Test drive of the new Porsche 911

After having had so much fun in the best British car ever made (see the DBS story below), it was time for me to book the new version of the famous Porsche 911- the 997 Mark 2 with Porsche Doppelkupplung (DPK) and test drive it during a weekend in the Cotswolds.

Externally, this new 911 looks exactly like the previous one. The only small restyling is a change of shape of the taillights and some new wheel design. As Porsche puts it on its brochure “Character traits cannot be changed. But they can be reinforced.” I have to admit that it’s smart marketing.

The big change is inside. New communication system with a touch screen, satnav, iPod connection, Blue Tooth, etc… It is the best integrated system I’ve ever tried in a car. Absolutely perfect. No flaws whatsoever. You can see the POI on your map, press one with your fat finger and the satnav will ask you whether you want to add a stopover. Genius!

The new Double Clutch is equally flawless. In automatic mode, it changes gears at exactly the right moment and in manual in a few milliseconds. It is clinical. German efficiency.  And I think it’s the problem with this car. It’s so perfect that somehow, for a reason I can’t explain, it takes away some of the pleasure of driving a supercar. It’s too easy to drive.

15 years ago, I used to play a game called Duke Nukem 3D where you had the choice between the “nukem” and “rookie” modes to decide on the game difficulty. The PDK is the rookie mode for the 911.

The consumption is a real improvement. I used to average 17.5 MPG on the first version of the 911 997. Despite pushing this one quite hard, I finished the weekend with an average of 26 MPG, which is surprisingly good far a car than can do 0 to 62MPH in 4.3s!

The Xavometer: 8/10

The goods: new PDK, new satnav, iPod connection, Bluetooth, a great 911, still superb design, MPG

The bads: new PDK

Boot: suitable for 2 cabin suitcases

Will a golf bag fit: yes, in the back seats

Will a baby seat fit: yes, in the back

Headturner: No in Great Britain. Yes in France

Would buy: definitly yes

~ by XaveOxf on October 21, 2008.