tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:04:02 +0000The Cars. The Journeys. The Drivers. The Dreams.http://www.porscheophile.com/rick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)Blogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-6158776271402168244Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:43:00 +00002009-09-05T22:28:03.748-04:00I have been pretty skeptical of the VW merger with Porsche, but recent rumors have been positive. I am pleased that VW management is rumored to be planning to terminate the Cayenne and Panamera programs. After all, Porsche is a sports car company, and SUVs and four door sedans-- however profitable-- don't really fit that image. I am also hopeful that the new company follows through on its http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/0XmWnqZXKeM/promising-rumors.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)2http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/09/promising-rumors.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-3278774311742054839Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:05:00 +00002009-08-24T09:06:38.677-04:00Here's a chance for any true Porsche lover to put their money where their mouse is.This is the Motormouse, a bluetooth connected computer mouse created by a British company and shaped like a 911.It features a USB interface and three mouse speeds. You open the engine compartment to change the two AAA batteries.This device is available in several colors and will run you $44.95. Click here for more http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/vlmae1fJq8c/meet-motormouse.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/08/meet-motormouse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-7935605638094142512Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:48:00 +00002009-08-21T08:48:55.505-04:00Prepare yourself for the latest 911-- the 2010 GT3 RS which will debut soon at the Frankfurt auto show. Its normally aspirated engine will generate 450 horsepower which kicks it up about 15 horses from its predecessor. Unfortunately for those of us who enjoy the muted muscle of the typical Porsche, this one appears to have been designed by a kid who was doodling it in the margins of his http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/QJyZP5hQj1U/fast-it-is-subtle-it-isnt.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)2http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/08/fast-it-is-subtle-it-isnt.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-3756371240646654322Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:17:00 +00002009-08-13T20:45:37.385-04:00A few weeks ago, I posted an item about a Shooting Brake version of the Porsche Cayman supposedly spotted on the road by the staff of the U.S. version of Top Gear. In my item, I said I really detested the car and hoped it was a fake.Well, it turns out it is a fake, according to this posting on a New York Times blog.There is justice in the world after all.Now if only the stories about Porsche http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/0JcXgjzEcdU/thank-god-it-was-hoax.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/08/thank-god-it-was-hoax.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-6998704902745760887Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:40:00 +00002009-08-13T21:05:53.204-04:00Here's a new long commercial for the 911 Turbo which features a litany of improvements recited by that man with the pretentious voice Porsche has been using for decades. Maybe that voice tests well in focus groups of likely buyers, but to me, it implies Porsche is the car for people who think way too highly of themselves. Now that there's an impending change in Porsche ownership, maybe there http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/S5Gm_VWwEMc/new-911-turbo-history-ad.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)3http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/08/new-911-turbo-history-ad.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-5828472280100838888Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:00:00 +00002009-07-24T10:00:01.641-04:00As the leaders of Porsche resign and it becomes ever more clear that Porsche is about to become merely another brand in the Volkswagen stable, a majority of those responding to our latest poll reported they are worried about the future of the brand. Worriers made up 58 percent of respondents while non-worriers were 42 percent. Nobody answered they didn't know. I too am worried as well as http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/Zeo1U7OcoqM/youre-worried-too.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)1http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/youre-worried-too.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-7856836938367047952Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:11:00 +00002009-07-17T17:11:43.971-04:00For the fifth straight year, Porsche was rated the most appealing automotive brand among consumers in the United States, according to J.D. Power and Associates. This follows a top five placement for Porsche  in the latest J.D. Power initial quality survey. To read more, click here.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/1xH54xG0TiM/porsche-remains-most-appealing-brand.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)1http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/porsche-remains-most-appealing-brand.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-2212339902035476490Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:44:00 +00002009-07-16T09:44:25.660-04:00I created this blog because Porsche has inspired me. The vision of Ferry Porsche inspired me. The racing history has inspired me. The cars have inspired me. The brand has inspired me. But now... I hate to admit it, but Porsche's money woes, its idiotic play for control of VW and now the ugly family infighting and the squabble between Porsche and VW have tarnished the Porsche brand. It makes it http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/9w-S6URyda0/new-poll-whither-porsche.