The Ultimate 911: GT2 RS with the Weissach Package I’ve written plenty of reviews of the GT3, but this is my first time behind the wheel of a GT2 RS. Before getting into the drive, let’s take a closer look at what makes the GT2 RS a step beyond the GT3. Porsche’s GT lineup spans five models. The best-known is the GT3, joined by the GT4 for the Cayman and the GT for the Cayenne....
The Continental GT I previously test-drove a Bentley Continental GT while considering a replacement for my Panamera. That was a W12 coupe, and I drove it around town. This time, I had the chance to take a W12-powered convertible for a drive on winding mountain roads. My first impression of the Continental GT in the city was that it felt sportier than I’d expected from a Bentley. Its basic driving character was very similar to...
I’ve Tested 11 Different 991.1 Models Here are the 991.1 models I’ve covered on the blog so far. That’s an impressive 11 different versions. I doubt many people anywhere in the world have compared this many 991.1s on winding roads—not just on quick drives around town! (笑) Carrera 4S Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet Carrera GTS Cabriolet Targa 4S Carrera Carrera 4 GTS Turbo Targa 4 GTS Carrera S Cabriolet Carrera S GT3 This time, I...
Taking the 911 Carrera 4 GTS to the Track The other day, I took part in a track day hosted by 911Days magazine. The venue was Fuji Speedway, a circuit I’ve driven many times before at driving schools and track events. This time, I brought along a pre-facelift 991 Carrera 4 GTS. It pairs all-wheel drive with the last naturally aspirated 3.8-liter engine offered in the Carrera. I’d driven rear-engine and mid-engine Porsches on track...
The day had finally arrived: time to get behind the wheel of the latest 992-generation 911—and not just any 911, but the latest GT3. I used to own a 991.2 GT3 Touring, and I currently own a 992 Carrera. With those experiences as a reference, I’ll take a closer look at what makes the new GT3 special, comparing it with its predecessor and the Carrera along the way. Porsche 911 GT3 (992): First Impressions The...
My good friend TAKURO has finally taken delivery of his Porsche 911 (Type 964). Here’s how the whole buying-a-Porsche journey unfolded—and what I thought after getting behind the wheel. Taking Delivery of the 964 One autumn morning last year, I was casually browsing Instagram when I spotted a story from a dealership announcing that a manual-transmission 964 had just arrived. I took a screenshot and immediately sent it to TAKURO, who had been looking for...
Why I Was Unhappy with the Factory Navigation Japanese-market 981 Boxsters and early 991s came with a factory navigation system made by Clarion. In other markets, these cars were equipped with Porsche’s own navigation system, similar to the PCM found in later 991s and the 718. The Clarion setup was specific to Japanese-market models. The drawbacks were more significant than you might expect. First, the system looked like an aftermarket addition. And, while the factory...
The Porsche 911 Carrera (992) It’s been about a year and a half since we bought our new Porsche 911, a 992-generation Carrera Cabriolet. Since then, we’ve driven it more than 8,000 km on touring trips, around town, on the daily commute, and even on the track. It’s wonderfully easy to live with, and the 992’s comfort and usability in everyday settings—especially in town, on the commute, and while running errands—outshine those of its predecessor,...
The 991.1 Carrera 4S Lately, I’ve noticed quite a few people around me buying 991.1 models. Ask them what won them over, and they all say the same thing: the sound and rev-happy character of the naturally aspirated engine. Porsche may build naturally aspirated 911s again someday. But for many buyers, the 991.1 represents the last generation of naturally aspirated 911s from an era before stricter noise regulations and gasoline particulate filters (GPFs). It’s easy...
Volkswagen Golf There’s a car we used to own that I deeply regret selling. Even now, my wife and I sometimes say, “That really was an exceptionally well-made car.” It was a Volkswagen Golf. Ours was a special-edition Golf 7 ALLSTAR, an early-model version. It was based on the entry-level 1.2-liter model, but came with a few extra touches. It was brilliant at everything from the daily commute and grocery runs to family road trips....
