Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Performance
>> Saturday, October 22, 2011
With white paint, black wheels, red brakes and that trademark Porsche 911 bubble-butt body, this 911 GTS is terribly sexy and hardcore. Same deal inside. Drivers get plenty of gauges, a big centre mounted tachometer and a simple, concise and focused control layout. Suede-trimmed racing-style seats leave backsides just inches from the road, the tester got race-inspired red seatbelts, and there was even a 'Sport Chrono' lap timer for those visits to the track. More importantly, there's a button that opens some mechanical flaps in the exhaust system to make it louder.
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The 911 GTS isn't even terrible on fuel, with a recorded average of 11.2 L/100km. In fact, as 400-plus-horsepower sports cars go, it's pretty damn thrifty during highway cruising. Hell, you can even get an automatically shifting dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. This is as everyday friendly as a street-legal track weapon's probably ever been. Power comes from a 408-horsepower version of Porsche's 3.8-litre flat-six powerplant bolted behind the rear axle. The naturally-aspirated, high-strung screamer of a big six generates some huge performance numbers, even if it sounds like a dirty old VW Bug with an exhaust leak when first fired up. That just foreshadows the sound effects waiting on the other end of the tachometer. Get the hand-built engine spinning to its 7,300-rpm redline, and the loud, exotic wail from the tailpipes serenades everyone within a half mile. It's one of those exhaust notes that will play in driver's heads while they're trying to sleep. Rip though the gears like Christmas morning wrapping paper, and head-pinning acceleration and a one-of-a-kind soundtrack are your rewards. The explosively peaky high-rpm power surge adds to the experience.
The shifter exhibits a ropeyness typical of its cable-actuated mechanism, but it offers short throws and feels damn-near perfect - even when drivers rush it. The clutch is positive, heavy and engaging, too. These two components feel naturally well-matched to one another and work with ideal pedal placement for easy heel-and-toe work, as required . But this is a race-bred car that's sensible enough for everyday use. It's easy to board and exit, easy to park, offers good outward visibility and even has back seats. The latter aren't ideal for any type of human being, though they add to available storage and may beat walking home in the rain for some third and fourth occupants.
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The 911 GTS isn't even terrible on fuel, with a recorded average of 11.2 L/100km. In fact, as 400-plus-horsepower sports cars go, it's pretty damn thrifty during highway cruising. Hell, you can even get an automatically shifting dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. This is as everyday friendly as a street-legal track weapon's probably ever been. Power comes from a 408-horsepower version of Porsche's 3.8-litre flat-six powerplant bolted behind the rear axle. The naturally-aspirated, high-strung screamer of a big six generates some huge performance numbers, even if it sounds like a dirty old VW Bug with an exhaust leak when first fired up. That just foreshadows the sound effects waiting on the other end of the tachometer. Get the hand-built engine spinning to its 7,300-rpm redline, and the loud, exotic wail from the tailpipes serenades everyone within a half mile. It's one of those exhaust notes that will play in driver's heads while they're trying to sleep. Rip though the gears like Christmas morning wrapping paper, and head-pinning acceleration and a one-of-a-kind soundtrack are your rewards. The explosively peaky high-rpm power surge adds to the experience.
The shifter exhibits a ropeyness typical of its cable-actuated mechanism, but it offers short throws and feels damn-near perfect - even when drivers rush it. The clutch is positive, heavy and engaging, too. These two components feel naturally well-matched to one another and work with ideal pedal placement for easy heel-and-toe work, as required . But this is a race-bred car that's sensible enough for everyday use. It's easy to board and exit, easy to park, offers good outward visibility and even has back seats. The latter aren't ideal for any type of human being, though they add to available storage and may beat walking home in the rain for some third and fourth occupants.
