Other than the driving dynamics my favorite aspect of the 911 are the two tiny jump seats in back. While some critics have
labeled them as useless, in my father-of-three lifestyle they're essential. Amazingly a full size child safety seat fits in perfectly, and locks into place thanks to sturdy anchors attached to the back shelf. While this is helpful, I can only fit one child in the back at a time as my 11-year old is too big to squeeze behind the driver's seat while I'm at the wheel and my 3-year old needs the passenger seat pushed all the way forward to accommodate his wee little legs. I suppose that kind of defeats the need for a rear seat at all. Hey, I've got an idea Porsche. Why don't you provide a way to turn off the passenger side airbag, like every other automaker in the business has figured out, and then I wouldn't have to wrestle the kids into the back seat? When the kids aren't along for the ride, the rear seats collapse into about 200-liters (7 cubic feet) of handy cargo space. So is it practical? Not really, but a creative enthusiast will find a way to justify the purchase of a 911 for pragmatic reasons. To me it's one of the most enjoyable sports cars currently being built, and among the most reliable. While Porsche's J. D. Power's initial quality rating has dropped significantly this year, everyone knows it's directly associated to the Volkswagen-built Cayenne SUV and not the Boxster or 911 models. These have been stalwart performers for decades, and the fact that few significant changes have taken place to the powertrain other than the introduction of a radiator, water cooling and the associated 4-valve cylinder heads on the 996 in 1999, is proof of its innocence in the 2004 J. D. Power IQS rankings. To me, the 911 will always be the quintessential Porsche and the one to finally acquire when my fortunes align themselves with the ship that's surely coming in. Here's hoping.
Specifications (Carrera 2 Tiptronic):
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| Why doesn't Porsche provide a way to turn off the passenger side airbag, something every other automaker in the business has figured out? (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Specifications (Carrera 2 Tiptronic):
- Price Range (MSRP): $105,190 - $169,245 (base price for 6-spd 911 is $100,400)
- Transport & PDI: $2,045
- Body Type: 2-door coupe
- Layout: rear-engine, RWD
- Engine: 320 hp, 273 lb-ft, 3.6-L, 24-valve, DOHC H-6
- Transmission: 6-spd man (opt 5-spd auto with manual mode)
- Performance (0 - 100 km/h): 5.0 seconds
- Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
- Cargo Volume (front trunk/rear seats folded): 130 / 201 L (4.6 / 7.1 cu ft)
- Curb Weight: 1,372 kg (3,025 lbs)
- Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 13.0 / 8.4 L/100 km
- Warranty (mo/km): 48 / 80,000 comprehensive
- Direct Competitors: BMW M3, Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper, Ferrari 360 Modena, Jaguar XKR, Maserati 4200 Spyder, Mercedes-Benz CL/SL
- Web Site: www.porsche.com
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