The Final Naturally Aspirated 911

By: Kase van Rees

As thunder rolled closer with each passing moment, I hastily set my camera in the passenger seat of Paul's meticulously detailed 911. I wasn't going to miss a top down drive in my all time favorite model of car. And it's worth mentioning that Paul's Porsche is particularly special. Though it's technically a 991.2, which is the all turbo generation of 911, this Carrera was fitted with the now retired naturally-aspirated flat 6.

To be clear, I consider myself a vintage Porsche guy and nothing beats an air-cooled classic. I also prefer manuals and loathe a lot of the technology that's taking over the auto industry. But the modern, dual-clutch PDK transmission is an incredible performer, with shifts that slap the wheels at light speed. And when the car first gets rolling, you can feel the clutch progressively engage like the three-pedal setups I'm used to. Though a turbo now comes standard, the larger, free breathing 3.8L is reminiscent of its ancestors. Over 400 horsepower is delivered at high revs, and with the same familiar sound. This newer Porsche actually maintains a lot of the qualities that make classic 911s. The steering is stunning and the brakes are brilliant. Even though this was my first time piloting a Carrera from this century, it all felt very familiar. Oh yeah, and 911s all have the best gauge cluster of all time.

Growing up, I idolized my dad's convertible 911. As a child I was told not to touch the paint and leave harmful oils on its shiny black finish. And from the passenger seat I was stunned by its incredibly flat handling and the power that would build excitedly as the engine accumulated speed. When I got a little older I would quietly make my way downstairs. Just to sit stationary in the driver's seat was a luxury. To this day I remember the first time I got to reverse the car a whole ten feet into our garage. Come to think of it, I can remember every single time I've gotten to row gears in that car. The driving experience is just as romantic as the classic imagery of a European open-top sports car. Amazingly, all of these qualities are maintained by the modern successor. And ever since those early days, driving a 911 makes me feel like Tom Cruise stealing his dad's Porsche in Risky Business. It's like he said, "there is no substitute."

Although I've always loved these cars, not everyone does. On paper, it's hard to appreciate what makes the 911 so good. It isn't the fastest, or the most striking to look at. It's not the most luxurious, certainly not the most practical. All of this means it doesn't land on a lot of people's radar. But, where the 911 exceeds all others is in refinement. Every single button, every surface and control feels perfectly engineered and executed without being excessive. From the sound the doors make, to the way the steering and brakes respond, the flagship Porsche leaves virtually no room for improvement.

I'm not usually one to go for convertibles. The extra weight and the loss in rigidity isn't great, but I'm mostly bothered by sub-standard roof shapes with the top up. However, this one maintains its silhouette even as a vert. And Porsche has a history of great, open-top cars like the James Dean era 550 spyder. Plus, extra access to the sky above you means more of that mechanical Porsche sound. I actually prefer these cars with a soft top. The rest of its proportions have survived since the 60s with minor adjustments. They were great looking cars then, just as they are today.

A 911 is great at everything you want a car to do. Despite its incredible handling, you can spend all day comfortably cruising. The exhaust note is fantastic, the transmission and traction control are possibly the best money can buy, and its shape is one that will never go out of style. When I review cars I always try to include their major weak areas. But nothing about the 911 stands out as worthy of any real criticism. Sure, it's expensive, but it only takes a moment to realize why. For a long time now I have argued that the 911 is probably the best all around performance car in history. Every moment you spend in one is automotive perfection.