We were coming into a sharp left-hand turn on a narrow two-lane road, the Porsche 911’s flat-six-cylinder engine singing sweetly, when I noticed a little problem just ahead.
A mess of gravel and dirt was spewed on the blacktop, the kind of stuff that can slide a $90,000 sports car into the guardrail.
I turned in and eased on the brake, hoping for the best. But sure enough, the brilliantly engineered Porsche took over and saved the day. Aside from superb handling and balance, electronic systems such as Porsche Stability Management, antilock brakes, and variable-ratio power steering helped ease the rear-engine car through the messy turn with easy grace.
I was impressed. So was my passenger, once he opened his eyes again.
You gotta love this car. Now in its sixth generation, the Porsche 911 Carrera is perhaps the purest and most joyful form of performance sports car. With almost metaphysical agility and power, 911 remains a driver’s car of the highest order.
Porsche has kept the faith for more than 40 years with the rear-engine layout and signature styling, instantly recognizable despite evolutionary changes through the decades. Although no longer a simple, unembellished sports car with an air-cooled engine, the latest retains the raw excitement of the original, although at a premium price.
I drove the latest Carrera Cabriolet, a ragtop that adds open-air enjoyment to the mix, and it delivered on Porsche’s promise of excellent fun without compromise.
PERFORMANCE: The base Carrera has the least powerful engine of the 911 collection, but with 325 horsepower, there’s still a lot of kick for a car weighing just over 3,000 pounds. The 911 S ups the ante to 355 horses, and the Turbo model, well, that boosts it to a wild 480. The flat-six engine, with cylinders that lie on either side of the crankshaft, revs smoothly as it propels the 911 with muscular acceleration and solid response. The six-speed manual transmission shifts with easy precision. A Tiptronic automatic is available. The test car had a heavy feel to the clutch, though that could have been from thousands of miles of rough abuse by previous journalist drivers.
DRIVABILITY: This agile and responsive craft can fool you into thinking you’re some kind of Michael Schumacher Formula 1 driver. Twisty back roads become a playground, with the Porsche nosing in eagerly for every turn. Steering is wonderfully responsive, and the brakes are amazing.
STYLING: Though I prefer the style of the classic coupe, the convertible looks great and has the huge advantage of open-air motoring. Top up, the cabin feels slightly claustrophobic with poor visibility to the rear. Trunk space up front is surprisingly roomy, enough for actual luggage if you pack light.
INTERIOR: The simple, businesslike interior remains comfortable and accommodating, though the switches are fussy and small. The key remains in its traditional Porsche location on the left. The vestigial backseat is a signature feature of 911, too small for anything but a pampered pet Pekinese. The stiffly bolstered driver seat feels too narrow. Really, if they’re going to load up this pricey car with features, why not have back bolsters that adjust to the driver’s physique?
BOTTOM LINE: As always, Porsche 911 provides some of the best driving sensations on four wheels. The less-expensive, mid-engine Boxster roadster provides much of the same.
Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Vehicle type: Two-passenger, two-door convertible, rear-wheel drive. Engine: 3.6-liter flat six, 325 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, 273 pound-feet torque at 4,250 rpm. Transmission: Six-speed manual. Wheelbase: 92.5 inches. Overall length: 175.6 inches. Curb weight: 3,241 pounds. EPA rating: 18 city, 26 highway.
HIGHS: Awesome agility, powerful engine, signature styling. LOWS: Heavy clutch, poor rear view with top up, narrow seat backs.
Pricing
Base price: $81,400. Price as tested: $91,275.
OPTIONS
* Full leather interior, $3,365. * Navigation system, $2,070. * Bose audio upgrade, $1,390. * Bi-xenon headlights, $1,090. * Heated front seats, $480. * Wheels caps with crest, $185. * Floor mats $115. * Shipping, $795.