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)1http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/new-poll-whither-porsche.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-9151448608197630167Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:46:00 +00002009-07-13T20:48:20.945-04:00I love the hokey challenges that the hosts of Top Gear accept.In this case, they decide to mail a letter from the southwest tip of Britain to an address on the far north of the nation, and they race the letter in a Panamera S.Who wins? You'll have to watch these two YouTube videos to find out.And as usual, the journey reveals more of the ideosyncracies that endear us to these great British http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/Wr0VPwnX_UQ/panamera-vs-postal-service.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)1http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/panamera-vs-postal-service.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1032380403426645818Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:31:00 +00002009-07-12T07:31:45.719-04:00The people at European Car have an interesting project going on. They are swapping the 3.4 liter engine from a brand new Cayman S for a 3.8 liter engine from a 911 Carrera.That will yield an increase of more than 80 horsepower.The Cayman, of course, is one of the best balanced cars on the road. One question has to be whether the infusion of that bigger engine with so much additional horsepower http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/C-FHnkdjnBA/cayman-s-engine-transplant.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/cayman-s-engine-transplant.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-481937659014755289Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:27:00 +00002009-07-10T12:27:32.917-04:00Thanks to my good friend Bob for finding this.... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/-KW2ZFMzLJM/amish-is-as-good-as-smile.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/amish-is-as-good-as-smile.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1794312622665000002Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:36:00 +00002009-07-09T09:36:18.801-04:00This thing showed up on the American Top Gear site yesterday. I hope this is nothing more than a one off custom job by a loony owner. We all love hot hatchbacks, but what would be the point of a Shooting Brake version of the Cayman? This is the kind of compromise that will further dilute the Porsche brand. What's next? A Boxster with a back seat? Here's a tip. If you must transport sheets of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/RLh8R8dkfBU/please-let-this-be-hoax.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)4http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/please-let-this-be-hoax.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-5759992539430977537Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:37:00 +00002009-07-08T08:38:16.857-04:00Imagine a technology that gives your 911 more power at the top end, more torque at the low end while increasing fuel economy and running smoothness and lowering emissions.You have just imagined VarioCam Plus.Here's the way Porsche describes it:"The variation in intake timing is steplessly controlled by means of an electro-hydraulic rotary vane adjuster at the head of the corresponding camshaft."http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/sa3DZHgcWaI/more-wham-less-slam-with-variocam.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/more-wham-less-slam-with-variocam.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-2618679504749484908Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:03:00 +00002009-07-07T14:36:37.961-04:00The narration at the beginning of this video isn't in English. But don't let that stop you from watching this wonderful collection of clips of Porsche history. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/MZqfzpXt74U/great-historical-montage.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/great-historical-montage.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-4701976805045136938Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:41:00 +00002009-07-04T13:41:52.306-04:00The other evening I was getting ice cream at a roadside stand in Canada. A truck pulled into the lot and a man got out along with several young children. One of the kids asked, "What kind of car is this?" "It's a Porsche Boxster," I answered. Oh," the man said. "I thought it was a Ferrari. We don't get many cars like this one here." I thought about his remarks and was reminded of a comment I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/nRSCpYfBPHw/porsche-versus-ferrari-styling.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/porsche-versus-ferrari-styling.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1071013461562489693Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:55:00 +00002009-07-03T09:55:52.683-04:00I came out of our cottage to find these lovely raindrop patterns on my Boxster. How many ways can one man love a Porsche?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/eu0xJEElJ9M/raindrops-on-boxster.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/raindrops-on-boxster.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1882851645054183927Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:36:00 +00002009-07-01T07:42:26.223-04:00Here are two reviews of the new Panamera-- both in "The Times"-- that come to opposite conclusions:The Irish Times has just published a review saying the new Porsche four door sedan "leaves us cold."The Los Angeles Times review concludes the car has a "lake of fire" under the hood.So who's right? Is the Panamera all about fire or ice?Read both reviews and judge for yourself.