Porsche 911, can pigs fly?

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

No one else in the entire world makes a car the way Porsche does. There is 
no substitute they say. Well, that's certainly one way to look at it.

The Porsche 911 is living proof of the adage that you can't make a pig into 
a race horse, but with enough money (and time) you can make an awfully fast 
pig.

I've often said you can tell the character of a Porsche driver from the end 
of the car with the bent sheet metal. The rest of us mortals bail 
out  (sensibly) and spin the car bass ackwards into the guard rail. True 
Porschephiles drive straight off, bending the front end.

Only people who love Porsches like them even a tiny bit. Every one else 
thinks they are totally unsatisfactory cars and wouldn't dream of buying 
one. People who have never driven them think they must be great. They're 
not, they're bloody awful. They are rough as old boots with primitive 
steering, hard and unforgiving suspension, noisy engines and vague 
unresponsive shifters. The package consists of abominable weight 
distribution, terminal understeer occasionally punctuated by terrifying 
oversteer and noise levels well above acceptable. They are appallingly bad 
road cars which would make much better race cars if they were mid engined, 
(which Porsche race cars have been for many years) The mystique is strong, 
but really the cars are awful pieces of machinery.

The pre 80's 911 is an inferior car in most respects to any decently 
capable sports car. To drive one safely and quickly requires a very high 
level of driving skill as well as a good deal of luck. Compared to a 
Ferrari, or a Jaguar, or an Alfa, or a Lotus, the Porsche is just not a 
decent sports car. Think of it as a poorly designed race car for the street.

Then again, most German cars are poor street machines. What works well on a 
track usually proves to be very poor in the real world of street driving, 
especially in the wet or in snow. Drive an Alfa for 10 hours, then drive a 
Porsche for the same time and distance. I guarantee you will prefer the 
Alfa, unless you are one of those died in the wool Porsche nuts (pun intended).

Porsche couldn't win a Formula One race if they spent every nickel they 
own. They can't really build superior cars.
Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner

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