Originally Posted By Simon
Originally Posted By Graham, G4FUJ

I've scratched the Porker itch


Is that also known as a Pork Scratching?

The unfortunate criticism that gets levelled against 'modern' Porsches is that they are dull because they are too competent. I can understand this sentiment but don't necessarily agree with it. Part of the issue is that most are very highly specced and therefore feel very luxurious as well as competent; Evo magazine maintained that the best 911 was a C2, manual, standard spec with no options - a pure drivers car - and I understand exactly what they meant. The base 911 with a manual box is still a brilliant drivers car and all of them, even the 4WD, are capable of being very thrilling. Furthermore, one drive in a GT 911 (GT3, RS, GT2, GTS) will prove that if you take liberties, they are more than happy to slap you back into submission.

I love them and still believe there is no other 2+2 sports car that is as well rounded and competent as the 911.


I keep looking at Porsche and have had test drives in a number of both 911 and Boxter models. I wouldnt describe them as dull. I would simply describe them as too much.

I drove to my last test in my Elise R. I did the same test route in all three cars, the latest 911 and the latest Boxter S. I've no doubt that round a track the Porsche would be faster than my Lotus and the 911 in particular definitely felt like a true sports car whereas the Boxter somehow was too refined and lacking rawness. But neither were as engaging to drive as the Lotus. Or indeed a Morgan would have been

Puzzling about this on the way back home, I came to a similar conclusion to yourself. The Porsches werent engaging because they were too well specced, too big and complicated and finally because you couldnt use what they gave you on normal roads. For me, the fun in driving in the UK isnt maximum speed but driving swiftly and precisely down narrow winding roads. Thats why Toyota and Subaru brought out their latest sports car with narrow wheels and just 200 or so BHP. The Porkers were simply too big too fast and too competent for that.