Tees Life Tees Life issue 3 | Page 23

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. 23