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/kOsgR9EOC18/times-they-are-conflictin.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/07/times-they-are-conflictin.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-8910016790999861954Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:30:00 +00002009-07-01T07:34:18.448-04:00Here's a really cool experimental Porsche commercial which features morphing black and white night scenes. If only it didn't include images of the Cayenne it would be perfect. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/FVpMacQwFO4/heres-really-cool-porsche-commercial.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/heres-really-cool-porsche-commercial.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1947835326087625492Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:51:00 +00002009-06-28T20:53:50.369-04:00Porsche accuses Volkswagen and Lower Saxony of extortion according to Reuters. Somehow, VW is holding a financial gun to the head of Porsche which owns 51 percent of VW. How is that possible?I do understand that Porsche is burdened by debt. I don't understand why Porsche couldn't get itself out of this mess by selling a good chunk of the 51 percent it owns in VW. Wouldn't that help Porsche http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/peEgLAG1M1U/few-things-i-dont-understand.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)2http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/few-things-i-dont-understand.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-1989561124374516760Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:27:00 +00002009-06-27T22:56:25.441-04:00Think you can't cut it as the owner of a 911? Think again. For just $9.95, you can buy "Cut & Assemble Classic Sports Cars" which features not only a full color 911 but seven other cars. Here's a publisher's description: "Recreate authentic models of such classics as a 1965 Mustang, 1956 T-Bird, 1964 MGB and 1963 Corvette—many complete with attachable grilles, hubcaps, hand brakes, dashboards,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/x2D_MG2t2U8/cut-and-assemble-your-new-911.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/cut-and-assemble-your-new-911.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-71203435178585976Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:32:00 +00002009-06-27T13:10:25.698-04:00Need to drink in more of the Porsche experience? How about this new set of indiuvidually numbered Porsche espresso cups with matching saucers? Created by Porsche Design, these four cups commemorate: the 909 ‘Bergspyder’ (1968) the 908/03 Spyder (1970) the 917 Coupe ‘short-tail’ (1970) 917 Coupe ‘long-tail’ (1971) Dishwasher safe and delivered in a special gift package, this set can be yourshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/aHrNIpo68W8/their-cups-can-cometh-over.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/their-cups-can-cometh-over.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-3550429974262893916Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:40:00 +00002009-06-24T22:40:47.826-04:00Autocar, the British car magazine, has created this video review of the Panamera Turbo, the first video review of the car I have found. The reviewer seems to love the dynamics and handling of the car as well as its exotic features, like launch control. What he questions is whether people will opt instead for M5 BMWs and save thousands of dollars. Check it out: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/VMwGEaX5ihs/very-impressive-piece-of-kit.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/very-impressive-piece-of-kit.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-6352571863535119144Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:22:00 +00002009-06-23T08:22:15.030-04:00If this You Tube video doesn't make you want to pack your bags for Stuttgart to visit the new Porsche Museum, you should check your pulse to see if you have one. Wow.... http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/HnNzGAWRUVw/917-display-at-museum.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)2http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/917-display-at-museum.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-8403464304114004273Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:49:00 +00002009-06-22T11:50:23.627-04:00Again you have spoken in our poll asking which Porsche model you love most.And 61 percent of you said the 911 is your favorite. Who can argue with this? The 911 has the deepest roots in the Porsche legend, it has a remarkable legacy of achievement as a race car and a road car, and it is the one car that says "Porsche" more loudly than any other.The Cayman got 25 percent of the vote and the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/K8vjNDJoDow/why-nine-one-one-won.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)0http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/why-nine-one-one-won.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333310238511390913.post-9078626393073822321Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:19:00 +00002009-06-20T13:22:56.068-04:00The news about Porsche keeps getting worse:Porsche sales worldwide have fallen 15 percent in the past nine months.Porsche's efforts to but VW have stalled at 51 percent, and the company is deeply in debt. Qatar is about to buy a good chunk of the company. There are rumors that Daimler wants a stake.And now there's word of a serious rift between the Porsche grandsons. It's getting harder all the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/porscheophile/box/~3/DujRaaxGReo/nightmares-for-dream-brand.htmlrick1753@gmail.com (Rick Ratliff)4http://www.porscheophile.com/2009/06/nightmares-for-dream-brand.html