Yes, it's another post on Porsche, but bear with me. This is a petrolhead's site, written for car lovers, by a car lover. And if there's one car which every enthusiast has at least a minor opinion on, it's the Porsche 911. When I was born the 964 series was just preparing to pass the torch onto the 993, so half of the 911 models have been made in my lifetime. With the new car about to take centre stage following final sign-off testing, I thought it'd be appropriate to take a quick look at just why this legendary automobile has acquired such status, adoration, and infamy.Ferdinand Porsche's baby went into production in 1963 with a template that has remained largely the same. The standard 911 coupé is, as then, a rear engined, 2+2 seater powered by a six cylinder motor, driving the rear wheels. The biggest departure from the original philosophy aside from the growing proportions and power of the car was the switch from air to water cooling on the 996 generation. So for nearly 38 years, the car has remained true to its original design principle, which must certainly be a factor in its popularity. The fact that these defining principles brought about some inherent flaws challenges which have been engineered around and into the car's character make the 911 nigh-on unique. As everyone knows, having the heavy engine out over the rear wheels increases traction both from a standing start and out of corners, as well as packaging the car efficiently, creating enough space in the cabin for 2 small rear seats. Of course, the caveat of this has always been the pendulum potential of the engine mass to swing round and induce snap oversteer, creating the 911's reputation as an undoubted driver's car, but also something of an animal. No wonder extreme variants like the 993, 996 and 997 GT2 have carried the dubious nickname of 'widowmakers.' At least the engine has consistently made a textbook sports car noise, a gravelly flat 6 howl remaining constant even without the clatter of the older air-cooled systems.
So the 911 is practical, fast, challenging yet rewarding to drive, and has pedigree. Until the very latest 997.2 generation, it was often muted as having one of the most direct and feelsome steers in the car world, though the motoring press conceded some of this had been dialled out with the latest version's push for refinement. Still, if you're after an unrefined, unplugged, unsanitised 911, Porsche do still make them, as part of the genius range of different models. And the same motoring press have conceded that these are some of the finest driving machines in the world.The 996 GT3 from 1999 was slightly lightened, slightly more powerful, more stiff and more stuck to the road. It was not the first stripped and fettled 911 variant to hit the streets but it was the most mainstream. The GT3 road racer won over even the harshest 911 critics, with long time sceptic Jeremy Clarkson admitting in his Sunday Times column that it was 'the first ever 911 he'd thought long and hard about buying.' This was followed by the even more hardcore RS model, rivalling the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale. Porsche had obviously realised by this point they were onto a winner, allowing them to move the 'base' 911s to the grand tourer end of the spectrum and charge a premium to enthusiasts for the motorsport-esque specials. The 'poseurs' car still exists with the Targas and Cabriolets, but they are redeemed by the track based machines. This reached its zenith with the current 997 generation, with the GT3RS in MkI and Mk II forms winning evo Magazine's Car of the Year as well as Autocar's Best Driver's Car of 2010 respectively. It also totally altered my opinion on 911s.
I've never been a fan of the 911 before, in any form. I didn't buy into the 'engine in the wrong place/overpriced Beetle/all look the same/yuppie runaround' school of thought, but I was unable to comprehend any of the desirability of the car. More emotional cars, with prettier styling seemed more appealing. Despite reviews praising their unsurpassable drivability, the 911 still appeared humourless. Yet now, having become a driver myself, I've begun to understand the rewarding sensations a car transmits to you as the driver, through the seat, the steering wheel, the pedals, and its inertia, I have begun to respect the 911 hugely, and yearn to have the chance to pilot a GT3 in the future. Not only is it showered with plaudits, but it marks something of a dying breed; lightweight, naturally aspirated, manual transmission, rear wheel drive. These halo 911s are the ultimate expression of a performance sports car, not in terms of arrogant output figures, but (from what I've read, and watched), the manner in which they encourage and thrill the driver with their feedback and feel. I thoroughly recommend catching recent tests of these cars, for which I've added some links below. These contain all the stats about the cars I've deliberately neglected from this post, but also provide ringing endorsement for progress.
They may just alter your prejudices, should you have any, about the 911, and its status as the benchmark sports car.
It's been a master of reinvention yet altruistic to its core values. The standard kiss of death for a promising car is to label it a '911 rival', as Lotus, Noble, Marcos, Aston Martin, Jaguar, and TVR have all found out to their own cost. (All British...there's something in that.) Audi arguably got closest with the V8 R8 but compulsary four wheel drive, and amidships V8 configuration move it conceptually far away from the Carrera. Even Porsche's own attempts to kill the 911 off with the 928 were unsuccessful, proving the longjevity and original design success.
I now for the first time look forward to the emergence of the new 911 range. I'm excited to see if the base cars still hold firm as the sweet spot of the range, while I wonder just how much more power the Turbo flagship will be bestowed with. And eventually, what will the next range of GT3s be like in a world of PDK gearboxes and forced induction?
Referencing my daunting question, why is the 911 so good? I've barely scratched the surface on this legendary car here, but in my view it's the enduring appeal of evolutionary styling, covering a practical body, propelled by an iconic powertrain, with perfection-approaching dynamics. And the fact that the range is so large, there's a 911 for just about anyone, yet far from everyone could (or would) ever have one. A final thought is that all this opinion on the fabled 911 drive I've learned from various motor journos expressing boundless enthusiams for the car they're in. Yet a common trait among them is the agreement that once (and only once) you've driven a 911 for yourself, you know the reasons why. Roll on that day.
Autocar 99.7.2 Turbo review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAkQ1s129w
Autocar 997.2 GT3 drive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z58QD8zS0Ls
evo 997.2 GT3 RS drive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8C_0DoBSAI
evo 997 GT3 RS v Francois Delecour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRvcobW-LN4
Follow the related links on YouTube to check out some of the group tests from Autocar and evo, involving GTRs, R8s, 458 Italias and even the new Cayenne Turbo. All well shot and presented clips from the best two car mags around.
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