enjoy.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS (9/10)

4 Comments

2013 Porsche Panamera GTS

The snarl of a V8 echoes as the trees around you turn into a grey blur. You enter an oncoming corner at a pace that would be questionable on an interstate highway, with a crackle erupting from the exhausts as you downshift. The car holds firmly through the bend, then it’s back back on the gas hard as you seem to explode onto the next straightaway. This is surely the experience of a dedicated sports car. Except this isn’t one. In fact, I am describing what its like to thrash Porsche’s 5 door sedan, the Panamera.

Specifically I am talking about the 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS, the highest naturally aspirated Panamera model they offer. Its performance is only second to the mighty Panamera Turbo models, but the GTS aims to offer a more pure driving experience.

Many people think the Panamera is a sign that Porsche is going soft, catering to the masses for sales numbers alone. While I do admit that is surely going on to some degree, most skeptics are basing their sentiments solely on the number of doors the car has. In reality it is the driving experience that makes a Porsche, and just because they are selling cars with a wider appeal now does not necessarily mean that what they are selling is compromised. That was my biggest question going into this drive, is the Panamera a genuine Porsche? If there were any model that could pull it off, I think this GTS would certainly be it.  Continue reading Test Driven: 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS (9/10) →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: 2014 Porsche 991 Carrera 4S Cabriolet (9.5/10)

3 Comments

2014 Porsche 991 Carrera 4S Cabriolet

Porsche enthusiasts are some of the most dreadfully conservative people you’ll find when it comes to their favorite cars. Any change to the 911, large or small, gets heavily scrutinized to the n’th degree. All too often, they let their nit picking blind them, and they often wind up missing all of the new 911’s great aspects. The evolution of new models is a necessary fact of life, and it usually makes the car better overall, otherwise Porsche wouldn’t do it. The new 911, the 991, has followed this same trend, being criticized every which way against older Porsche models. I chose a more positive approach. Not, “how is the 991 worse than its predecessors?”, but  “how does the 991 faire as a modern 911?”

Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Porsche 991 Carrera 4S Cabriolet (9.5/10) →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Chris Harris gets his hands on the Porsche 918

2 Comments

Drive’s Chris Harris tests the Porsche 918 on the track in its final stages of development. He also brings up some good points about technology, and what it means for a hypercar.

-Nick