Sunday 15th November 2015

Porsche 911 (991.II) Carrera: Driven

The biggest change for the 911 since water cooling? Perhaps more significant? PH takes a drive in a turbocharged 911 Carrera

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As introductions to the new range of turbocharged 911s go, chasing a GT3 RS up a closed mountain road is damn good one. In a PDK Carrera Cabriolet - not exactly the PH choice, granted - there's little time to appreciate the updated PCM, the lightly refreshed dash or the touchscreen. The styling? Don't know. It's jump in, select Drive and try to keep up with the mad man in that magnificent RS.

Well of course it still looks similar

Torque will be a significant, er, talking point throughout this story so let's begin there. Compared to an old naturally aspirated 911, and even as a base Carrera cabrio, this car is notably more potent at low revs. Which is handy when you misjudge a second-gear corner and leave it in third... Where before you'd have immediately gone for the lower gear, now third will suffice and haul you out in a manner previously unknown of in 'base' 911s. The new 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine works best beyond 3,000rpm but it's willing below that and pulls convincingly from less than 2,000rpm. In best road tester parlance it's what would be called a 'flexible' unit, able to pull from low revs but also keen to rev right round to the limiter too.

Yes, fear not; the 911 has not lost its appetite for revs. The delivery is a lot more linear than before, that lovely step up in performance from 4,000rpm or so certainly gone. But it's superbly eager, always prepared to chase peak power at 6,500rpm but crucially run beyond that too. It'll rev right through to 7,500rpm with real vigour. Sure, it doesn't quite zing like the old flat sixes but it's an excellent effort given the constraints of two turbos. Naturally here the comparison would be with the BMW M4, boasting a similar capacity and the same amount of turbos. The Porsche may well rev with more zeal than the BMW, but it would need a back to back to be certain. Whatever the case, there is no need to worry about the switch to turbo Carreras; they're damn good.

Grey works better in the metal. Honest

Where the 911 easily has the M4 beaten is noise. Alright, this 991.2 doesn't howl like the previous car, but would it ever be reasonable to expect that? What it does do is provide a lot of the flat-six growl we love with some interesting turbo gargles and whooshes too. It's certainly a more authentic noise than in the BMW, and a more entertaining one too. It just isn't quite as thrilling as before, sadly.

Anyway, back to chasing the GT3 RS. As we've come to expect from the 991 generation grip, traction and braking performance are way beyond what the average buyer would ever need on the road. While any 911 traits are not patently obvious, neither were they being actively sought out; it seemed a little more important to keep it out of the GT3's spoiler and the shrubbery...

Next day in a manual Carrera coupe there's more time and more freedom to explore. And you know what? The news is good. Yes, it doesn't need anywhere near as much rubber on the road, or the assistance from various acronyms. That's not going to change any time soon. But the electric steering seems better than ever in a 911, detailing a more accurate picture of what the front wheels are doing. The standard brakes are strong, the body control is excellent and the front even goes a little light occasionally on bumpy corner exits.

Hang on, what's that sprouting from the dash?

The best news though? The manual is really good. The original 991's seven-speed always came in for some stick (pun intended, sorry) since launch, but now it's updated with a new clutch too and it really works. The six-speed in the Cayman and Boxster remains sweeter, but this shift is now short and quick across the gate, nicely weighted and matched to a precise, well positioned clutch. Even in left-hand drive heel and toe is a doddle; more to the point it's great fun too. There's the standard journalist moan about Porsche's final drive - we saw 125km/h in second! - but keeping a manual and improving a manual should be praised. Not that many will buy one, with around 75 per cent predicted to opt for PDK. But those who will should be impressed.

As for the rest of what's found inside, that may have to wait for a proper UK evaluation. Who wants to mess around with Apple Carplay when there are some amazing roads to drive? What we can say for now is that the repositioning of the Sport and Sport+ buttons to a dial on the wheel works well, the displays are sharp and the touchscreen is very responsive. Which will all be very nice when you're inevitably stuck in traffic and the real-time traffic info can't get you out.

Worried about turbo 911s? Don't be!

Perhaps most importantly of all though, despite the concerns and worries about the 911 becoming turbocharged, this new car is still good fun. No, it's not the most immersive 911 experience but the standard 991s never have been. What it has done has improved the car in a few key areas while also introducing a pair of exceptionally good engines that we knew had to come. A final note on those too - our launch experience of the Carrera S engine was frustratingly brief, a point we'll hope to address with a UK test. Unsurprisingly given the engine produces another 50hp and 37lb ft at the same revs as the Carrera, it feels much like that engine to drive. Just quicker.

