Porsche 911 – but which one?
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Cars come and cars go, but the enduring, endearing Porsche 911 – arguably the most successful sports car of all time – is going stronger than ever.
Back in 1965 its 2-litre, air-cooled, flat-six-cylinder engine made 130bhp, and since then there have been just six distinct iterations of the 911 – one of the more significant being the switch from air- to liquid-cooling on the 996 model of 1997. But at the time of writing there are no less than fifteen different, road-going 911 (997 version) models to choose from, from the ‘basic’ 325hp Carrera coupe to the decadence of the four-wheel drive, 480hp Turbo Cabriolet. For those who reckon they can really handle a car (or wish to appear as though they can) there’s the lightweight, 415hp, 193mph GT3, or the even more serious and more expensive GT3 RS. Or, if you really want to push the boat out, there’s the new 530hp, 204mph, twin turbo GT2. I can’t recommend the best 911 for you, so instead I’ll tell you which I’d choose, personal financial considerations aside, and why. I’d pass on a turbo model as normally-aspirated 911s are plenty quick enough for me. I’d also pass on four-wheel drive as my time spent driving in snow is limited, and I’d avoid the GT models as they’re too hard-core (firm suspension, stripped-out interiors etc.) for day-to-day use. I’d want a hardtop, with ample power, so that effectively means the 355bhp, 182mph Carrera S, but with the optional, 380bhp Power Upgrade Kit. Perfect.