Aside from hereditary members of the House of Lords, who can no longer legislate for us commoners, it is natural to treat anything with a long lineage with a degree of respect, if not reverence. Like the Toyota Corolla, Mini, and Ford Mustang—nameplates that have been around for roughly half the time the motor car has existed—the Porsche 911 is such an established fixture that it is difficult to imagine a world without it. This holds true even though the originals from the 1960s share comparatively little with their modern descendants, akin to the philosophical puzzle now known as Trigger's Broom. The 911, however, also commands respect because it is, as it has always been, a powerful machine that makes more demands of its drivers than its drivers make of it. Hence the untimely death of James Dean in his Porsche 550 Spyder, a forerunner of the 911, which he nicknamed Little Bastard, on a California highway in 1955.
First Impressions and Preconceptions
I have always been a little intimidated by the 911, to be honest, much more so than by many of its competitors, because of its past reputation as a rear-engined, tail-happy, well, bastard. I have also, I will admit, always resented how it became a mere yuppy plaything in the 1980s, a symbol of conspicuous consumption owned by people who struck me as little bastards themselves. So I did not really expect to enjoy the 911 as much as I admit I did, having not driven one much for some years. But I made friends with it, like you might end up cuddling a pit bull once it had gotten used to you and you to it.
Driving Experience and Performance
It is, in fact, a deeply lovable car, though heavier, more complex, and not so small these days, and it is not long before you gain in confidence and start to explore some of its considerable possibilities. Indeed, that sense of performance in safety is only enhanced by the suite of driver assistance that past generations of Porsche sports cars obviously lacked, which makes them, in that sense, more accessible than ever. The car is much bigger and bulkier, but, like all the best sports cars, it shrinks around you and does as it is asked, provided you are polite. The boxer engine is still in the boot, the cylinders still laid horizontally in two rows of three, opposite each other, like boxers trading punches, but it is now weather-cooled and drives all four wheels. There is a tiny bit of hybrid assistance to the GTS models (such as this one) to boost low-down power, plus the usual electronic interventions to help keep things nice and civilised.
Design and Build Quality
The old 1963 original's lines have not scaled very elegantly. There is something about the distinctive styling of a modern Porsche that is instantly recognisable, but also makes it look unwieldy and unfriendly. It is anything but that to drive. So I do understand why it has developed such a loyal following, and why people want to spend, in this case, £168,145 to acquire one. It is an extremely accomplished cruiser that you can have absolute confidence in. Porsche may be part of the VW group (technically they actually own it), and making SUVs and limousines too these days, but their entrenched expertise as a sports car specialist ensures that a cabriolet such as this version of the 911 feels as stiff and solid as its coupe siblings, albeit the extra bracing adds weight. Top down, the heating and aerodynamics will keep you warmish, and the engine sounds as evocatively rumbly as you would have every right to expect—this is a sensual car in every respect.
Conclusion
Plus, it is still a quality product, and probably more so than ever. Porsche fans love their cars, and tend to care for them, but there is another reason why there are so many classics—and every 911 is a classic—still on the road, which is that their build quality is unrivalled, maybe outside the few supercars ever manufactured by Toyota and Honda. In all fairness, no Porsche will ever be as beautiful as a Lamborghini (as it happens, a distant VW group cousin), so let us just remember that too. There are very few things in life that can do something so well for so long and inspire so much affection as a Porsche 911. It certainly looked after me for a few days. Not such a bastard, then.
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