Bacon Sandwich?????
Are you talking about the Governor?
Funny how you jokers know how to pick a fight when someone has their back turned!
There are so many tangents in this thread but I'm going to throw my cards on the table and make the following comments: -
I do not honestly believe there is a direct competitor in the market place to the Aero 8 (we've discussed the Weismann in the past; however, imho, until they are making RHD examples, it isn't really apples and apples).
If you want to talk price as the benchmark, then that isn't comparing cars, it is comparing what you are willing to spend and therefore opens all genres of cars up. This is what leads to strange tangents and makes it hard to have a discussion about features and benefits because it all comes down to personal taste.
Now, in defense of the 911…
As for it being too perfect, I think this is an interesting point. Firstly, the 997 is a vast improvement over the 996 - the 7 is a move back to driver involvement (especially with the optional LSD).
I have owned 2 996 (C4 and Turbo) and 3 997s (Turbo, C2S, Turbo) so I believe I can speak from experience. In simple terms, even taking aside the aesthetics (which are pure theft from the 993), the 997 is a step back to the best in class (the 993).
Now the point of the 911 being too perfect and thus being discounted as enjoyable to drive... I agree that they can be viewed as clinical - I myself have made this point - however, I would rather have a car that performs without fault (in all areas) and is reliable than one that doesn't perform well and is riddled with faults BUT claims to have soul. Furthermore, it is unfair to claim the Porsche doesn't have personality because it does; the problem is that it only shows itself at 9/10ths of what it can do (unless we’re talking GT3 or RS). Nevertheless, back to the perfection angle: -
I, for one, could never have owned a TVR. Some (many) owners (could) would wax lyrical about how they owned a real sports car and how it had personality. However, when you dug deeper this seemed, more often than not, to be the shield which they used to fend off doubts about how unreliable their cars were. If soul means unreliable, then I can do without it.
As for Ferrari - if you want to talk sanitized, this is a perfect case in point. Each time Ferrari bring out a new model it gets easier to drive, easier to push to the limit and easier to live with. I jumped out of the 997 Turbo and into the 430 and other than the exhaust note (and that the 430 felt slower (is slower
), it could have been the same car - zero drama.
The Gallardo is the same.
AND, now this is where we come back to the Aero 8.
Yes they aren't perfect and can need a few teething problems sorted; however, once done, they are bullet-proof. They perform, they have personality and guess what!, even drama.
And the biggest bonus - no stigma unlike Ferrari or Lambo (or a red Porsche!).
...that'll do for now!
