I don't know about you but when I read car reviews in most car magazines I have to resist the urge to tear my eyes out. The reviews are so filled with a combination of over the top drooling or over the top petty contempt.
I remember reading a review of the 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo in which the reviewer said the car didn't have enough animal passion. What the hell does that mean?
So this year, I bought a Porsche 911 Turbo. I've always wanted one but never thought I'd be able to get one, especially a new one. 15 years ago I was driving a 1984 Chevette. Needless to say, I have a real appreciation for the quality differences in cars at different price levels.
I'm going to break this down into 4 categories:
- Exterior
- Performance and Handling
- Interior
- Overall
Exterior
Porsche 911s have a distinct look. It's one of the reasons why people get them. They just look awesome. I had the opportunity to try out an Audi R8 and it's a great car but when you see it in person, the exterior just looks a bit odd. The 911 Turbo just says class.
Performance and Handling
This is why you get a Porsche 911 Turbo right? The performance is, of course, insane. The rated 0 to 60 is around 3.7 seconds. Good drivers can get it to 3.5 and some magazines have done it in 3.4. I doubt I can do it in less than 4 seconds personally. I'm just not good enough on a stick. The Tiptronic (automatic) is supposedly slightly faster but on a sports car, I just prefer a stick.
It's not just how fast it goes, it's the handling. I've never driven a car that comes close to the kind of handling this car has. It's just unbelievable how this car maneuvers.
That said, I find myself driving it slower than my "day car" the Jaguar S-type R. That's because the Jag is so sound proofed that you can be going very fast without feeling it. In the Porsche, you know you're going fast. That awareness makes me drive it a bit slower.
Interior
The interior is where the Porsche does not shine. Technologically, the Porsche 911 Turbo for 2008 is primitive. I can deal with not having an iPod interface but it doesn't even including an Aux input. There's no included Blue Tooth connection for cell phones. The GPS unit is crummy. The key has a tendency to unlock the door if it's in your pocket (the unlock/lock button is a freaking toggle button!). There's no options for remote start or anything resembling that.
It does, however, have a back seat that people can sit in for short amounts of time. This is actually a bit of a big deal in a pinch as well as for taking stuff with you.
The front trunk is kind of cool but relatively small.
But overall, I'd say the 911 Turbo's interior is unacceptably poor for a car of this price range. In addition, Porsche fanatics tend to scream that it's a sports car and shouldn't have those amenities. Please. The purists can get a GT2 or GT3 or whatever. The Turbo is supposed to be their super car that has a bit of everything.
Overall
Overall it's an awesome car. I might gripe about the interior but you don't buy a Porsche 911 Turbo so that you can have a nice touch screen GPS and there are plenty of after market solutions to deal with that.
I love the 911 Turbo because it is a super car that still is somewhat practical. With its all-wheel drive and smart design, you can use this car as (gasp) a car. It's not just an expensive "look at me" toy like a Lamborghini or to a lesser extent a Ferrari.
Here are some pictures of it before the weather got nasty:
