I don't recommend that you sit any of your friends in the back. Young kids might enjoy this confined space but not for very long.
The front passenger, on the other hand, benefits from the same level of comfort as the driver. Both front buckets are nicely sculpted and effectively supportive. The HVAC system does a good job overall -- and quietly so -- keeping the interior cool and comfortable at all times. What's more, the sunroof is designed in such a way that wind turbulence is limited.
Meanwhile, the audio unit of the 911 Carrera will delight music lovers during night drives on the strip. My only complaint is the tiny size of most buttons.
More than adequate power
Porsche's 3.6-liter flat-six engine met my expectations. Mated to an excellent 6-speed manual gearbox, it delivered progressive, confidence-inspiring accelerations. Even when not making extra efforts to take off at a blistering pace, I was able to reach 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The calibration of the gear ratios is outstanding.
The thing I really appreciated was passing maneuvers; it took me 4.5 seconds to sprint from 80 to 120 km/h in third gear alone. When using both the second and third gears, I almost shaved a full second off my time (3.6 seconds).
Cruising or racing?
The Porsche 911 Carrera proves easy to drive in city traffic, although the sloping rear end demands that you pay attention when backing up. The available torque allows you to maintain a steady speed in dense traffic without having to shift gears.
On the highway, this German star purrs like a calm, complacent cat. Observing the tolerated speed limit of 120 km/h is challenging -- this is not the place to provoke the beast.
However, when you wind up on a deserted byroad or, even better, a closed track, you can finally act like a racecar driver. While the steering is a bit too light to my liking, I found the 911 Carrera quite easy to throw into corners. The exceptional handling allows you to slow down in a hurry, attack twists and turns with serious bite and get out just as quickly as you entered. The rear tires, in particular, make the car stick to the road and regain momentum in a flash.
Pleasure and magnificence
These two words perfectly sum up my road test of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera. There's no point in adding anything else.
photo:Luc Gagné
The front passenger, on the other hand, benefits from the same level of comfort as the driver. Both front buckets are nicely sculpted and effectively supportive. The HVAC system does a good job overall -- and quietly so -- keeping the interior cool and comfortable at all times. What's more, the sunroof is designed in such a way that wind turbulence is limited.
 |
| The front passenger benefits from the same level of comfort as the driver. |
Meanwhile, the audio unit of the 911 Carrera will delight music lovers during night drives on the strip. My only complaint is the tiny size of most buttons.
More than adequate power
Porsche's 3.6-liter flat-six engine met my expectations. Mated to an excellent 6-speed manual gearbox, it delivered progressive, confidence-inspiring accelerations. Even when not making extra efforts to take off at a blistering pace, I was able to reach 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. The calibration of the gear ratios is outstanding.
The thing I really appreciated was passing maneuvers; it took me 4.5 seconds to sprint from 80 to 120 km/h in third gear alone. When using both the second and third gears, I almost shaved a full second off my time (3.6 seconds).
Cruising or racing?
The Porsche 911 Carrera proves easy to drive in city traffic, although the sloping rear end demands that you pay attention when backing up. The available torque allows you to maintain a steady speed in dense traffic without having to shift gears.
On the highway, this German star purrs like a calm, complacent cat. Observing the tolerated speed limit of 120 km/h is challenging -- this is not the place to provoke the beast.
However, when you wind up on a deserted byroad or, even better, a closed track, you can finally act like a racecar driver. While the steering is a bit too light to my liking, I found the 911 Carrera quite easy to throw into corners. The exceptional handling allows you to slow down in a hurry, attack twists and turns with serious bite and get out just as quickly as you entered. The rear tires, in particular, make the car stick to the road and regain momentum in a flash.
Pleasure and magnificence
These two words perfectly sum up my road test of the 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera. There's no point in adding anything else.
photo:Luc Gagné
Article Gallery