MOTORING
Tees Life’s motor man Graham Courtney reviews the Porsche 911.
NEW ENGINE.
SAME BRILLIANCE.
T
he Porsche 911 has been around
since 1963 and it keeps on getting
better and better. Over those 54 years
or so, Porsche has continued to hone the
911. No wonder it’s now so good to drive and
live with.
Okay, there are some supercars that might
be quicker away from the traffic lights; some
may be faster on the autobahn, but if you
need a day-to-day serious sports car that will
knock your socks off but also paddle around
town or along country lanes, the Porsche 911
has to be the pick of the bunch.
You’d never expect to hear that a
Porsche 911 is actually a practical form of
transportation, but it is.
It’s also extremely forgiving to drive and
doesn’t feel as though you’re having to hold
it back. If you spend a fair amount of time
driving in town traffic, the 911 will be a
surprisingly handy tool to ride around in.
The latest Carrera 911 uses a typical
Porsche flat six engine, situated behind the
passenger compartment but it is a new 3.0
litre twin turbo unit. It continues to have the
sort of sound that no other car produces.
You get 365 bhp which converts to a 0-60
time of just over 4.5 seconds and a top speed
approaching 190mph. Go easily and you’ll
manage around 33-34 mpg.
Of course you can get Porsche 911s with
four-wheel drive, there are the 911 Turbo
flying machines, although actually all 911
engines are now turbocharged.
You can have convertibles, targa tops
and track-focused GT models, but you
can’t go wrong with the entry level, rear
wheel drive, 911 Carreras. They’re hugely
capable, extremely comfortable and have a
surprisingly supple ride.
There is adaptive suspension which means
you can stiffen things with SPORT mode,
although we wouldn’t bother because all it
does is ruin the ride. Save it for a race track.
Something
else we
wouldn’t
bother with is
the twin-clutch
auto gearbox. The
seven-speed manual
is terrific to flick around and play with. It
suits the car. Seventh gear is long-legged
for motorway cruising, but the manual box
mated to the new 3.0 litre twin turbo engine
makes the power incredibly flexible.
The interior is terrifically stylish. You
get all of the basics including a new sat nav
and infotainment system. The seats are
supportive and comfy. Oh, and you get two
seats in the back. Okay, they’re mainly for
kids, but it’s a useful luggage area which adds
to the one that is under the boot lid up front.
Price? £77,891. For the money, is the
Porsche 911 the best sports car out there?
Yes.
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