What we have here are two Porches 911 Carreras. They both look very similar. They both have the same shape. They both have identical interiors. They both have their flat sixes mounted in the back. However, once you get into the driver�s seat, they both start to show some differences. The 911 Carrera has a new 3.4 liter engine that produces 350 bhp, going from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds then reaching a top speed of 179 mph. That�s enough power to rip your face off. The base 911 Carrera comes with an ordinary manual transmission, only now there are seven gears instead of six. You could literally get lost in the gear changes, forgetting which gear you�re in because there�s so many. To make things easier, you could just put the car into seventh gear and just coast along without changing gears at all. Besides the many gear selections, there�s also the heavy clutch. At first, it seems alright, but after getting stuck in traffic, your left is going to start to hurt.
The 911 Carrera S on the other hand has the new PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) system. This is a semi-automatic transmission equipped with flappy paddles. This is much more comfortable and your left leg will thank you after a while. This new transmission is also faster at shifting than the ordinary manual. With a simple pull, you can change gears in less than a second. That�s approaching Formula 1 shifting speed. Another difference with the Carrera S is the engine. His has a new 3.8 liter flat six. Power now goes up to 400 bhp, going from 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and up to a top speed of 188 mph. You also get the option to change the suspension in the Carrera S. By pushing a button that looks like a shock absorber, you can firm up the suspension to maneuver around cars like it was nothing.
Of course, there are other things that both cars can do; they can make the best noise. Put your foot all the way down, and it sounds like an angry dog is barking at you from behind the seat. You will have to be careful though. Due to the extreme comfort inside, you don�t feel like you�re going as fast as you really are. You could be going over 100 mph and not even realize it. Another thing and quite possibly the best thing both cars can do; they can go around corners like you won�t believe. Even without the added firmness in the suspension, you could go around a corner at 80 mph and keep it in control. Your brain may think you�re going to spin out, but no matter how hard you turn, you�ll still stay in control. If you do decide to go into sport mode and firm up the suspension as well, you can go around corner at 90 mph and keep it in control. You may start to feel a bit nauseous afterwards, but you wouldn�t have crashed into anything. Next to going fast, both cars can stop just as quickly. You can put your foot hard on the brake, take your hands off the wheel, and both cars will stop in just a few seconds. You won�t swerve or spin out at all.
It�s very hard to choose between these two because you can put something that�s in one car into the other one. It�s all about whether you want lots of power, lots of grip and control, or a bit of both. You can even choose which transmission you want. So when it comes down to it, they both are great cars to drive. It just depends on what you want in your Porsche 911 Carrera. But no matter what you choose, you know either way, you�re going to have lots of fun in the driver�s seat.
Special thanks to Porsche of Nashua for both test vehicles.
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