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      07-11-2007, 06:58 PM   #41
lucid
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Drives: E30 M3; Expedition
Join Date: Apr 2007
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It is difficult to predict what will happen to the 911. The car does indeed keep on getting better and better despite the rear engine layout. While it is true that mid-engine cars like the R8 will threaten its performance, at least on paper, the 911 customers might not necessarily care too much about that kind of performance (let's face it, any car that does the ring for less than 8:30 probably feels the same from a performance perspective to your average wealthy sports car consumer who will redline the engine most likely by accident only). People buy 911s for many other reasons as well, and it remains to be seen if that is a generational issue, and if the generation which will mature in 10-20 years will be chasing after the same memories and images. (Most of us grew up playing with 911 toys and so on; the 911 brand has been established in our minds way before we were 10.) Regardless, Porsche seems to recognize this ambugity as one can say it is hedging its position by developing cars like the Cayman, which could clearly beat the 911 on lap times if equipped with a comparable engine. It also remains to be seen where the M3 will fit in, but its brand image is too closely associated with the other 3-series cars for it to be a real threat for the 911 just yet.
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