.
This is the new 2017 Porsche 911 S Cabriolet.
The perfect soft top gives way after 15 seconds
or so to provide a lovely view of the heavens
with a sound better than any harp. Look closely
at the classic shape and you'll see the front
and rear fascias are new, the intake is oriented
to gather in more air, and doors have been redesigned
But the big deal is this- all 2017
model 911s are turbocharged now. Porsche
enthusiasts do not like it when their car
is messed with. Remember the controversy
when 911 switched for air-cooled to
water-cooled engines.
It's déjà vu all over again. The twin-turbo
version of the flat-6 engine is new, smaller
at 3-liters, and hidden. Fortunately,
horsepower is up, now at 420 in the S.
What I like about the new turbo engine is
that peak torque of 368 pound feet comes on
early in the rev range at 1,700 RPM and then
just stays there through 5,000 where as the
outgoing engine built progressively.
No fancy charts just hand motions.
Sounds very much like... a 911.
Both the PDK automatic and this manual
gearbox have 7 speeds. Throws and clutch
action are about perfect. There's even a
little more growl should you want it.
0-60 races up in about 4 seconds, it's a
couple ticks quicker with the automatic.
Power is very linear very easy to use
No doubt, the faithful will like that a
lot. Porsche engineers worked overtime
on the signature sound
There's just a hint of the
turbo working. I would sing "Whistle While
You Work" but you don't want to hear my
voice. Besides, Disney is very litigious.
In hard cornering, it feels different than
the mid-engine Cayman and Boxter. The rear-engine
911 essence remains with a tail thats willing
to rotate in a controlled manner. Front vents
are active for better aerodynamics, the back
gets into the action as well. None of this
can be seen by the driver, who will be
having too much fun to notice anyway.
The take rate on the manual transmission
is about 20 percent in the United States
which is higher than it is in Europe.
I would have a tough time choosing between
this and the PDK automatic gearbox, that's
a brilliant piece of machinery.
Both transmissions have been updated for 2017.
Miatas might be fun but a 911s precision
feel and mechanical sound are on a whole
different level. That wonderful noise is
deliberately guided into the cabin.
With the windows and wind blocker up air
management is pretty good see. Can't do
anything about hat hair though
Speed is fun brakes... those are very important.
Fuel economy is improved. This S model is
government rated at 20 city, 28 highway on premium gas.
The interior remains much the same as last years
model. That means the eyes and fingers are
treated to materials with visual and tactile
heft. It's not a Porsche without the worlds
most over engineered cup holders. These must
cost $1,000 to build. Something to please all
Porschephiles, the new entertainment system is
fully modern with, not just standard navigation,
but Google Maps and pinch to zoom features.
Apple CarPlay simplifies things so you can
concentrate on driving. Steep driveways will
no longer keep people from owning a Porsche.
I've brought four packs out. Always the optimist.
The "frunk" is roomier than you might expect,
two carry-on suitcases will fit. Anything else
will need to go in the back seat. Seat.
I use the term loosely.
Lots of pluming for the turbos can't be seen,
The air comes in through the redesigned grate,
gets used up and is then sent on it's way
out these vents down here. While all 911s
have turbos now, there is a Turbo model
that gets vents on the fender to signify
the extra power it produces over the turbocharged
but not-a-turbo-MODEL versions. I think you
know what I mean. With 540 horsepower and up
to 523 pound feet of torque the Turbo starts
at 160 grand. Most will probably throw an option
or two on, there's even a whale tail though
it's kind of subtle. But hey, even base
Carrera owners can say they own a 911 turbo...
and they wouldn't be lying....
The new 911 starts at $90,450 for a base
hardtop coupe. Access to the sun goes for
about 12 grand extra. As tested this higher
performance S model is equipped at the $135,765
level and it's easy to go north from there.
I'm unsure how loyalists will react to the 911
getting turbos across the board. Newcomers?
Feel free to simply enjoy the evolution of a legend.
I'm lucky enough to drive a Porsche
occasionally but I can't call myself an
expert. Truth be told, if I were buying one,
the practical Midwest raised boy in me would
go for a Cayman S graphite grey with red
interior, the sport chrono package and
probably the PDK gearbox. Personally I
like the mid-engine feel and those are
also going turbo. Hey, buy what you
like if you have the cash, I understand
why people love the 911.
Finally, when I do the TP Trunk Test
I always park far away to give myself lots
of room to set up my tripod and get away from
traffic. When I came out with the 2 Ply
this was parked next to me, a 1988 Targa,
air-cooled because that's the way they were back then.
Obviously some enhancements have been made,
clearly this Porsche has been used in the way
God intended it to be. Good to see.
There ya go gang that is my take on the
2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet.
That's avery long name. Now before I go
I just thought I'd show you this, it's
very very quick but very short shot
but while we were shooting running footage
we saw this. Not sure if it's a real Cobra
or a kit Cobra but it sure looks nice. And
it has New York plates, I don't know what it's
doing way out here. Now a lot of you think
that because I do these reviews for the
New York Times that I work out in New York.
I do not. I live across the country in
Washington state. It's a lot easier
to shoot cars here, and a lot
cheaper to live too.
That's Driven, I'm Tom Voelk.