Porsche continues to make one of the world's great sports cars. If you can justify its price, the
Porsche 911 Carrera will not disappoint.
Porsche lists eight models, but it comes down to whether you want Coupe or Cabriolet, 2WD or 4WD, 6-speed manual or 5-speed Tiptronic.
The Coupe retails for $65,590, the Cabriolet $71,020. Tiptronic adds $3,420 to the price of all models. Four-wheel drive adds $5,430. The 420-horsepower Turbo will go on sale soon, but pricing was not available at press time.
Based on the 911 Carrera, the 911 Carrera 4 differs mainly in its four-wheel-drive system. Other differences are subtle: Carrera 4 comes with a different wheel design, plainly visible titanium-color brake calipers and a titanium-color logo on the rear engine hood.
Porsche offers special options that allow customers to turn their 911s into unique cars. Special interior trim and exterior pieces along with special paints and leather colors are available. Though expensive, they offer some interesting combinations.
With its classic lines, the
Porsche 911 is a beautiful car. Totally redesigned for the 1999 model year, the Carrera's body is longer, wider and sleeker than any before. During its 34-year history,
Porsche has refined the 911 body several times, but the roofline and windshield had always remained the same as the original model. For 1999, the roofline, windshield and all other body sections were new. This newest-generation 911 represents the first clean-sheet redesign of this legendary sports car since its introduction in 1965. Nevertheless, it maintains the unmistakable 911 profile and classic styling cues.
Some decry the fact that the 911 shares styling with the front half of the Boxster. You will have to decide whether that's an issue for you. Most people can easily tell the two apart, though the 911 Carrera Cabriolet can fool you when it is coming directly toward you.
Porsche 911 is packed with more technology than we can adequately cover here: Porsche Stability Management, standard on Carrera 4, optional on Carrera, applies braking force to individual wheels and, if necessary, reduces engine power when it detects a loss of grip at the front or rear. On the racetrack, PSM can lend a helping hand through the slaloms and fast corners.
