Porsche 911
Ratings
5 stars
Summary
Highly recommended. The latest version of Porsche's rear-engined sportscar is better to drive than ever.
Review
The Porsche 911 remains one of the great automotive anachronisms: a sportscar with its engine in the wrong place. Yet over the decades, and throughout successive generations, engineers have managed to tame the inherent instability brought on by the rear-mounted engine, creating one of the greatest driver's cars on the market.
The current "997" generation keeps up the evolutionary styling theme of its predecessors, with spectators being left in no doubt about the car's lineage. Details like the circular headlamps and particularly finely hewn rear flanks work well, and give even the standard 911 a real air of class.
The cabin is well finished and features far higher quality materials than the slightly plasticky interior of the previous generation. Accommodation is still tight, although the 911 can take two large adults in comfort. The rear seats are barely worthy of the description, though - and getting luggage in and out of the front boot remains a slightly awkward process.
But niggles about practicality soon fade once on the move: this 911 drives better than any of its predecessors. The perfectly weighted steering gives brilliant feel, grip levels are towering and, as the limits approach, the 911 remains predictable. You really couldn't buy a better handling car for even twice the Porsche's (admittedly hefty) pricetag.
As always with the 911, there is a bewildering number of variants for buyers to choose between. Even the two-wheel drive entry-level 3.6 Carrera enjoys very strong performance, while at the other end of the range the stripped-out GT3 and rocketship Turbo variants are genuine supercars.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
4 star
Not the most original piece of design - it's hard to tell this 911 from the previous generation at first glance. But handsome and well detailed.
Handling
5 star
A rear mounted engine should be a recipe for dynamic catastrophe, yet Porsche has made the 911 handle brilliantly.
Comfort
4 star
The ride is firm and can get joggly over rougher surfaces, but high-speed cruising manners are exemplary and the driving position is brilliant.
Quality & Reliability
4 star
Solidly constructed, and with far higher-quality feeling materials in the cabin than before.
Performance
5 star
Even the most basic version is massively quick - the GT3 and Turbo variants are amongst the fastest cars on the planet.
Roominess
3 star
Front seat occupants enjoy reasonable space, but the rear seats are barely up to moving small children short distances, and the small front boot is awkward to access.
Running Costs
3 star
You'll need a very healthy bank account to even contemplate putting a 911 on the driveway but healthy residual values mean it costs considerably less to own than supercar rivals.
Value for money
3 star
Basic versions have reasonable equipment, but the options list is deep and expensive. It's alarmingly easy to watch the price spiral out of control.
