[epbrown]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Hopefully the 997 TT will be the last of the rear engine cars. Porsche needs to wake up and smell the competition.

This competition was all brought on by Ferdinand Piech who make the Audi R8 happen. Piech is also married to Ferry Porsche's daughter.....strange family ties in VAG.

Porsche has themselves to blame for being so far behind. The 928 was sabotaged by the family because they didn't like the idea of dropping the 911 (penned by a Porsche family member). Ernst Fuhrmann, left to his own devices, would have dropped the rear-engine platform in the 80s, and Porsche would have long ago adopted front-engined water-cooled cars with excellent balance.

The irony is that the 996, which saved the company's bacon in the 90s, is very similar to the 928 - it weighs about the same, is water-cooled, and more a luxury GT than raw-edged sports car.

But the 911 platform should be bowing out soon - Porsche has acknowledged that there's not much further they can take the flat-6.