Porsche 911 Cabriolet (05 on) - Review

The Cabriolet is available with three different engines. The Carrera and Carrera 4 models use a 3.6-litre flat-six engine producing 325bhp which gives a 0-62mph time of just over five seconds. The Carrera S has a 3.8-litre engine producing 355bhp. Both are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an optional five-speed automatic featuring steering wheel-mounted shift controls. In September 2007 the 911 Turbo Cabriolet was launched. Sharing the same 480bhp 3.6-litre engine as the standard Turbo, it has immense pulling power and races from 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds. All of the engines are flat 'boxer' units which have a characteristic sound and emit a wonderful noise, particularly at higher revs. The open top allows you to enjoy this even more - although the Turbo model can sound a little odd. The PDK twin-clutch automatic gearbox, introduced when the 911 was revised in 2008, is an impressive system, but does diminish that all-important sense of driver involvement. It's also not immediately intuitive - you pull back on the stick to change down, whereas with most systems you push forward. There are gear change buttons on the steering wheel but they're quite awkward and not as easy to use as paddles.

Out on open and twisting roads the 911s handling shines through, delivering a driving experience that feels safe, engaging and hugely rewarding. The Cabriolet has an exceptionally strong body shell and so - despite the absence of a roof - it's just as stiff as the Coupe with no vibration or flex in corners or over bumps. The S models feature more race-orientated, active shock absorbers and hardcore driving enthusiasts can go the whole hog with the optional lower, firmer sports suspension. The Carrera 4 and Turbo models offer four-wheel drive for even more traction. Town drivers will notice steering requires firm movements at slower speeds, but it’s not particularly heavy or awkward even when parking.