A quick glance at Porsche's Canadian website reveals no less than 23 variants of the beloved 911. It's a daunting list, but on closer inspection you can see the logic in it. Start with the $90,100 Carrera coupe and the sportier S model, along with their convertible options, and then add four-wheel drive to the mix. That's eight versions right there. The 911 Black Edition decks the standard Carrera in sinister, all-black trimmings, while Targas split the difference between the coupe and convertible with sliding, glass roofs. 12 down, 11 versions to go.
At the high end of the performance spectrum, the 911 Turbo is the car that many Porsche enthusiasts grew up dreaming about, while the GT3 RS 4.0 and GT2 RS are designed exclusively for the race track. And as for the exclusive 911 Speedster, well, don't get too excited about it. It's a fantastic car with a stunning paint job, but only six were brought to Canada-and they were sold before they entered our borders.
That leaves us with one type of 911, and if you haven't already guessed we're saving the best for last. It's the 911 Carrera GTS, and for a perfect balance of performance, price, and prestige, it's the one you want.
Porsche has equipped the GTS with a high-output, naturally aspirated version of its 3.8L flat-six engine, tuned for 408hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. In doing so, the German automaker has brought the Carrera line closer to the power levels of the Turbo and GT3 without compromising the all-round driveability that makes the base model so much fun to own.
Even better is the fact the GTS is available with your choice of rear-or all-wheel drive, which is not the case with the 911 Turbo. While many would argue that all-wheel drive is superior-especially with today's technology, some people just prefer to have their sports cars with all-wheel drive. As such, the option is nice to have.
In 2012, Porsche will bring out the new 991 body style (replacing the current 996), and some consumers might want to wait to see it up close before committing to a 2011 GTS. However, if the next generation is rolled out in similar fashion to the current one, there might be a long wait. Rather than replacing all 23 911 models in one fell swoop, Porsche is likely to update a few at a time, effectively selling both body styles at once. As such, enthusiasts can either jump on a Carrera GTS right now or wait to see what the revised 911 design looks like up close. Regardless of whether you dive in sooner or later, it's money well spent.
Design: The 911 has never undergone a complete restyling-the unmistakable design has simply evolved, such that you can still see the resemblance between the newest and oldest 911's. Meanwhile, the Ferraris, Corvettes and Mustangs of the world have undergone major redesigns over their life spans.
The GTS employs the wider body employed by the Carrera 4, which provides a noticeably wider rear track, along with a unique front spoiler and side skirts that set it apart from other 911s. The combination is very pleasing to the eye, imparting a more athletic feel to the standard Carrera design.
The most noticeable interior upgrade is the use of black Alcantara, a composite surface material made of polyester and polyurethane that provides both grip and durability. It's nothing new-Alcantara was invented in the '70s-but adds a nice touch to the GTS's steering wheel, shifter and handbrake.
While design and build quality have improved over the years, the 911 retains the raw, customized feel of a hand-built car. That goes for all of the 23 variations in Porsche's stable.
Performance: The GTS's high-output 3.8L flat-six reaches 408-hp thanks to a revised intake and exhaust, and reaches its maximum 310 lb-ft of torque at a lower 4,200 rpm for improved response.
The six-speed manual gearbox is solid and precise; rewarding purposeful shifts with instant power, and an amazing, seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission replaces the outgoing TipTronic automatic that paved the way for paddle shifters.
Like the more-powerful 911 Turbo, the GTS's handling is exceptional; steering is neutral and tracks straight, and the feedback from the road is excellent. You can tell exactly when the rear wheels are about to lose their grip on the road, making it easy to push the car right to the edge.
As fun as it is to push the GTS hard, the best part is how it responds when you slow things down. The Porsche is surprisingly comfortable and relaxed on city streets, enabling it to serve admirably as both your daily driver and your weekend-getaway car.
Environment: The Carrera GTS's base seats are fantastic, thanks to supportive side bolsters that work to keep occupants firmly in place, and optional Alcantara seat inserts for even better grip. Those looking for even more support can opt for adaptive sport seats or sport bucket seats.
Ergonomics in the 911 are reasonably good, but the controls are still a bit too low on the dashboard, hiding at the bottom of the cliff-like centre console. It takes some time to figure out where they are by touch, which will leave most drivers looking away from the road, and there are no buttons mounted on the steering wheel other than the optional paddle shifters.
Interior storage includes a decent glove box, door pockets, a bin in the centre console and a shelf behind the rear seats. Contrary to what you'd expect, the cargo space under the front hood is tall and not very deep-and just as you'd expect, it's not very big.
Convertible 911's benefit from an automatic cloth roof that opens and closes quickly and with minimal hassle. The roof design is such that there's no need for a cover when it's folded away-the 911 looks just as good with the top up as it does when it's down.
Features: The Carrera GTS sells for $117,600, adding roughly $10,000 for all-wheel drive and another $10,000 for a convertible roof. That pushes the Carrera 4 Cabriolet to an even $137,000.
Standard equipment on the Carrera GTS includes ABS, traction control, stability control, automatic rear spoiler, power windows, automatic climate control, 6.5" touchscreen and front/side/side-curtain airbags.
Notable features available as options or on other GTS models include Porsche Active Suspension Management, composite brakes, Dynamic Cornering Lights, a limited-slip differential, Sport Chrono Package, sport suspension, heated seats, heated steering wheel, GPS navigation, Bluetooth, a premium BOSE audio system and Alcantara seat inserts.
With the seven-speed transmission, fuel efficiency is rated at 15.3L/100km in the city and 7.2L/100km on the highway.
Thumbs up:
Amazing performance; Great interior; cutting-edge drivetrain; choice of rearor all-wheel drive.
Thumbs down Controls placed low on the dashboard-not much else!
The bottom line:
Quite possibly the best of all 911's for the price.
Competitors:
Chevrolet Corvette The $128,895 ZR1 is the top dog in the Corvette line-up, equipped with a supercharged 6.2L V8 that generates an astounding 638-hp and 604 lb-ft of torque.
What the Vette lacks in class, it makes up for with brute force. The Chevy doesn't come with the prestige of a Porsche, but remains America's favourite sports car.
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The SL-Class sells for $129,900 with a 5.5L V8 producing 382-hp and 391 lb-ft of torque, or a 6.2L V8 with 518-hp and 465 lb-ft of torque.
Can't decide between a coupe and a convertible? With the SL-Class's beautifully engineered folding hardtop roof, you get the best of both worlds.
Nissan GT-R For $109,900, the revised, 2012 GT-R features a 3.8L V6 generating 530hp and 448 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.
We waited seemingly forever for Nissan's much-anticipated supercar, which seems purpose-built to take on the 911. However, while the GT-R is a relative bargain in comparison to the GTS, it doesn't have the Porsche's spirit and history.
