Alan, one of our PorschePerfect.com readers, sent me this image of a Porsche Carrera GT in a bit of a pickle. How much would this SUCK?!

Would love to know who took this one.

[Image: Barry H - Deerfield Beach, FL]

His name is Arjandeiro and he lives in Belgium. He said he loves cars and uses his bike to “chase” them down. He also added another video clip that is pretty cool. Sadly it’s likely how I would drive a Carrera GT if I owned one. Probably good I don’t have the means.

As it turns out, Arjandeiro has over 100 YouTube videos in his channel. All appear to be car related. You can see the channel here: Arjandeiro’s YouTube Channel.

Thanks for coming by Arjandeiro.

Normally I wouldn’t post a video like this. The camera work is way too shaky and there’s nothing overly cool about it. However, I swear, the dude is chasing this Porsche Carrera GT around town on foot! Listen to his breathing towards the end. Made me laugh.

Great sounding car though.

This is one stinkin cool video on the Porsche Carrera GT. Don’t be fooled by the RS opener. About 30 seconds into it, the Carrera GT portion takes over. I love this guy’s voice too. Perfectly cast for the video in my opinion.

It’s always funny to me what people with access to Photoshop, some cool pictures and too much time on their hands come up with. In this case, it’s what I’m calling the Porsche Carrera GT All Terrain Edition. What would be awesome is if we could talk some billionaire with too much money on his hands to build a few of these creations! I’m sure a few of us could free up enough time to get behind those projects.

Anyone have any idea what the caption says?

[Source: Finest.ru]

When the brand Porsche is the subject of conversation without the benefit of an image, I am betting it’s likely to most that the image of the classic 911 in all its forms one way or another comes to most enthusiast’s minds. It’s without argument the most recognized shape attached to Porsche and quite possibly the most recognized shape in auto history. It’s a safe bet virtually everyone knows the brand name upon sight.

With all that said, I truly have a deep affection for the 911 lineage, but it isn`t my favorite format associated with Porsche. I am not referring to style, rather to drive train configuration. At times I wonder how many feel the way I do or would dare say that with fear of accusations of blasphemy to the single most recognized car in the world.

For me its been the vehicles that Dr. Porsche created under the banner of his own namesake when he began that pull my attention just a bit more. Cars created with the infamous quote he made (not verbatim here mind you), “I couldn’t find a sports car I liked, so I built one.” And so he did, for himself as well as for others. That’s how Porsche really began as it’s own company and moved from being an engineering consultant.

The 356 and 550…these shapes hold high regards for me. It’s important to note, I am not disparaging the 911. It’s not preference of style. I think what really adds to my interest of these early cars is when the 356 inspiration rolled into the 550 and along with it, a mid-engine layout.

Photo from MyRide.com

I see mid engine as being the best appropriation for drive train configuration. This setup adds much improved handling and some of the most beautiful car shapes ever. Various manufacturers seem to follow the mid engine configuration. I wonder if this favored drive train configuration lends itself to beautifully styled cars or simply the law of attraction is at work here? And rhetorically, why is that?

That being said I move to modern era Porsches. I`ll define that as the last decade give or take a few years. When I look at that given era in Porsche history to this very day, I see three cars that really stir my interest. They are the Boxster, Cayman and the ultimate Porsche: Carrera GT. All  hold an interest of passion of varying degrees for me. They all hold a common design element: mid engine.

Offer me a choice between all three of these aforementioned cars and what kind of odds would anyone place that I would NOT take the keys to the 2004 to 2006 Carrera GT??!! From here on I’ll refer to it as the CGT since I consistently misspell Carrera! I have an obsession with the CGT. It shows lines all the way back to the 550. There really isn’t anything I can say about this car to anyone even remotely aware of it. Nothing that would enlighten anyone any further about its performance, engineering, sheer beauty and effect.

So I`ll skip the rave about the CGT and look at the other end of the Porsche catalog.

To me, referring to the Boxster as being at the other end of the Porsche catalog of modern era cars does not define how I feel about the car. I love the Boxster. I flat out think for all intents and purposes, it is one of Porsche’s best moves ever. It’s reference to being the entry level car sometimes incites me. The entry level moniker, should it need to be attached to a car, could maybe be uttered about the 986. However, the Boxster has come a long way with the 987.

I feel the Boxster gets slighted when its referred to as a car that is made simply for those who cannot afford a 911. I’m sure there’s some truth in that statement for those who define cars for status. It’s utter garbage for those like me who hate to see ill appreciation for excellent design lacking a larger price tag that no doubt can equate to its intent at a milder mannered roadster (translated: far less horsepower options).

It isn’t the style that wins me over when comparing a 911 to the Boxster, Cayman, or CGT. It’s the mid engine design that tilts the scale. Not only the mid engine, but also the design taken back to the start of Porsche history as a banner company does it.

Photo from MadWhips.com

As far as the Cayman goes, I like it, but it’s a Boxster with a tin hat. The Boxster gets that much more of an emphatic nod only because of the rag top option. Pretty easy to see at this point two cars hold my interest greatly in modern era Porsches:  The Boxster and the CGT. Each example being at the extreme end of the Porsche catalog in my aforementioned time era.

