Its all silly
People usually focus on how much power the engine has. But its not about power its all about torque, and not only torque, but also, torque distribution as a second importand thing.
The third element is traction - AWD, and fourth the gearbox - new DCT transmissions give that constand torque delivery.

And thats all the magic. Peak Power its just a part of it.

Well, I just bought one, the S and it's far superior to the 997 Turbo and the 996 Turbo that I gave up for her! Drives as small as the 996 and doesn't feel like a house with rockets like the 997 and it's the best so far!
Sure, the 997 Turbo I had looked the best but it didn't have the carnal touch that they've finally gotten back in the 991! It's as real as the fantastic 996 Turbo and they're are no better! Love her!

@ Voice of reason: "If only, I mused, I could control the power my cars producing? Then I found this pedal on the right and have been happy ever since"
I can't argue with that, I actually sat for a minute trying to think of a response, I agree with you there, that pedal on the right, which I think is called the accelerator, or gas pedal has always made me happy. You're kind of strange, but then again, so am I. ;)

@shaggy
I mean it goes BOTH ways! It's a TWO way pedal! Genius! Now if I can just figure out why is really noisy when I go above thirty and stalls when I park.

@Shaggy
No I'm serious. I was driving my car the other day and I thought cars are too powerful and that's why Porsche downplay their power ratings. If only, I mused, there was some way I could control the power my cars producing? Then I found this pedal on the right and I've been happy ever since.

@ Voice of reason: "More power is always a bad thing every time I drive a performance car I think why doesn't it have less power." You're not running on all cylinders are you? Or are you being sarcastic?

@ddd
I agree more power is always a bad thing and every time I drive a performance car I think why doesn't it have less power. Also the different car models are just there so that drivers of different abilities can pick one that suits their driving abilities not so Porsche can market slightly different cars to customers with massively different budgets.

Hmmm i think that Porsche and Ferrari dont put to much power in their "normal" cars coze it is not needed since cars like 911 Turbo/S, 458 , F12 are already incredibly fast. To much power could make these cars worse.

@ddd: to be honest, I think Porsche 911 turbo S may have a lot more than 800 hp... And I suspect Porsche has cheated about real new turbo and turbo s power...

If i have to be honest i would like to see a Porsche and Ferrari with realy tremendous power...

For example 911 Turbo S with 680-700 hp , the successor of 458 with +- 800 hp and the F12 with 840-900 hp.

Then these cars would be realy on right level in comparison to hypercars.

BUT Ferrari and Porsche done take part in hp contest :). We must be happy with modest power of F12 Berlinetta and 911 Turbo S. We can do nothing.

I would add that cars like Ferrari 458, Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 in general are in worse situation than 911 Turbo/S , GTR, Mp4-12c...even if cars that are tested by big magazines are "better" than "normal" version it will not be a big diffrence since GT3 and 458 have n/a engines.

We have another situation when we talk about turbo engine cars...then even 60-80 hp boost is easy like nothing.

Ferrari with turbo engines would be insane when we talk about performance in straight but there is another side of that problem...

Ferrari's N/A engines are outstanding and despite moderate power and low torque Ferraris are damn fast and haver amazing sound and throttle reaction.

i was implying that the car he's talking about is stock while the press car is tuned to have better numbers (either around track or acceleration, depends on what ferrari sets it up to do) .

Lafars it's an old story and an old debate. people believe what they like, we live in democracy.
I give you some V-BOX customers datas to play with, much better that the very same stupid C. Harris's article.

@luque

i was implying that the car he's talking about is stock while the press car is tuned to have better numbers (either around track or acceleration, depends on what ferrari sets it up to do)

@ddd: I don't hate any car. I love all sportscars. I love Lambo, but I don't hate Ferrari. So, I find a bit childish to say "A friend of mine...", because this cannot be proved, and cannot represent a real element in this discussion. I don't think is really intelligent to bring some arguments in this discussion. A friend of mine, with his UFO...
To have a reliable acceleration value, you cannot base your argumentation on personal (your, or of your friend) sensations. It's necessary to have professional instruments.
This doesn't mean I hate Ferrari...

that is understandable as it is a car sold at a dealer, but the cars they are talking about are not sold to people, they're tuned for the review (the 458 is still good)

Oh yes really ?
Full of people conforming magazine 458 acceleration datas.
Here's one, with link to the forum where he posted VBOX graphs.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142035072-post41.html
100-200 Km/h 6,2s (Italian Quattrouote did 100-200 km/h in 6,4s)

@ddd and u are one of those typical ferrari fanboys.

@Ragging bull

You dont like Ferrari and in typical way use everything against it. 458 has very good opinion in tests (and much better from lucky owners) so u figure out a way to lower its value.

I dont need to prove anything to you...458 does not need a "protector" - it is one of the best car and nothing changes that.

It is not a problem to find a 458 user in a big city and chek the performance.

@Derb how much power has 458 now ? Do you know ?

"My rich friend has 458 and he does 0-200 in 9,5-11s depend on situation.
The best 0-200 - he has done is 9,44.
And it is 2011 car."

that is understandable as it is a car sold at a dealer, but the cars they are talking about are not sold to people, they're tuned for the review (the 458 is still good)

this is lampshaded in the top gear american special where ferrari said the F12 would not be ready in time (and because the SLS black wasn't out he chose the LFA)

not all ferraris are tuned, the enzo used in top gear was owned by nick mason which means the car is as if it came out of the dealer

@ddd: "Everyone can write everything...imo it is bulls*it." Ehm... it's just what you're doing, too!

@ddd

it's not a secret that the new italia has more hp than the old