The key is that both feel like very good sports car engines, and that we have nothing to fear about the introduction of turbos to the 911. Yes, they're aren't quite as responsive or exciting as the old engines but given what had to be achieved they're a great effort. To post those kind of performance figures with the official CO2 and fuel economy that they do does (oh, how innocent a statement that so recently seemed) is a remarkable feat. That they do so while still feeling like charismatic, exciting engines is all the better still. While its closest rival - the Audi R8 - has moved onto another price point as V10 only, the 911 looks set to continue its dominance of the sector. Where it sits amongst the sports car hierarchy we'll hope to establish very soon.

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PORSCHE 911 CARRERA (991 GEN 2)
Engine: 2,981cc twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: 7-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (7-speed PDK optional)
Power (hp): 370@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@1,700-5,000rpm
0-62mph: 4.6 seconds (4.4/4.2 seconds)
Top speed: 183mph (182mph)
Weight: 1,430kg (1,450kg, to DIN spec)
MPG: 34 (38.2, NEDC claimed combined)
CO2: 190g/km (169g/km)
Price: £76,412 (£78,800)
(Figures in brackets for PDK, faster 0-62mph with PDK and Sport Chrono)

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S (991 GEN 2)
Engine: 2,981cc twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: 7-speed manual, rear-wheel drive (7-speed PDK optional)
Power (hp): 420@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 369@1,700-5,000rpm
0-62mph: 4.3 seconds (4.1/3.9 seconds)
Top speed: 191mph (190mph)
Weight: 1,440kg (1,460kg, to DIN spec)
MPG: 32.5 (36.7, NEDC claimed combined)
CO2: 199g/km (174g/km)
Price: £85,857 (£88,245)
(Figures in brackets for PDK, faster 0-62mph with PDK and Sport Chrono)

[Gus265]

Just read this and the Autocar version - pretty similar conclusions. But is the simple point that this car is not as fun as its predecessor?! I do have a vested interest in this statement being brought out into the open admittedly. But should people switch from a 458 into a 488, E92 M3 into an M4, 991.1 into 991.2 or, if you are not fussed about the age of your car, that you should keep what you have because its better? Of course, I think the articles do say that if you are just buying a brand new Fezza or Porker, these are still great cars worth having.

[je777]

Pointless bullst politics to fixate on the carbon dioxide levels of cars such as this - all the while letting industry do whatever it wants (of course - governments tell people what to do; not business). It matters hugely how much pollution a Ford Fiesta creates - because there are so many of them. It is self-evident that cars that sell in fewer numbers should be subject to fewer controls.

[Matt Bird]

Gus265 said:

Just read this and the Autocar version - pretty similar conclusions. But is the simple point that this car is not as fun as its predecessor?! I do have a vested interest in this statement being brought out into the open admittedly. But should people switch from a 458 into a 488, E92 M3 into an M4, 991.1 into 991.2 or, if you are not fussed about the age of your car, that you should keep what you have because its better? Of course, I think the articles do say that if you are just buying a brand new Fezza or Porker, these are still great cars worth having.

It's an interesting point! It will be very tough for turbo engines to replicate the thrills of the old NA motors and they are such a key part of the appeal for those cars. Perhaps getting a turbo 991 Carrera with the old 3.8 might be worthwhile... But I wouldn't be surprised to see more demand for 997s now as they're modern enough but obviously retain the NA engines and hydraulic steering.


Matt

[je777]

How many points in this article are 'This aspect is not as good as previous 911s/Cayman/etc.'?
That alone should be enough to prevent those who are not just buying for image from buying one of these.
Yes, there have been improvements - as you'd expect - but there are also so many ways in which the new versions are inferior - gearbox, steering, noise, throttle sharpness, etc.
I could never get past the idea that - for no good reason - they've made all of these things worse.
Why would you not save yourself a bundle and buy a 997? Or spend a bit more - but save on depreciation - and buy a GT3?

[stuckmojo]

je777 said:

How many points in this article are 'This aspect is not as good as previous 911s/Cayman/etc.'?
That alone should be enough to prevent those who are not just buying for image from buying one of these.
Yes, there have been improvements - as you'd expect - but there are also so many ways in which the new versions are inferior - gearbox, steering, noise, throttle sharpness, etc.
I could never get past the idea that - for no good reason - they've made all of these things worse.
Why would you not save yourself a bundle and buy a 997? Or spend a bit more - but save on depreciation - and buy a GT3?

My thinking, too.

However, I believe Porsche is trying to segment their buyers in GT and sportscars sections, therefore turbocharging the 911 and making it as 'accelerative' and easy to go quick as - say - an M4, whilst covering the hardcore market with the GT models. Sadly, in the UK the GT models are entirely hoarded by speculators with some of the cars seeing some real action.