If it comes down to me having to write out the check, I could possibly afford a Boxster with some priority arrangement. That’s okay. I wouldn’t buy and drive a Boxster simply because I want to drive a Porsche and I like the car. The price tag on the CGT says I either better get cracking on some of my entrepreneurial ideas real quick and hope they score big, or the lottery numbers need to line up and get the same result without the sweat.

Seems to me Porsche has a gap here, but of course that’s my opinion. We all think we can make decisions to run a car company better than the folks who do. Armchair executives is what a lot of enthusiasts are. So I throw my question in and wonder why there is no mid engine car that bridges a gap between the so called entry level Boxster and the CGT? I think I might have some ideas as to why, but they equal the why nots.

What if Porsche could fill the gap with a mid engine car that has the heritage design of the 550 like the Boxster and CGT possess, only with more horsepower for those who crave some more go (okay, a lot more go) than the Boxster offers? Ideally, though, not enough horsepower that starts to require the CGT price tag for all the Carbon fiber and chassis tech that 600 plus horsepower loads generate. The project would be costly but far less than a CGT check, and then falls the garbage claim that one drives a Boxster due to the economic shortcoming of the owners wallet compared to that of a 911 owner.

Since Porsche has no such car, we go back to the words of Dr. Porsche himself (verbatim disclaimer included). Now referring about his own brand, “Build it myself.”

Wonder where I’m going with this? I came up with a solution to fill the Porsche gab. Tune in tomorrow for part 2 where I reveal the answer to the missing Porsche.

This post was submitted by Brad, our resident Boxster and Carrera GT advocate of sorts. Thanks Brad!

A little more coverage on the Carrear GT will certainly make a few of you happy. Course I’m not sure this is the kind of coverage you’re looking for. It’s yet another gold covered car. This time, a Porsche Carrear GT.

It was crafted by Gemballa and uses their Mirage GT kit, with a few upgrades of course. This raises the Gemballa Mirage GT to a new level with the gold accents on the exterior as well as interior. I’m sure we’re going to see a gold plated Carrera GT done up by of those people that craps out money.

I know I don’t understand what it’s like to be filthy rich, but I really don’t like it when people waste money putting gold on their cars (or other places gold shouldn’t be found like toilets). If you like the color, great, go for it, but don’t waste resources doing something stupid like that. Paint it gold, then send the money you would’ve spent to someplace that can use it. Course I guess that could be said of pretty much all of us in some way, shape or form.

It’s no secret how I feel about Gemballa. I love their creations and have for a number of years now. Known for never leaving well enough alone, Gemballa took on the Carrera GT a few years ago. Again, not one to leave well WELL enough alone, they decided to release a special edition called the Gemballa Mirage GT “Carbon Edition”.

With lots of exposed, yep you guessed it, carbon fiber accents, the black on white color scheme looks pretty amazing. And that’s coming from a guy who isn’t in love with white sports cars in general. Add in the black custom alloy wheels and I start to break out in a cold sweat.

Here are some highlights of the $426,000 STARTING price for this kit (and nope, that doesn’t include the Porsche Carrera GT):

• 670 hp with 465 lb-ft of torque
• 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds, 0 to 124 mph in 9.7 seconds (that equates to 0 to Going To Jail in about 6.8 seconds in most states)
• Top speed of 208 mph
• Hydraulic height-adjustable coilover kit to improve handling as well as protect the car when going over large bumps

You can’t argue with this being one of the hottest kits you can buy for the Carrera GT. Crazy that it costs more than a used Carrera GT goes for in today’s economy.

The big question for me is would you customize your Carrera GT? Isn’t the stock ride enough kick in the pants fun and sexy enough without needing to jack it up with lots of mods? I think I’d have a hard time changing the car significantly. Would kind of feel like you’re bastardizing what Porsche originally intended. Course IF you were going to do it, the Gemballa Mirage GT Carbon Edition would be a pretty dang enticing option.

[Via BestStuff.com]

Brad, yep the same guy who sends in all the Boxster and Carrera GT content, sent this video in. It’s a great follow up to the infamous Leno Spin video I had up a few weeks ago. Jay talks about the Carrera GT, some of the things he likes and “the spin”.

Click anywhere on the picture to see the video. The link will take you to another site. Sorry, no embed option.

UPDATE: Brad sent over an embeddable version of the video, so now you can watch it right in the post. Thanks Brad!

This video was sent in by Brad (thanks Brad!). It’s a review of the Porsche Carrera GT by Top Gear. These guys crack me up. Great video and the car sounds amazing.

After watching this video, I HAVE to find an opportunity to drive one of these cars.

One note from Brad about the video:

In the video I sent, Jeremy Clarkson suggests the CGT is a tough effort to control. But I communicate with a guy who owns a CGT and he says quite the opposite! …Like Jim Carrey says “like a glove” lol.