Porsche 911 Coupé (04 on) - Review

The 911 is powered by its trademark flat-six engine. The entry-level Carrera is a 3.6-litre which packs 325bhp while the more powerful engine in the Carrera S is a 3.8-litre with an extra 30bhp. The 3.8-litre GTS adds a further 23bhp giving a total output of 408bhp. Then there's the distinctive Turbo which has the 3.6-litre engine but fitted with twin turbos to deliver an immense 480bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 3.9 seconds. At the top end of the scale are the hardcore GT models. There's the GT3 and GT3 RS with track tuned suspension and a stripped out interior while the top of the range GT2 boasts an immense 530bhp and is astonishingly quick as you'd expect, yet as docile to drive at low speeds as any 911 model. It covers the 0-62mph time in a blink-of-an-eye 3.7 seconds. All models are offered with a six-speed manual while a five-speed tiptronic automatic is optional.

Out on open and twisting roads the 911s handling shines through, delivering a driving experience that feels safe, engaging and hugely rewarding. You can really feel what the car is doing as you drive. Porsche has continually developed the car thanks to the extensive knowledge it has gained from racing the 911 over many years on race tracks around the world. It has also fitted sophisticated traction and stability controls to keep you safe. 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, which is on the GTS. 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. The PDK 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.