996C2 to NSX?

[havoc]

There is no doubt that the accountants had a say in the 996 design development and the result was the worst model of the entire 911 series. This is not just the well documented RMS issues but also down to quality of interior fittings, seats,switches etc..all the tactile elements that are the things which lift a car out of the ordinary.

PLEASE stop blaming accountants. We measure and report, we don't make decisions.

The real people to blame are Board Directors and Shareholders, both of whom want to make as much out of the company as possible. Less directly, it's marketeers and customers, who both put things like engineering integrity (and often ergonomics) right at the bottom of the list. We accountants don't have any say, we just get asked to report on what different options will cost. Directors then decide the car can't cost that much, as otherwise the company won't make any money and the Shareholders will replace the Directors with different ones.


Porsche and Honda are both victims of this in recent times - both were renowned for the utmost engineering purity and detail but weren't the most profitable. Cue leadership by engineers falling away and leadership by salesmen/businessmen coming to the fore, and cue a deterioration in the substance of the product in favour of the style of the product...



Edit: Nick, interesting you prefer the Boxster. Sat in (note: not drove) the Boxster Spider and 997 C2 at PH SS yesterday, and the 997 had the better driving position, better visibility and felt the better product...I'm assuming that on the road the balance of the Boxster really does shine through?