Porsche 997 Cabriolet

More often than not, the key to a vehicle can offer a brief example of what the car is like to drive.

When analysing the key to the new 997 cabriolet it reassured me in my hand. Its solid build coupled with pleasant ergonomics enticed me to head towards the car.

As I stared at it in the driveway it dismally did not look anything special. It was more of a classic to me; staying true to its pedigree of rear-engine engineering and round front headlamps.

Without further hesitation I unlocked the car sparking the front LED’s to ignite straight away telling me that this is no old-school 911. Upon opening the door the kick panels light up ‘Carrera” in a luminous glow – you begin to feel like you are entering the state-of-the-art engineering vehicle. Quite the opposite of my first impressions!

The layout inside is classic Porsche (thankfully). With the centrally mounted tacho it is supplemented with a high-tech sat nav system and tricky new PDK (doppelkuplung) gearbox. Foot on the brake, start and the boxer-6 explodes to a deep rumble as the engine hunts for oil – another classic Porsche sound I am familiar with.

On first drive you are greeted with a surprisingly softer feel than expected. Shuffling through the 7 gears the car smoothly propels you down the road with a light steering feel and soft ride. Doesn’t sound like a 911 does it?

As the car warms up the driver can monitor its progress through an oil temperature gauge. This is a nice addition to the Porsche dash. Once at operating temperature I begin to drive more aggressively; but after one corner find myself slowing down with great disappointment. What a diluted experience I thought! Never has a 911 had such inherent understeer before – now it seems as though it has been artificially dialled in to produce a more user friendly drive. I found myself having more fun just cruising with the car. The novelty of lowering and raising the roof at 50km/h is a great addition to the spirit of a cabriolet.

After staring at the car wondering where its racing pedigree had disappeared to I noticed the chronometer sitting on the dash. Although more of a wank factor than anything else it prompted me to look for the sport button. This is where all things changed.

With two modes: ‘sport’ and ‘sport plus’ the 911 suddenly awoke to the beat of what its ancestors used dance to – dynamics. Sport mode stiffens everything up and improves the overall drive of the vehicle. Gears change faster and steering responds quicker. This began to put the grin back on my face that former Porsches used to have planted permanently. Sport plus further emphasising this with gear-changes now bringing on mild cases of whiplash!

This really shows the engineering feats of the new model. With direct injection giving the engine a new tone, the 3.6 litre has developed into a fantastic power plant complimented by a world class gearbox. Whilst the car seems to have lost the raw edge of its older brothers, it has become a very usable machine indeed. For once I could consider having a Porsche as a daily driver because it is just so user friendly!

But I wasn’t sold on the car... In fact I was disappointed.

Although it has developed magnificently it can awe its passengers with its engineering and capabilities. But once you get to really know this car it seems... shallow. Like going to dinner with a really pretty girl and discovering by desert that she is boring as bat shit.

Yes on face value it impresses. But what is a car really without some quirks and character?

For those who want just one car that can do it all – this car is for you. It is a convertible, reasonably comfortable, luxurious, good looks, sporty and practical.
But for those who don’t want a compromise and who love the 911, save yourself the coin and buy a classic; one where the rear heavy tail did bite back at you and put a nervous grin on your face. With the spare change left over buy yourself a separate daily drive.

Porsche has diluted its heritage by prostituting itself to the demand of its market. Cup holders and steering wheel heating has taken the passion out of the ‘sports car’. Models like the Cayenne, Cayman and Boxter are all great but were developed with profits in mind – not passion. Take the new Cayenne diesel engine – Who would have thought that Porsche would develop a diesel!

Yes I am the type that believes that there is only one real Porsche – and that is the 911. But as Porsche has diluted itself to the market, so has the 911. The question remains that in this world of controls and regulations; where do we go from here? Will the 911 ever regain the same raw edge of its predecessors?

The future looks dismal...

Alfa 159

Walking up to the intriguing beauty of the Alfa your pre-conceived perceptions are shattered.

Immediately the car lures you into its world of elegance. From the inviting chrome grill at the front and the matching door handles, the lines of the 159 are kin to an Italian glamour.

Unlock on the key pad and the indicators beckon you with a wink. Upon entry into the 4 – door sedan you are welcomed with a driver-focussed dash. To your left the three gauges read in Italian showing that this car has stayed true to its pedigree. Insert the key and the Alpha’s soul ignites with the push of a button.

After driving off the manual combination doesn’t seem all that bad. The smooth and soft clutch allows for smooth changes and progressive take off. The notchy gear feel is soon forgotten as you anxiously wait for the oil temperature gauge to reach operating temperature.

After cruising down the road somewhat you notice the angled tacho’s this car has inherited from its Ferrari relative. It’s as if the car was telling you that I want to be driven in between these revs and these speeds... Comprende?

The steering wheel offers a firm and sporty grip with only a slight twitch to receive feedback from the road. The mixture of polished aluminium and leather sets the tone of what the drive is going to be like.

As you cycle through the gears and bump up the revs, the heavy flywheel becomes evident. The revs linger as opposed to dropping which aids in the cars effortless drive. Another gear or two further down the chain and the car comes to life. Suddenly the sleeping beauty is awakened with the ferocious Italian engine revving to its 7000rpm redline. The sound is enticing and the steering reassuring and before I get carried away I notice I have two people sitting comfortably in the rear of this sedan.

After hopping out and looking at the car, its mesmerising curves make you forget about its problems. Yes its underpowered, yes the driving position is compromised and yes the cheap east-west engine layout is jerky but... I don’t care. You learn to see past the initial annoyances of the Alfa and delve deeper into its soul. The disappointment of a small boot immediately disappears when you shut the trunk, take a step back and admire the twin exhausts out the rear. The car is alive in whatever situation. Just like that friend that is ready for fun at whatever hour of the night.

I never quite understood people’s fascination with what was formerly a poorly built cheap mans Ferrari. But after today I know that whenever I see a person behind the wheel of an Alfa, I will know that the driver values dynamics ahead of function. They too were seduced by the enticing feel of the Alfa Romeo.