If I am honest a non-turbo 911 excites me more, especially looking at this primer grey bag of dullness.

[Fire99]

You can't ignore that despite the car's virtues, there is a constant undertone of apology for the car not being quite as nice as the car it replaces.

It reminds me of Rocky 5 when the promoter is 'bigging up' Tommy Gunn. "Ok he's no Rocky Balboa, but he's still a worthy champion"

[anonymous-user]

I got as far as "touchscreen"... the engineers really don't lead the way anymore in comparison to marketing, do they? No car is better for having a touchscreen.

[Thankyou4calling]

I bought a 911 Turbo in 2003, it was a 996 tiptronic.

414 BHP and 0-60 in 4.4 quoted. it cost £92,000.

The new 911 S has more BHP. is faster and less to buy than my Turbo. I'll bet it has a better level of equipment as well and will be cheaper to run so that in my book is quite an achievement.

I'd love one now but at the moment moneys too tight to mention.

[SFO]

the Carrera had PSE, an expensive near £1800 option

I wonder whether a non PSE car is as quiet as a Prius?

[je777]

Polynesian said:

I got as far as "touchscreen"... the engineers really don't lead the way anymore in comparison to marketing, do they? No car is better for having a touchscreen.

I always wonder why people want to feel like they're still at work when they're in their car - especially a sports car. The last thing I would want is a bloody computer screen.
As for the distraction this causes while driving...

[JohnGoodridge]

Fire99 said:

You can't ignore that despite the car's virtues, there is a constant undertone of apology for the car not being quite as nice as the car it replaces.

It reminds me of Rocky 5 when the promoter is 'bigging up' Tommy Gunn. "Ok he's no Rocky Balboa, but he's still a worthy champion"

Yes. It's not as bad as it could have been, probably better than we thought it would be, but of course not as good as it was.

The manual, atmospheric, HPAS 911s is a future classic.

[LotusOmega375D]

So compared to its direct rival Lotus Evora 400, the new 911 Carrera not only has less power, it's also slower, heavier and more expensive. Oh and I doubt it steers or sounds as good as the 400 either.

No doubt it will still outsell the Lotus 100 to 1!

[SirSquidalot]

I like the minor styling tweaks but with each new version of the 911 it seems to leave me colder and colder. The normal 911 isn't exciting any more

[GroundEffect]

SFO said:

the Carrera had PSE, an expensive near £1800 option

I wonder whether a non PSE car is as quiet as a Prius?

According to EVO Diary, it sounds just fine with the normal exhaust. Sounds very 335i-like actually, which was a silly loud car for a turbo I6.

[seefarr]

GroundEffect said:

SFO said:

the Carrera had PSE, an expensive near £1800 option

I wonder whether a non PSE car is as quiet as a Prius?

According to EVO Diary, it sounds just fine with the normal exhaust. Sounds very 335i-like actually, which was a silly loud car for a turbo I6.

And link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft6MbJsH83Q

Sounds good to me...

[DMC2]

LotusOmega375D said:

So compared to its direct rival Lotus Evora 400, the new 911 Carrera not only has less power, it's also slower, heavier and more expensive. Oh and I doubt it steers or sounds as good as the 400 either.

No doubt it will still outsell the Lotus 100 to 1!

I don't know a single 991 owner who would consider the Evora a rival. Completely different markets.

[LotusOmega375D]

DMC2 said:

LotusOmega375D said:

So compared to its direct rival Lotus Evora 400, the new 911 Carrera not only has less power, it's also slower, heavier and more expensive. Oh and I doubt it steers or sounds as good as the 400 either.

No doubt it will still outsell the Lotus 100 to 1!

I don't know a single 991 owner who would consider the Evora a rival. Completely different markets.

and therein lies Lotus' problem. They need to get your 991 owner friends to consider it. Name me another 2+2 sports car in that 70k+ bracket with the engine behind the driver.

[Wills2]

What's the name of that greyish colour paint, I really like it.

[bigkeeko]

Interesting article and nothing there that would put off first time Porsche buyers. In reality the lure of forced induction on the more basic models now means more owners will have a `911 turbo`.

I remember the Golf R introduction and some reviewers trying to denigrate the N/A R32. It might not be quite as quick and it might not be capable but it has something the newer car will never have. Soul. I think there`s a similar scenario here as good a car as the new one is.

[ORD]

LotusOmega375D said:

So compared to its direct rival Lotus Evora 400, the new 911 Carrera not only has less power, it's also slower, heavier and more expensive. Oh and I doubt it steers or sounds as good as the 400 either.

No doubt it will still outsell the Lotus 100 to 1!

The terribly exciting and exotic engine in the 400 is bound to sound and feel amazing.

(Sarcasm overload.)